Journal and Diary
of Francis D. Hughes
An Elder in the
Church
of Jesus Christ
of Latterday
Saints
No. 7
[Begins Sunday, 22 March 1863 and ends Tuesday, 23 June
1863]
[p. 1]
Sunday March 22nd I was at Swansea. I took some dinner at Bro Elias
Davies’s house. After dinner I and bro Davies went to the railway station to
meet bro George G. Bywater who had come from
Carmarthen Shire by the train. At 2 o’clock p.m. I attended a Sacrament meeting
at our hall. After singing and prayer I spoke for a short time and was followed
by Bro Bywater. At 6 o’clock p.m. I attended a
preaching meeting. After opening the meeting By singing
and prayer I preached a few of the first principles of the gospel to a small congragation that had assembled there. After I got through
bro Bywater delivered a verry
good discourse on the way to eternal life.
[p. 2]
After we got through with the meeting I went home with bro.
Wm Richards. Bro Bywater slept at sister Robbins’s house. Monday 23rd After breakfast I went down to sister Robbins’s house to
meet bro Bywater. We spent most of this day in
walking about. At half past seven p.m. We attended a prayer meeting at our
hall. We slept together this night at sister Robbins’s
house. Sister Robbins’s husband was not a member of the church. But for all
that Mr. Robbins I must say was a verry kind good
natured man. And my prayer is that he may have power to understand the truth
and to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ that he may ultimately be saved.
[p. 3]
Tuesday 24th we took breakfast at Mr. Robins’s. Before we left the house I offered sister Robbins three shillings for their kindness to us. But
Mr. Robbins prevented her from takeing it. We spent
most of the day in vissiting the saints until 5 oclock p.m. Then we took train for Neath.
After arriveing at Neath we
attended a meeting at bro Page’s house and we both addressed the meeting. We
both slept to night at bro Samuel Hornsby’s house. Bro Hornsby and his wife
were verry kind people and my prayer is that the Lord
will bless them and prosper them in all things. Wednesday 25th I and
bro Bywater took some
[p. 4]
Breakfast at bro Hornsby’s house. Afterwards we vissited some of the
saints. Bro. Bywater brought me some news from
home. He had lately been at Machnlleth North Wales
where my parents lives. He and bro Davied
M. Davies took tea at my parents house. Bro. Bywater went to Aberdare by the
evening train. I stayed At Neath for the night.
Thursday 26th I went to Morriston and
stayed at bro Hopkin Jones’s house. Friday 27th
Today I worked in bro Hopkin Jones’s garden prepareing the ground For seed. Saturday 28th At Morriston. I sowed some onion,
Leek, Carrot, parsley, & raddish seed today in
bro H. Jones’s garden.
[p. 5]
Sunday 29th After
breakfast this morning I walked to Cyfyng Branch
Distance about 10 miles. I attended a Sacrament meeting there in the evening. I
slept to night at bro Thomas Evans’s house. Monday 30th This morning bro Thomas Evans gave me a sixpence. Sister
Esther Williams also gave me one. I walked down to Pontardawe
and had some dinner at bro David Morgans’s house. Sister
Morgans paid my train fare to Llansamlet
and then I went to Morriston. A fair was held there this
day. I slept at bro. Hopkin Jones’s house as usual.
Tuesday 31st I employed
[p. 6]
this day in entering the accounts
off the balance sheets from the branches upon the Conference account Books and
making Balance sheets. Wednesday April 1st I spent this morning at Morriston. In the evening went to Swansea and attended a Saints meeting at our
hall. After we got through with the meeting I went home with bro. John Hughes
and stayed there for the night. Thursday 2nd At Swansea. This
morning I met a man on the
street by the name of John Ellis a
native of Machynlleth, North Wales the place where my
parents lives. I spent the forepart of this day in walking about
[p. 7]
with him. In the evening I went to Alltwen by the 5 oclock train And attended a Saints meeting there at bro James
Davies’s house. I slept to night at bro David Morgans’s
house. Friday 3rd After takeing
breakfast at bro. Morgans’s house I walked to Morriston. After staying there a few hours I went to Neath and stayed at bro Samuel Hornsby’s house for the night.
Saturday 4th This morning I took some breakfast at bro Hornsby’s
house. Afterwards I went for a walk as far as bro Page’s house. I had not been
there long before sister Elizabeth Hornsby (bro Saml Hornsby’s wife) came and
[p. 8]
told me that bro George G. Bywater was at Mr. Tout’s house and wanted to see me. So I
went to Mr. Tout’s house, but by the time I reached there bro Bywater had gone to the railway station. So I followed his
track and found him at the station. He was waiting for the train to go to Carmarthen to a conference. After I parted with bro Bywater I went
and took some dinner at bro Page’s
house. After dinner sister Page gave me five pence
half penny to pay my train to Porttalbot. I went to Port Talbot
by the 2:40 p.m. train. After arriving there I went to bro James Hodson’s house
and had some food there. I spent
the rest of this
[p. 9]
evening talking to bro and sister Hodson. Bro Hodson had not been
long in the church but he was an example to many that had been conected with the church for years. Both him
and his wife were verry kind people. They payed their tithing and were willing to do anything that
they were called upon to do. In the course of conversation bro Hodson told me that what I had lately predicted conserning the foreman of the shop that he worked for Was to his astonishment litteraly
fulfilled. Bro. Hodson was a Moulder
by trade and this foreman by name Joseph Furedy was a
very corrupt wicked man and used to dominear over
[p. 10]
bro Hodson
and used to redecule the servants of the Lord and
slander them continually.
