The writer remembers meeting a gentleman in England who had made it a practice of defending the doctrines taught by the Latter-day Saints and of assisting the Elders whenever he met them. He carried a well-worn "Ready Reference" with him, and was well posted on our doctrines. His business took him to various parts of the country and in his travels he would occasionally meet our missionaries, attend their services and sometimes hire meeting halls for them. Many times have missionaries received contributions of money from persons who have attended their meetings, and that too without the slightest hint that they were in need of means. Frequently the Elders have also been encouraged and defended by unknown persons upon occasions where men have sought to oppose them or disturb their meetings. The writer recalls two instances that came under his observation where such was the case. At one time after holding a conference an individual arose at the close of the meeting and tried to get the attention of the people while he denounced the utterances of the speakers as false doctrine. He only said a few words when a stranger to the missionaries spoke up and defended their teachings, and at once silenced their opposer, who thereupon left the building. At another time an out-door meeting was being held. A fairly large crowd of people were listening very attentively and appeared to be much interested; but when the speaker was about to close, and made mention of the name of the Prophet Joseph Smith, there were some slight interruptions; but the meeting was dismissed without any serious disturbances, although it appeared that some of the men present were anxious to refute some of the statements made regarding the restoration of the Gospel through the latter-day Prophet. However, immediately upon the dismissal of the meeting and before the gathered throng had time to disperse, a gentleman stepped forward to the center of the group where the other speakers had taken their stand, and bore testimony to the truths proclaimed at that meeting and to the truths of "Mormonism" generally. The stranger whose identity was never learned, was a forcible speaker and held the audience for a considerable length of time although most of those present had been standing there nearly an hour before he began to speak. Missionaries have often been entertained and fed by strangers who have befriended them. In nearly every community where missionaries have taken up their labors they find those who will entertain them, and who seem to take great pleasure in doing so. In cases where the missionaries have been in need of means these friends have often been led to supply them without any request for such assistance being made. The following narrative written by Elder W. W. Cluff, and published in the Improvement Era, describes an instance of this character: