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March 1st
Went to P.O. received a letter from Pres. Hinckley and was asked to go to a certain no in Way Cross and call for a certain man, but after we found the place Lo there was not old man there, but we found a young married woman who belonged to our church. She had not seen an Elder for 3 years. Oh how glad she was. We are going back again in a few days and get acquainted with her husband; he does not belong to the church
March 2nd - 1926
My companion is sick so I am going out tracting alone. In the evening we went out, Bro. Wm. Bennett and took us in his car out to Wareville 8 or 9 miles and from there we went 3 miles farther through the woods to visit a sick Brother Smith 78 years old who is paralyzed so he cannot walk. After an awful rout through the wood we found the old man, he was living with one of his daughters who name was Swet, her husband was not at home. After we made a short visit with them, we administered to the old gentleman and he surely felt like the Lord had blessed him in deed. After leaving for home we never knew whether we were on the right road or not until we found ourselves on the highway again.
March 3rd
Never done much today. Went tracting, met with some hard opposition. Tonight we are going to arrange for a cottage meeting, somewere for Thursday or Friday evening. In the evening arrange for a hall to hold meeting in when Pres. Hinckley comes up next Tuesday March 9.
March 4th
Went out today and visited Sister Osborne, had dinner, was treated fine. Osborne Family are from Clinton, Iowa. After visiting for 2 hrs. We returned to our room. I had shave, cleaned up and in the evening went to see Bro. Brown. Had supper and spent the evening with the family of Mr. Harris, they treated us very kind, asked us to return again.
March 5th
Went out to our own room remained there most all day. My companion not being very well. Read the Bible and other church work in the evening went out to Bro. William Bennett.
March 6th
Went out tracting, met with some success, one man told me he did not want any Mormon on his place as any of their tracts in his house. I waited until he was through then I asked him to let me say a word or too. I talked to him for half an hour and he said I want a tract to read, so before I left he was very friendly and the following day I met him on the street and he shook hands with me and said I want to buy a Book of Mormon. So now I expect to sell him one.
March 7th
Raining very hard this morning and it is fastday. Went to Sunday School, no one was there, but we waited until the rain was all over and we had a good Sunday School and a testimony meeting after and in the afternoon we went out and held a meeting with Bro. Collins had a splendid crowd. One man who does not belong to our church was called on to speak, after speaking for some time from the Bible he said, I want to testify to the Book of Mormon for no man could have written that book, except the Lord be with him and Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God if not he was the smartest man that ever walked in the United States for no way could write such a book as the Book of Mormon. We all felt the Spirit of God was surely in our midst.
March 8th
We did not go out today to do much tracting but instead we have been visiting some of the Saints and some of our best investigators and inviting them to attend our hall meeting tomorrow night. We met President Hinckley on the 7 o’clock train and took him to Brother Wm. Bennett’s for the night and we slept at our rooming house.
March 9th
Visited some of the Saints in company with Pres. Hinckley and held Priesthood until 12 o’clock, when we returned from dinner we found some one had been in our room and taken away many of our valuable things, in all they were worth about $20. Dollars, one Kodak, one razor strap, 2 safety razors and some other things in all they were worth more than $20.00, it seems like we can do nothing but we packed our things and found a new camping place.
March 10th
We spent all forenoon running around to fine a telegram for Pres. Hinckley, at last it came, so he went to the train to Douglas, Ga., to visit with Elders and Saints. Myself and companion went out to find Bro. Lott who has a very sick little girl, we went to administer to her. Done some tracting as we returned home.
March 11th
Did not do any tracting today, has been raining all night. Went and had new heels on my shoes and in the evening we went out to visit one of our Saints, Clyde Bennett a nice young man, his wife does not belong to our church. She is a very nice young woman but has got but very little to say. We talked a long time to her but not much answer. We stayed all night with them; we had a splendid bed to sleep in, the best since I left home.
March 12th
Done some tracting and in the evening held a cottage meeting with one of our investigators and we had all the hour would hold. Mr Mitchell the man where we held the meeting invited us back to hold another anytime we felt like it.
March 13th
Saturday. We done nothing much today, only write letters. A very cold wind from the north. Awful cold, it froze last night.
March 14th
Sunday. We went to Sunday School, it was cold to try to hold a meeting. After Sunday School went home with Sister Myra Bennett and had dinner. In the evening we went and visited a Revival Meeting being held in a tent, the size of the tent is 180x80 will hold 4000 people. It sure was full and after the meeting started there was 250 reserved seats right in front of the pulpit and after the congregation sang a song in marched the K.K.K. dressed in their white robes and white hood with white veil over their face. And a patch of some kind over the heart.
March 15th
Tracting in the forenoon, wind blowing and still cold, everybody wearing overcoats. Received a fine fruitcake from Claudine and Robert and Vern Crossley, 520 Hollywood, Salt Lake City, Utah, 79 cents postage. We sure did enjoy the cake. Went up in town for a while.
