|
William S. Brighton's Missionary Journal THIS IS THE LATEST COPY OF WILLIAM'S MISSIONARY JOURNAL THAT PAT RUST TRANSCRIBED AND BRIGHTON RELATIVES IN NIBLEY, UTAH CONVERTED.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1 Sept 1881 Thursday Was in Glasgow all day. I went and called upon David Raeburn and family where I spent a short time. In the evening I went to the Central Station to see the Saints start away that were leaving for to go to Utah. There were about 64 in all. Afterwards Brother John Stoddard and I went to Brother McClure's to administer to a sick child. After doing so we returned to the Conference House where I stayed all night.
2 Sept 1881 Friday A little after noon Brother Condie and I started for Carnbroe. We walked part of the way and took the train for Whiffet when we found Brother and Sister Henry well. After we had something to eat, I started for Motherwell to attend meeting with the Saints, which I did. I spoke to them on their duties as Saints. I stayed all night in the house of Sister Stevenson.
3 Sept 1881 Saturday Was in Motherwell nearly all day writing. Just one week today I received letters from my sons, William and Robert, with 2 pounds in one and 2 1/1 in the other. I borrowed 5 pounds 10 shillings to give Peter Robison 8 pounds to get him away to Utah at which leaves me in debt about 7 pounds because I have to keep some money to get along with. I left Motherwell in Lanark where I arrived about 7 o'clock P.M. I stayed all night with Sister Campbell. Brother Condie was with me.
4 Sept 1881 Sunday Was in Lanark to hold a meeting with the Saints but when the time came to have the meeting there were none of the Saints come together, so we had no meeting. I stayed all night with Sister Campbell.
5 Sept 1881 Monday Was in Lanark till 3 o'clock P.M. when I started to Hazelbank and Hillend to visit the Crosbies. I spent a short time with them. While I was at Brother James Crosbie's, Brother J. S. Condie and I blessed a baby, I being mouthpiece. The child was called Josiah. Stayed all night with the Campbell family.
6 Sept 1881 Tuesday A wet disagreeable morning. Left Lanark soon after noon to go to Motherwell where I arrived about 5 o'clock P.M. I spent the evening along with the Saints. Had a pleasant time. Stayed all night at Sister Stevenson's. I parted with Brother J. S. Condie today. He was going to Edinburgh for a short time, so now I will be alone for a short time.
7 Sept 1881 Wednesday In Motherwell all day. Wrote a letter to my wife and a card to Robert Given in Glasgow. Received a letter from Sister Elisebeth Boam in Utah. Left Motherwell with the 6:10 P.M. train for Carnbroe, where I was kindly received by the Saints, Brothers Hendry and Robison. I stayed all night in the house of Brother and Sister Hendry.
8 Sept 1881 Thursday Was around Coatbridge and Airdrie all day. In the afternoon I called upon a man by the name of John Rannie who has relations in Utah. In the evening I went with one of his sons to a meeting of the Salvation Army, where I saw such a sight as I never saw before. Two men when they were praying they appeared as if they had lost their senses. The way they carried on was ridiculous. After coming from the meeting, I had a long talk about what I had seen and heard and also about the principles of the gospel of Christ as taught by the Latter day Saints. I stayed all night with them.
9 Sept 1881 Friday As soon as I got washed, old man Rannie commenced about religion. We kept up the conversation for about four hours. He had to admire that the Latter-day Saints knew or could talk about things that they the world know nothing about. I left Airdire and went back to Brother Hendry at Carnbroe where I stayed all night.
10 Sept 1881 Saturday Wrote a card to Sister Wilson in Glasgow to send my mail to Falkirk as I will be there tonight. I left Carnbroe about 11 o'clock A.M. I walked to a place called Whilerigg where I took the train for Avonbridge. Then I walked from there to Blackbraes and called upon brother Duncan Lawmon who is very sick. I administered to him, then started out for Falkirk where I stayed all night with the McLeary family, who was very kind to me.
