THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS'
MILLENNIAL STAR.

IN THE NETHERLANDS MISSION.
BERNE, SWITZERLAND, Aug. 8th, 1895.

A few items concerning the Netherlands Mission may not be uninteresting
to the readers of the STAR.
After a pleasant trip across the North Sea I arrived in Rotterdam,
Saturday, July 27th. At the Mission-house I found President A. W. Judd
and Elder De Bry. They were both well and enjoying their labors. The
day was spent in conversing about the different parts of the Mission and
the present prospects of forwarding the good work.
In the evening Elder Pieper, who labors in Belgium, arrived. This young
man speaks four languages fluently, this enables him to labor in all parts
of Belgium, as several languages are spoken there. He gave an interesting
account of a visit which he had lately made to Charleroi, a Belgian city.
Sometime ago a gentleman living there, while on a visit to London, England,
met one of our Elders who gave him the little pamphlet written by Elder
James H. Anderson, "The Latter-day Saints." He took it with him home
and out of curiosity sat down and read it through. What he read gave a
new direction to his thoughts. Though belonging to a family well known
in the history of France, and living in a Catholic country, he is a zealous
Protestant. The little book made a deep impression on him. A stream of
light on the principles of the Gospel flooded his mind. He became anxious
to see a Mormon Elder, but could not learn the address of one. He therefore
directed a letter to President Woodruff, asking for more information
and expressing a desire to see some of the Elders. The letter was sent to
the Liverpool office and then forwarded to President Judd, with the
suggestion that Elder Pieper pay a visit to the writer. When Brother
Pieper arrived at Charleroi he was met by the gentlemen who was very
anxious to be informed concerning the faith of the I*atter-day Saints, and
he listened eagerly to Brother Pieper's explanations of the Gospel. He
introduced Elder Pieper to his acquaintances as his friend, a Mormon
missionary, and also informed them that he himself was investigating the
doctrines of the Latter-day Saints ; among others he introduced him to the
Pastor of the Protestant Church there. When the latter heard the name "
Mormon" it almost froze the benignant smile upon his face,and he immediately
excused himself, saying he had not time to enter into conversation
with them. Before Elder Pieper left Charleroi the gentleman whom he
was visiting requested to be baptized. Brother Pieper advised him to take
more time and to study our works thoroughly, at the same time telling him that the price of receiving the Gospel would be the same now as in the
days of the Savior : it might cost him the loss of his friends and even draw
upon him much persecution. Elder Pieper saw that he had a large circle
of acquaintances who esteem him highly. He has since then received a
letter from him requesting Elder Pieper to meet him at Brussels for the
purpose of baptizing him. He states that he has received a testimony of
the truth of this work. I enjoyed reading his letter. Every line seemed
to breathe the thankfulness he felt to God for having shown him the
saving light of the Gospel. I have dwelt somewhat lengthily on this, for
the purpose of encouraging our Elders in their work of distributing tracts.
They see only small results from this labor ; but they do not know what
the tracts may do which they leave among the people. The Elder in
London who handed the gentleman referred to this tract is not able to
single out the particular act from so many similar ones, and yet on that
occasion he became the instrument in the hand of (loci to bring a soul to
the knowledge of the truth. While the Elder may not know what his
work has done, or is doing, a strict record ;s kept, and the faithful worker
will not lose his reward.
On Sunday, July 28, 1 met with the Saints at Rotterdam. I do not remember
having attended a forenoon meeting during the last two years
where a larger number has been present. It was pleasant to meet so
many Saints and f riends. Many of the faces were familiar to me from my
former visits. The services were conducted in Dutch. President Judd
translated my remarks and did this well. The brethren laboring in this
mission have translated a uumber^of our hymns, and a hymn-book is in
the hands of the printer. This will meet a long-felt want.
It was pleasant to hear the Saints sing "The Spirit of God" etc., and "
We thank thee, O God, for a prophet" in their native tongue. There
was quite a difference between these soul-inspiring hymns and the psalms
with drawhng tunes which they were wont to sing. The branch has a
nice organ in the meeting hall, which is played by a blind organist.
In the afternoon the Sunday School met and a large number of bright
happy children attended it, who listened attentively to the teachings of
their instructors. I noticed the theological class was attended by some
twenty or thirty grown people, who were absorbed in their lesson, a
chapter in the Book of Mormon. In the evening the hall was crowded
with an attentive audience.
A peculiar feature of a Holland landscape is its many canals and waterways.
River-boats heavily laden are seen sailing in every direction.
Sometimes they are in tow of a tug-boat, and sometimes the wind or the
old-fashioned oar furnishes the motive power. The owner and his whole
family live on board these ships. We have several families belonging to
the Church living in these floating houses, and sometimes our Elders take
a sail with them. One of our new members had the misfortune lately to
lose his ship; while he had gone ashore the man in charge swamped it,
and as it was not insured it was a great loss to the owner ; all his property
lies at the bottom of the Rhine. He attended our meetings and enjoyed
them thoroughly. He had to start life anew, but felt that he could do so
with much more courage than before, now that he had found the "pearl
of great price."
Next day in company with President A. W. Judd and Elder F. Pieper I
went to Annheim, the Eden of Holland, where we were met by Elders
Spencer and Koldewyn who labor there, and Elder Bingham whose field of
labor is in Groeningen. All these brethren except Elder Koldewyn intend
accompanying me as far as Mannheim on the Rhine. We visited a few
families of the Saints and others came up to our hall to see us.
Annheim is a pretty place. The country here loses the monotonous flatness
which has given the Netherlands (low-lands) its name. Finding that
no steamers left here on Monday we had more time to remain in the city.
From a hill near it we had a beautiful view of the River Rhine or rather
one of its branches, the many boats floating on its surface, and the fine
country stretching out before us. A thunder shower came up and part of
it passed over us while we were enjoying the scenery before us, but
instead of marring our pleasure it rather heightened it by the peculiar cloud-
effect produced in the light and shadow which checkered the landscape.
In the evening we went to Emmerich where we took a steamer for Cologne.
My letter is getting lengthy but before closing I wish to say that a good
work is being done in this Mission; good openings for the preaching of
the Gospel present themselves in various places; a number of baptisms is
reported in the different branches, and many more Elders could be profitably
employed.

Yours in the Gospel,
ANTHON H. LUND.

THE l.ATTER-DAY -SAINTS' MILLENNIAL STAR VOLUME LVII. "
HOW THEN SHALL THEY CALL ON HIM IN WHOM THEY HAVE NOT
BELIEVED?- AND HOW SHALL THEY BELIEVE IN HIM OF WHOM THEY HAVE NOT HEARD.? AND HOW SHALL THEY HEAR WITHOUT A PREACHER? AND HOW SHALL THEY PREACH, EXCEPT THEY BE SENT? AS IT IS WRITTEN, HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THEM THAT PREACH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, AND BEINGl GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS?" — Romans X: 14, IB.
LIVERPOOL : EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY ANTHON H. LUND, 42 ISLINGTON. LONDON :
FOR SALE AT THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' EOOB DEPOT, 36 PENTON sTmBET, ISLINGTON. 1895.

 

klik hier voor een Wikipedia-artikel over Anthon H. Lund, lid van het Quorum der Twaalven en Raadgever in het Eerste Presidentschap van de Kerk.