January 1875
Friday 1st (1-364) Chester Road
To day Elders Jno:Henry Smith & V.L. Halliday took
their departure the former to Worcester & the latter to Northampton &
vicinity which has recently been attached to the Birmingham Conference under my
jurisdiction, and I took train from New St. Station Birmingham for Chester
Road, spent very pleasant day with Mr. Phillip Barrington in talking upon the
principles of the gospel and answering such questions as was propounded to me by
him, he has once been a member of the Church also his wife and they love to
dwell upon topics pertaining to the gospel she, the wife of Mr B is a sister to
Emma Jones the wife of Wm P Jones who also
married my sister Barbara & on that account they claim relationship with me
but strange to say Mr. B kind of backslided out of the Church when polygamy was
revealed, but now they have three beautiful daughters of the age of 24, 27,
& 28 respectively who are all single without the least prospects before them
of ever having husbands & I rather think the parents look more favorable at
present upon that principle than they formerly did. I do not think the old lady
raises the least objections to that order of marriage, but is still a genuine
Mormon at heart, only she has a weakness she has imbibed since her
disconnection with the Church which she cannot overcome viz. drunkenness. I
told Mr. Barrington I firmly believed if he had have stuck to his religion pay
no attention to a principle which he could not understand & have emmigrated
to the gathering place of the Saints he would have avoided that great trouble
by throwing taking his wife & children into the society of a community
where such things were not practiced nor hardly known - yet his family matters
were in a very critical condition when he took into consideration the unmarried
state of his beautiful daughters and the wickedness & corruption with which
they were surrounded and the only salvation left for them all was to humble
themselves as a family & renew their covenants & gather out. He said he
had made up his mind to go on a visit when I returned & see his sister in
law Emma Jones & would like to take one or two of the daughters with us.
The daughters returned home about 7 o-clock who had been
to Town spending Christmas holidays we all stayed up until about 1 or 2 o-clock
in the morning sung several hymns out of our Church Hymn book & the
daughters all joined in - the day & evening being so very rough they
prevailed on me to stay over night.
Saturday 2 (2-363) Chester Road
Had a very good bed last night in the front room up
stairs slept with young Geo Barrington. After
breakfast Mr. Barrington invited me to go out to Sutton with him to make a call
upon his son Joseph who lives out two miles from Sutton on a nice farm, had
perfect welcome there a gentleman farmer living in the neighborhood came in
early in the afternoon, soon after his arrival I was introduced to him as a
gentleman from America bye & by he asked me what part I was from & replied
from Utah, then you know something about the Mormons says he - yes, says I,
have lived with them for 20 years & for the next 4 hours we talked &
argued upon our principles, mostly in relation to polygamy - both him & Mr
Barrington would bring up their strong arguments against the system which I
confuted & in some measure was enabled to disabuse their minds as regards
the prejudice which they had towards it.
Occasionally Mr B would coincide with me & then get the gentleman Mr
Walters to concur there was consistency in it as regards some points &c -
Mr W acknowledged that the old testament substantiated
the system but thought the New testament condemned it. I quoted to him the
promise of the Saviour Luke 18th, 28.29. & 30 "Verily I say unto
you there is no man that hath left home or parents , or brethren or wife, or
children for the Kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in
this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
Between 6 & 7 o-clock Mr Jos Barrington returned from
business in Town & would not let me go until late he ordered one of the
servants to hitch up the horse & we were drove to Sutton Station reached 26
Tenby 10.20 pm Mr Barrington paid my fare from Sutton to Birmingham.
Sunday 3rd (3-362) Birmingham
At 12 o-clock a.m. went down to Hockley to Priesthood
meeting there were only Pres Robinson & bro. Bench present so we returned
somewhat disappointed at the poor turn out - to meet next Sunday. 2.30 pm met
with the saint at the same place had a very good testamony meeting -
I spoke for some 20 minutes and advised the Saints
inasmuch as this is the first Sabbath in the New Year, for all to try &
improve on the last & do better endeavor to overcome one weakness &
follies, to turn a new leaf & attend to our meetings, prayers & the
duties that devolves upon us as Saints, for the people to save up their means
towards emancipating themselves from these lands & that I was very well
satisfied the Saints could do a great deal more towards it than they are doing
- at 6.30 I preached for 35 minutes after bro Robinson felt tolerably well
& had a very good audience.
Monday 4th (4-361) Birmingham
I went down to Bro:Bench had dinner and tasted of Sister
Bench's plum budding, I called upon Mrs Lucy Jones the Mother of Wm P my
brother-in-law her daughter Mary Ann Ladbrook were there & her two children
& we all had tea together I read them Wm & Emma's letters - Called upon
bro Ash who took my measure for a pair of boots - We went & bought a calf
skin for 13/11 and gave him 5/- to buy soles &c - The following is a copy
of an inscription on a grave stone I saw in Sutton Grave Yard - "As a warning
to Female virtue and a humble Monument to Female Chastity this stone marks the
grave of Mary Ashford who in the 20th year of her age having
incautiously repaired to a Scene of Amusement without proper protection was
brutally violated & murdered on the 27th of May 1817." This
evening commenced to work on my quarterly accounts.
Tuesday 5th (5-360) Birm
Wrote my son Richard quite a lengthy letter & mailed
it to day - went to the Baths, bought me a woolen shirt for 11/- returned to my
room & worked all day preparing quarterly & half yearly a/cs - Received
a Card from Elder V.L. Halliday from Northampton
Attended Hockley Branch council this evening Pres.
Robinson a few resolutions penned down which he was desirous to lay before the
Council, he submitted the same first to me to see if I would approve of them I
replied I was willing as one to live up to them & wished him to read them
before the Council. They were to the effect that we all agree to attend our
meetings more faithfully every week, also that the President of each district
attend the weekly Councils or send a substitute in case of unavoidable
detention & send in his report & accounts. In case they neglect for so
doing to be summoned before the Council & if they persist in their wilful
neglect for one month to be disfellowshiped, &c The Council accepted the
resolutions unanimously. I spoke for about 15 minutes & remarked that those
rules are very mild in comparison with rules they would have to comply with in
order to gain salvation & the sooner the better we all begin to accustom
ourselves to live up to good & wholesome rules & laws - The idea of a
person in this Church to be lukewarm is preposterous. If there is any truth in
our profession at all it is worth our while to devote our mind to it with a
visn [vision] & as though we meant it - It requires some energy on our part
to work out our own salvation & we will all see the day that we will and
that very willingly be ready to sacrifice everything we have on earth in order
to obtain it &c., &c.
Sister Sarah Gould sent me by Sis Hadley one pound 10/-
to be divided between myself & Elder J.H. Smith the other 10/- to be credited
on tithing which I gave into the Council.
Wednesday 6th (6-359) Birmingham
I made out my quarterly report of the financial affairs
of the Conference to day and forwarded it to Liverpool
with draft for £4 to be applied on Book indebtedness. Called at bro Hardings
took dinner with them and returned to the Conference house & prepared for
statistical report for the last half year. Wrote Jno Hy & sent him another
home letter.
Thursday 7th (7-358)
Distributed the Stars & forwarded bills to all the
branches - made a call upon Mr Barrington Bair St. had dinner with him &
his two daughters he spent the afternoon with me took me Handsworth old Church
went in the Church saw the Monument of James Watt the celebrated engineer also
of Bolton his partner who also had a marble Poust over the place he was burried
& also Murdock Dav Murdock's house he it was I think that first discovered
gas & succeeded in making it - each pew in the Church was enclosed with
boards about five feet high - returned to Mr B to tea & returned home about
5 & sent out the Stars
Attended meeting at Hockley there was the best attendance
I ever saw on Thursday nights had a very good testimony and I spoke for 15 or
20 minutes.
Friday 8th (8-357)
Received a letter from Jos F Smith in relation to the
quarterly which I answered bought me a satchel cost me one guinea the Tailor
also brought me my over coat which cost £2.15.0 - went down to bro Ash got his
little children to sing for me a while - got back to Tenby St and wrote all the
evening.
Saturday 9th
(9-356)
I took 12.25 train for Northampton through Coventry,
Weedon & Blisworth met bro Halliday at the Station went up to 71st
Russell St to bro Challis - called on Sister Shaw 54 April St had supper there
- she is one of the best of women, her daughter Polly was very sick &
look'd very pale Mr Shaw is not a member of the Church, did not see him -
returned to bro Challis at 8.30 p.m. RR fare Birmingham to Northampton 4/5½ 53½ miles
Sunday Jan 10 (10-356)
We went down to Sister Shaw for breakfast Mr Shaw was
present & received us very kindly as much so as any man ever did not a
member of the Church, we called upon bro Challis & we there wait to call
upon Sister Gibson in Grafton St her husband is also out of the church went out
in the days of Thomas Smith (rough Tom) through the course he took in
endeavoring to cast out an evil spirit from his son by abusing him through
pressing his thumb on the skin of his back. he
promised to come to meeting this evening he is quite an intelligent old
gentleman.
2.30 p.m. we had a very good meeting after hearing the
Saints bear their testimony I occupied 20 minutes & felt very well in
talking
6.30 Bro Halliday occupied the time for some 15 minutes
before me then I spoke for 35 minutes - after meeting the Saints stayed in Mr
Challis for an hour or more & we had singing & old Mrs. Gibson asked
many questions concerning the resurrection, baptisms for the dead &c also
the subject of spiritualism came up which drew some remarks from me to the
amusement of those present.
Monday 11th
(11-355)
Bro Challis handed me 6 pence in bed before he went out
to work we went to Sister Shaw after breakfast & just as we bro Halliday,
myself & Sister Polly Shaw a young sister of 16 years who had been sick for
some few days prior left the room went to the kitchen & suddenly we heard a
scream "Oh dear! My daughter is dead!" We got up from the table and went into
the kitchen & there found she had thrown up quite a quantity of blood
probably half a pint she was held up in the chair by her sister Mrs Mead and
also Mr Mead he is not a member of the Church & did not speak a word unto
us he is very bitter, he sent out to the hospital for a doctor and myself &
bro Halliday carried her to the breakfast room and laid her upon the soffa and
I anointed her with oil and laid hands upon her & before the doctor got in
she became quite conscious and told us that she felt much better - the doctor
came & while he was going to examine her chest requested us bro Halliday
myself the only males present to go into the other room which we did. It
throwed the family into great excitement - we did not sit up to eat anymore
breakfast so Sister Shaw the mother gave us quite a chunk of currant cake in
our satchel to take with us both had stepped out afraid Mr Shaw should come in
whom the had sent for immediately. He rushed & was so excited & as he come into the house said, When did she die? he came into the passage to where I stood ready to start and
saw Mrs S give me the cake and he appeared very friendly towards me. This
circumstance taught me it is not good to be faint hearted always - As I bid Mrs
S good morning she followed me to the door & gave me 2/- half of which I
handed to bro H - as we walked toward the station Mr S caught up with us &
spoke & we walked together little distance he was going for some ice. I
felt like exercise all the faith I could muster as Sis Shaw & her two
daughters are good members of the church but greatly opposed sometimes by the
Father & son-in-law.
We took 11.35 train from Northampton to Wellingborough a
distance of some 10 miles paid 10 ½ d. Reached Sister Barson about 1 o-clock I
found her in a bad state of health & suffering more I thought for proper
nourishment than from any other cause. I took out the chunk of cake out of my
satchel & we had a cup of tea together also her two daughters, her husband
who is an Elder of the Church was working at shoe making in the next room, they
had hardly anything in the house to eat - her husband I found to be a great drunkard
who had been permitted to remain in fellowship for a long time in that state.
