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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 June 1881 Wednesday In the morning I left Haywood for Lanark. On the way I gave away quite a number of tracts. I left them at farm houses on the way and some I gave to people that I met on the way. The day was very hot. I got to Lanark in the evening. I then went down to Kirkfieldbank where I spent a short time. I received a letter from my son, Thomas, and two pounds one shilling in it, also a letter from Brother Thomas Jack and one from my sister, Susan, all giving me good news. I stayed all night with Mrs. Campbell.
2 June 1881 Thursday I left Lanark for Hillend. I received a Deseret News. I was reading nearly all day. I stayed all night at Hillend with Brother and Sister Crosbie.
3 June 1881 Friday A cold morning and blowing. I started from Hillend to walk to Motherwell. It was very disagreeable on account of dust flying around in the air coming down the side of the Clyde. The sunrise beautiful to behold. The trees are nearly all out in bloom, a great many of them with flowers are out also. I took a rest on the road in the woods for a little while and read some in the Pearl of Great Price and wrote some in my journal. When I got to Motherwell, I was very tired. I stayed all night with the Stevenson family. I spent the evening in talking to some of the people in Motherwell.
4 June 1881 Saturday I feel very well. A dull morning. Went from Motherwell to Glasgow. When I arrived I went to the Conference House where I spent a short time. Then I went to my uncle's where I spent the evening. I stayed with them all night.
5 June 1881 Sunday Morning I started for Paisley for to hold a meeting, but when I went, no one came to our place, so I had no chance to talk, neither in the forenoon nor evening. I stayed in Paisley all night with Brother Alex Perry.
6 June 1881 Monday Morning I started and walked to Glasgow. When I arrived, I was very tired. I also received a letter from my son, Thomas. I went to the post office and drew two pounds one shilling and one penny which my son and wife had sent me from Utah. I spent some time in the Conference House along with Brothers Finlayson, Stoddard, and Weir. I then went out to see Mrs. Brash and others. Then I went to see James Burnside, where I spent a little time. I then went out with Brother McKee. Then I went from the Conference House to my uncle's where I stayed all night. James Burnside gave me half a sovereign as an acknowledgement for sending away my sister, Susan, and three children, his wife and children. I gave to my Uncle George two pounds that I had borrowed from him to get away my sister.
7 June 1881 Tuesday In the forepart of the day I wrote a letter to my wife and sons. Then I started out to Auchinairn for to see some of the Saints and acquaintances. I stayed all night with Mrs. Mary Morrow.
8 June 1881 Wednesday In the morning I went and called on the missionary in Auchinairn, a Mr. Burt, to see if I could get a hall that is in Auchinairn. We had a long talk on the gospel of Christ, but he said that I put too much stress on those things that were of little moment or of little consequence to us. Such as repentance, baptism and laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost and a great many other sayings which I said, which were just quotations from the scriptures. He said he had not the letting of the hall. I bore a testimony to him about the restoration of the gospel through the angel to Joseph Smith. I was with him for several hours. I then called upon Mr. William Bell. While I was in, the same missionary came in. He did not stay long, so he had me good left, so I soon left also after talking a little about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and what it was. In the evening I went to Bishopbriggs where I stood and heard a minister preaching on Jesus that he was all in all and that we that are sinners had nothing to do only believe that Christ had done it all for he finished it when he died on the cross. I spoke to two of their ministers. I said to one I would like to call on him, but he said he lived in Glasgow and did not say where he did live, only in Glasgow. I then went to Colston Toll where I stayed all night with Brother John Cain.
9 June 1881 Thursday In the morning I left Colston Toll for Glasgow. When I arrived, I received a letter from J. W. Burt in Salt Lake City, who gave me good news. I left Glasgow at 4:45 P.M. with the train for Motherwell. Soon after I arrived, I went on the street where I opened a meeting among the people. Just before I commenced to speak, there was a band of music playing. As soon as they stopped playing, I commenced and offered a prayer, then I commenced to speak on the first principles of the gospel. I spoke for about one hour when a policeman came and stopped me from speaking. I spoke with great freedom and force and the people stood as if they had been riveted to the ground. They were so attentive to what I had to say to them. The name of the policeman was Ross. There was a great crowd around me. I told the people that the next time I came to Motherwell to speak on the street that I would let them know by some means and that I would select a place where the police could not interfere with me. I then had a chat with some of the people of the place. Some have agreed to get baptized soon. One man by the name of John White asked me if I had come again with old wives' fables. I told him to be careful what he said. He promised to write me a letter and in it he would show me what the gospel was. So I gave him my address. I stayed all night with Mrs. Mary Stevenson's family. I had two of the brethren that stood beside me while I spoke to the people.