I had told bro. Hodson that if he
would continue to pay his tithing and be faithful in the
church of Jesus
Christ that the aforesaid Joseph Furedy would soon be removed out
of his way. And it appears that he
although having an excellent situation and getting more money than most men was
verry dissatisfyed and gave
noticed to leave. Bro Hodson told me that he heard
that he had repented as soon as his notice was up to leave. I slept this night
at the house of a Wm Thomas Lewis.
[p. 11]
Sunday 5th I took some breakfast at bro Hodson’s house. Afterwards I went out with him for a walk.
I felt a severe pain in my head this morning. After dinner I in company with
bros Hodson and John Dixey
a priest from Pyle Branch went to Taibach to bro
Thomas Richards’s house and attended a saints meeting there. After singing and
praying bro Dixey spoke to the saints and was
followed by bro Evan Jenkins, President of the Branch. I would have’d rather for my own part to listen than to speak
myself, but as I was not often there the Saints expected to hear my voice. So I
stood up and spoke to them for a short time.
[p. 12]
At the close of the meeting I felt so sick that I was oblidged to go to bed and I continued too bad to go out of
the house that night. In the course of the night I vomited a great deal. Sister
Richards was verry kind to me. May the Lord bless her
and all of her family is my prayer. Monday 6th When
I got up this morning I felt my bones verry sore and
I was so fainty that I was oblidged
to return to bed. In the meantime sister Richards cooked some dinner for me
which consisted of boiled bacon, cabbage & potatoes and I managed to
consume a little of it. Afterwards I went back to bed. Between half past four
[p. 13]
and five oclock
I got up and took a little tea. Afterwards I shook hands with sister Richards and
bro Thomas Richards her son and went to the Railway station and from there by train
to Pyle. Bro John Dixey that accompynied
me paid my train. After arriveing
at Pyle we went strait to bro Wm Bowden’s house. Bros Dixey and Bowden went to a prayer meeting but I felt so
weak that I went and layed on the bed until they came
back. I slept to night at bro Bowden’s house. Tuesday 7th I stayed
at Pyle. In the evening I and bro Jenkin Davies vissited the saints houses. Went to bro Thomas Thomas
[p. 14]
house and found him and his wife
and Elizabeth his daughter verry much depressed in
spirits Owing to Elizabeths
(the daugher) child being verry
sick. I asked them if the
child had ever been blessed. They
answered that it had not. I told them that if anything was to happen to deprive
the child of its life that they would sorely repent of their negligence in not
having it blessed. Before we left the house bro Thomas Thomas
asked me to bless the child which I did. Afterwards I and bro Davies went to
bro Morgan Hardin’s house and had some food there. I slept tonight at bro Wm
Bowdens
[p. 15]
House. Wednesday 8th I
called at bro Thomas Thomas’s house and found the child much better. In the evening
I went by train to Aberavon and stayed there the
remainder of the day. Thursday 9th I went to Morriston
and attended a saints meeting there in the evening at bro Hopkin
Jones’ house. Friday 10th This morning I wrote out a financial
report of the conference for the Quarter ending March 31, 1863. Bro George G Bywater came here this morning and spent the day with us at
bro Hopkin Jones’s house. I and bro Bywater and bro Richard Thomas slept together
[p. 16]
This night. I found it rather akward for I was in the middle. Saturday 11th I
and bro Bywater went to bro Wm Richards’s
house to dinner who lived near Swansea. We met bro Jeremy there. After
dinner we three went to Swansea.
I returned in the evening and slept
at bro Richards’s house. Sunday 12
After breakfast I went to our hall Orange
street to
attend a general council of the
Conference. After singing and prayer I called upon elder William Richards To report the condition of Swansea branch. He said that the Branch
was in a healthy condition
[p. 17]
with a few exceptions. James Jones
was cut off the Church for slothfulness. Richard Brooks was suspended from
acting in the priesthood and also from enjoying the privillages
of the branch. His wife was also suspended for slothfulness. Elder Benjamin
Jones reported the Neath branch as being in a healthy
condition The spirit of the Lord is enjoyed by the saints in its gifts and
blessings. Inion Deer was cut off the church for imoral conduct. Elder Richard Thorn as [sic] reported the Morriston branch. He said that the saints were enjoying
good feelings. Mary Perkins was cut off the
[p. 18]
Church [for] negligence &c. I
have been presiding this Conference over a twelvemonth
and have never seen her in a meeting. Elder Evan Jenkins in reporting the Cwmavon branch said that he felt well and most of the
saints felt well. They had good meetings and enjoyed the spirit of the Lord.
Some of the saints did not attend their meetings as well as he would wish them.
Thomas Lewis was cut off for coroupt conduct. Priest
Joseph Hopkins was Suspended from acting in the
priesthood for continual negligence. He had not been seen in a meeting for severall months. His wife was so much opposed to the gospel
that she had
[p. 19]
succeeded in preventing him to come
near the saints. President Thomas E. Jeremy said that was but a poor excuse for a man
holding the Priesthood. Elder Thomas Evans reported the Cyfyng
or Ystalafera branch. Good feelings among some of the
saints. He felt well himself. Henry Rees and David Evans were suspended for drunkness. Elder Jenkin Davies
reported the Pyle branch as being in a good condition with a few exceptions.
Thomas John was suspended for Negligence and drunkness.