A Mr Fowler a Methodist preacher came in and invited us
to go over to his house & put up. He keeps a Grocer shop also shoe
establishment close by and is always very kind to the Elders - we had supper
with him & his wife, Mrs F retired about 9.30 and we chatted until between
11 & 12 o-clock when he took a Bible and read a chapter an called upon me
to pray. I made a regular genuine Mormon prayer and every time I paused, he
grunted & said "Amen" it was all I could do to contain myself - I prayed
for the Authorities of the Church he said, Ha, hum, Amen.
RR fare Northampton to Wellingborough 10½ miles
10½pence.
Tuesday 12 (12-354)
We had pretty good bed last night - got breakfast and
then went over to Bro Barson had a good talk with him & told him by all I
could learn concerning his conduct that he was not worthy of fellowship in the
Church & that I would give him a chance once more to redeem himself and the
next drink he would have I would take action in his case and disfellowship him
from the Church - I told him that we as Elders could not think of coming to
Wellingborough to preach while he a member & Elder of the Church conducted
himself so shamefully - I told him that if he did not change his course &
that speedily he would soon loose his wife, she was now dying by inches for the
want of better treatment, he promised he would do so, but I had very little
hopes that he would. Myself & bro H went over to see a couple of old sisters
at Irchester a village about 4 miles or so from Wellingborogh had a few hours
chat with them both of whom felt very much down hearted no place where they
could to & attend meeting. Sister Neal is a widow & living with her son
who has 3 nice children motherless, and Sister Kemshad a very nice woman who
had been afflicted for some time with indigestion we administered to her. The
former is well acquainted with Elder Bull and asked very kindly after him. I
gave her 1/- to go & buy us some bread & cheese. These two sister pay their tithing regularly, they handed me 6/ each
which they had kept until some Elders would come around. They made us take 6
pence each.
We returned to Wellingboro about 6 p.m. having walked 8
miles & enjoyed ourselves very much with the visit the old sisters.
No sooner had we got with bro Barson than Mr Henry Fowler
the Methodist preacher were after us to go over to his house which was close by
& take supper & stay over night. We went with them to a lecture
delivered by Mr. Hy Visser in the Corn Exchange upon the subject of Oliver
Cromwell - and afterwards Mr. F kept us until nearly 1 o-clock in the morning
talking upon the subject of Mormonism. He asked me how I could prove from the
Scriptures that when a man dies that that is not the final end of him. I
replied that inspiration teaches us that when a person dies; that the spirit
goes to God who gave it and as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made
alive and the basis of our religion is like that of the Saints of former days
is the hope we have in the resurrection of the reunion of the body and spirit
again &c&c. I also referred to Job who had that faith altho worms would
consume his tabernacle & yet he knew that he shall again behold his
Redeemer in the latter days & that in the flesh.
On our way back from Irchester we called upon Sister
Pearson & took tea with her and her daughter. None of the family except her in the church. She gave us 6 pence each.
Wednesday 13th
(13-353)
When we got up this morning we found that Mrs Fowler was
not yet up and that she was sick with indigestion the preacher made us a good a
breakfast as he could apologized that he was no cook we however done very well
& he went with us to the Station about a mile off. I called as I passed
sister Barson gave her a shilling & bid them good bye - arrived in Northampton about 12. m we
went straight to Sis Shaw & found Polly (Mary Hannah) her daughter somewhat
better altho laid up in bed very low we went upstairs & administered to her
went up to Bro Challis 71st Russell St & found letters from my wives Hattie
& Lavinia very good news in both - we bid them good bye returned to Sis
Shaw had dinner & took our departure for Weedon did not get train until
5.25 reached Weedon little after 6 and walked to Norton 4 miles distance to bro
Wm Ballard got in by 8 o-clock somewhat tired, found them a very nice dear old
couple. Keeping a Co-operative store being a branch of the Daventry
Co-operative - they get 8 pence in the pound sterling commission for selling
all the village deal through them and for every £1.0.0 purchased the purchaser
received at the end of the quarter the sum of 2/6 and each share (£1) receive 3
pence (full share being £2.0.0). In order to become a member a person has to
pay 2/7 entrance fee 1/- of which is applied to fixed stock 1/- for members a/c & 7 pence for rules. The institution was
started about 15 years ago by poor people & works splendid and gives
perfect satisfaction throughout - they sell as cheap as every other store who
give no percentage back for amount spent with them except a pound of currants
at Xmas or the like success to the enterprises. The institution is governed by
a President & Board of Committee Secretary & Treasurer selected from the ? and
work for small pay - they are all men who work on a living - meet for an ? every week to transact all business and a balance
sheet exhibited at the end of every quarter - until this present quarter Bro Wm
Walker was the president - he resigned the position but they would have him
remain on the Committee as he gave perfect satisfaction which in the presidency
of the institution strange to say the president gets but 10/- & the
committee men but 5/- per quarter they engage a man to sell - the secy gets but
£10 & the treasurer about £4 per year for their services, &c - gave Sis
Barson 1/- RR fare this day Wellingboro to Northampton 10½ pence Northampton to
Weedon 11½ pence 22 miles.
Thursday 14 (14-352)
Had the best cleanest & sweetest bed last night since
I left home had my feet washed by bro H before we retired & also washed his
& we enjoyed our rest much. After we partook of
breakfast we walked over to Daventry & went to Drayton to see bro Wm Wilkin
spent an hour or two with him & his wife she is a very nice woman but a
member of the church. He gave an acct of the workings of the Daventry
Co-operative Store of which he was the President for many years - on our way
back to Norton we called at the Store which we found to be in possession of a
good supply of stock & which at the time full of customers. We arrived at
Norton about 5 p.m. In the evening bro Wm Major an old gentleman about 65 years
he talks of emigrating this summer with his wife who is also in the Church.
Received of bro Wm Ballard to help to pay my fare to
Leamington 2/6 he also gave the sum to bro H I also rec'd £1 from him & £1
from sister Elizth Horn Ballard in tithing which will be credited on
the books to their a/c on the Conference books.
Friday 15th
(15-351)
Had a good rest last night again.
After breakfast we took our departure for Crick Station walked 4 miles &
booked for Leamington fare via Rugby 1/11½ went up to bro Price his wife a
strong Catholic received us very kindly soon bro Price came in after lunch we
went with us all around Town - we called at bro Stowe his wife received me with
better feelings than when I visited there before with bro Mendenhall, but she
is very ignorant woman - we went to bro Price again to supper and back to bro
Stowe when myself & bro Halliday held a short meeting for about an hour he
spoke 10 minutes & I occupied about 45 minutes there were but few present
Walked this day about 8 miles RR fare Crick to Leamington 24 miles 1/11½pence
Saturday 16th
(16-350)
Pro Stowe called up to bro Price gave us 1/- each wished
us to call by his home & consecrate some oil which we did. Took train from
Leamington to Coventry distance of 9½ miles called upon bro Thomas Smith also
bro Reynolds and then we went over to Fallshill to Sister Porter called on the
way upon Sis White sister Porter made us some dinner although late we waited
until Mr Porter got home who was glad to see us & invited us there to
dinner on the morrow. Sister Porter made us take a few yards each of some fringe wove by them to take home to our wives. She would not
accept pay for it - and returned to Coventry
- engaged lodgings at Grayhound.
Walked about 7 miles RR fare 9½ pence Received of Sis
Porter 1/- to pay for bed
Sunday 17th
(17-349)
After breakfast at bro Smith I went and showed bro
Halliday "Peeping Tom" Also the St. Michaels &c then bro Smith went with us
to Sister Porter to dinner had quite a talk with Mr. Porter who went with us to
meeting to bro Reynolds. After some talk with bro Reynolds who heretofore was
President of the Coventry Branch but finding that he was given to drinking a
little & backward with his book money having made use of the money in his
family &c - he promised however he would remit it in one month he felt like
giving up the Presidency of the branch - which I accepted seconded by bro
Halliday and carried unanimously - I then proposed the name of Thomas Smith
seconded by bro Reynolds which the meeting approved of unanimously. We had very
good meting I occupied some 48 minutes bro Halliday 20 minutes the Saints felt
well & glad for the opportunity once more of the society of couple of
Elders Sister Bolton handed me 6pence.
We took 7.30 train for Birm RR
fare 1/7½ being 18 miles. On arriving home learned that the smallpox was next
door & that it was raging pretty bad around.
Monday 18th
(18-348)
Having promised last night we all went up to Camp Hill
i.e. bro Jno Hy & Halliday, when we had good dinner - wrote a letter for
sister Underwood to bro & Sis Fedkin [?] Salt Lake
- called at bro Ash for my boots which he had promised me before I left for
Northamptonshire. He brought them up that night I left but took them back &
pawned them they have to send for them while we were there paid him for them
the balance due 5/- also gave him 3/- on a/c of another pair. Called at bro
Bench where we had tea & back to 26
Tenby St.
Misses Bench & Holding called upon us to inform us
that Sarah Jane Ludrey was better- walked about 6 miles to day.
Tuesday 19th
(19-347)
Feeling quite unwell this morning waked up several times
during the night with a bad head ache - took a dose of powders 7 went with the
brethren to the Baths.
Miss Hollis next door is improving finely & the
prospects are she will soon get over the smallpox.
Myself & bro Smith went down
Town & called upon bro Harding whom we found laid up in bed sick. We
consecrated some oil and administered to him - had tea with Mrs. Harding &
returned to 26. We all went to Hockley Council there was a very good turned out
of brethren.
Wednesday 20th
(20-346)
This morning the brethren took their departures Elder
Smith to Stafford & Halliday to Leicestershire to visit his friends at
Higham near Hinckley.
Made out my quarterly report for the
three months ending Dec 31/74 also statistical report of tithe list for the
half year ending the same time & forwarded them together with the Certificate
of Audit of J E a/c for the same quarter to Jos F Smith 42 Islington Liverpool.
In the evening called by way of Sister Starmer upon bro & sis Warren had tea there
& went to hear Moody & Sankey the great American Revivalists at Bingley
Hall in company with bro Ash & Arnett. It astonished me to see such an
audience of some 14,000 people come together to listen to such nonsense but I
presumed the most of them went like myself to see out of curiosity - but
learned the audience was kept up night after night about the same. The
performance for I can call it no better name commenced through singing a series
of Ranter songs occasionally a Psalm for 30 minutes until the Revivalists
arrived who on their arrival dropped on their knees before the vast assemblage
present & engaged in silent prayer. Then Mr. Moody called upon Mr. Sankey
to sing a solo accompanied on the harmonicaw &c&c
Mr. Moody's sermon was no better than some of the Ranter
sermons I heard on the streets. After the sermon was over the Galleries were
cleared so all who wished to prayed for to have consultation with their Aide de
Camps upon religious matters - some 20 mostly young girls old women & half
dozen young boys went up.
Thursday 21st
(21-345)
Prepared this morning for the
distribution of the Stars. Received Jno henry's Deseret News Weekly.
Attended Hockley meeting had good meeting, & quite a good attendance the
Saints felt well - bore their testimony freely & sang hymns with the Spirit
all felt to rejoice. I spoke for about 20 minutes &c
Friday 22nd
(22-344)
Went down to Bull
St. brought Mell a mouth organ for 5/- called at
bro Spokes & had dinner with them.
