[RESULTS OF DISOBEDIENCE.]
How our Missionaries are Suspected—Children Lost—Supposed Case of Kidnapping—Myself and Companion are accused—The Dead Bodies are Found—Disobedience Brings its own Reward.
MY EXPERIENCE IN ENGLAND.
BY C. V. SPENCER.
CHAPTER I.
CALLED ON A MISSION—START FOR MY FIELD OF LABOR—DIFFICULTIES ON THE WAY—TRAVELING IN DEEP SNOW—REACH THE PLATTE RIVER—PROCURE A NEW OUTFIT—EXPOSED TO THE CHOLERA—ATTACKED BY THE PLAGUE—MY RECOVERY—ARRIVAL AT ALBANY, N. Y.—TAKE PASSAGE ON A STEAMER FOR NEW YORK CITY—INCIDENTS ON THE WAY.
At the April conference, 1850, I felt a presentiment that I might be called on a mission, and kept away from conference until near the close of the last afternoon's meeting, thinking that if I were not seen, I should, perhaps, not be remembered, and then went to the door, and standing on the outside pressed it open about two inches. Just as I did this a man arose on the stand and said, "It is moved and seconded that Claudius V. Spencer go on a mission to Europe." I turned as though shot, walked down Main Street saying to myself, "Can it be possible those men have any inspiration to call such a stick for a missionary?" I think if my body and spirit had then been weighed together, I should have pulled the beam at two thousand pounds.
Previous to this time no person had heard me pray or speak in any public meeting.