Thomas John had not been long in the church. When he was baptised
his
[p. 20]
wife according to what I have heard
behaved rather rough to him. She was determined that he should not be a Latter
day Saint. He went up stairs one day and found her trying to hang herself by
the neck and he imeadiateley cut her down. She made
other attempts and finaly suxeceded
by the help of the
devil in preventing him from associateing
with the
saints. He gave way to drinking
&c. I hope that he will make a resolution to be faithfull
and to overcome the devil, that he may ultimately to [be]
saved among the people of the Lord. Elder David Morgans
reported the Alltwen branch as being
[p. 21]
in a good condition. He said that
many of the old apostates were desireaus of returning
to the fold. They had baptized two last night, one of them being a returned
prodigal. There was no one here to represent the St. Brides Branch. President
Jeremy rose and said, “ I should like if time would
permit for us to talk together about the things of the Lord, but we are as yet
governed to a great extent by Curcumstances. I would
advise you brethren to cleave to this good work and not be weary of doing good.”
Council closed through prayer by President T.E. Jeremy. After having the
balance sheets of some of the branch
[p. 22]
Presidents I and bro Francis Gibbon of Cwnavon
went to bro David E. Davies the shoemaker’s house to dinner. At 2 o’clock p.m.
we again met at our hall in the capacity
of a Conference. Meeting was called
to order by singing the 166 hymn. Prayer by Elder
Robert Wilson. Sung 21st hymn.
Elder George G. Bywater rose and said, “Brethren and
sisters and friends, I am on this as well as on all other ocations
thankfull for the privillage
of addressing you. I do not wish to be
listened to as a speaker alone but that what I say
may be instructive and enlightening
to all who are before me.” He said that the inhabitance of Swansea have had the
[p. 23]
gospel preached to them for years and but few of them have
rendered obedience to it, and many of those who have obeyed the gospel have lost
their first love, and it has been more difficult to deal with them in this
state than it was to get them to believe the gospel the first time. He also
said that unless mankind will obey the gospel they cannot receive the spirit of
God. He spoke at great length upon the lukewarmness
of some of the saints and how they lose the spirit of the Lord and suffer their
minds to be clouded with darkness. He also said that if they don’t repent that
they will eventually apostatize. He also spoke upon the onward progress of the work of the
Lord since its establishment
[p. 24]
upon the earth in this
dispensation. He said that although the majority of mankind were
so
much opposed to its progress it had
and still would roll fourth and be glorified. He also refered to the martydom of Bros
Joseph and Hyrum Smith. He said that their murderers thought that by
killing them that they would put an end to what they called Mormonism,
but in this they were decived. He said that the work of the Lord had never been
in a more prosperous condition than it is at the present time. He urged the
saints to renewed energy and faithfulness and desired the Lord to bless them
all. Amen. While bro Bywater was bareing
his testimony of
[p. 25]
the divine mission of Joseph Smith
an evil spirit took possession of a young woman. It made her as stiff as a
poker (allowing the expression). Even the white of her eyes had turned up. She
looked frightful. President Jeremy sent me and Elder Robert Wilson to lay hands
upon her. We went of[f] the stand and layed our hands
upon her head and rebuked the evil spirit in the name of Jesus Christ, and it
groaned and came out of her. And thus she was restored and the glory be to God for ever, amen. Sung the first verse of the 260th
hymn President Jeremy then spoke upon the privillages
of the faithful saints. He also bore a faithful testimony to the truth of the
Latter day day work and
[p. 26]
said that Joseph Smith was a
Prophet of the most high God and that no one in this dispensation can enter the
church of God without complying with the doctrines
that he
taught. He also refered to the parable of Divas and Lazarus to illustrate
the present condition of the world. He also shewed
the difference between true conversion and what
the Christian world called conversion.
He compared [t]he hooting and shouting of what the world call revival meetings
to mesmerisms. He then duly presentented the
authorities of the church, Who were unanimously
sustained. He also moved that we all sustain ourselves and live more faithful
in the future than we have done in the past seconded and callied
[carried] unanimously.
[p. 27]
Elder Robert Wilson bore his testimony to the truth of this
glorious work and urged the saints to live more faithful day by day. Sung 273 hymn Welsh Book. Benediction by Elder
Francis D. Hughes. At half past six we met again at our hall meeting. Opened by singing the 273 hymn. Prayer by
myself. Sung another hymn in the 132 page.
President Jeremy called upon me to preach as I was led by the spirit of the
Lord. I bore testimony that the gospel of Jesus Christ was the same now as ancientley. That the same principles were
required to save humanity now as in days of old. And that the gospel preached
by Jesus Christ and his
[p. 28]
followers was again restored to the
earth in the fullness of its gifts and blessings. Finally I
told the people that had not embraced
the gospel. That if they would repent of their sins and be baptized for their
remission and have hands layed upon them by the
Elders of this church that they should know for themselves whither the doctrine
we preached
was of God or of man. Sung a hymn in the 12 page. President Jeremy stood up and
preached from the 3rd
chapter of the Prophet Amos and the 7th verse. Surely the Lord will
do nothing but he revealeth his secrets unto his
servants the prophets. He preached a verry
interesting sermon to me. He was followed by Elder
[p. 29]
George G. Bywater
who spoke at great length and bore a powerful testimony to the truth of this
great work. Sung a hymn in the 163rd page.
Prayer By Elder Robert Wilson. After the meeting I and
bros Jeremy Bywater and Wm Richards went
down to Mr. Robins’s house and had some supper there.