Rec'd letter from Jos F Smith also one for Jno Henry
inviting him to go over to Liverpool if his cold was no better to recruit which
I sent him to Stafford
Saturday 23rd
(23-343)
Went down to the Public Library &
from there to Hardings. Sister Harding gave me 1/- to go & buy me
some dinner - after tea went by invitation to Mr. Smith Gt King St to supper
spent two or three hours very agreeably with Mr Smith.
Sunday 24th
(24-342)
Received a kind invitation from Elder H.S. Gowans of
Manchester approved by Pres Jos F Smith to go and attend their Conference on
Sunday the 11th day of April also bro Jno H Smith was also invited
which I answered & accepted of the invitation.
Called upon Mrs.
Plant Hunters Lane who is a sister of sister Jos
Bull of Salt Lake City
showed her a letter I received from Sister Bull she said she was actually
ashamed of herself for not writing, she expected to go to have their portraits
taken & then write to her.
2.30 attended Saints meeting at Hockley had very good
testimony meeting spoke for about 20 minutes. 6.30 Bro Warren preached about 10
minutes and I followed for about 40 minutes felt tolerably free in my remarks -
there quite a good house some ten strangers whom I never had seen before who
listened very attentively. I read the 1st Chap of Paul's epistle to
the Galatians, endeavored to show what kind of a gospel Paul preached and the
Curse pronounced upon every man who preached any other kind showed from other
portions of scripture the fruits of that gospel which Paul & others of his
day preached and compared it with what men preach now a days. Bore testimony to
the restoration of the same gospel by an Angel of God & that there is no
salvation in any other &c&c
Monday 25th
(25-341)
Went down to the Public Library, called into the Town
Hall where there was a religious service held in connection with the visit of
Msrs Moody & Sarkey where prayers were offered on behalf of five
unconverted sisters, eight by wives of unconverted husbands, eleven for
unconverted sons, five on behalf of an unsaved mother & twenty one in
behalf of different relatives &c & lots of other nonsicul prayers went
down to bro Spokes to dinner & tea and in the evening I went in company
with bros Spokes & Bench to Bingley Hall to hear John Bright MP Dixon &
Muntz both MP's there were some 16,000 people present Mr Bright is a fine &
powerful orator and spoke much against the established church of Eng he was
received with great enthusiasm.
Tuesday 26 (26-340)
Stayed in to day all day writing attended Council this
evening at Hockley being very wet there were but few present.
Wednesday 27th
(27-339)
Wrote several letters today out to MP Jones & Emma -
to my wives, my bro Elias to my son Richard also to bros Greenwood Lyman
Stanford Sister Wedge, Webb & Shaw. Called upon Mr
Barrington who made me stay to dinner & tea - and agreed to go with him
& two other gentlemen to shoot on Friday some 20 miles in the country - at Kenilworth.
Thursday 28th
(28-338)
Distributed Stars afterwards went down to bro Spokes who
kindly prevailed upon me to stay & have some dinner. Bro S seemed to very
well, remarked "He would rather I stay and get me something
cooked than not and says I never loose anything by treating the servant of God
well that he always notices he prospers after it. I called to see sister
Starmer who has been very ill & yet not fit to do anything. Mrs Murphy was
staying with her & helping her - took tea with them.
Attended meeting at Hockley there were four strangers
stepped in I preached to them some 20 minutes there was very good testimony
meeting.
Friday 29th
(29-337)
Met Mr Barrington & two other gentlemen with whom I
took train from New St. at 8.45 am to Berkowell where a carrier had come to
meet us to convey us to the Boot Inn near Kenilworth after we had some lunch we
all went with an old man whom Mr B & others had engaged by the month to
show them around the Estate where the game was but instead of that we were
taken were there wasn't any but where plenty at some time or other had been we
only saw four rabbit & one Cock Pheasant. Three of the former I killed one
of the gentlemen hit the other slightly & after a good race the dog caught
it in an adjoining field. The bird we missed being a very awkward place among
so much brush & thick cover of trees. About 3 o-clock it commenced to rain
& we returned to the Hotel after having a good exercise through fields over
hedges &c and had a rabbit a piece to take home with us. Reached home about
7.30 found Mrs. Ann Wedge of Dudley waiting my
return she had come to borrow £2 for two weeks which I lent her because she
always had been so good kind to the Elders whenever they call that way took her
to Monument Lane Station she went back with the 9.55 train - only paid 2/6.
Saturday 30th
(30-336)
Wrote several cards to Halliday,
Squires, Cooper &c. After dinner I went down to bro Bench had ea
& then went with bro Bench to Bordesley Green & called upon Mr Jno
Child Meredith they lived in a very large house. he is
a peculiar man both him & his wife healed us very kindly it appears he used
to be a member of the church. they started for the
Valley some 20 years ago went as far as Council Bluffs
stayed there some 10 years returned to Birmingham.
They resided there during the war. Related how he was treated knocked down with
a cudgel by some fellow named DeKay which blow he says has affected him ever
since so much so that he looses sometimes his memory entirely. He commenced to
relate some things about his family & all at once he forgot the name of his
eldest son see now says he I cannot think of his name this is the way I am
affected? he apparently is a fine intelligent man - he is perfectly crazy ____
[illegible] his wife upon the Tichboone question takes great interest in it
& has spent great deal of money through it. he remarked "I just know he is
Tichboone as well as I know Jesus is the Christ" I concluded there that he was
not very certain of it for if he knew Jesus to be the Christ he would know
better than spend his means & time so foolishly. Mrs. Childs Meredith is a
sister to Chas F Jones' widow also D Clinton & one of the Mannings the
Tailors have married her sister. They invited me very kindly to come up again
any time I feel inclined drop them a card & he will stay in so as to have a
good days chat together returned by way of bro Spokes got home about 10 p.m.
Sunday 31st
(31-335)
After dinner took train from Hockley 1.44 for Dudley held
meeting with them at 2.30 spoke about ½ hour after they had born their
testimonies there was a very good meeting the most I ever saw come together in Dudley. Bro Wootton came there to inform me that there
was quite a number that wished to be baptized in Wolverhampton & that he
had been to engage the Baths & they wished ti know when I could attend to
them I replied any time that would suit them would suit & for them to drop
me a card to name the time. I walked from Dudley
to Greets Green West Bromwich where I held meeting with the Saints in the
evening & we administered the Sacrament & I preached for about 40
minutes. Started for Hockley with the 8.02 train.
Received of bro Stanford 1/- sister Williams 6 pence West
Bromwich 10 pence Sister Rowley 6 pence Sis Tait 6 pence & bro Chas
Eastmore 1/- took cup of tea with the latter on my way from Dudley
Received letter from Elder Hardy of London who has been
requested by the "Utah Educational Bureau" through its actuary to collect
catalogues of books & price lists of the principal publishing houses of
England generally which he wished me to procure from the principal houses in
Birmingham - fare to ___[?] ¼
Monday Feb 1st
(32-334) Went down to New St. & High St. &c and tried to get
catalogues & price list which I procured & forwarded to bro M H. Hardy
called at bro Harding myself & bro Cardwill had dinner there wrote bro
Hardy.
Tuesday 2nd (33 -
333) After dinner took train from Hockley for Bradley & Moxley called at
bro Richard Lund had lunch there went to bro Wootton waited until he came home
from work after tea he went with down to Lunds. Bilstow Baths
& to Darlaston. I put up at bro Kendrick, we called at a little
cabin on the side of the road between Bilston & Darlaston where a man named
Shiletoe lived he had been in the church his wife is a good woman & her
parents named Derecott are in Bear Lake Utah she also is related to Wm. Touks'
wife. Stayed up with bro & sis Kendrick until 11pm.
Wednesday 3rd (34
- 332) After breakfast started from bro Kendricks. Sis K gave me 6 pence to
pay my fare. I walked to Daisy Bank to Bro Lunds bro L got me a nice chop for
dinner, & I took train for Wolverhampton 3pence called at Walsh's also bro
Berwster walked down to Priestfield took tea with sis Bush & train for
Hockley 10 ½ pence happened to get into a car that Mr Capt Jones from Salt Lake
City was in I made his acquaintance a couple of years ago through my bro Elias
who done some work for him in building a smelter &c I recognized him
directly before I got into the car. He was very glad to meet me said he would
put up at the Great Western Hotel in Birmingham tomorrow & I promised to
call upon him he put down at Wednesbury said he expected to meet a friend there
he said he was now interested in driving a tunnel through the Emma Hill had
taken a contract & had come over to see some parties here concerned in the
speculation.
Thursday 4th (35 -
331) - I
distributed Stars today & sent bills to all weekly distribution for the
month of January afterwards called at the Great Western Hotel to see if Capt
Jones of Salt Lake had registered there, did not see his name on Register
attended Hockley this evening & spoke about 20 minutes very good meeting
rec'd a letter from Jno Child Meredith inviting me to dinner.
Friday 5th (36 -
330) Wrote Prest Jos F Smith also Jno H Smith including P O O [Post Office
Order] for 5/- and wrote V L H enclosing 4/6 the former at Liverpool, the
latter at Norths. Walked up to Bordesley Green to Mr. Meredith had dinner there
with them they treated me very kindly in the evening I accompanied Mr. M
& wife to Bingley Hall to hear the American Revivalist Moody Sankey. There
was a fine audience composed of various religious sects was indeed astonished
to see what nonsical talk suits the mind of the religious world which puts me
in mind of Paul's advice to avoid vain babblings which some men in their day
were guilty of Sankey's singing attracted a good deal of the attention of the
people his farewell song was on the tune of "home sweet home" I did not like
his singing because he drolled so in endeavoring to through in too much piety
or sanctity in to the which however was what pleased the people ~ Moody's
sermon or rather his speech was the word able God is able to make ther [?] stand the drift
of his discourse was that man is not able to save himself, it is no use of his
having confidence in himself he should have confidence in God if he is
saved at all it is through the grace of God &c, &c Mr. Meredith handed in a note up to them requesting
them to pray for Sis Roger Tichboone which was not noticed at the close of the
meeting. I had quite a job to stop M from shouting out to them why they did not
notice it they pray in their meetings for five sons & 2 daughters,
oubermen [?] & policemen, one tailor & the like foolish expressions
& Meredith thought that Sis Roger ought to have honorable mention.
Saturday 6th (37 -
329) Wrote Prest Jos F Smith sent PO order
for J E & book money wrote Jno Hy & enclosed in bro: Smith's letter called
at bro Harding when I had some dinner returned home by way of the Public
Library stayed in the rest of the evening.
Sunday 7th
(38 - 328) Received letter from my wife Hattie containing discouraging news of
herself & children being very sick. Emily Beddington called this morning & settled for her Stars
talked to her as regard her neglecting her meetings &c Attended Council at
Hockley this morning there was a very good turnout & it was about the best
council I ever had at Hockley I spoke very fairly & endeavored to arouse
the people to a sense of their duties &c. We had very good meeting in the
afternoon & ver good spirit prevailed Mrs. Elkington called to see me her
husband alas was present in meeting she is the daughter of Mrs. Dyche asked me
if I wold be kind enough to write her a letter to her mother. I occupied 30
minutes this afternoon. Mrs. Gould came up to me & gave me 2/6 she looked
very unwell & seems to endure a great deal of trouble in the family on a/c
of her being a latter day Saint. 6:30 Bros Geo A Smith & Robinson preached
I afterward followed & read some of James epistle 1 & 2nd
chapter and made some remark upon the same occupied about 40 minutes went
to Wm Smiths to supper with Sis Hadley.
