Gifts of the Gospel: “They Shall Speak with New Tongues”

GIFTS OF THE GOSPEL. "THEY SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES." (Mark XVI: 17). BY CHARLES S, SMITH. In the summer of 1842 I was a traveling Elder in North Wales preaching the gospel. My labors extended through Denhighshire, Flintshire and Montgomeryshire. In the course of my travels I was frequently entertained with food and lodging at the home of a brother John Dudley, who lived some three miles from Welspool, Montgomeryshire. His wife, Sister Letty Dudley, in fulfillment of the promise of the Lord, that those who believe the gospel shall receive certain spiritual gifts (Mark XVI: 17, 18), had received the gift of tongues, and frequently exercised herself therein. She, how- ever, had some doubts in her own mind as to the genuineness of the tongue she had received, that is, as to its being a gift to speak a language, which, while unknown to her could still be understood by others. An incident happened, however, of which I was a personal witness, which set all her doubts at rest. One day as I sat in the house of brother Dudley convers- ing with him, the front door overlooking the turnpike road being open, I saw three men, apparently sailors, walking down the road; when they reached brother Dudley's gate, perhaps some twenty rods from the house, two of them entered and approached the house, while the third, whom now I could see was a blackman while his companions were white, remained at the gate. The two who came to the house rep- resented that they were shipwrecked sailors, and were beg- ging their way to some town, the name of which I do not now