Bros Jeremy G. Bywater slept there for the night and
I went home with bro Wm Richard. Monday 13th After
breakfast I went down to Mr. Robins’s house to meet
bros Jeremy & Bywater and spent the morning along
with them. In the afternoon I went to Morriston and
attended a prayer[meeting] there, and stayed there for
the night. Tuesday 14
[p. 30]
I returned to Swansea.
Took a walk as far as the sea shore in company with bros
Jeremy & Bywater. In the afternoon bros
Jeremy & Bywater left By
train for meetings. I stayed at Mr. Robins’s house. I
and Mr. Robins enjoyed ourselves verry well. In the
evening He played on the violin and I on the 20 keyd
concertina. Wednesday 15th At Swansea in the evening I attended a saints
meeting at our hall. I and Elder Robert Wilson severally addressed the saints. A
verry good feeling prevailed. At the close of the
meeting I went to bro Wm Richards’s house in company with sister
[p. 31]
Mary Jones and stayed there for the night. Thursday 16th
I went to bro John Hughes’s house and wrote a few lines to bro William Ajax to Great Salt Lake City. Afterwards I went to bro Elias
Davies’s house to tea, and from there to Morriston
where I attended a saints meeting. Friday 17th At Morriston I spent most of this day digging in bro Hopkin Jones’s garden. Saturday 18th I walked to
Neath and took train from there to Pyle where I stayed
for the night. Saturday 19th This morning I in company
[p. 32]
With bros Jenkin Davies, James
Davies, and William Bowden, And sisters Anne Bowden
& Elizabeth Thomas, Went to Aberkenfig and
attended a Sacrament meeting at bro George Groves’s
house. I and bros John Jones of St. Brides and Jenkin
Davies of Pyle addressed the meeting. A verry good
feeling prevailed. I blessed a child called Sarah Jane, the daughter of bro
Daniel Lloyd. Between 4 and 5 oclock I and bro Davies
preached in the open air to a good crowd of people. Afterwards we returned to
Pyle. Monday 20th I stayed at Pyle. In the evening I attended a prayer
meeting at Bro Thomas
[p. 33]
Thomas’s house. After we got
through with the meeting I and bro Jenkin Davies
administered the ordinance of laying on of hands to
sister Elizabeth Thomas’s child. He had partly recovered since our previous
administration but was taken ill the second time. Tuesday 21st This
evening I went by train to Portalbot or Aberavon and stayed there for the night. Wednesday 22nd
This morning after takeing some breakfast at bro
James Hodson’s, I went to Cwmavon
to visit some of the saints. In the afternoon I returned to Aberavon.
Thursday 23rd In the afternoon I went to
Neath and attended a
[p. 34]
Saints meeting at bro Samuel Hornsby’s
house. A good many of the Saints had come together. I stayed at bro
Hornsby’s house for the night as usual. Friday 24th I stayed at Neath. Saturday 25th I stayed at Neath. About 7 ½ oclock in the
evening I and bro Samuel Hornsby went to see some Marionetts
acting. Sunday 26th After breakfast I went
to Alltwen about 5 miles distant and attended a Sacrament
meeting at bro James J.
Davies’s house. A verry good feeling prevailed. Two young women had been
baptized in
this branch since I was here last.
In the evening I
[p. 35]
went to Morriston.
Monday 27 at Morriston I occupied the forepart of
this day in writing. I wrot[e] two letters one to
President George Q. Cannon with the names and &c of those intending to
emigrate from this Conference. And the other to President
Thomas E. Jeremy concerning the financials of this month. In the evening
Elder Jenkin Davies President of the Pyle branch
arrived here in search of work. He had been discharged from his work at Pyle by
a Wm Jones the agent of the Stormy works for bareing
his testimony of the work of the Lord, And saying that he inteded
to emigrate to Zion. About 7 ½ o’clock I and bro Davies preached at bro Henry
John’s
[p. 36]
house to a few people that had
assembled there. I and bro Davies & bro Richard Thomas slept together
tonight at bro Hopkin Jones’s house. Tuesday 28th
After breakfast I and
bro Jenkin
Davies went to Swansea.
In the evening I went to bro Wm Richards’s house and stayed there
for the night. Bro Jenkin Davies went to Landore and lodged at Sister Hannah John’s house. Wednesday
29th This morning I went down to Swansea and spent the day there. In the
evening I attended a saints meeting at our hall. Thursday 30th At Swansea
I and
[p. 37]
bro Jenkin
Davies took a walk this morning about the docks looking at the vessels going out.
In the evening we went to Alltwen branch by train and
attended a saints meeting there at bro James Davies’s house. And we had an excellent
meeting. The spirit of the Lord caused us to feel well. I slept at bro David Morgans’s house. Bro Jenkin
Davies slept at the
Swan. Friday May 1st
1863 After breakfast this morning I went
to Morriston and stayed there for the night. Saturday
2nd This morning I went to Neath. Called at bro Samuel
Hornsby’s house with the books
[p. 38]
(Stars) and then proceeded to Cardiff by the 2.40 p.m. train Where I was kindley received by many of the saints. I slept for the
night with bro William J. Pugh at his Father in law’s
house in Homfray Street.
Sunday 3rd This morning I attended a council meeting at our hall Millicent street
there were present on the stand Thomas E. Jeremy president of the Mission, Elder George G. Bywater his first councellor
Joseph W. Morgan, president of that conference and myself. After opening the
meeting by singing I was called upon to pray. We had some verry
good instructions. I attended another meeting at 2 o’clock
[p. 39]
p.m. and had verry
good times of it. After opening the meeting in the usual way, I was called upon to address the
meeting and was followed by bros Jeremy, Bywater
& Morgans. Bro Joseph W. Morgans
was released from the presidency of the conference to go to Zion and Elder George Stokes was appointed in
his stead. I also attended an other meeting at 6 p.m. Bros Jeremy, Bywater & Stokes preached. Meeting closed through
prayer by myself. I and bros Thomas Thomas went to send two Young sisters home. Their names were
Margaret Jenkins and Anne Coslett. After going about
two miles we
[p. 40]
wished them good bye. About that
time a carriage passed with two Wesheyian preachers
in it. Bro Thomas asked them for a ride and they told us to jump up. I and bro
Thomas began to talk to them about religion. I shewed
them the difference between modern sectarian preachers and the apostles of
Jesus Christ. We did not carry it on too far, for fear
that we should be sent down. If they knew that we were Latterday
Saints verry likely that they would not have let us
ride with them. Monday 4th I stayed at Casdiff
In the evening I attended a
prayer meeting at our hall
[p. 41]
Millicent street. Tuesday 5th
I stayed at Cardiff
occupying my time by walking about. Wednesday 6th I stayed at Cardiff. In the evening I
attended a Saints
meeting at our hall and it was a verry good meeting.
I spoke to the saints from the stand for a short time and was followed by bros
Samuel Evans president of the Branch. Thursday 7th About 1.45 p.m. I
went by train to Pyle and stayed for the night at bro Wm Bowden’s
house. Friday 8th This morning I went to Portalbot
and found it verry
[p. 42]
warm walking. In the evening I went
to Neath and stayed at bro Hornsby’s house.
Saturday 9th I went to Morriston
and found two packages of Stars and four letters waiting
for me. Two from
the Liverpool office, one from bro Jeremy, and
the other from sister. [?] Sunday 10th 1863 This morning bro Jenkin Davies and
his wife arrived here and paid me the sum of £9.8.0 to the £9.18.11 that they
had in the Individual Emigration Deposit fund. That was clearing their passage
from Liverpool to Florence U.S. America. In
the evening I went to Alltwen branch and attended a
[p. 43]
meeting at bro David Morgans house. A very good feeling prevailed. Monday 11th
About middle day bro Benjamin Jones of Neath arrived
here after takeing some dinner at bro David Morgans house. We went to Cyfyng It was a verry windy day. In the
evening the rain came down in torrents. Tuesday 12th This morning I
took some breakfast at Sister Esther Williams’s house. Afterwards I painted he[r] name &c upon three Bags that she had prepare[d] to
carry her clothes to Deseret. She gave me £7.5.0,
that being the remainder of her and her two daughters passage from Liverpool to
Florence.
[p. 44]
May. Before I left she and sister Evans, Thomas Evans’s wife, made me a present of one
shilling each. In the evening I went to Alltwen.
Wednesday 13th I went to Morriston by the
9.33 a.m. train and occupied the remainder of the day in writeing
upon the conference book. Thursday 14th At Morriston. I occupied most part of this day in writeing
upon the conference Book. I also wrote two Balance sheets, one for the Quarter
ending March 21st 1863 and one for the month ending April 30th
1863. I also Wrote two letters, one to President T.E.
Jeremy
[p. 45]
and one to North
Wales to my sister. In the evening I attended a saints meeting at
bro Hopkin Jones’s house and spoke for a short time
to the saints and confirmed Lucy Jones a member of the church of Jesus Christ
of Latterday saints. After the meeting was over
sister Anne Rees of the Cyfyng branch related the
following dream that she had recently had. She saw the only knife that she had
fallen into a pool of water, and she stood looking at it for a while and
suddenly every path that led from the pool closed against her so she did not
know where to turn her head to the right nor
[p. 46]
to the left. While she was yet in
this trouble all at once a verry pleasant looking
path opened up before her. She
followed this path which led her to a large room which was nearly full of
saints. As soon as she was in the room she saw me coming apparently in a great
hurry with an overcoat upon my arm and President Jeremy along with me. We went
into a private room. She tried to come in along with us but she was prevented
for nobody but the Priesthood was
admitted unto that place. She felt a great deal of the spirit of the
[p. 47]
spirit of the Lord by the door.
Then she turned around and went about the room to shake hands with the saints.
Some of them were asleep, but they would awaken only by touching them to shake
hands with her. Others were awake and would shake hands quite liveley with her. After she had finished shakeing hands with the saints she sat down and saw her
father who is not a member of the church, standing in the middle of the room
looking verry
poor, ragged and thin. And for fear that she did not see him he asked her what
time was it and she answered
[p. 48]
three. Then she saw her brother (Jenkin Davies, Pyle) comming in with
a large Book under his arm. Her Father asked him what would
he be permited to say. In reply he said something
in the name of Jesus Christ. Then the old man Kneeled down and prayed
two or three words. She saw her
brother open the Book that he had under his arm, and it was all white paper
with the exception of the following words that she saw upon the corner of one
of the leaves: Ask and it shall be given unto you. When she saw that he immediatley shut the book and shook hands with her and went
away
[p. 49]
and she told him to remember her
the next time (Remember to emigrate her to Zion she ment
[meant]) and then she awoke. After she finished relateing
her dream I was led to give her the following interpretation. But before I
proceed any further I will give an account of her situation in life. She has a
Husband named Henry Reese. He is a nominal member of the church, But has latley been suspended for Continued drunkness
and negligence. He has gone to America
contrary to councel and left her and children
destitute. And he will be cutt of the church shortly.