Monday 8th (39 -
327) Mr. & Mrs. Elkington Josephites called to see me they seem to get
tired of Josephitism had quite a talk with them upon such things as they
differed with us explained to them some things they were anxious to gather out
to Utah & wished me to write to Mrs. Dyche her mother I told them that
Utah was not the place for them who held on to what is called the new
organization. Oh say they we do not agree with every thing they say I gave
them to understand that they had better stay here ten times than to go to Utah
unless they got rid of the Josephite views entirely for they weould only be
dissatisfied there & find fault & want to come back again 0 they
thought not they had been spiritualists & everything else & nothing
seemed to give them so much pleasure as the principles of the gospel I was not
altogether pleased with their spirit & wrote Mrs. Dyche to that
effect. Weighed myself on Geo Smith's
scale & weighed 129 lbs having gained some five pounds since I weighed
there last had on my new every day suit old boots that ________[last line did
not copy]
Feby Tuesday 9th
Wrote Varner to Northampton enclosed letter from home Booked from Snow Hill to
West Bromwich 5pence called upon bro & sis Barton Had dinner then we went
to see sister Elizabeth Plant an old lady on her deathbed the poor old sister
felt so hard to leave her body in this land without gathering home to Zion. It
troubles her very much because she could not go & receiver her blessings
there, she had been a faithful old sister, but having no one related to her to
do the work for her. I told her she need not fret herself she should loose no
blessing & that I would if I was spared attend to it for her. The following
is her geneology as best I could glean from her Maiden name was Elizabeth
Heath born at Brownhills Staffordshire Nov 23 1797, daughter of Thomas &
Ann Heath baptized by ___________[blank in original] confirmed by
___________[blank in original] her first husband was John Jandrel son of
Michael & Jane Jandrell born in Mongomeryshire Wales was as near as she
could remember about 9 or 10 years older than herself was a good man but died
before the gospel was restored afterwards married to one Geo Bates of whom
she bore children & afterwards married one Wm Plant who received the gospel
both of whom she said were not good men the latter apostatize & was very
mean to her & refused to let her have money to emigrate she preferred being
sealed to the first husband if permitted I promised to represent his case
which gave her great satisfaction I anointed her throat administered some old
to her & myself & bro Wm Barber laid hands upon her the daughter in law
was present although not a member of the church she was very kind. Returned to
bro Barber & two young girls of sister Goodyear came then and sung for us which
was good, & they would do well to sing in any concert they both wish to be
baptized but their father opposes the work very much so much so that their
mother dare not go to meeting she is anxious for them to emigrate. Mary
Goodyear & Ellen the latter is her grandchild & only 11 years & so
good a singer as I ever heard also Mary sings good seconds they are both
determined to gather to Utah & have got a book & commenced to save up
their pennies gave them 6pence towards it. Took train West
Bromwich to Hockley 4pence. Found letter
waiting me from Elder Wm Greenwood who is released to
return home on account of sickness & who wish me to meet him tomorrow at 1.45 New St.
Attended Council at Hockley Bro Jno Ewer handed me 2/0 as we were coming home.
Wednesday 10th - In the house all morning, having
received a letter from Wm Greenwood who was on his way from Norfolk to
Liverpool stating he would like to see me at our station on Midland RR so at
1.45 met him & had half an hour together, it seems that he was released to
return home on acct of sickness but I found him much better than I expected
Returned to '26' spent the evening in reading.
Thursday 11th
Immediately after breakfast Elder Geo L Farrell came at the door whom I was
pleased to see, he was on his way from having been visiting his friend &
his future Guild of labor in Nottingham Conference went with him to hunt up his
cousin Miss Eliza Morris of St. Charles St. but could not find her, it being
evidently the wrong address. Distributed the Stars, went down to bro Geo
Smith's had dinner with them and we went to Hockley Chapel had very good
meeting bro F occupied most of the time.
Friday 12th
Wrote Jno Henry & sent letter from Freeman to Liverpool also wrote Bp
Hughes after dinner we went down to New St. Station & bro Geo L Farrell
took train 1.20 for Nottingham. Bought chest & lung protector paid 4/6 No.
3 Went down to the Baths paid 6pence. Stayed in the remainder of the evening reading &c &c.
Saturday 13th
Went and settled for ground rent of Hockley Chapel paid 49/7 half year ending
Xmas also called at the Gas office paid two gas bills for house & chapel.
Went to bro Spokes had dinner with sister Boddington then to bro Ash whom I
found in great trouble through sickness, he had made me a pair of boots but
they were in pledge I gave him money to get them for me 6/6 in full Called by
way of bro Spokes had tea & then returned to 26.
Sunday 14th
Received a letter from both of my wives which I also answered this
morning. Sent 2
letters to J H to Lpool. 2.30 Met with the Saints at Hockley we had very
good time and as lively a meeting as I ever saw here spoke for a short time to
the Saints. 6.30 I preached & felt great freedom of speech & occupied
an hour within 5 or 6 minutes Bro Robinson followed me for 20 minutes there was
quite a number of strangers present.
Three or four who had been in the church some years go manifested a
desire to join the church again two of them had been strong Josephites I did
not press it on them but let them take their course &c. Was invited to Wm
Smith's to tea and also went to supper with Mrs G who also gave me 1/-
Monday 15th
Received a letter from my son Richard which was a very good spirited letter and
pleased me much to see him write so well & take my advice to him in
relation to matters at home Rec'd also a Valentine from somebody do not know
who but was a beautiful one & expressive of good wishes. Went and called
upon Mr. Wm Phillips son of Sister Phillips of Sussismer Lane both him &
his wife received me very kindly & wished me to stay with them to tea which
I did he seems to be quite a genius at stuffing birds & animals also a
horticulturist raises for his own pleasure a great variety of flowers he is
also a pretty good singer. I called & stayed an hour or two with Mr.
Barrington in the Rule factory he made me stay to dinner with him Returned to
'26' at 6.15 stayed in the rest of the evening read the Voice of Warning to
Julia & Sis Hadley.
Tuesday 16th
Called at bro Harding's this afternoon took dinner with them & stayed to
tea found out that there existed quite a feeling between he & his wife on
account of unkindness exhibited by him towards her & that he took exception
to what I had taught upon the principle in the last council which matter I
introduced & we then talked it over it appears that considerable jealousy
existed in the breast of Sister H & he had rather taken a course to enflame
the same by having purchased a silk handkerchief & had the same addressed
to himself on his birthday which caused Mrs. H to think it was from the person
(Mrs. Fitter) whom she was jealous of - & he had denied that he knew who
sent it. I talked pretty plain to them as to the course both of them took &
warned them against persisting in the same. Went to council
at Hockley. Bro Ash felt very bad because his Star had been stopped from
him - I spoke
for about 15 minutes.
Wednesday 17th
Remained in the house until after dinner Sister Wedge & her neice Selina
____[?] from Dudley Went down to meet Elder Jno Henry Smith to New St.
Station arrived at 3.50 Emily Beddington came to meet sis Wedge they all stayed
to tea Bro Smith & myself went with sis W to Monument Lane Station she
took train for Dudley. Sister Wedge gave me 1/6 to pay my RR fare when last to Dudley.
Thursday 18th
After distributing the Stars & Journals JHS & myself went to sister
Pendrey Where we spent all the afternoon we returned to '26' and we went to
Hockley sister Sarah Gould came there to meeting with sister Hadley to be
administered to for deafness for the last two weeks she has been troubled with
noise in her head we administered to her also to bro Jukes We had very good
meeting bro Smith & myself occupied the time also bro Robinson spoke a few
words Mr. Rotherdam & sister Rotherdam was present they had received a
letter from friends who live at Deseret Millard County, Utah sis Gould handed
me 15/- for my use I gave 5/- to Jno Henry we called at Mr Wm Smith on our
way home who made us stay for supper.
Friday 19th Jno
Henry & myself went down to brother Spokes where we stay all the afternoon
& had good time with their little children dined & had tea & stayed
until about 7 p.m. when we returned to 26 it was snowing nearly all day
Saturday 20th
Rec'd letter from E Davis & R Flamar Had a very interesting vision last
night in which Elder Parley P Pratt Senr appeared unto me as natural he had on
a beautiful new suit of light clothes & came to us as though to attend a
conference we were going to hold & felt as though he could attend and participate
in our meeting without any body know except myself & Prest Jos F Smith that
he was a resurrected being. I told him I wished to goodness that I could lay
the principles of the gospel as plainly as I could read them in his writings to
this generation. Well says he depend entirely for the
spirit of God and it will bring them in such plainness before your eyes & I
will stand by you. I also saw in a dish before me something in the shape of
Jelly or I thought it was eatable but I can hardly describe it but bro Parley
told me to partake Also Prest Young appeared & I thought we were there in
the United States & that we were going to hold a kind of a Conference, but
there was going to be held a great political meeting in the same city the night
previously and says bro Brigham to Parley I wonder what effect this
political meeting will have upon our meeting -Oh says bro Parley it will be
just the thing exactly says he & will do good instead of harm. Jno Henry & myself stayed in all day the weather very cold
snowing all day.
Sunday 21st Wolverhampton 12 ___[noon?]
Took train at 10 am from Hockley to Wolverhampton called
upon Prest Sharp the presiding Elder of this Town found him at home in his
every day clothes and in talking with him found that he was very dilatory to
attend to his duties & had not been to the meeting for a month he intimated
that circumstances would not permitted him however I learned afterwards he
might have attended a couple of Sundays during that time I mentioned to him
that I thought it would be to the interest of the Branch to relieve him &
appoint another man that it was an utter impossibility for the branch to thrive
while the leading man did not take right hold & lead the way, he
acknowledged it & thought it would be the best thing that could be done
so I appointed a council for next Sunday to make some little changes. I then
went to the Sunday school bur fond the room closed to be true the weather was
very inclement I went up to sister Walsh whose children had been down to the
room but had to return because there was no one there to teach them after
dinner at Sister Walsh I run over to bro: Brewster with whom I talked as
regards taking charge of the branch &c&c 2.30 There were but 4 or 5
present we had the Sacrament administered & bro E Brewster & myself
spoke for a short time each. 6.30 there were 3 or 4 more present than in the
afternoon bro: Brewster & myself occupied the time again there was but one
stranger present. I went to Walsh's after my shawl & walked to Priestfield
put up with bro Bush.
Monday 22nd Priestfield
After breakfast I walked to Bilston & Willenhall,
hunted up for Mr. Harper a man on whom Bro Flamank wished me to call but could
not find the right man I then walked to Durlaston had dinner with sister
Kendrick & walked to Greets Green Swan Village distance altogether about 11
or 12 miles it was very windy & caught a severe cold in my throat &
lungs had cup of tea with old sister Mountford called after Sister Rowley who
gave me 2/- then took train from Swan Village to Hockley jumped into the car as
it was leaving without ticket spoke with the Guard & travelled 2nd
class passenger for the first time a distance of 4 ½ miles cost of 9pence
reached 26 Tenby at 6.30 pm found Jno Henry & Varner L Halliday here. Found
a letter from Hattie, Mill, and my sister Barbara the latter forwarded her
picture which is very good.
Tuesday 23rd Birmingham
Received a letter this morning from Bp Henry Lunt of
Cedar City Iron Co. Utah also received a note from the Post office General
concerning the packet which Jno Henry addressed of the "Stars" to Sister Shaw
Northamptonshire which could not be found Stayed in all day did not go to the
Council this evening but bro: Smith & Halliday went.
Wednesday 24th - Stayed in all day the brethren
went down to bro Warren
to dinner. Wrote a letter to Richard & Mel Wrote L S Hills to remit me to
the Lpool office the money of sister Sarah Gould which was deposited in the
Savings Bank & which she lend to bro Warren to emigrate this coming season
some $90 & odd dollars in all enclosed letters to Hattie & Lavinia.
Thursday 25th
Stayed in all day, distributed the "Stars" made out bills to all the branches
did not go down to Hockley meeting this evening on acct of severe cold in my
head & not having been out for two or three days & thought it not
wisdom to go out late at night. The brethren went down & had very good
meeting considering the inclemency of the weather, & stayed to read.
Friday 26th Birmingham
At "26" all day with the exception of going out to the
bath after which I laid on the bed for an hour & an half the brethren
went out to hung Varner's cousin. We all stayed in the evening reading
scriptures.
Saturday 27th Birmingham
After dinner I went with the boys to Bro Bench and spent
the afternoon & evening witht hem & Ephraim & Mary Ann sung for us,
had tea there returned to "26" about 10 p.m.
Sunday 28th Birmingham
& Wolverton
Took train this morning from Hockley at 10 a.m. for Wolverhampton
we went straight to Sunday school and enjoyed very pleasant hour there in
teaching the children who seem to get along very well Bro Smith & myself
went home with Sarah Jane Walsh to dinner her Father was at home who felt
tolerably free and affable we had very good dinner & he invited us back to
tea at 1.30 we met in council when most of the brethren belonging to the branch
were present I spoke a while and inasmuch as we had but little time to spare we
entered into business. I told them that I had a consultation last Sunday with
Elder Sharp the President of the branch the result of which was that we both
considered it would be for the interest of the branch to change him, he had
taken very little interest in the branch & having made use of some money
belonging to the conference without leave while out of work & sickness
&c and always poor & destitute mostly through the want of force &
management and given way occassionally to drink. I released him from the
presidency of the branch & unanimously sustained the council. I then
appointed Elder Edwin Brewster which motion was seconded & also carried
unanimously also he selected Elders Bodison & Henry Haynes as Counsellors
who also were unanimously sustained After some little talk again the Council
was dismissed through prayer by Elder Smith 2:30 There was a pretty good turn
out of the Saints bro. Smith occupied some time & I followed him I laid the
business of the Council before the meeting all of which was unanimously
approved of by uplifted hands. I occupied about half an hour & we had very
good meeting & the freedom of the Spirit. Went to tea
with Elder Haynes and to administer to his child who has been given up by the
Doctor. 6:30 p.m. meeting commenced through singing & prayer by
Elder Wootton. Elder Jno Henry Smith occupied some 15 minutes & I followed
for 35 minutes Mr Walsh attended & seemed to take part with a will in the
singing. I announced that our Conference would be held at Birmingham
on the 2nd of May & we would try if we could not get up another
district meeting in Wolverhampton about that
time when we would have the aid of a few good speakers &c. Walked to
Priestfield to bro Bush to sleep bro Brewster handed us 1/6 each.
Monday
1st Preistfield
& Wolv
After breakfast we both went to Wolverhampton
went & spent an hour in the reading room & went up to bro Brewster and
to Mr Miller to tea who together with his wife received us very kindly. Mr
Miller said that he had made up his mind to be baptized & would have it
attended soon & also all his household. Returned
to bro Bush _______[illegible] in the evening
Tuesday, 2nd Sodom
Jno
Henry & myself started on foot this morning & we travelled through
Bilston to Daisy Bank called at Iron Work Furnace had quite a chat with the Boss
upon the nature of the one they now use and told him of the vast amount of ore
on our Western country we called at bro Lund's had lunch & dinner there
& we went over to bro Wootton's waited there until he returned from work
who after supper went up with us to bro Hand at Cau Lane or Sodom where we put
up.
Wednesday 3rd Birmingham
We waited at bro Hand until 10 o-clock when a Gentile
came in & requested us to administered to his arm which he said the doctors
fail to cure he had been some months unable to work much, he had some oil at
bro Hand which he believed had done it more good than anything else I
anointed his arm & bro Smith was mouth. We walked through Sedgeley, Tipton
to Dudley we put up at bro Saunders both him
& his wife treated us very kindly by feeding us but both took such great
pleasure in relating how they are getting on so well in worldly goods. I told
him not to forget his duty toward helping on the cause by keeping his tithing
&c &c he went with us to meeting, he had not been before for nearly a
year We went back to his house to supper & took train for Hockley 10.25pm
reached home 26 Tenby about 11 pm found letters from my wives Hattie &
Lavinia with bad news that my boy Bertie was very ill with little hopes that I
should see him again on my return home which made me feel very bad but I felt
that I should yet see him in the flesh & that the Lord would spare his
life. I also received draft for ₤8.16.0 which my wife Hattie had drawn
out of the Bank on interest to send me which I wished she had not done. My
little daughter sent me a pair of woolen cuffs which she had made with her
little fingers. Received of bro Stanford 2/- Sister Wedge ?/4
half of which I gave bro Smith. Paid 7 ½ from Dudley
to Hockley.
Thursday 4th Birmingham
At home distributing Stars & Journals in which Jno
Henry helped me after which we went down to the General Post Office &
called at Hardings stayed to tea returned to "26" & sent out the Stars.
We went to Hockley & both of us occupied about 20 minutes each in speaking
there was pretty good meeting.
Friday 5th Jno H
& myself went over to see Jno Child Meredith & spent the afternoon
there with them & had very pleasant afternoon if they had not have been so
struck with Tichboonism which appeared to engrossed their attention they were
very kind to us he paid me 1/- on acct of Stars & Journals they kindly
invited us whenever we feel inclined to call again. We called at bro Bench on
our return & had some songs from Ephraim, Mary Ann & Polly Holding.
Saturday 6th We
stayed all morning & then we went down to Fisher St. to settle for some coal we had
of Mrs. Jos Sheffield. Mrs. S invited us
in & we found that she had quite a lot of friends emigrated to Utah her
Father & Mother & bros & sisters at Deseret Millard County she
also had been in the Church but she dared not acknowledge it before her husband
as he is a bitter enemy & afraid she will go too. We called on our way back
upon Mrs Cardwell & Robinson and stayed in the evening reading.
Sunday 7th Birmingham
I went down with Julia to Sunday School taught a class of
boys ranging from 8 to 13 they were very rough boys & very ill mannered at
12 we had council meeting the brethren felt pretty well all that spoke &
the subject of how we can best disseminate the principles of the gospel was
freely talked over and we determined
that we had better try 7 get into some respectable Terraces to preach
and also to distribute the printed word which are now being idle in the drawer
here & to lend them to their friends & neighbors. I occupied some
little time in talking 2 pm We had very good meeting
there were quite a number present, sister Boddington spoke in tongues &
also interpreted the same. I spoke for a short time upon the trials &
persecutions of the Saints. 6.30 pm Bro Edw: Warren spoke a short time I followed for some
half hour & felt pretty well. Bro Whale handed me 6pence.
Monday 8th Went
down to the baths & stayed in all the rest of the day reading received
letters from Elders Gowan accepting my invitation to the Conference & Tho
Smith of Coventry. The choir met at "26" this evening for practice preparatory
for the conference & concert. Elder Smith returned from Halisowen.
Tuesday 9th Birmingham
I went down with Jno Henry & we spent the day at bro
Spokes having this morning received a letter from my son Richard also one
enclosed from John Warwood wishing me to call upon his sister Mrs. Ashton
Cheapside we called & found her the old lady was ready to go when she heard
I was from her brother & to hear he was alive she commenced to cry for joy
to think he was not dead spent the afternoon at bro Spokes I had a dreadful
headache all the afternoon laid down & slept an hour or so & felt
better after I had a cup of tea we went to council by way of "26" & found
bro Halliday having arrived & spoke a short time this evening to the
brethren.
Wednesday 10th Birmingham
Stayed in until after dinner when Elders Smith &
Halliday started on a trip through the black country.
I went to Mr. Phillips near Ashton Hall spent the afternoon with him went with
him & his brother Thomas through Aston Hall & back to his house to tea,
his neice a
very smart young lady daughter of a publican came in while we were at tea &
stayed some two hours or more & made herself very affable & expressed a
wish she might meet with me again called at Mr. Phillips' mother on my way
home.
Thursday 11th Birmingham
Attended to the distribution of the Star to day went down
to the Post office to cash some orders returned to "26" & went to Hockley
meeting in the evening spoke 20 minutes.
Friday 12th Birmingham
At home all day reading & writing rec'd letter from
Bp Hughes stating he was afraid he could not attend our Conference if he
returned home with May C
Saturday 13th Birmingham
Rec'd letters from Prest Burton acknowledging my
invitation to attend our conf both him & bro Hardy will attend also one
from Miss Alice Webb of Kidderminster where I am under invitation since my
arrival in the country to go & see her & her aged parents.
Sunday 14th Kidderminster
Took train this morning from Hockley to Kidderminster
called at Mrs. Comber Grayhound Inn where sister Alice Webb lived Mrs. Comber
treated me very kindly, we walked into the country towards Shatterford nr
Bewdley Worcestershire to bro Geo Webb & spent the day with the old people
they are over 60 but feel well in the work & very anxious to gather to the
Valley Wm Wheeler did promise when we was here to send after them but he
never wrote to them, it would be a great blessing if they could be helped out
Alice do not wish to go & leave them, she is a good virtuous young woman of
32 years of age & would make some man a splendid wife. Shatterford is a
very hilly country very pleasant & healthy place I was very much
astonished at the distance the old lady had to carry her water for table use
& more so at the steep hill she had to go down & climb up with a bucket
of water I went with her & carried her bucket which made me puff like a
railway engine. I spent very pleasant with the old people they have been
members of the church some 34 years fare Hockley to Kidderminster
1/5½
Monday 15th Birmingham
After breakfast the old lady __________[last three lines
illegible] form in place of it I walked to Kidderminster called again at Mrs.
Comber bid them goodbye & took train for Stonebridge, where I rebooked for
Dudley called at sister Wedge had lunch
& then walked some 6 miles around by
way of Coppice to see the Temperance Hall which we engaged for 15/- for a
quarter Mr. Hale a man friendly to us said he would give 5/- towards it other
two 2/6 each so there would be but little to make up so I concluded to hold
meetings there next Sunday I went to the crier he was a blind man &
preaches with the Methodists who said he would cry us all around the Coppice,
Coseley, Cau Lane, Sodom, & other villages for 2/6 on Friday & also on
Saturday as he goes around with his newspapers, so we expect a pretty good turn
out next Sunday. I called at bro Hand, Wootton & Lund did not see the
latter walked to Bilston & booked for Hockley reached home at 7.20pm paid
9pence to Stonebridge 7pence to Dudley & 9pence from Bilston to Hockley 2/1
total & walked about 8 miles.
Tuesday 16th Birmingham
Stayed in the house all day reading & writing Went to Council in the evening spoke a short time.
Wednesday 17th Birmingham
Called at Mr. Prime this afternoon & went by way of
Mrs. Stormer down to the reading room and to Hardings back to 26 at about 7
o-clock found a letter from my wife Lavinia herself & child father &
mother being well she wrote a good kind spirited letter & satisfied with
her lot/station in case I do not return home this season, not suffering for
anything.
