Caleb Parry
Ogden City
Utah
July 3rd, 1870
Went to Abersycan with Bro Richards attended council in the morning and
sacrement meeting in the afternoon and preaching in the eavining. Settled a
difficulty between two sisters between meeting.
4th
At conference house in Tredegan loking over accounts went to see the Sunday
Scool profesion went to brunmawr in the afternoon to see the fun at the picnic
it rained so we saw nothing.
5th
At home writing a letter to my family went to prayer meeting in the eavining at
Tredegar.
8th
Went to Merthyr to see the bretheren but they had gon off saw them not
9
Raining all day. came back at night
July 10th
Went to Newport held council in the morning I settled a difficuty between two
familys from Caerwent preaslud?? in the afternoon and eavining had a very good
time.
12th
Making tithing report to send to Liverpool for the year ending June 30
13th
14th
Went to Newport to met Bro Richards
16
Went with him to Caerwent and back to Tredegar.
17th
Held council in Rhymney in the morning had a very good meeting in the afternoon
met with the breathren in Tredegar in the eavining and spoak some Welch
18th at Tredegar
July 19th
Went to Derry preached in the open air the same eavining people listened with
great attention except one drunken man who made a little noise but was soon
stopt by the people.
20th
Slept at Bro Williams Derry the word was round this morning that Brigham Young
had been preaching on the street last night.
21st
Wrote a letter to my family.
22 & 23
At Tredegar writing and auditing the books.
24th
Attended council in Victoria in the morning, and in Blaenu in the afternoon,
walked back to Victoria in the eavining, Bro Richards spoke mostly, I spoke but
little, did not feel good at all, I do not know what is the reason but the Lord
has left me to myself most sevearly lately, it seems to be his pleasure to
withdraw his spirit from us some times to let us know what we are, and O how
miserable we feel, and how blind we are.
25
At Tredegar, attended meeting at Bro Williams Newtown Ebbw Vale in the
eavining, spoke some and felt prety good.
26
Visited the bretheren and sisters in Ebbw Vale attend meeting in Blaina in the
eavining spoke a little, Brother Richards occupied the most of the time he
spoke better than I ever heard him before.
30
Was to have met with the saints at Victoria, rain prevented us, held council at
Blaena Branch in the afternoon & back to Victoria in the eavining had a short
meeting in the room and repared?? to preach out of doors but the rain came in
torrents and prevented us.
August 1st
At home looking over book accounts.
2nd
Walked to Merthyr to see brother Howels about the conference that was to be
held in Aberdare.
3rd
Stopt at Merthyr all day attended meeting at Dowlass in the eavining spoke and
felt pretty good walked back to Merthyr.
4th
Went through the Dowlass Iron works, with Bro Witet from Abersyehau, walked
back to Tredegar in the afternoon met with the saints there in the eavining.
5
Wrote a letter home.
6
Making Semiannal report to be read at the conference in Aberdare on the 14th
inst, walked in the eavining to Ebbw Vale and took the cars to Abersychan.
August 7th
Met withthe Elders in Abersychan in council in the morning had a meeting also
in the afternoon, took the cars to Abergaveny Abergavery in the eavining, mett
with the saints and preached to a house full of little girls and a few boys
they all listened very attentively and I enjoyed the Spirit more than I had
done for some time indeed it was a great treat for me to get up for I felt I
had nothing under the heavens to day but the Spirit came upon me and I spoke
with considerable liberty perhaps they will remember some time what was said to
them.
8th & 9th
In Abergaveny 10th by rail from Abergaveny to Ebbw Vale the finest ride I
think in England, the vue of the vale of Crickowen is the finest I ever saw.
11th
Auditing the book with Bro Richards went to Ebbw Vale in the eavining & met
with Saints
August 13th
Walked over to Merthwr was quite disappointed in not meeting the Elders for
conference tomorow met with the Merthyr Coire [choir] in the eavining enjoyed
the singing very much.