His wife is a good woman and the Lord blessed her with
[p. 50]
the above dream: The Interpretation.
I said that the knife which she saw fallen unto [into] the water was her
Husband. And the reson [reason] why he was shewed as a knife is that he would have cut her up even as
a knife. He was a man that did not try
to do right and he would have led her to destruction. In fulfillment of her looseing [losing] the knife in a pool of water her Husband
is now upon the Ocean. She stood looking at it for a while and suddenley every path that led from the pool closed against
her so she did not know where to turn her head. And when
[p. 51]
she was in this trouble she saw a plesant
path open before her which led her to a room full of saints which means that she
will see difficulties and poverty and when it will come so hard that she will
have no place to turn her head the Lord will open a plesant
path for her deliverance to Zion and she may in Zion or before reaching there
see a room full of saints. I and bro Jeremy and Jenkin
her brother might be there as she saw us and many of the saints after traveling a
long journey might be sleepy as she saw them and the words that she saw upon
the corner of
[p. 52]
(May 1863) the book was to increase her faith in the
promises of the Lord. Friday 15th
This morning I wrote 4 Letters and I received one letter from bro Davied E. Jones the President of the Carnarvon Shire
conference and one from my sister from North Wales.
In the evening I went to Swansea.
Saturday 16th At Swansea this Morning. I had some seeds of bro
David J. Jones to send to the Salt Lake Valley
and among other seeds were the Orl tree or Welsh
Mahogany which were to grow in the mud of the Great Salt
Lake. Bro Jones told me that they would grow from 40 to 50 feet
high.
[p. 53]
There were also some fruit trees seed the choicest of England &
produce. I sent them per Post to bro Thomas E. Jeremy to take to Liverpool for
bro Channcey W. West who was returning to Utah.
In the evening I went to Morriston. Sunday 17th
At Morriston. This morning I
attended a district council at bro Hopkin Jones’s
house. A good many of the brethren had come together from Swansea, Neath and Cwmavon branches. Elder William Jenkins acted as clerk. The
following is a brief report of the council. Council was called to order by
singing a hymn in the 121 page. Prayer by Elder William
Jenkins. Another
[p. 54]
(May 1863) hymn was sung. I stood up and spoke to the
brethren upon the necessity of being faithfull with
me in the great work in which we were engaged. The branch Presidents reported their branches as
being in good condition with a few exceptions.
Sister Hannah Lewis of the Cwmavon
branch was excommunicated from the church for continual opposeing
and abuseing the Priesthood. Her son John Jones an
Elder was also suspended for his slothfulness and mean conduct. Sister
Elizabeth Cutliff of the Swansea Branch was also
suspended for continuel negligence. I spoke to the
brethren at
[p. 55]
some length upon necessity of
paying the debt that this conference was in for books. Afterwards the following
brethren promised to give the following sums of money towards liquadateing the debt:
£ S D
David E. Davies 5/
Wm Richards 5/ 10
Evan Jenkins 2
Benjamin Jones 2
David Morgans 2
Jenkin
Williams 2
Lewis Davies 1
Thomas Davies 1
John Thomas 1
William Perkins 2 6
Richard Thomas 6
William T. Evans 2
Samuel Horsby 2 6
Elias Davies 5
____________
£ 1 13 6
[p. 56]
(May 1863)
Brought Forward 1 13 6
William Jenkins 2
David Deer 1
Evan D. Jones 6
William Richards Junr 1
____________
Total 1 18 0
Council closed
through prayer By myself. I attended a sacrament
Meeting at 2 ½ p.m. Bro Hopkin Jones’s house was full
of the Saints and we had a verry good time of it. In
the evening I went to Swansea
and preached at our hall. Monday 18th At Swansea. In the evening I
attended a prayer meeting at our hall. Tuesday 19th I stayed at Swansea.
[p. 57]
In the evening I
went to bro William T. Evans’s house and slept there for the night. Wednesday
20th I went to Morriston and Stayed there
for the night. Thursday 21st I went to Neath
and attended a Saints meeting at bro Samuel Hornsby’s house. Friday 22nd
I went to Aberavon and Stayed there for the night.
Saturday 23rd This morning bro Jenkin
Davies came here. In the evening we went together to Pyle. I slept for the
night at Sister Anne Davies’s house.
Sunday 24th This morning I and bro Jenkin Davie went to
[p. 58]
(May 1863) St. Brides
and attended a sacrament meeting there at 2 p.m. at bro Thomas Buttler’s house. After the meeting was over we went to
Bridgend and took the train for Pyle where we attended another Sacrament
meeting at 7 ½ p.m. In this meeting I released Elder Jenkin
Davies from the Presidency of the Pyle branch to emigrate
to Zion and I
appointed Elder Thomas Thomas to take charge of the
branch for the time being. Monday 25th I went to Neath
and stayed there for the night. Tuesday 26th I went to Morriston.
[p. 59]
Wednesday 27th
This morning I went to Swansea.
About middle day the following named brethren and sisters left Swansea
per Steam packet Sovereign for Liverpool en route for the Great Salt Lake Valley.
Elder William Bowden and family, Elder Jenkin
Davies and family, Esther Williams and two of her daughters. In the
evening I attended a Saints meeting at our hall and confirmed sister Livinia Robbins a member of
the church. Thursday 28th I went to Morriston
[p. 60]
(May 1863) Friday 29th
I stayed at Morriston writeing
&c. Saturday 30th I went to Alltwen.