Thursday 18th Birmingham
Distributed Stars & attended meeting at Hockley
called upon Geo Smith discovered there existed some feeling between him &
sister Jukes weighted myself on the scales weighed 9 stone 5lbs being 2lb
more than when I weighed last some last month. Talked with Sister Jukes in
relation to the difficulty & feelings between her & bro Smith &
told her I wanted her to go & make it up all right.
Friday 19th Birmingham
Stayed in all day not feeling very well in the evening
went to Smithwich with letter to Mr. Meadows found out Arnott's doings.
Saturday 19th Birmingham
Went down to bro: Bench had lunch there stayed to tea had
talk concerning bro Arnott left word with bro Arnott that I wanted him to
return the note of standing which he got to go away with or I should expose him
through the Star. Called at Elkins stayed a few minutes & went to bro: Warren's found that he
would need some £20 in order to emigrate.
Sunday 20th Birmingham
Took train from New St. to Duffield 10 miles 10pence went
up called at Mr. Morris who has the letting of the Temperance Hall found out that everything was
satisfactory. 2.30 meeting commenced
through singing & prayer by myself singing again Elder VL Halliday occupied
some 15 minutes followed by Elder JH Smith who spoke some 30 minutes after he
was through a man got up and asked if he might ask a question I got up &
told he might ask any decent & respectful question then he ask if I was a
married man & how many wives I had & I replied I had all the wives I
wanted so as to have nothing to do with anybody else wife or daughter with
whom I had no right then how many wives has Brigham. I answered he was in the
same fix as myself he got up returned me the singing book & walked out
There were some 16 present I invited the people to turn out in the evening
& invited their neighbors at 6.30 There were some 40 present & preached
for 40 minutes had very good audience without any interruption & bro Smith
followed for 10 minutes. We walked to Tipton with couple of Dudley Saints &
from there to Great
Bridge took train 10.12
for Hockley paid 8Pence walked some 6 miles.
Monday 22nd Birmingham
After dinner I went to see Mr. William Phillips &
talked with him upon our principles he said he could not understand miracles
that any such be in our day I explained the subject to his satisfaction &
he thanked me kindly he went down with me to Hockley to the choir practice
met there with Elders Halliday & Smith who brought me letter from my wife
Hattie & Mel Burtie being little better after a visit to Provo but Clara
had an attack of the jaundice & Victor also sick with breaking out Good
letter from Mel.
Tuesday 23rd Birmingham
Wrote to Hattie, Mel, Clara & Burtie after dinner
we went over to Mrs. Webley to make inquiries as to the prices of breech
loading pistol & Rifle which bro Heber Jno Richards required & then we
went to Mrs. Winson Coleshill St. who showed us different styles of guns breech
loaders shot for £6, £8, & £10 top snap action, double grip, & side
levers respectively Called at bro: hardings had tea there went from there by
way of Tenby St. to council meeting Hockley bros Halliday & Smith &
myself talked a few minutes each we cut off James Hill who continually gets
drunk & lead a very mean low life which all the brethren present coincided
with the action taken towards him.
Wednesday 24th
We visited Webley's Gun establishment also Winson's in Colshill St. to enquire the price of gun
& pistol for bro: Heber John Richards Went down to the Library & down
to bro Spokes to dinner stayed the evening we had some
music & songs bro Ash came & sung us Tom Bowling. returned
at 11pm.
Thursday 25th Birmingham
Stayed in & distributed the Stars while the boys went
down to bro: Smith to dinner I then called at bro: Ferguson had dinner & went over to bro
Smith & had some music on the violin from bro Halliday. Mr. Barrington came
in this morning & invited me over to his house this evening & stay over
tomorrow (good Friday) Elders Smith started for
Hereford & Halliday for Northampton.
I attended meeting this evening at Hockley spoke 20 minutes.
Friday 26th (Chester Road)
Took train this morning 9.05 from New St. to Chester Road.
Mr. Barrington met me at the Station we walked up to his house & then we
took a stroll through Sutton Park visited ______[blank
in original] Wells being enclosed by curbbing about 10 feet diameter and a very
ancient well the water as cold as ice returned to his house 12.30 after dinner
gain we took another walked two or three miles with his three daughters &
daughter-in-law all of whom gave out & turned back & myself & Mr. B
went into the park again I spent the evening in the house.
Saturday 27th Birmingham
Received of Mr. Barrington a penny (English coin) rolled
out under the rolling mill of McAvoy gold rollers of Brimingham stayed until
after dinner & took 2.30 train for New St. found letter from Prest. Jos F
Smith also one from EN Freeman Fare to & fro 11pence Bought front 1/61/2 Vatican per Gladstone 6pence Went down to the singing
class at Hockley.
Sunday 28th Birmingham
Myself & bro Robinson took train at 10 o-clock am from
Hockly to Bradley Mosley called upon
several scattering members that need to belong to the Wellinghall branch
years ago who seemed to be perfectly dead pleased to see us & like to hear
us Talk while we were with them & promised to come up to the Coppice to
hear us but not one of them came we met with bro: Wootton who also went
around with us we went with him to dinner & then up to the Hall there
were but few present some 16 persons bro Stanford & Robinson occupied the
afternoon & myself the most of the
evening where there were a few more present who listened very attentively bro R
followed me for a few minutes in the whole we had very good time, noticed one
or two who has attended every meeting since we opened & the prospects are
that some good might be done yet Having been informed by bro Hand last Sunday
that there is a large baptist chapel in the neighborhood of the Coppice without
a regular minister & that the congregation engage or hire who they can to
preach to them I jocosely informed him that if the baptists were as liberal as
our people are at home in opening their chapels to us as we do to their
ministers when they pass through our Country I would willingly preach to them
free of charge any time they please only let me know during the week bro Hand
happen to meet our of they Deacon & informed him so who said he would lay
the matter before the brethren & ask for my name & address I
requested a week or so notice inasmuch as I am away a good deal of my time
but I am afraid when the matter is brought before their Board that they will
not have the courage to allow me the privilege to preach Sister Wedge hand me
a shilling We walked straight from the Hall to Bilston & just caught the
8.45 train for Hockley arrived back at 9.45
Monday 29th Birmingham
Went to bro: Spokes & Bench with the expectation of
going out with some of them
to some of the Parks but they are mostly out called on my way
back by way of bro Spokes had bite of dinner with Sister Boddington &
returned to "26" In the evening Sis Hadley & Mrs. Smith called in & had
tea with us also Mary Ann Hurst called I went down to Hockley to the
exercises preparatory for the concert.
Tuesday 30th
Wrote home to Hattie & brother Elias stayed most
of the day in the afternoon about 4 o-clock went over to Mrs. Smith to tea attended council this evening
spoke a few minutes
Wednesday 31st Birmingham
Went down to New St. Station as agreed to meet Emma
Barrington to go with her to the Hospital to visit her Uncle but did not see
her called at brother Harding had bite of lunch there, Sister H felt bad on
account of her husband's course towards her compelling her to take out her
money from the I E Fund she thought that it was Amos Cardwell who influences
upon her husband I have thought so myself that Amos does more harm than good
in his visiting. Called upon Sist Starmer who put 2/- in my hand returned to
"26" at 5 o-clock stayed in the evening wrote Dr HJ Richards & Jno
Mendenhall also Elder Lyman & Squires to equire if they intended to come
over to our conference on the 2nd of May.
April
Thursday 1st Birmingham
Received letters from Hattie & Lew
Hills my wife being sick also two of the children Clara & Burtie quite
unwell. Rec'd letter from Miss Godfrey (Sarah Jane) informing me of her
confinement she is the young woman with whom young Perry of Ridditch was cut
off for having intercourse with she confided in me as a friend although is
not a member of the Church and asks now for advice in the matter. Rec'd
enclosed in Lew's letter a draft for the sum of £17. Being the amount of Sister
Gould's money remitted to help bro Warren & family which if he is able to
make up & emigrate he is to pay back into the National Bank of Deseret to the
credit of Sarah A Gould. Attended meeting at Hockley spoke a short time
distributed Stars today.
Friday 2nd Birmingham
Bought bro Farrell's pebbles & got the same framed
this morning & mailed them to him to Nottingham total cost 3/6 Stayed in
the reset of the day having a touch of the sore throat I took a wet towel
& wrapped it around my neck on going to bed fixed up my book today.
Saturday 3rd Birmingham
Mailed Richard & Mell &
some Birmingham papers went down to the Library & Reading Room then
called by bro: Warren & to bro Bench where I had tea on my arrival at "26"
found letters from Richard HV Cox &
Clara L Young enclosed in the latter draft for £4.10/- to buy her some silk
velvet & glovs.
Sunday 4th Birmingham
After I had gone to bed & about 2 o-clock in the
morning Elders LJ Nuttall & Ernest Young arrived from London I got up
& as soon as I learned who they were & let them in got them the best I
could find in the house to eat & made them a bed the best I could not being
able arouse either of the two old sisters who were dead asleep. Learned from them that bro Burton had been notified
to return home with the first Company of Saints also bro hardy both of whom
desired to remain until the second Company & likely I should have the
privilege if I could close up things satisfactory in time to go but likely
Prest Smith would notify me if so. We got a cab & started Ernest for Lpool
with noon train & LJ & myself went down to the priesthood meeting at
Hockley after hearing the reports from the several districts Bro Nuttall spoke
about 20 minutes & occupied some 15 minutes at 2 o-clock again we had
very good meeting bro Nuttall occupied some half hour then a testimony
meeting I followed for some 15 minutes We went with bro: Geo Smith to tea at
6.30pm Myself having been announced by play cards that I should deliver a
Lecture concerning the "Latter-day Kingdom"
preached for an hour & eight minutes about the longest I ever spoke had
very excellent audience & very good freedom of the spirit Mr. Barrington
was present & noticed all listened very attentively until I got through
Monday 5th Birmingham
Went with bro Nuttall to bro Spokes to dinner then I went
all over Town with him & called at bro Bench in the evening Having heard
that there was a telegram published in the "Echo" that Judge McKean was removed
we went into the Library & found outthe Echo of the 1st which
contained the following The Chief Justice of Utah (Mr McKean who took a
prominent part in the raid against Mormonism has been removed; glorious news
hope it is true his order to confine Prest Young in the Penitentiary for 24
hours & fine of $25 as well as his decision in the Ann Eliza case being the
crowning act of his unpopularity.
Tuesday 6th
After dinner I went with bro Nuttall to the station he booked for Nottingham
on my return found Jno H having arrived from Hereford. We went down to the post office & called at
Hardings Myself & JHS called by way of "26" to Hockley found paper
confirming the news of the removal of Judge McKean & Pottinger Register of
the land office JH spoke a few minutes in the council
Wednesday 7th Birmingham
While myself & bro Smith went to the baths Mr.