S14th
Took the cars to Aberdane to attend conference found Brothers Eldridge and
Bywater wating for us at theTemperance Hotel Sister Eldredge also was there.
Ten O clock we met in conference in the hall above Eliazer Edwards, myself, &
John S. Lewis from Swansea spoke Bros Bywater and Eldridge in the afternoon
Joseph Parry, Levi W. Richards, Pres Eldridge and J. Howels in the eavining I
think the preachers and people enjoyed themselves exceedingly the people
received us very kind indeed they could not do enough for us.
August 15
Took The cars to Merthyn and walked from there with the brethren Joseph Parry,
Eliezer Edwards, Thomas Howels, John S. Lewis, over the mountains to Tredegar,
we enjoyed ourselves very much walking over the smooth fine prafs, such as I
have not seen in any other country, we had all freedom we could wish out of
lite of all but ourselves we acted more like boys than men, we walked the same
eavning over to Neleria where we held a meeting rally anybody but the saints
came to hear, although the meeting had been published in good time, Brother and
Sister Eldridge rode home in a cart it was a fine site and created much mirth.
16th
Met at SXXXX all day untill eavining, xxx a xxxx station, that is the boys and
myself all hours.
August
Took the cars to from to Blain Avon, thinking to meet the train to Abersychan,
but missed, so we had to walk 4 miles, I spoke in connection with J.Howels H.
S. Eldredge and Bywater.
17th
Walked down to Pontry Pool and all dined with Sister Nash, a very agreeable
lady with two Daughters her husband is not in the Church, yet he is quite
willing to feed the Elders and make us welcome he believes the principles but
he drinks beer and gets drkunk I think he ws in the church once, Iand was cut
off for drinking. 3 O clock took the cars to Newport, from thence to Cardiff,
J. Parry and H. S. Eldredge spoke had a good time all the Saints felt well were
sorry to see us have to xxx back to Merthyr by xxx xxx meeting? At night L. W.
Richards J. S. Lewis.
August
H. S. Eldredge spoke S. S. Bywater was sustained as the President of the
Glamorgan conference instead of Thomas Howels removed to Bristol confeence T.
Howels bore his testimony befoe leaveing and said he was gonig to do somthing
for the saints in Merthyr that the Devil never did for them that is he was
going to leave them.
19Th
Stopt at Merthyr till five o clock in the eavining during the day we visited
the Cyvartha Iron works the cleanest and the most complete, and caried on in
the best stile, of any in the kingdom all owned by one man saw to be worth
seven million pound sterling. We arived at Swansea in the eavining.
20
All hands took a ride to the Mumbles on the horse car and took a xxx on the
mountains had a very fine vue of the Bristol Channel, and the Bay of Swansea.
21St
Met with the saints in Swansea had a very good time all day spoke to them
myself in the eavining enjoyed considerable liberty.
22Nd
This morning after a little over a weeks visit Brother and Sister Eldredge lef
us for Liverpool. We all enjoyed ourselves very much while he was with us he
made himself very agreable. He is a man very easy to approach and to get
acqukainted with. Sister Eldredge also made herself very agreeable no pride or
pomposity but a woman of very good sense. Raining pretty near all day. Mett
with the saints in the eavining spoke to them and felt tolerably well but
shivering with cold. L. W. Richards and John S. Lewis followed.
23
Took the cars to Merthyr and walked to Tredegar went to Abersychan inthe
eavining to attend a concert was very agreeably disapointed in the singing, it
past of very well. I sang myself O ye mountains high, saints and sinners
seemed to enjoy themselves. After the concert the girls took Bro. Richards and
myself into the middle of the floor to play kiss in the ring, we could not very
well get out of it without making ourselves disagreeble, all the boys and girls
take hold of each others hands and form a ring rouond the room then one
touches? A girl and she chases him all round the room untill she catches him
then she brings him to the middle of the ring and kiss, it is a play very
common in this country on occasions when the young gather together.