Sunday 31st I in company with bros David Morgans,
James J. Davies and John Davies Went to Cyfyng and
held a council meeting at bro Thomas Evans house. We held a sacrament meeting
also at 2 p.m. In the evening I and bro James J. Davies preached on the road
near Craig Llankuke. After we got Through
we returned to Alltwen where I remained for the
night. David _______
had been lately suspended took his place this day.
[p. 61]
(June 1863) Monday
June 1st I returned to the Cyfyng branch
and stayed there for the night. Tuesday 2nd I returned to Alltwen and attended a Saints meting at bro James J. Davies
house. I and Elders David Morgans and James J. Davies
confirmed six members that had been baptized last night and we administered the
ordinance of anointing with oil and laying on of hands to sister
Harriet Davies. After we had administered to her she said that this was the
first time for her to draw her breth without feeling
some pain for seven years. We had an excellent good
[p. 62]
(June 1863) meeting
and our hearts rejoiced in the truth. Wednesday 3rd I spent the
forepart of this day at Alltwen. In the evening I
went to Kilbebill factory the residence of bro Jacob
Thomas and stayed There for the night. Thursday 4th
This morning I and bro John Thomas went down the brook fishing. It was a
beautiful fine day. Bro Thomas said that he saw some fish and that was all his share for we did not catch any. In the evening I
went to Neath and attended
a saints meeting there. Friday 5 I stayed at
[p. 63]
Neath.
It was a verry wet day. Saturday 6thI went
to Aberavon and stayed at bro James Hodson’s house for the night. Sunday 7th I
attended a sacrament meeting at 3 p.m. at bro Thomas Richards’s house. Monday 8th
This morning I went by the 10.30 a.m. train to Neath.
Bro Evan D. Jones met me by the Station. About middle day I went to the town
hall to wittness a trial between Elder Benjamin Jones
the President of this branch and his wife Esther Jones. Esther Jones had been a
member of the church
of Jesus Christ of Latterday saints
[p. 64]
(June 1863) but she
had been excommunicated long ago for her wickedness. She had even lyed against President Jeremy to try to injure his moral
character. And he had said that she would go crazy if she did not repent but
instead of repenting she denied that she had said so. And I know that she is
nearly crazy now. I never knew her to speak a good word for her Husband and
children only lying about them and abuseing
them. I never was in bro Jones’s house but what that woman would try to create
a disturbance. At last to crown all her evil deeds prompted by
[p. 65]
the
devil and his agencies she had summoned bro Jones and Ellenor
her Daughter to appear before the majestrates to
answer to the following charges. Beateing her, starveing her and threteing to do her bodily harm. Esther had got the following
named persons for her witnesses who along with herself swore to many glareing flasehoods. Margaret
Arnold, Elizabeth Griffiths, Mary Jones, Anne Tamplin,
Janet Richards, Mary Davies. I never seen such unjustice done in any court before. The majestrates
would not
[p. 66]
(June 1863) give
anybody a heareing that was favourable
to bro Jones (and it was because he was a Latterday
Saint) but they paid every attention to Esther and her infernal crew. My name
and bro Samuel Hornsby’s were attached to the list of witnesses on bro Jones’s
side but they did not want to heare us. They summed
up the case by sending bro Jones to Swansea Jail for six months unless he could
find two bales for £10.0.0 each and himself for £20.0.0 to keep the peace for
six months. Bro Jones could probabley find bales. But
that would do him no good for Esther
[p. 67]
and
her hellish companions would have swore to any falsehood afterwards to get bro
Jones and his bales unto trouble. Poor Ellenor
scarcely had an heareing for
the same party were against her swearing falsehoods. The majestrates
fined her five shillings and seventeen shillings and sixpence costs or 14 days
imprisonment, but the money was paid. But bro Jones preferred going to prison.
When I saw such injustice done I felt rather indignant I walked up to the bar
and told one of the majestrates (Alexander Cuthberson) that they had not delt
out justice
[p. 68]
(June
1863) and that the world should know it. He then said to bro Jones, don’t go to prison Mr Jones.
Try and get some bales. This gentle man will bail you, Pointing
to me. I replied, no I will not bail him. He shall go
to prison and the shame shall be upon your heads for time and for all eternity.
You have acted shamefully and you will have to answer for it. You have believed
the testimony’s of some of the meanest, most low life persons that you could
have found in Neath. There were several respectable
persons in the
[p. 69]
hall
that could have given a truthful evidence but you did not want that. I am aquainted with the proceedings of this family better than
anybody that stood before you this evening but you did not want to heare my evidence. You have acted shamefully. After I had
finished whipping him he could not look me in the face leave alone saying
anything. The names of the injust majestrates
that sat upon the case are as follows. Capt. Evan Evans, Alexander Cuthberson, Alfred Curtis. Afterwards I went down to bro
Samuel Hornsby’s house and took some food. Bro
[p. 70]
(June 1863) Benjamin
Jones’s little children were there crying bitterly. Some of the Saints were
also crying for they were verry much attatched to bro Jones. In the evening I went to the
railway station to meet the 3.18 p.m. train to go to Llansamlet.
I saw bro Jones on the platform handcuffed in charge of a policeman who was
going to take him to Swansea
jail by the same train that I was going with. I walked up to him and said that
if bro Jones was a murderer that they could not have done worse than to
handcuff him. The policeman whose name was William Rees gave me some impudence
and that was all that he could do.
[p. 71]
When the train
arrived I went with it to Llansamlet and walked to Morriston and stayed there for the night. Tuesday 9th
At Morriston. I occupied
most of this day in writeing. Wednesday 10th
I occupied the forepart of this day also in writeing.