Barrington called to see me so we went down & spent the afternoon with
them He took me to see an old friend of his Mr Adams Gold Pencil case maker who
had been a member of the church but who like himself had left the Saints when
polygamy came out I found him a very nice gentleman & doing a thriving business
Mr. B asked to see some of his work so he brought out a box with lots of
unfinished cases Mr. Barrington asked him how soon he could finish one of the
finest of them he showed he replied by tomorrow night - then make it I wish to
make a present of it to Mr. Morris. I went with Mr. B to two or three different
places & back to tea found Mrs. B & Emma there we stayed until 7.30
& went down with Mr. B Sarah Ellen & Rebecca to the station Sister
Harding gave us 1/- each
Thursday 8th Birmingham
Myself & bro: Jno H Smith
went to bro Harding's to dinner the Stars not having come today. We went to
Hockley meeting which was held at bro Ferguson's
house we both spoke & had good meeting The chapel
being cleaned &c &c
Friday 9th Birmingham
Bro Spokes having called last night to invite us with him
to go to Hampton Steeple Chase races myself & JHS went & enjoyed
ourselves very much although it was somewhat wet & damp. We returned at
about 7.30 having witnessed a great scene in English life found bro Halliday
arrived.
Saturday 10th Birmingham
Myself & JHS took train from
New St. for Manchester on the L & NW line when we
arrived at 12 m Bros Gowain & Snelgrove met us on arriving at Conference
House 22 Bremner St found Elder Burton who was quite unwell him & me went
down the City for a walk & returned from Market St. on the Bus soon after
bros Freeman & Barton arrived from Sheffield all well also bro Holbrook
came in from Stockport slept I paid RR
fare 7/1 Bir to Man We administered to bro Burton & Nuttall alos to a bro
Platt from Burslem.
Sunday 11th
Rested pretty well last night with JHS at conference house. At 10.30 attended conference in Temperance
Hall Grosvenor St. there were very good attendance
in the morning better than generally is in the forepart of the day. Elders JH
Smith, EN Freeman & Joseph F Smith occupied the time Statistical &
financial reports of the Conference were read also the Authorities of the
Church presented & voted unanimously with the exception of an opposition
vote as regards sustaining Prest Young as prophet &c on the whole the
meeting passed off very quietly Myself & JHS were taken by sister Holland
to dinner at 29 Carter St. Huline A Mrs. Warbarton a very nice old lady sent her
daughter to enquire of Mrs. Holland whether she would be permitted to come into
our meeting I replied yes by all means to tell her that I would stay for her
& take her myself which I did I had a very pleasant talk with her upon
our principles I went back again to sister Holland to tea with bro Wm B
Barton Mrs. Warbarton again attended & also her daughter she expressed
herself to me as being highly delighted with our meetings that afternoon
spoke 25 minutes this afternoon was followed by bro: McKenzie & WB Barton
At 6.30 Bp RT Burton Peter Barton & Prest Jos F Smith spoke on the whole we
had very good conference & very good attendance Elders present Prest Jos
F Smith, Burton, Wm B & Peter Barton, David McKenzie, EN Freeman, Gowans,
Snelgrove & Holbrook, JH Smith LJ Nuttall & myself.
Monday 12th Manchester
Went down to Victoria Station with bros. Smith &
Nuttall & from there to bro: Price I knocked at
the door 3 or 4 times before he came down to open the door he seemed to have
come down stairs to open for me & Sarah his wife was sitting by the table
sewing & it appeared as though they had had a fallen out or something as
they were very crabby with each other & treated me rather cold when Price
opened the door, he never shaked hands and remarked crabbily why I did not open
I found them somewhat hard up he having been out of work as he said & drunk
all that he did earn he said I had better get something to eat but I declined
as I had had my breakfast I stayed in but a few minutes, I returned to Price
"The guide to London" which he made me a present of he went out with me &
asked me to go & get a glass of ale which I did & after we went up
little ways into Town again he asked me as he doubled up with pain accross his
belly if I would go & sit down & he walked across the street & was
going into another public House what said I to drink again yes said he, no,
said I no more I don't want it he felt very bitter towards Mormonism stated
he knew the origin of it having read some old book or other concerning the
origin of the book of Mormom - & spoke against Elias having married John's
wife I parted with him in Bridge St. & bid him good bye as I probably
might never see each other again he felt miserable & looked a miserable
man I called to see his son Joseph who clerks at Geo Peak & Co. Mosley St.
who asked me to go & take glass of ale which I did in order to get to talk
with him a little he has the appearance of drinking heavier than his Father
according to the look of his face as red & full of pimples on parting he
asked me if I had plenty of money & if I would take home with me I replied
no I had not I had been spending 18 months preaching here in this country for
nothing, he said he would go with me tomorrow if I would take him, he thought
if he could go away & leave his associates he might reform he gets 30/-
per week says he & yet in debt I talked plain to him & told him to
quit his drinking & save up his money & come out to our country we
would see he did not want for anything to eat & help him to get a start in
life he asked me for a loan of 2/6 I replied I had not got it to spare well
says I have now spent my dinner oh swell says I here is that back for you &
hand him 6pence. I see but very little prospects of any of Price's family ever
being of much use We went Elders Gowains, Snelgrove, Holbrook & Barton to
witness the great overland panorama exhibited by Gillard he told some awful
stories about the Mormons - & exhibited a pretty good picture of the
President at the close of the entertainment Got to Bremner St. at 11 o-clock
pm
Tuesday 13th Birmingham
Left Manchester booked to Congleton 26 ½ miles called
upon bro Hodgkinson 32 West St. he was not at home had a bite of dinner &
left at 4.30 for Stafford 27 ½ miles called upon Sister Clark & Flamank
families the former gave me 3/- & the latter 2/- I took 7.10 train for Birm
paid 7/- RR fare Attend council this evening at Hockley spoke a few minutes.
Wednesday 14th Birmingham
Went to bro: Crowton to dinner called at Mr. Barrington
who wished me to call on my way back & go with him to the Homeopathic
Hospital to see his brother Benjamin who was troubled with hard swelling
around the bowells & not expected to ever get over it went back to Mr.
Barringtons to tea He gave me the pencil case (gold) which he ordered for me
last week Went down with them to the station.
Thursday 15th Birmingham
Went to try & engage the Assembly Rooms could not
get it as some actors had engaged it for a month & they did not wish their
sceneries interfered with Bro Halliday & myself
went to bro geo Smith's to dinner & back to put up the "Stars". Brother
& Sister Bowcut called & paid me £85 for their emigration also handed
me £4 toward Clara Bench's emigration Attended meeting at Hockley myself
& bro Halliday occupied a few minutes each had a very good little meeting.
Friday 16th Birmingham
We visited bro: Bench, Holding & Warren we took
dinner at the Chop House Bull ring called to see the Masonic Hall New St. they
asked £6.0.0 sent £112.7.4 to Lpool being £90.17.4 draft at 7 days & two
drafts from Des Nat Bank in the Union Bank of London for £17. £4.10
respectively £3.7.4 of which to close up
Book a/c for the last quarter The £17 draft was the amount loaned by Sister
Sarah A Gould to help bro Warren & family to whose credit the same was
entered The £4.10/- was a draft which my sister Clara forwarded I withheld
money here & sent draft instead to Lpool
Saturday 17th Birmingham
Went out to hunt up a room to hold
Conference called upon Mr. Beech Secretary of the Masonic Hall. I asked
the price for on day Sunday He replied £4.0.0 but that included light
cleaning &c I told him I would take it Well says he what do you want it
for I answered to hold divine service but what denomination says I replied
Christian denomination but what sect says he I told him Latter-day Saints he
shook his head & replied they could not rent the Hall to us he said the
board of directors would not be willing for us to have it I went from there
to see St. James' Hall Snow Hill but I did not see the Proprietor
Sunday 18th Birmingham
Elder TH Robinson called this morning & we went down
to Hockley chapel to the Sunday school went with bro Ferguson to dinner 2.30
We had very good meeting & spoke some 25 minutes after meeting baptized
Caroline Whale born at Loxley aged 11 years
_____[blank in original] and Julia Whale born at Loxley aged 8 years Myself
& Elders Ferguson & Warren
confirmed I was mouth in confirming Julia & bro Ferguson confirmed Caroline Mary Ann
Goodyear spoke to me this evening about being baptized on Tuesday morning so I
arranged for bro Barber to come & baptize her. 6.30 Elder Robinson spoke 20
minutes & I followed for some 40 minutes there was very good audience
Sister Griffiths handed me 2/6 at bro Fergusons which she said she had been
thinking of giving me since Christmas She is an independent sister & in
great trouble whether she will emigrate this season or not Received a letter
from my wife Hattie which I answered this morning & also wrote to my son
Richard
Monday 19th Birmingham
We myself & bro Halliday went to Sister Gould to
dinner herself & two daughters received us very kindly this afternoon we
all went through Astor Hall which bro Halliday had never seen before & then
through the Park back to Mrs. G's to tea the young ladies entertained us with
music & singing they play well on the piano from there we called at Geo
Smiths went to the singing class all together.
Tuesday 20th Birmingham
Went down to Hockley Chapel to meet bro Barber who came
& baptized Mary Ann Goodyear of West Bromwich a young woman about 16 years
old her mother is in the Church but her Father is a bitter enemy the girl is
a very good singer called at bro: Ferguson also at Mr. Barrington's where I
took dinner Attended council this evening myself & bro: Halliday spoke a
short time made some arrangements for the Conference having engaged St.
James' Hall Snow Hill for £2.0.0
Wednesday 21st Birmingham
Went down to the reading room & to bro Harding's to
dinner called at Sister Starmer & bought an Umbrella paid £1.1.0 good
silk We returned to "26" & stayed in the evening.
Thursday 22nd Powick
26 ½ miles
Left Birmingham this am at 10.5 for Stoke Works called
upon bro Geo Godfrey his daughter Sarah Jane having been confined with a child
by Albert Perry of bro Perry of Ridditch she is not a member of the church
and the boy (aged 16 or 17) I disfellowshipped a few months when I first learn
of this having had intercourse with each other she showed me a letter which
the boy's father had written to the man next door traducing the character of
the girl & asking concerning her &c Bro Godfrey gave me 10/- to help to
bear expenses &c Walked from Stoke Works to Drostwich Some 3 ½ miles this
is a celebrated village for Salt Manufacture found one Street that had sunk
some ten feet the saline substance underneath having been pump up for making
salt & the houses sunk it is astonishing to see the way the stand in every
possible shape. Took train at 2.38 for Worcester 5 ½ miles called at bro Ball where I
saw daughter of bro Isis Williams of Ridgeway Cross who had married a gentile
against counsel the scamp was arrested last Sunday morning in Hereford for
larceny and here she was with their children upon her hands with no means of
support for them & her husband was likely to have 10 or 12 years
imprisonment. From Worcester I walked 4 ½ miles to Beauchamp Lane Powick to bro
Jos Jones a very nice clean tidy family RR fare this day 1/11 Found sis Jones
little girl Annie Louisa in consumption she was taking some Cod liver oil &
other medicine some lady of the neighborhood paying the Doctor's fees she is
likely to get over it Sis Jones desired me to consecrate the oild & Med
which I did ask God to bless for her good
Friday 23rd Hereford
Walked from Powick to Malvern Link distance of 5 miles
bro Jones' daughter Fanny was sent to put me on the nearest way to cut across
the fields she is a nice quite good spirited young woman so also is their son
had a nice clean bed last night slept with the sun I took train from the Link
to Hereford at 10.48
30 miles paid 2/6.