11 Sept 1881 Sunday Had a meeting with the Saints in Falkirk at 11 A.M. when I spoke to them on their duties. No strangers in. In the afternoon I and Brothers Stevenson, McLeary and Sister McLeary all started to the Blackbraes to see Brother Lawmon. After going there, we went to a Loch where Brother Stevenson baptized James and Robert Lowmon, sons of Duncan, one 17 and on 14 years of age. We then went back to the house of Duncan Lawmon where we had a little meeting. I confirmed the two boys, then administered to Brother Lawmon, I being mouthpiece. Then I spoke a little to cheer them up, then returned to Falkirk where I stayed all night with the McLeary family.
12 Sept 1881 Monday Was in the house all day writing. I wrote a letter to Brother Thomas Boam of Cottonwood, also one to my son, Thomas. Was in Falkirk all the evening. Stayed all night with the McLeary family.
13 Sept 1881 Tuesday In the morning in company with William Pinder, I started for Blackbraes to see Brother Duncan Lamont and get my mail. I received a letter from my son, Thomas, a card from R. R. Irvine and a Deseret News. I administered to him in company with Brother Pinder. We then returned to Falkirk. Soon afterwards I went out in company with Sister McLeary and her little girl to see Falkirk Trace, which is a horse and cattle fair and lots of confusion in the shape of shows and other things which were low and debasing. I did not stay long but returned to the town. Had supper with Brother Stevenson but stayed all night with the McLeary family.
14 Sept 1881 Wednesday In the morning I walked out to Grangemouth to see the place. I went down to the light house at the mouth of the channel that leads up to the canal. I sat a while reading, waiting to see the tide coming in, but I had to leave before it came in, although it had begun to come in. I walked back to Falkirk. I must say that around the region of Falkirk is the finest part of Scotland that I have yet seen. The course puts me in mind of coming into New York. It is so flat and beautiful. I stayed all night in the same house. I am waiting to meet Brother Robert R. Irvine with whom I am going around the District.
15 Sept 1881 Thursday In Falkirk reading and writing. Expecting Brother Irvine here today. In the evening I held a meeting with a few Saints and one stranger. Just as the meeting was opened, Brother Irvine came into the house. I spoke to the ones in the house on the first principles of the gospel. Brother Irvine also spoke a short time. Had a good time. Stayed all night with the McLeary family.
16 Sept 1881 Friday In the morning Brother Given, Sister McLeary took a walk around the suburbs of Falkirk. Then I left in company with Brother Irvine to visit among some of the Saints. We called upon Duncan Lamont and administered to him. We next called on a family by the name of Lindsay, then Love, then Flon. I visited Duncan. We were but a short time with any of them as there was no place for us to stay, so we took the train for Airdrie and then went to Carnbroe to the house of Brother Hendry where we stayed all night.
17 Sept 1881 Saturday We were in Carnbroe all day. I wrote cards to Neal Houston, Mary Stevenson, Ellen Campbell telling them that we were coming to visit them with the Saints around those parts. In the evening were in Coatbridge along with Brother Irvine and Robison. Stayed all night in the house of Brother Robison. A wet night.
18 Sept 1881 Sunday A wet day. Was in Carnbroe all day till evening when Brother Irvine and I went to Green End to call upon a family by the name of Thomas Park. We spent a short time with him and his wife, who promised us their house any time I called around so that I could hold a meeting. I spent a very pleasant evening in the company of Brother Irvine and Brother and Sister Hendry, also Brother and Sister Robison. We stayed all night in the house of Brother Robison.
19 Sept 1881 Monday In Carnbroe till after noon. Then we started for Motherwell where we arrived about 4 o'clock P.M. After arriving we went to the Police station and Brother Irvine asked permission to preach on the street, which was granted by the Sergeant. We then went to the cross and sang a hymn. Brother Irvine offered up a prayer. Then I stepped forth and spoke to the people for 3/4 of an hour. I spoke on the first principles of the gospel. We had a good meeting. Just as I had got through speaking, the head policeman came along and stopped us from speaking any longer. So we had to leave without Brother Irvine having the chance to speak. We then went and had a meeting with the Saints. We organized a Branch and called it the Motherwell. We ordained Andrew Robison an Elder and appointed him to preside over the Branch. We blessed a child of A. Robison called Margret Martwell Robison. Also Brother Irvine was mouthpiece. I ordained Brother Robison and administered to Sister Bell for affliction. Brother Irvine advised the Saints for about 1/2 an hour. I also spoke a short time. We had a very good meeting. We stayed all night along with Sister Stevenson.