March 16th
Went out to visit some of our investigators, spent a long time with and answered many of his questions. After dinner had another long talk and in the evening visited 2 others families, held meeting with one of them and after meeting walked home 2 miles to sleep in our own bed. Got home 1:10 o’clock.
March 17th
St. Patrick day but there is not enough of the old Roman Catholic people in the South to raise a good dust. They are very scarce around the K.K.K. believe me the clan makes the Catholic and the Negro stand around here in the South.
March 18th
Went out to visit one of the Saints, her husband is not a member of the church and are in hopes he will be sometime. We had to walk and about six miles and back again at night-they treated us very kind.
March 19th
Went tracting today; several would not take the tracts from me. Several did, some are very narrow in mind as well as in body. We are following out our instructions going about our duty in the quit manner so that people will not feel that we are trying to do them any injury to there church, should do anything like that it would be to bad.
March 20th
Saturday. No tracting today. Went to the Y.M.C.A. and had a good shower bath, got our laundry, shaved and had a general good clean up. Visited one of our investigators, spent the evening the sister told us she wanted to be baptized. We returned home and went to bed.
March 21st
Attended Sunday school in the morning and a cottage meeting in the afternoon. Went to supper with Bro. E. H. Brown and after went to one of those famous Georgia camp meeting, all talk I ever heard, it was there. Some friends told me this morning that some of their folks had been to the meeting and felt quite sore the way the preacher talked, he never spoke hardly on things about the true gospel, his talk was all about other peoples fault, but he seemed to think he was perfect himself. It seems wrong to hear one man tell all the faults of his fellowman and thinks he is perfect his self, such was his whole theme.
March 22nd
Went out tracting, had several gospel conversation. In the evening went out to Bro. Deene Bennett held a short Priesthood meeting had 1 Elder, 2 priest present, after meeting we stayed all night with Bro. Bennett.
March 23rd
Did not do much today. Went out, Bro. Sim Davis made a date to hold a meeting the following night and in the evening had supper with Bro. Eliza Davis, it was his wife’s birthday, (19yrs old) have one child. Sister
Davis does not belong to the church but told me she was willing to be baptized, which will be done soon as the water is a little warmer.
March 24th
Today walked out to the river, about 3 miles. They call the name Santilla, a very nasty looking river compared to our rivers in Utah, which are so clear and nice. In the evening we went out and held a meeting with Bro. Sim Davis and family, had a fine meeting, afterward we stayed all night with Bro. Clyde Bennett, whose wife is not a member.
March 25th
Went to Heberdsville, done some tracting on the way. When we arrived at Heberdsville a little boy come up to us and said to me Hello don’t you know me, I said no I don’t think so, well I know you, my daddy has moved into this place and we are living over there just a little way, you ones had better come for there is a sick woman at our house. We went over and found a very sick woman and they had been inquiring for us Elders but was told we had left this part of the country, so that is why the little boy was sent to meet us, the Lord had sent him. Before we got to the house the man stood outside and I could see by the way his face beamed with joy that he knew who we were. I walked up to him and shook hands, told him we were Mormon Elders, he said I knew it when I saw you coming up the road, he said I don’t belong to our church but my wife is awful sick and I have been inquiring for you Elders for a couple of days. The Lord must have sent you here, we sent to the village store and got a small tin can of olive oil and consecrated it and then we proceeded to anoint the sick woman, sealed the anointing, in a few minutes she said I feel better. We held a cottage meeting a couple blocks from there and we went back to see how the sick lady was getting along and the Dr. was there to examine her and he said this woman is getting along fine, there has been a wonderful change in he since I was here a little while ago. We had a fine cottage meeting. We went home, got a chance to ride and how glad we were, it rained awful all the way.