August 24
Walked to Blain Avon visited some of the brethren and sisters there and took
the cars to Ebbv Vale and walked to Tredeyar.
25
At conference house most of the day wrote a letter to Caleb went up to Duke
Town in the eavining.
26 & 27
Visited two familys of saints in Bresconshire near Boeccon?
28
Held councill with the saints in Blina in the afternoon settle a little
difficulty that existed among the Elder one had been preaching eronious doctrin
in regard to the priesthood saking they did not hold the priesthood in this
land that that they would have to be ordained again when they went to zion. I
told them they had received it, it being handed down to them through Joseph
Smith who received it from [missing material].
September
So my labours will be among the saints to build them up and comfort their
hearts and to pray God the eternal Father to give me power to do so.
4
Slept at Sister Nash last night felt full of joy all night and my peace was
like a river. Walked to Abersychan and held councill there in the morning,
Abersychan branch is in a very low condition, mostly old men with no energy at
all. The sisters are pretty lively. Held Sacrament meeting in the afternoon.
Bros Williams and Powell, from Blaina and myself spoke, had a very good time.
Bro Powell is a man that stutters worst than any man I ever saw, yet when he
speks in the defence of this work there is no impediment in his speach
whatever.
5
Went to Newport to see to the saints that are going to emigrate.
6
Saw the saints off this morning mett Bro John S. Lewis from Swansea. They all
went of rejoycing, met with the saints inAbergaveny in theeavining had a very
good time. There were two straingers there men who go round the countr with
stocking one was a Calvinistic Methodist, a very agreeable man, I felt to talk
to him very much he may believe the gospel some time, the saints were very kind
to me, it does me much good tosee them flock around me. I feel inded like a
Father tothem and tkhey seem to look upon me as such. May God bless them. In
the meeting tonight there happened a very disagreeable occurance, a young girl
who had been baptised unknown to her parents some time back, was in meeting she
had been tring to hide the matter from them but her mother tract [traced] her
to our meeeting commanded her out and swore awfully said she would tare her
damned liver out.
7
Took the cars to Brynmowr reached Treegar inthe eavining after visiting several
of the saints inBeaufort.
8
Back to Newport with the books of the conference wrote letters to Joseph Parry
and S. S. Bywater.
9
Writing letters letters and trying to get acquainted with the books of the
conference.
10Th
Do Do
11
Held counsill in Newport in the morning. Meeting in the afternoon and eavining
enjoyed much of the Spirit all day and felt glorious, the people felt first
rate willing to do anything for the Gospel and the cause of God. Wrote a
letter to H. S. Eldredge.
12Th
At Newport all day coppying this journal from a little book written with black
lead pencill, I come prety near giving it up, as it did not look very
interesting after it was written. I thought again perhaps it would be usefull
sometime and interesting and it would be a good practice for me to learn to
write my thoughts a man may know wever so much but it he do not practice he
neather can speak nor write. In the eavining I went to a sectarian meeting
house, they had prayer meeting the way they prayered was just as it was when I
was a boy, and ever shall be I supose, they had the fine old tone and what
awful sinners they said they were worthy of being damned to all eternity, they
die look sinfull hippocrits indeed.
Sept 13, 14, &15
In Newport could not leave town on account of some passes that was escpected
for some familys to emigrate if they had come while I ws away it might have
caused much inconvenience to them in not being notified.
16
Went to Cairwent, while on the way I thought of the name, though it is an
English place, no xxx within twenty miles, I could see it was a Welsh name
signifying a port portwet or the portres of Went. I took a strole around
touwnand found it as I expected an old fortification (Roman they say) for they
have found many roman coin in the neighborhood. IT must have been very strong
hold once as the walls xxx places now 20 feet high onthe xx side and 3 or 4
feet on the inside xx about 10 feet thick in the bottom. I could measure its
thicknys [thickness] by the detached pieces. Many tons weight that had roled
down the hill and held together by the mortar it is said that caradoc or
Garacticys grave near this place. I take great delight in viewing the amount
of work of the old Cymorumy xxxx I findin spite of myself that I have a little
prejudice in favour of the Cymon (Welsh) I believe there are as many of the
seed of Abraham among the Welsh as there are among any nation. The Irish
language seems to be the same origin with the Welsh but the people seems t be
of an entirely different disposition.