In the evening I went to Swansea
and attended a Saints meeting at our hall and I confirmed one Young Woman by
the name of Ellen Davies a member of the church. As soon as we had begun the
meeting bro Evan D. Jones of Neath came to the hall
and said that his father wanted to see me. I went with him to the bottom of the
stares and who was there but
[p. 72]
(June
1863) bro Benjamin Jones. I was quite thunder struck when I saw him. He
looked verry curious for they had cut his long beard
in the jail. I asked him how he managed to come out of the jail. He said that
his two brothers had bailed him. After having a little conversation with him I
returned to the meeting. And bro Jones went home to Neath.
Thursday 11th I stayed at Swansea.
In the evening I wrote two letters, one to bro Jeremy and one to bro D. E.
Jones to North Wales to inform him that his
Father was released from jail. Friday 12th This
was a very wet morning. about middle day
[p. 73]
it
cleared up. In the evening I went to Morriston and recieved one letter there from bro Jeremy informing me that
he intended to meet me at Neath Sunday. Saturday 13th I went to Neath. Sunday 14th At Neath.
This morning President Jeremy arrived here from Merthyr.
At about 11 o’clock a.m. I attended a district council
at Elder William Jenkins’s house, President Jeremy presiding. Elders Thomas J.
Lewis and John Popham were suspended from acting in
the Priesthood. Bro Samuel Hornsby of Neath branch was
ordained an Elder Under the hands of bro Jeremy and myself. After we got
[p. 74]
(June 1863) through
with the council we sent to bro Samuel Hornsby’s house and took some dinner
there. At 2 ½ p.m. we attended a sacrament meeting at bro Jenkins’s house, and
we enjoyed ourselves verry much. Bro Jeremy and myself addressed the Saints. In the evening we took some tea
at Mr William Tout’s house. He and his wife and some
of the children promised us that they would soon be baptized into the church. We
ordained bro Evan D. Jones to the office of a Priest. Monday
15.
[p. 75]
This morning I and
bro Jeremy went to Swansea.
In the evening we attended a meeting at the hall and severally addressed the Saints.
Tuesday 16th In the evening bro Jeremy went
to Merthyr by the train. I stayed at Sweansea. Wednesday 17th At
Swansea. In the
evening I attended a saints meeting at our hall. At the close of the meeting
bro Wm Richards went down to the sea to baptize a Young Woman. I
went to Morriston and stayed for the night at bro Hopkin Jones’s house.
[p. 76]
(June 1863) Thursday
18th I occupied most of this morning writeing.
In the evening I went to Alltwen branch and attended
a saints meeting there and it was a verry good
meeting. Friday 19th This evening I went to Neath
and stayed there for the night. Saturday 20th This morning I went to
bro Benjamin Jones’s house. Bro Jones read a verry
interesting letter to me that he had from his son David E. Jones the President
of the Carnarvon Shire Conference, North Wales.
Bro D.E. Jones stated in
[p. 77]
his
letter that he had been at my Father & Mother’s house and that they were verry kind to him and had invited him to call whenever he
liked. I told bro Benjamin that I was verry glad of
that. If they will be kind to the servants of the Lord they shall have a
blessing. I hope that bro D.E. Jones will have power to convince them that the
Lord has revealed the everlasting gospel in this dispensation. Bro Benjamin
told me that some of the magestrates that had delt so unjust with him lateley
had repented. Be that as it may. I know that they had no desire to _____ the
truth when they sat upon his case.
[p. 78]
(June 1863) Sunday
21st This morning I went by train to Pyle branch for the financials
of the month and at 2 p.m. I attended a Sacrament meeting at bro Thomas
Thomas’s house. Monday 22nd At Pyle. In the morning In company with
bro David Morgans I went to a farm house and bore a
testimony of the work of the Lord to an old man 83 years of age. I talked to
him about the gathering of Isreal in the last days in
fulfillment of the phrophesies that were in the
scriptures. I shewed him the
necessity of phrophets and apostles being in the
church.
[p. 79]
I also told him that
I knew that the Lord had a work upon the earth now and that I had obeyed the
gospel in these Latter days and had recieved the testimony of the holy ghost as they did in
ancient days. The old man did not offer to oppose anything I said But he did not feel inclined to obey the gospel. Tuesday 23
I went to Aberavon. I will here remark that a man
named William Roderick has a daughter named Mary. Mary is a Young girl. She had
been for a long time troubled with something verry
much like the palsey. When I first saw her she
[p. 80]
(June 1863) looked
like something withered away and one of her eyes were verry
sore and disfigured. She could not walk without being all of a shiver. I was
moved with compassion. The spirit of the Lord bore witness to me that if the
ordinance of laying on of hands was administered to
her that she would be healed. Her mother although a Methodist was led to ask me
to lay hands upon her, Which I did. First I anointed
her with consecrated oil in the name of the Lord. Then I layed
my hands upon her head and rebuked the desease and
asked the Lord to bless her. And the Lord heard my prayer inasmuch that the
girl was healed and she is now perfectley well.
[p. 81]
Her Mother said that
after I layed my hands upon her, (Mary) that she felt
something going through her. After I left she told sister Hodson
that she believed that I was a verry good man and
that she would never say anything against the latterday
Saints any more. Although the Lord was so kind as to bless the child and
restore it to health and by so doing giving its parents a testimony that he is
the same now as ancientley, they did not, neither do they now feel to embrace the gospel.
