Although Switzerland was a republic, the people were not prepared for a free government. After a few months, most of the American and English Elders were banished, and the work devolved mainly on the native Elders, and even they were sometimes cast into prison.
On one occasion, a zealous youth, whom I had directed to be ordained a Priest, took some tracts printed in the German language to distribute among the people. He left one with an invalid woman who had been several years confined to the house. She believed, and asked to be administered to that she might be healed, in order that she could be baptized. I sent an Elder to learn whether she wanted a sign or whether she was sincere. If found sincere and humble, he was to administer to her by anointing her with oil and laying his hands upon her. He found that she believed with all her heart. He attended to the ordinance and went a distance of about four miles to stay over night. The next morning she walked all that way to be baptized.
Among the remarkable incidents in the Swiss mission is the fact that after the Elders were driven out for preaching the doctrine of direct revelation, strange noises were heard in people's houses, especially in the city of Zurich, from which place all foreign Elders had been banished. The noises consisted of rapping upon cupboards, tables, dishes and other like things. The Saints were not troubled with them, but they became so frequent that they created great excitement among the outside people.
Elder John Bar wrote to me to know what it meant, and asking if it was of the Lord, and, if so, why did it not visit the Saints?
I answered that the people had rejected revelation from the Lord, and banished the Elders who taught inspiration. That it was known in America as spirit-rapping, and that it would probably take definite shape soon. Soon after circles were formed around tables, and the rapping in other places ceased.
I believe this was the first introduction of Spiritualism into the cantons, and, so far as known, in Europe, and was similar to the first in the United States made known to "the Fox girls" of New York. Thus, my young readers will perceive that these false spirits and other delusions follow the rejection of the gospel.
About this time, I received a letter, inquiring about the Saints and their doctrines, from Karl G. Maeser, a professor of theology in Dresden, in Saxony. In consideration of the excitement and desire on the part of many of the police authorities to trap the Elders; Elder Chislett and myself looked upon it as a snare to entrap us. I returned the letter without answer. No sooner had I dropped it into the letter box than a strong feeling came over me that the man might be an honest enquirer after truth. On telling this to Elder Chislett, he said if such be the case the door would be closed.
I answered, "No, that letter will return."
He said, "No; you may get another, but the same letter will never come back."
I repeated, "If he is an honest enquirer after truth that letter will return, and I will accept it as an evidence of sincerity."