10 June 1881 Friday I went to Bothwell to see an Aunt that was in the Asylum. I found her much improved both in body and mind. I then went to Blayntyre for to see Brother William Robison where I stayed all night.
11 June 1881 Saturday I left Blantyre for Hamilton where I met a half cousin that had just returned from Australia. After getting something to eat, I then started for Motherwell. He went with me all the way, so I had a conversation with him about the gospel of Christ. I spent a very pleasant night explaining the principles of the gospel to some of the Saints till after 12 o'clock at night. I stayed all night with the Stevenson family. I made arrangements to go in the morning and baptise a man and his wife by the name of Gray.
12 June 1881 Sunday Morning I went to Calder Water and baptized Thomas and Martha Gray. I offered prayer at the waterside. There were present Sister Bell, Stevenson and four others. It was a beautiful morning and we had a pleasant walk to and from the water. At one o'clock P.M. we had a meeting in Sister Mary Stevenson's. Brother Cumnock spoke at some length. Then we adminstered the sacrament and confirmed Brother and Sister Gray. I confirmed Thomas Gray, and Brother Cumnock confirmed Martha Gray. Blessed two children. I blessed little Thomas Gray. Brother Cumnock blessed little Robert Gray. Then I spoke a little to the Saints and dismissed the meeting. Then I was at several places during the evening, talking about the gospel of the kingdom. In the evening I blessed a bottle of oil in Brother Bell's. As I was a coming through the street, there were two young men accosted me about being a Latter day Saint. Soon a number more came till there were 8 or 10 around me. I talked to them for some time. Then I left them. I wrote a letter to Brother James Finalyson. In the nighttime stayed all night at the house of Mrs. Stevenson.
13 June 1881 Monday In the morning I went to Wishaw to see my step grandmother. [This is probably Margaret Young Brighton, wife of James Brighton.] I saw her. She was very cold and indifferent to me. I then went to Waterloo to see my cousin where I was received with the greatest of kindness. I then went to Overtown to call upon a John Anderson where I listened to a lot of nonsense from him about Utah. Afterwards I asked him if he would like some correct information about Utah, for if he did, I could give it to him. I talked to him for a short time about the people of Utah and their religion. Then I called upon Henry Darrach, where I spent a short time with him. Then I walked around the places where I spent my childhood days along with my half cousin, James Hay. I stayed all night with my cousin, Mrs. Jean Hay at Waterloo.
14 June 1881 Tuesday I left Waterloo and took the train for Motherwell at 10:45 P.M. from Overtown. I stayed in Motherwell for a short time. Then I started for Blantyre and then from Blantyre to Cambuslang in company with Brother W. Robison, where I called upon George Jenkins, a brother-in-law to Mrs. Agnes Hogan of Salt Lake City. Then I called upon a James Robison, but I did not see him, but I saw his wife and three sons and daughter. I then went and called upon David Adamson, where I was received with great kindness. I returned to Blantyre with the 11:15 P.M. train where I stayed all night at Brother William Robison's.
15 June 1881 Wednesday I left Blantyre for Hamilton where I called at Brother Henry Cummock's, but he was not at home, so I left for Motherwell. When I came into Motherwell, I asked the policeman that stopped me from speaking on the street if I could not speak in some part of the town. He told me to get some unoccupied piece of ground, and he would not interfere with me, so I left him. He told me that his orders were not to allow a crowd on the street. I spent the evening in Motherwell. Slept at the house of Sister Mary Stevenson. Raining tonight.
16 June 1881 Thursday In the morning I left Motherwell and walked to Wishaw where I took the train for the Law. Soon after I got out of the train, it commenced to rain very hard, so I took shelter in a house by the way. After the storm abated some, I started out for Dunlop Place to call on Neal Houston and wife and family. I stayed all night with them.
17 June 1881 Friday Visit to Thomas Hair. Still wet. I started from Dunlop Place for Hillend to visit James Crosbie and family. In the evening I went and called upon a Thomas Hair, who was a nephew of my grandmother. I was received with the greatest of kindness by him and his wife. I spent a very pleasant time with them. I spoke to him about the gospel of Christ and the unsettled condition of the world, especially the Christian world. I gave him a tract. During the day I gave away some tracts on the way, as I walked along. I stayed all night with James Crosbie and family.
