It is only by counsel of the Stake
authority that I take the liberty to send
this communication:
Mischa (Michael) Markoff from Servia, living in Alexandria, Egypte in 1886/87,
had a dream to sell out his barbershop and
take the next Steamer for Constantinople.
He did so. I happened to be on the same
Steamer, being just released from my Mission
in the Orient and returning from Jerusalem
via Jaffa, Port Said, Alxexandria and Constan-
tinople in January [18]87. The 1st of February
M. Markoff was baptized by Br. Hintze, Tanner
and myself in the Marmora Sea, and from
the enclosed letter we learn, that Br. Hintze
ordained Br. Markoff to be an Elder onthe 24.
of Febr. [18]88. Br. Markoff sends me the
enclosed letter, which, by counsel of the
Stake authrotity, I should forward to the Pre-
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sidency of the Church. The following is the
translation:
"Elder J. Spori. Dear Brother! I let
you know that I am now in Antwerp,
Belgium and I have baptized 6 persons.
Br. Hintze Missionary in Constantinope, or-
dered me to send unto him all the names
of those who are baptized by me. I have
written to him but received no answer.
I don't know whether he is still in Constple.
or not. But you know Br. Hintze; we were
all in Constantinople, Br. Tanner, Br Hintze
and Br. Spori the first of Febr. 1887
when they baptized me.Mischa Markoff,
from Servia, by trade a barber. Later on
I received the priesthood 24. Febr. 1888 by
Br. Hintze. Then we two travelled together
in Austria, but being persecuted we
separteated. I know not whether he is still
in Constantinople or not, for the last
letter from him I received in the month
of April. Therefore I send you the names
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of the baptized that you may forward them
unto the President so that they might be
recorded. These are the names:
4/ Couradina Pieper baptized 19/10 [1]888 born
298/97 18794 in Lünen Westphalia, Prussia,
(Names of the parents not given, only that
they lived there).
5. Emma Pieper, baptized 19/10 1888
born 296/9 1875.
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6./ Mathilde Pieper, bapd. 19/10 1888,
born 11/8 (11. August) 1879 in Lünen.
Parents are there and they were Prote-
stants before joining the Church.
Dear Brother, I thank the allmighty
God and Father in heaven who has shown [mg] by His servant the narrow path in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
I thank Him all the time for instructing
me to do His will.
I wish you would give me answer,
and also where Br. Hintze is. I wrote
many letters to him had know not
whether he received them. At the pre-
sent time I am in Antwerp, Belgium
had so not know where I shall be later.
I close my letter, sending my respects
to all, Br. Sp. Bro. Tanner and all the
Saints in the holy mountain of Zion and
remain your affectionate Brother in Christ
Direct: care of ^Mr.^ Fr. Pieper, poste restante Antwerp, Belgium." This
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2.
This is Br. Markow's letter. I sent
him a receipt for it, tried to write a
good letter to him, at the same time
suggesting he should stay where he is
until he receives some instructions.
His German reciting is somewhat
deficient, as he had no schooling in this
difficult language; he is better posted
in his native langue, Servish, he
talks some 3 or 4 other languages, spoken
in South eastern Europe. As far as I
could see I found his a good, honest
young man. On the "Khedivie", the
Steamer that bought us from Alexandria
to Constpl he told me of his long sear-
chings for the true religion, and by
listening to his talkings I received the
impression that he lived a pure life.
In Turkey everybody uses tabacco, but he
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turned from this habit the next day after
baptism. Last evening when I was ad-
vised to send this letter to the Presidency
I was also told to make suggestions a bout
Br. Markow, if I had any. I have
nothing to say, only as those, whom he bap-
tized are Germans, they might be repor-
ted to Br. J. M. Stucki, Pres. of the
German Mission, Postgasse 36, Bern, Switzerland.