Aberdare, January 25th, 1850
Dear Brother, ?? I have to
acknowledge the receipt of tracts, &c., per favour
(sic) of Bother John Davies. I now long to be off, but in the
meantime I feel an inclination to give Brother Pratt a short testimony of the
pleasure I have experienced in seeing the light of truth rolling forward
through the empire of darkness in Wales, under the Presidency of Brother
William Phillips, Abel Evans, and John Davies, each having a peculiar quality
answering the nature of their various circumstances in connexion
(sic) with their stewardship ?? concentrating a power in Wales which will
shortly cause the Principality to become a general Zion of the pure in
heart.
When the brave Captain left,
the thousands of Saints in Wales viewed the above three officers, who were to
stand in his place, just as Samuel viewed the youngest son of Jesse, "as the anointed of the Lord" ?? there
was no exception, no dissenting voice, no doubt, no fear; they knew that the
said officers were clothed with power and with sufficient courage to carry it
forth effectually (sic), and with sufficient humility, wisdom, and
understanding to make proper use of the trophies of victory.
True, the great men of Wales, with their flocks, despised 'Dan,' the honoured (sic) champion chosen by Joseph "to judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel." But there
was a something in connexion (sic) with Brother Jones that caused the enemy to
start. He was in some measure an American stranger,
&c., but when the remainder of the camp of the enemy heard of the Captain's
retreat to Zion, with the first fruits of his glorious victory, they naturally
thought that another son of thunder, a second Cyrus, would follow from the
sides of the North, from the land of Ephraim, at the same time having a faint
hope that the said comer, would be wanting in one thing ?? one thing needful on
Cambria's mountains, namely, a knowledge of the Welsh language ?? their last
hope cleaved to this; and they knew not that Dan had another Samson brought up
amongst his brothers, flesh of their flesh, bone of their bone, who would fight
the Phillistines and cause their dagon
to fall more perplexed than ever. True,
he could not boast of an extensive knowledge in any other language than that of
his mother tongue, but other virtuous accomplishments more than compensated for
the defect, so Brother William Phillips was called forward and counselled (sic) to preside over the church of Jesus Christ in Wales. Having
received the key of power, the sceptre of
righteousness, he commenced the work of responsibility with such energy and
courage, that caused the enemy to say, "who is this, is not this the carpenter?
&c.; from whence hath this man these things? And what wisdom is this which
is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?" The enemy's hopes were blasted, their
momentary guard was bitten by the worm of fear and withered, and the Saints
shouted aloud for joy, for truly the vacuum left by the absence of Brother
Captain Dan Jones is amply filled by our young president Brother W. Phillips,
in the Church, the families, and the hearts of the Saints of God in Wales.
The household of faith
increased in number to such an extent, that the tents that surrounded the
tabernacle in the different counties in Wales became numerous: the work of stretching out their
curtains, lengthening the cords, and strengthening their stakes with
forty-eight conferences annually, called for new exertions continually. So to help our beloved Brother to carry on
the work swiftly, Brother Abel Evans posted himself according to counsel in the
north, and Brother John Davies, with the "Welsh
Trumpet" in the south, pouring forth spiritual intelligence for the
exhortation, comfort, and edification of the Saints, warning, with solid reasons,
the honest of heart to fly from the wrath to come, and get into the Mormon city
of refuge, &c., &c., &c. The
Welsh Saints became proud of their publication, their scribe, and their editor,
for they were abundantly furnished with every topic calculated to inform and
elevate their understanding.
But in the midst of the
harmony, unity, and prosperity of the three that constituted, as it were, the
pillars of the church in Wales, all at once we found that Abel, the shepherd of
the north, was to be taken away, not by the hand of violence, but by counsel,
to fill another sphere in the church, which his undaunted faith entitled him
to. Abel (although away) will yet speak in Wales, through his
example of patience and perseverance in the midst of continual persecution, and
by surmounting all difficulties, living soberly, righteously, and godly,
steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.
But, just as the Saints began
to fell for their Brother, W. Phillips, at the council held last Tuesday,
announced the pleasing intelligence that Brother Levi Richards was appointed to
Wales ?? like all other appointments in the church, directed by the unerring
wisdom of the spirit, just in time and to the purpose, as Brother Phillips said
in council to all the officers present.
The spirit that characterized the information from the lips of the
President, caused it to be received as glad tidings of great joy, and will
surely be a crown of praise to him who manifested as willing a spirit to be
governed as to govern, considering further power truly necessary on many
accounts.
The officers present in
council, with few exceptions, were all Welsh, yet hey received the intelligence
about Brother Richards, with as much pleasure as the English officers
themselves; they saw that the appointment was pleasing to Brother Phillips,
therefore to themselves also, so Brother Levi Richards will be received, not by
the English only, but also with open bosom by the Welsh, and by none more than
by Brothers Phillips and Davis, and also by your humble servant and Brother,
W. Howells.
