Transcript

It is now nearly two years since I left St. George to fill a mission to Germany. All this time I have bee receiving copies of The News as regularly as it is printed, but have never taken the pains to write and tell you that I appreciate your kindness in sending it to me. No one can imagine the comfort one gets when out in the world so far thru reading from his home paper of what is going on in his native town.

I left home in July, 1898, in a very sad mood, in fact I felt like going to prison, but I soon forgot this sadness when on my journey I found so many new and interesting things that drew my attention. My journey on the whole was a very pleasant one, especially across the ocean. I arrived at Hamburg, the main harbor city of Germany, on August 7th. Everything impressed me very strangely; the habits and customs of the people, the language, the houses, the streets, women working, dogs pulling milk carts, and many other things. All these kept me looking around and made me feel as if I was in a new world.

I was sent to south Germany to labor, and spent thee months at Frankfurt on the Main, where I had the pleasure of working and associating with my cousin. Frank K. Seegmiller, who was then president of the Frankfurt conference. From Frankfurt I was sent to Stuttgart, one of the prettiest cities in Germany, and I am still in the Stuttgart conference. Some interesting experiences have crossed my path while here, especially do I remember things that happened to me int he country towns. One sees things here that we don't get to to see in St. George every day. I remember my visit to the well-known hill Hohenstaufen, from whose top the noted Charlemagne started on his first crusade to the Holy Land in 891. I also have in mind some pleasant experiences I enjoyed while traveling through the Black Forest (Scwartzwald) on foot. This is the most noted forest mountain range in Germany.

About two months ago I was sent to Strasburg to continue my missionary labors. I am working with Elder Walter Hasler, who has been in the field two years. Our work here consists in tracting and visiting friends. This is a new field that was opened on the first of this year; we have no Saints yet, nor do we hold any meetings; we have three different tracts to give out. We visit every street and every house three or four times--if they do not shut the door on us the first time--and leave a tract each time. We find the people who are interested in the gospel that way and visit them as often as is convenient. We have a number of friends who quite regularly. My labor is quite pleasant to me, but I have felt discouraged many times in my efforts to learn the language, for it is a hard undertaking, even for those who have the advantage of a good education. I wish all the boys in St. George could have some experiences, like I am now having. so that they would appreciate the opportunity they have of learning. Even tho I have had trials while here, I would not take anything for the experience I have gained and am gaining; I have gained a testimony that I shall never forget, in seeing one of the Elders in Stuttgart healed instantly by the power of the priesthood, in laying on of hand thru faith.

Kind regards to all my friends and relatives in St. George and vicinity. Again thanking you for sending The News, and with wishes for much success in the future, I remain yours in the good cause. Edwin D. Seegmiller.