20 Sept 1881 Tuesday We left Motherwell in the forenoon for to go to Blantyre. On the way we met five ministers on the way. Brother Irvine got some tracts from me and went over to them and asked them as gentlemen if they would take a tract. They all refused to take them and they all commenced to laugh at us. They kept laughing at us as long as we could hear them. How high-minded are those men that call themselves the servants of that meek and lowly Jesus, that are going about having a form of godliness, but deny the power. We called upon a young man by the name of Brown, then went on to Blantyre and spent a short time with him, then went to Hamilton, where we held a meeting on the street where I and Brother Irvine both spoke to the people. We had a good meeting. Great attention was paid to what we said. We went back to Blantyre and we stayed all night with the Robison family.
21 Sept 1881 Wednesday In the morning we left Blantyre for to go to Dunlop Place. When we arrived about 2 1/2 o'clock P.M. After I was there a short time, I then went to see about getting the hall that is in the place. I went from one to another till I got consent to have it on Monday the 26 inst. I went to a meeting. After the meeting was over, the man in charge of the meeting announced to the people that Brother Brighton would preach in the hall next Monday night and invited all to attend. I went up to him and thanked him very kindly for his kindness. We stayed all night in the house of Neal Houston. We were invited out to breakfast by a family that is not in the Church.
22 Sept 1881 Thursday We left Dunlop for to go to Lanark. On the way we called upon the families of Brother James Crosbie, Grandfather Crosbie and Sarah Anderson. Soon after our arrival in Lanark, Brother J. S. Condie came to meet us. He came from Edinburgh. In the evening we had a meeting with the Saints. I spoke to the Saints. Brother Irvine and Brother Condie spoke a little. We stayed all night with the Campbell family.
23 Sept 1881 Friday Around Lanark all day. Brother Irvine went off to Glasgow with the 3:25 P.M. train. I gave him 2 pounds that I had received from James Crosbie for emigration. I stayed all night with the Campbell family.
24 Sept 1881 Saturday Was in Lanark all day. Stayed at the same place.
25 Sept 1881 Sunday Went to Hazelbank to meet with the Saints. Held a meeting at 1 o'clock P.M. I presided over the meeting. The sacrament was administered and the brethren all bore testimony. Then I spoke to them for a short time. I returned to Lanark where I expected to hold meeting but had none. Stayed in Lanark all night with the Campbell family.
26 Sept 1881 Monday Went from Lanark to Dunlop Place where I had made an appointment to hold a meeting in the evening. Before the meeting time, I went around the place and invited the people to come to the meeting. When the time came, we had a good turnout of men and women. Brother Condie was with me. We sang a hymn and he offered prayer. Then I arose and addressed the people. In 1 1/4 hours on the atonement of Christ and the first principles of the gospel. I had great freedom in speaking. Brother Condie spoke a few minutes. We had a very good meeting. After meeting we returned to Lanark where we stayed all night with Sister Campbell.
27 Sept 1881 Tuesday Was in and around Lanark all day. I went out to Lanark race course and I saw two of the races. The first one I saw, one of the riders fell off his horse and rolled over and over but seemed as if he was not hurt much. It was the first race I had ever seen. It was the greatest confusion I had ever seen in all my life. I stayed in Lanark all night in the same place.
28 Sept 1881 Wednesday I left Lanark to go to Haywood. Brother Condie and Sister Emily Campbell came along the road with me about 3 miles. I arrived at Haywood about 5:30 P.M. very tired. I found the Saints all well. I stayed all night at the house of James Tilley.
29 Sept 1881 Thursday Was in Haywood all day. In the evening I went to a few houses and invited the people to come in to a meeting that I was going to hold at 7 o'clock. When the time came, there was one man and one woman present besides the Saints. I opened the meeting. After singing and prayer, I spoke to them for 1 1/4 hours on the gospel as taught by Jesus and his apostles and had a good time of it. I stayed all night in the same place.
30 Sept 1881 Friday I left Haywood for to go to Climpydike. On the way I called at the house of Alex McFiggan. I was there a short time writing and had a long talk with Sister McFiggan's Mother. Then went on to Climpydike to Samuel Johnstone's where I stayed all night.
|