I met with the brethren in the eavining at Bro. Abraham Slodes had a very good
meeting enjoyed a goodly degree of the Spirit of the Lord. I feel full of
peace and joy these days and know that the people have joy in any labour .
Prest Daniel H. Wells said it would be so when he gave me m blessing before I
started on this mission.
17Th
Back to Newport and up to Tredegar.
18
Slept at Brother Jones walked to Rhymney held Counsil in the morning preaching
in the afternoon felt grevious all day walked back to Tredegar had good meeting
in the eavining Ordained Brother Samul Morgan into the office of an Elder he is
worthy of any office a good peacable man. The Lord doth abundantly bless me I
feel to acknowledge it with all my heart and my peace and joy no man can
describe I feel that my labours are accept. What a blessing it is to realize
that I am a servant of God, that I am here as a minister of salvation to
teachthe people the way of life and salvation. I am afraid I do not always
realise the responsibility there is upon me, I pray God the eternal Father to
give me of his Holy Spirit that I may be able to serve him faithfully.
19
Walked over to Ebbv Vale had a long talk with Edward Roberts told me what signs
and woders he had seen since he had joined this church and angel appeared to
him once in the bottom of the xxx and spoke to him, but he E R was so
frightened that he could not speak. Brother Roberts is a good man I do not
feel to doubt his word.
This same Bro Roberts stutters very bad when he speaks but he speas like
thunder in the defence of this work with no impediment what ever he told me he
had fiath enought to get his speach at all times but Elder Jones refused to lay
his hands on him for that, saying it would be more to the glory of God for him
to be as he is in standing miracle before the XXX. Walked to Blaina.
mumhuh on the horse ear and took a stoon on the maintins averey
August
Fine vue of the 13 ay of swaska
s21
met whith the saints in swasea new a very good all day spoke to them myself in
the evnining
engoyed conserteable liberty
22
This moning after a over a weeks biznis 13brouthers & sister Eldrege letft for
river ride
we all onjoyed iours elves es very much wile he was whith us he made him self
very
agreaable he is a man very easy to approch and to get acyuaiutu whith Sister
Eldrige
also made himself very agreable no pride or premisite but a wuman of very good
sence raining pretty near all day mett whith the saints in the eavining spoke
to them
and felt toberably well but shivering whith eow LW Richerdsan
August
And john S. lewis folowed
23
Took the ears to merhtyr and walked to trdegar went to Aburdychan an the
iavinging to attend
a cocirt iavj very aguably Aburuably in the singing it past of very well Nang
my self Oye mountains high saints & siners seem to enjoy themselfs after the
concert the grill took 13roRichards 7 myself into the middel of the hearo to
play kiss in the ring, we coud not very well get out of it with out walking
ourselfs unagreeable all the boys and girils take how of each others hands and
form a ring round the room then are kicher is gerl & the ehases him all all
the room intill the catchers him then she brings him to the middle of the ring
& kiss it is a play very eurmon in this country on vechenew when the going
gathering together
august 24
walked to 13 brain Lane
visited some of the brother and sisterther & took the ears Ewwvale & walked to
fredyou
25
At conference house most of the day i wrote a letter to Calib went up to Duke
Town in the evening.
S 28
Held council with the Saints in Blaina in the afternoon settled a little
difficulty that existed among the Elders one had been preaching eroniuos
doctrin in regard to the priesthood saying they JW not hold the priesthood. in
this land & that they would have to be ordained again when they went to zion I
told them they had receved it, it being handed down to them through Joseph
Smith who receved it from
September
So my labours will be among the Saints to build them up and confort their
hearts and So pray God the eternal Father to give one power to do so