March 26th
We have not done much, write a few letters and stayed in the house all day. Is very cold in the afternoon at 4 o’clock. Some men came and got us to go with them to get fish. We had a truck, three sat in the cab and 3 sat in the back. We went 60 miles and camped out all night and never had any food or bedding. Sat all night by a campfire, nearly starved and nearly froze. Went on next morning until we came to Kingland where we found we still had six miles to go before we could get any fish, but at last we arrived at the place, bought 14 fish, they cost $16.00(one ten) each, so we prepared a fire right there on the bank of the St. Mary’s River ¼ mile wide from that to ½. Cove brakes on either side, inhabited by alligators and crocodiles. After cleaning some of the fish for breakfast, the smell of the cooking fish attracted the attention of one alligator at least for one of them cam up with in 100 feet of us and stayed there a long time looking at us and finally sank in the water and saw him no more. The men said he was a large one. After breakfast we returned home the same route we came on returning back we had a better way of traveling through the woods. Some place we crossed creeks 3 or 4 rods wide no bridges we had to forge but in all we sure did enjoy our trip. On the return home journey we stopped at one place and visited the Great Marble Boulder erected to mark the place where the Old Fort of Colonies once stood. Where the monument is erected the inscription is this. “This Marks the site of the Old Town of Colonies when the treaty of peace and friendship was made on the 29 of June 1796 between President of the U.S. and the Kings and Chiefs and Warriors of the Creek Nation of Indians. Ratified Mar. 18 1797 the commissioners of the U.S. were Benjamin Hawkins, George Clymer, and Andrew Pickens”
March 28th
Went out to Axton to attend Sunday School and meeting in a little church build by the L.D.S., they call it little Utah. It is known all over the country by that name. They were just ready to take up Sunday School when we arrived. After Sunday School we held a short service. When returning home we stopped at a home of Saints and administered to a very sick baby, their name Harry. We were glad to get home; it was a very cold day. Strong wind was blowing all day and some people said there was sleet fell in the early morning.
March 29th
It has been very cold all day with some rain. In the evening we filled an engagement to hold a meeting at the home of Bro. Wm. Bennett, a nice little crowd, half of them were out side people. I was the main speaker and believe me I gave them some talk. I know it went to the heart of some of them. When we came home it was raining quite hard.
March 30th
Was raining all day. Did not go out, set in the room allday and studied the gospel, went down town to supper. A very cold and an awful windy day. In the evening went to visit one of the Saints, when we came home it was still blowing
March 31st
Wednesday the wind is still blowing hard. Today we went out to visit on of our investigators made a date to hold meeting with them of Friday evening. After we came back we went out and had supper with Sister Maria Bennett, they all call her Aunt Maria, a very fine and noble woman. Sent some seed pears home today, 2 different kinds they are called black Crowder’s and yellow Crowder’s.
April 1st
Was storming today and we did not do much. Set in the room and wrote a few letter to friends, went and visited one of our investigators. Wind is blowing very bad.
April 2nd
Went out to Claude Griffis and had a cottage meeting. Had some investigators, some who do not belong to our church who are trying to understand the truth.
April 3rd
Raining very hard today. Staid all night with Bro. E. H Brown. Raining awful. We went in home to our room. Got some mail, of which we were very glad. In the afternoon we was visited by a pair of Elders from another part of Ga. We was very glad to see them and they were just as glad to see us. Their names was Alma Andrus from Spanish Fork and the other Jos.G. Keer from Idaho Falls, Ida. We were all made glad in the company of each other.
April 4th
Today is Easter Sunday. Went to Sunday School. After we held a Priesthood meeting in our room, us four Elders, we did enjoy it very much. Held a shorty testimony meeting after Sunday School. Blessed one baby. The little baby, son of Bro. Elge Davis, he is named James Elge Davis. After meeting we went egg hunting out in the Santilla River, had a fine time, returned home hungry as dogs.
April 5th
Went out to Bro. Deene Bennett’s and borrowed his Kodak and went over on Abany Street and took some pictures of us Elders on one of the little parks. After dinner we prepared for a meeting in the evening out at Bro.William Bennett. We had supper out there and after held a splendid cottage meeting.
April 6th
Today is the 96 years of the organization of our church. Went out tracting, had some good talks, gave out some tracts. Sold one B.M today. Is a very beautiful day, not much doing?
April 7th
Held a cottage meeting last night at home with the landlady and her family had a good attendance.
April 8th
We visited a lady who was at our meeting last night-sold her a Book of M. and had a long talk with her, it seems she is really investigating our gospel.
April 8th
We visited another family today, which my companion found the lady was very friendly and invited us to come back some other time when her husband would be home. He is quite religious and belongs to the Holly Roller Church. I received a pkg. of melon seed from home and took them out to Sister Maria Bennett; they are going to plant them. I also had a long talk last night on the porch with a good crowd of men who have rooms here, talked for over one hour.
April 9th
Wrote some letter and done some visiting with some of the Saints. Rec a pkg of seed through the mail, gave them to Sister (Aunt Maria) Bennett so I hope before I go home I will get to eat watermelons with them. The Southern people call it cutting watermelons.
April 10th
Rained hard today, did no tracting. Visited some of our investigators, was expecting to go out and stay with one of them but was disappointed. Went to Bro. Deene Bennett’s and had supper, wind blowing hard.
April 11th
Saturday. Visited around town, had a long gospel conversation with a gentleman by the name of Eldridge. He sure was astonished at our doctrine, Talked for one hour and half, gave him a tract and let him go.
April 11th
Sunday. We went to Sunday School and afterwards held a short preaching service. Went to dinner with Bro.William Bennett, after dinner we came back to our room, no longer had we got on the porch than it started to rain and talk about rain, it ran down in streams right up until dark.
