[54] Many of the labors of these disciples are performed in a subtle and unassuming manner; therefore, people usually have no reason to suspect the identity of these ancient apostles. Other situations, however, give miraculous and apparent reasons for believing in their supernatural powers. Many instances can be related of these methods in giving aid and comfort to the missionaries.
Incident encountered by my father, George E. Brown, and John J. Oldroyd, over twenty-five years ago. The incident occurred on the Island of Vancouver, B.C.
Five years prior to this incident, two “Mormon” elders had been accused of criminally assaulting a young woman on the Island of Vancouver. For some reason they were proven guilty of the charge and sentenced according to the law of the Island. (The Church, as well as the missionaries who were involved, believed that the act was purposely committed by enemies of Mormonism who arranged the evidence in such a way that it was possible to convict the Mormon elders.)
. . . One evening they (Brown and Oldroyd) decided to hold a street meeting. They knew feeling was running high and that they would probably be molested, but they decided to go ahead regardless. . . . They had little more than started when down the street marched a large group of men and boys carrying several large pots of melted tar and several old feather ticks. The leader walked directly to my father and asked him if he was a Mormon. Much to the satisfaction of the mob, my father answered him in the affirmative.
Some of the members of the mob began to tear open the feather ticks, while others stirred the still warm tar. Just as the mob leader and two or three of the mobsters began to tear the clothes from my father’s body, a white haired [55] gentleman (no one saw him arrive at the scene) grasped the leader by the wrists and said in a loud commanding voice, “I have heard these boys preach back in the old country and they are all right. Now let them alone.”
At this the mob leader showed signs of wanting to fight. (The mob leader was a huge, muscular type of man.) Immediately the newcomer grasped him at the nape of the neck with One hand and by the belt with the other and shook him so soundly, taking him completely off his feet, that when he had finished, the mobster could not stand without assistance. Members of the mob picked him up, gathered up their feathers and tar, and departed much faster than they had appeared.
My father and his companion thanked the white-haired man for what he had done and asked him to stay and attend the remainder of the meeting. He accepted their invitation and stood directly in front of them throughout the services. . . . Mr. Oldroyd closed the meeting with prayer, as was the custom, and then looked at the spot where the man had been standing. It was vacant. This was before anyone in the crowd had moved at all. No one had seen him go, not even the people who had been standing at his side. . . .
As I understand it, the Nephites are supposed to be able to appear and disappear at will; on this, was based the conclusion that he might have been one of those Three. (Manuscript by Glen J. Brown, Scipio, Utah; May 24, 1938)
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