18 June 1881 Saturday Still a wet day. I went from Hillend to Lanark. When I arrived, I received a letter from a Mr. White in Motherwell who promised to write to me about the Kingdom of God, but he only sent me a few words and a circular with a great many pages of scriptural references. I also received a Deseret News from home, so I read some of it and wrote some in my journal. Stayed all night with Sister Campbell in Lanark. Had a nice pleasant walk in the evening with Emily Campbell and Mrs. Currie, whom I expect to baptise soon.
19 June 1881 Sunday I went to meeting at Hazelbank. While on the way I gave away about 40 tracts. We had a splendid meeting. There was a good turnout of the Saints. There were in all about nine or ten present. A few bore testimony after the sacrament was administered, and I spoke on the duties of Saints and the blessings and promises through faithfulness. Had no meeting in the evening. Stayed all night in the same place.
20 June 1881 Monday Was in Sister Campbell's all day writing. I wrote a long letter to James P. Farris of Utah, also one to George Campbell of Galston and one to James Burnside of Glasgow. Spent a pleasant evening. Stayed all night at the same place.
21 June 1881 Tuesday In Lanark all day waiting. During the two days that I have been in Lanark, I have written 36 pages of letters to my wife and sons and David Ross. Today spent a pleasant time. In the evening I was invited out to tea in company with Miss Emily Campbell by John Newhigging. We had a pleasant time for about two hours. Stayed all night with the Campbell family.
22 June 1881 Wednesday Soon after breakfast I started for Haywood to visit the Saints. I arrived there about 3 o'clock P.M. I was very tired. In the evening we had a meeting where the Saints bore testimony. Then I spoke to the Saints on their true position and also the condition of the children of men at the present time. I stayed all night with Mr. and Mrs. Tilley.
23 June 1881 Thursday A cold blowing morning. Went from Haywood to Greenwell where I arrived about 1 o'clock where I stayed till the evening, when I went to Brother Samuel Johnstone's where I stayed all night.
24 June 1881 Friday Wrote a letter to my uncle George in the house of Alex McFiggan. Spent some time with Sister McFiggan during the day. Then in the evening I spent at Brother Johnstone's where I stayed all night.
25 June 1881 Saturday I started for East Benhar to see Brother William Hood and the other Saints that were there. Arrived about 1o'clock P.M. Towards evening I went to Harthill where I found Thomas Laird with whom I used to live with before I was married. He is now an old looking man and hardly able to walk around for the want of breath. He and his sons and daughters were pleased to see me. His daughter said that the longest thing that she can remember was that I used to take her to the Latter-day Saints meetings in Auchinairn, so I told her that I had come again to take her to the Latter-day Saint meetings again. I had a pleasant time with them. They invited me kindly to come again and see them, which I promised to do. I then returned to Benhar and stayed with William Hood and family.
26 June 1881 Sunday I had a meeting with the few Saints that live in Benhar, which is only two families. We had a good meeting. I discussed them for nearly one hour on their duties and the allurements of the wicked one and spoke to them plain about what they or we ought to do before the Lord. We administered the Lord's supper and had a good time. The weather was cold and chilly. I stayed with the Hood family.
27 June 1881 Monday A very wet morning. I left for Climpydike about 12 noon where I arrived about 2 o'clock. I stayed all night with Brother and Sister Johnstone. Also I saw McFiggan and his wife.
28 June 1881 Tuesday I left Climpydike for Haywood where I arrived about 5 o'clock. I held a meeting in the house of Sister Syms with the Saints. There were two strangers in. I spoke about one hour on the first principles of the gospel. I stayed with James Tilley and wife.
29 June 1881 Wednesday Stormy morning and pretty cold. I started for Lanark where I arrived about 5 o'clock very tired. In the evening I spent in Sister Campbell's company with a few of the Saints. I stayed all night with Sister Campbell in Lanark. Got a letter returned that I had sent to James Burnside in Glasgow. During the day while coming along, I gave away quite a number of tracts to people by the way and also at the houses.
30 June 1881 Thursday A very wet morning. Feeling very well and I left Lanark for Motherwell where I arrived at 4 o'clock P.M. I spent the evening with the Saints, but had no meeting as it was very wet. I stayed all night with the Stevenson family.
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