Letter from Milando Pratt to Orson Pratt
May 19, 1877
So. Norwalk St.
May, 19, 1877
Orson Pratt, Sen.
Dear Father,
I hardly know how to apologize for not writing you sooner. When I first arrived in the States, out time was mostly spent in traveling around among the people in Pennsylvania, whom Lorus had labored among for about a year.
We visited them, and held meetings, for the purpose of urging the necessity of those that believed to come forward and be baptized before we left. Twelve persons reported themselves for baptism during the month I was there with Lorus (my brother) and Bro. Brinton, we baptized them, and left them feeling well. They are mostly the fruit of Lorus’ labors. Since arriving here in Conn. We have not had an opportunity to preach much, but have done a great deal of fireside talking. We have made several attempts to get up meetings, but have failed. We went up into Connecticut about 25 miles above here and made application for a schoolhouse; by cleaning it out ourselves we got the privilege of using it, and we went around from house to house, and invited the people to come to our meeting, consequently we got a room full, and preached to them. During the meeting some malicious persons touched off some powder underneath the building which frightened the people considerably; Lorus was preaching at the time, and he continued on as if nothing had happened, and without the slightest pause, which had a tendency to quite the audience and not one of them left the room. I bore my testimony with much more power and ability than I thought I possessed in my own strength, and altogether we had quite an encouraging meeting for “Old, blue Connecticut.” After the meeting was dismissed, the leading man of the district, put a motion the house, “That they extend a vote of thanks to these two young gentlemen for coming and preaching and that we were welcome to come again whenever we felt like it to them.” The vote was carried unanimously, and we thanked them for their interest and attention towards us, and promised them to come again. I think there is a good opening there to do some good, however, I think we will try them again in a few days. Lorus and I have been down to New York about two weeks. We attended the Conference at Williamsburgh on Sunday. The next evening the Saints gathered at Sister Blackburns, at Brooklyn, and had a party. All enjoyed themselves well. Lorus and I then went over to Newark, New Jersey, and spent nearly a week with Aunt Maria Leach. They received us well, and we did a great deal of preaching to them, but I am afraid they are too much wrapped up in spiritualism to ever embrace the Truth again. Almost every paper we come across is teeming with lies and abuses of our people. I wrote an article a short time ago in reply to an article, “Is Mormonism Religion?” which brought out several other articles, one of which was written by a Rev. Minister of the Congregational Church, which was made up of lies from beginning to end. Lorus and I wrote an article each, proving the Rev. Gentleman’s assertions and statements “false,” but the editor would not publish them. It appears that they cannot stand facts or the truth.
Our health is pretty good, our spirits better. Times are very, very hard here in the State and we have to keep moving around.
Lorus joins me in love to you and family. May God bless and preserve you long.
Your Affectionate Son,
Milando Pratt
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, May 19, 1877, 4]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Apr. 2006]
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