April 12th
Moved our things from where we have been living. We took them to Wm, Bennett and stored there and packed our Balinda to go out in the sticks in the morning.
April 13th
Got us and eat breakfast and went to the train to cars to Millwood. After arriving in Millwood we walked out 4 miles to Bro. Elias Bennett, after we walked about 3 ½ miles we came to a creek, no bridge, so we drew cuts to see which of us should wade across to inquire at a farmhouse to find if we were on the right road. After reaching the house a large bulldog nearly tore my companion to pieces, two or three men ran out of the house to stop him. We were on the right road so I had the pleasure of wading also 3 rods wade 2 ft. deep.
April 14th
Went out in the woods and saw the men stripping trees for turpentine after a while I went to visit some of the Saints. I can’t describe some of the houses those folks live in. At night we held a meeting at night held at Bro. Elias Bennett’s about 40 people present.
April 15th
Visited around in the woods all day and held a meeting again at night at the home of Sister Annie Thomas. Had a better meeting than the night before, had a larger crowd. I spoke nearly 1 hour, Bro. Hyde spoke for 15 minutes.
April 16th
Got up very early this morning. Bro. Bennett said he would carry us into town so we came to town in a wagon drawn by a mule. Well we reached the railroad at last and took the train for Way Cross. After thinking over all our trip decided it was a fine time. Found some mail from Pres. Callis, Conference Pres. Johnson they both feel like favoring Way + for our conference.
April 17th
Today is clear but just a little cold. Went to visit some of our investigators, it seemed everything was against us, but at noon we found our friend and they were looking for us, so at 4 o’clock we went to the Satilla River and I baptized Sister Susie Mae Davis and a little girl named Mary Lugene Bennett. How happy we are to see some of the fruits of our labors, they both seem truly humble people.
April 18th
Sunday. Went to Sunday School more were in attendance than ever before. After Sunday School we held a short service and confirmed our 2 new members and gave them the gift of the Holy Ghost. Had dinner with Bro. Deene Bennett. Afternoon went to Aunt Maria Bennett had a long talk with the family and for the night went out and stayed with E.H. Brown.
April 19th
Done very little today. Met Pres. R. M. Johnson at the train and went to Wm. Bennett to a cottage meeting, had a fine crowd. Elder Johnson done most of the preaching.
April 20th
Done some visiting among our investigators. Done but little tracting. Spent most of the day in tying to arrange for a place to hold our conference and find chairs to seat our hall.
April 21st
Today another young Elder was added to our number of missionary workers a young man from Arizona Duane Gardner. Went and done some tracting.
April 22nd
In looking over the city to get chairs to seat our hall we had quite an experience with two ministers but before we left them they found out we were not so foolish as they thought we were.
April 23rd
Have had the promise of the nicest theater in the city to hold it here in Way Cross. Had many good conversations today with. This is all that was written.
April 24th
Done some tracting and visited many of our old friends and in the evening held a meeting with Bro. Clyde Bennett. Had a fine crowd and a very successful meeting.
April 25th
Saturday. No tracting today, preparing for Sunday. Met many of our friends, many gospel conversations.
April 26th
Went to Sunday School, held a short meeting afterwards after which we went out 30 miles and held a meeting at a little place called Fails. Held a meeting in a Schoolhouse. Had 113 people in attendance. Talked to them for 1 hour. After meeting was out we rode out the hind end of a little Ford run about for another 20 miles and visited some Saints at Douglas, Ga.
April 26th
Had a good visit at the home of Bro. Travis Kirkland, a fine old man with a good family. Had a birthday dinner with Bro. Carver at Douglas. At 5:30 we got on the train and come home.
April 27th
When we arrived home last night we found Pres. R.M. Johnson had come up here from Jacksonville and was at the home of Bro. Wm. Bennett. Staying in bed with a very bad fever and head ache and also we found a call for us to come out to the home of Bro. Collin, 2 of his children were sick with Diphtheria, ours was very bad. We administered to both of them.
April 28th
Working on our conference program met with some disappointment. We heard from a man that attended a meeting on Sunday that some of the ministers warned the people that there was Mormons in the city and if they allowed us in their homes we would beat their families. Last night we held a good cottage meeting in the home of D.H. Bennett and made final arrangements for our conference and assigned all Elders to where they may sleep while at conference, they are expected here tonight and tomorrow night.
April 29th
Went out 3 or 4 miles to invite Sister Osborne to come in to conference. She seems to be cold in the gospel. Her family, none of whom belong to the church.
April 30th
Still preparing for conference, putting seats in the old hall and many Elders are here for conference. Every thing is ready. President Johnson appointed me and my companion to see that all Elders had a place to sleep free. All together there is 33 Elders. At 10 o’clock in the morning all is ready. President Johnson does not feel well yet.
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