Saturday 24th Merthyr
I left Hereford with 12.30
for Merthyr bro Robert Johnson paid for my ticket 4/5 ½ on the way I fell in
with a Wesleyan who was a preacher with that denomination & was well versed
in the scriptures as soon as he learned that I was a Mormon, he attacked me
on Mormonism & more especially on the principle of polygamy He thought that
it was unscriptured & on my quoting scripture to sustain the doctrine he
said Oh that was suffered to be, but that was not under the gospel dispensation
I told him that Abraham was a polygamist &he lived under a gospel
dispensation for Paul said "the Scriptures foreseeing that the heathen should
be justified through faith preached before the gospel unto Abraham" then we
spoke upon the gifts of the Scriptures & showed that he was not a genuine
Wesleyan as he was of the opinion that the cause of the nonexistence of the
extraordinary gifts of the Spirit was because the Christians had turned heathen
again. I read him an extract of John Wesley's sermon to that effect which he
could not contradict but squirmed very much in trying to mystify the spiritual
gifts &c I departed with at Tal y Llyn Junction gave him 'the only way to
be saved' with my address on & if he wished to communicate with me further
on the subject of Mormonism I should like to answer him any questions &c
He parted with me very friendly & shook hands with me twice I arrived in
Merthyr at 3.17 bros Hughs, Wiliams & Thomas met me at the Station found
bros Watt & Jos H Parry at the Conference house In the evening bors: Jos F
Smith & L J Nuttall arrived & later in the evening MH Hardy came whom
with myself & Elders Hughes Williams & Thomas made nine Valley Elders
present
Sunday 25th Merthyr
Myself & bro Hardy lodged at the home of old Mrs.
Lewis who kept a Green Grocer store next door to Cross Keys where we held our
Conference the old lady was very kind to us & gave us welcome Bro Tho
Jenkins of Pendylon & Sis Lewis who keeps house for him was also putting up at the same house with
whom we eat also bro Wm White & Thos Thomas slept in the same room as us
at 10.30 conference met after the business of the Conference was over I was
called upon to speak which I did for about 15 minutes not wishing to monopolize
the time when so many were present I was followed by Jos H Parry then by bro
Watt 2 pm meeting was addressed by MH Hardy for one hour & Jos F Smith
for 37 minutes 6 pm Elders Miles Williams, LJ Nuttall & Prest Jos F Smith
occupied the latter spoke for one hour very good attendance of Saints &
beautiful singing led by a man not in this church We had very good time 9
Valley Elders present
Monday 26th Cardiff
In connection with Prest Smith LJ Nuttall Bishop Hughes
& Elder MH Hardy we took train from Merthyr for this place we visited the
docks & the Sophia Gardens where we had little fun in jumping & other
gymasia tricks which was excelled by Prest Smith mostly At 7.30 We held
meeting at Brother Bassett the house was very full & we had very good
meeting with the Saints there were but few strangers present we all occupied
some 20 minutes each in speaking & we had quite a little entertainment
afterwards several of the Saints waited until after 11 o-clock had music on the
Harmonium & singing We all slept at bro: Bassett, Hughes Hardy &
myself occupying the same bed.
Tuesday 27th Birmingham
We all with the exception of bro Hughes took train at
6.45 from Cardiff to Newport the mail which was due a few minutes before the
parliamentary did not come until 6.45 so we took the express (expecting to
travel at the rate of a mile a minute) as far as Newport 12 miles, but instead
of that it took some 20 minutes to do it so Prest Smith called it "Fish train"
and thought we were badly sold Myself & bro Hardy separated from Prest.
Smith & Nuttall at Newport they went on to Liverpool & we went to
Gloucter called at Sister Hawkes found them all busy making gentlemen's
shirts We did not stay in this City more than some 3 hours I took bro H to
the Cathedral & around the City & we booked from here to Cheltenham
which is a very fashionable Town a most beautiful place stayed here for some
3 hours visited Pittville spa & Gardens we called at sister Harris who
kept a little Green Grocer store near Dew Drop Inn (Do drop in) High St. we had
a cup of tea here her husband who was not in the church acted very kind to us
& asked sister Harris to make us some tea we walked about 6 or 7 miles
around the place & to the Midland Station about 1 ½ miles from Mrs. H just
caught the train for Birmingham we travelled Pershon Worcester Droitwich and
Bromsgrove to Birmingham where we reached about 6.40 on our arrival at the
Conference House we found Mrs. Gould & her two daughters all taking tea
together myself & bro Hardy administered to sister Gould's eye I went
down to the council at Hockley I found a letter from my wife Lavinia &
great many treat [?] letters on my table
Wednesday 28th Birmingham
I answered great many letters this morning after dinner
we went down to Mr. Barrington Rule Maker ordered a rule for Prest Smith. We
took train for Swan Village called upon Sister Rowley who received us very
kindly & made us bro Hardy & myself take a glass of her own brewed ale
"Mrs. Rowley's Malt Wine" which is good in comparison with the common ale used
in this country called four penny we called upon Sister Mountford who felt very bad on account of her house
which she had been living in for 31 years having been sold by her brother Harry
from over her head & she had just received a notice from the attorney to
quit the premises within 30 days she had an idea that her brother George had
a hand in the matter while he was here on a visit she said that Harry came
over from Sheffield few months ago & pretended to act so kind & that he
though of fixing another room for her on the same ground & do some
alteration to the house so he got Sister Mountford's husband drunk & had
him sign some paper as his tenant paid a weeks rent to him so he had something
to show that they were his tenants & then went & sold the premises next
day We called upon Mrs. Elcock who with her husband & two children are
going away with the first ship & needed some information they were so glad
to see us We walked from Greets Green to
Dudley arrived at the meeting at 8 o-clock the meeting was just opened bro
H & myself occupied thetime had very good meeting although but few present.
We walked from Dudley to Great Bridge some 4 miles had quite a run from Dudley
Post to catch the last train reached Birm at 10.45 found bro Halliday
having arrived who had left Dudley about 5
o-clock thought there would be no meeting.
Thursday 29th Birmingham
Bro Halliday stayed in to put up the Stars & met
myself & bro Hardy in the Lower Grounds of Aston Park we also met there
Sister Gould & her two daughters & we spent the whole of the afternoon
in the grounds we also went through the Hall had tea at the refreshment room
We came down to bro: Spokes & spent in the evening there had music & singing
&c
Friday 30th Birmingham
Spent the day in making out accts for Conference &
afterward met bros Hardy & Halliday in New St went through the art galery
& back to "26" after I made a call at the offices of the "Daily Post" &
"Gazette" & put in an advertisement of the Conference &c
May
Saturday May 1st Birmingham
Spent the day in the house went down twice to New Street bro
Gowan & Freeman arrived. Bro Perry from Ridditch called to see me was
anxious for his son Albert to go away with the first ship I thought it would
be just as well for him to stay until they all went I told him I did not wish
him to go until he had made everything satisfactory with bro George Godfrey
towards supporting the child had by his daughter by Albert Perry= They could
not settle the matter satisfactorily I arranged to see him & bro: Godfrey
tomorrow together Prest Jos F Smith arrived this evening accompanied with Jno
Henry Smith about 11.30 pm having lost the train which they expected to come
by.
Sunday 2nd Birmingham
Conference convened this morning at St. James' Hall Snow
Hill at 10.30 a.m. I opened after singing through prayer Elder John Henry Smith
was the first speaker followed by Elder Freeman. I then read the Financial
report which showed Receipt Tithing £126.13.0 ½ I E deposits £82.4.7 ½ Book a/c
£75.19.6 Mission
£12.8.10 £15.8.11 ½ Refunded by RVM £4.6.8 Total
£317.1.7 ½ Disbursements Remitted to Lpool £160.18.11 Rest of Conference house,
Board of Elders, travelling & all incidental expenses £106.14.0 Hall rents
£26.13.5 Poor £17.9.8 ½ I E deposits 10/5 Cash on hand £4.15.2 Total £317.1.7 ½
which was unanimously accepted Statistical Report showed that there are 12
Branches 68 Elders 17 Priests 9 Teachers 12 Deacons 374 Members 7 Removed 2
Received 7 Excommunicated 6 Dead 34 Emigrated Total 480. 2.30 PM Elder Hardy
& Prest Smith occupied the afternoon the former spoke some 20 minutes &
Prest Smith one hour & ten minutes there was very good attendance 6.30 PM
Elder Gowain spoke for about an hour followed by myself for 20 minutes the
Conference closed having had a very good time during the day the people all
seemed to enjoy themselves much & all who spoke felt good & we trust
that good might be done There were several reporters present.
Friday 7th Birmingham
Called for Prest Smith's spectacles for which I paid 4/-
for frames called afterward upon Sister Ferguson, Mrs. Smith's & bro
Lester's Farm St. where I had a lunch from there to "26" when I had a lay down
in the bed & enjoyed much two hours nap stayed in the rest of the evening
bro TH Robinson called the with Conference minutes.
Saturday 8th Birmingham
Received a letter from Prest Smith this morning enclosing
one from bro Geo Perry of Ridditch together with his reply to the same which he
wished me to see & forward the following is a copy of Perry's letter
Walkwood Villa Headless Cross May 5/75
Elder Smith Dear Brother
Your letter forwarded to me at
Tenby St. Birm I never received until this morning. My son Albert B would have
went to Utah
last summer only that Brother RV Morris counciled me not to send him then on
account of his extreme youth. That council I obeyed. But now what is the result
thereof.
Brother Morris now objects to his going on account of his
being the impested [?] father of Sarah Jane Godfrey's illegitimate child about
28 days old. She is not in the Church nor ever have been, but her Father
happens to (be) a Member but whenever Bro Morris have spoke to me on the
subject I found that his mind was very partial and I doubt whether you may have
heard both sides of the question. Wherefore I venture to offer a few remarks.
That we are the wronged, and that Miss Godfrey is the wronger
is positive. That myself & wife have been in the Church of Christ
nearly 15 years and my children ever since they were 8 years old.
That my homes have generally been the Elders homes
whenever they (have) been in the Ridditch Branch. That we
lived in peace & contentment until we took into our family this seeming
virtuous, but worthless and wicked girl. We know her only by name from
knowing her father personally. She first came to we
one dark wet winters' night, cold, wet & weary. She was furnished with Mrs.
Perry's clothing until her own was again fit to wear.
The three days & nights next following she was ill
and unable to get about but she was tenderly cared for by Mrs. Perry. When able
to work she was interested in our business & treated exactly the same as
one of our own family & a living worth sixteen shillings per week put in
her fingers. And she requits our kindness by seducing our two boys sons the one Albert B when he was only 15 ½ years old. When she herself was nearly 23. And for more than two years
she carried on those adulterous habits with my two sons and so closely
concealed the matter that it was entirely hid from myself
& Mrs. P and now both my sons are under suspension from the Church for
Adultery with this same girl. And knowing the above how can Albert B be
expected to marry her. Alfred G is 19 years of age and have
been married 12 months ago. That my sons are far from being blameless in the
matter I allow but please consider with what influence a woman of the age of
Miss Godfrey is capable of swaying the mind of a tender youth of 15 or 16
years. And on many occasions when her conduct appeared suspicious and she was
spoken to concerning it she would deny in the strongest possible terms there
ever having been any improper familiarity with those boys. When at the same
time she was working them and we as parents the most
secret injury. Having laid a few of the facts before you I trust you will give
the matter your kind consideration & think you will come to the conclusion
that my son Albert B is no greater a Criminal
than Alfred G although the offspring might belong to the former.
When the conduct of the latter was by Bro Morris
considered as only deserving suspension & is allowed to be rebaptized
whenever he chose, but Albert B whose age is now only 17 is not allowed the
privilege of rebaptism or to emigrate with the Saints.
And yet Bro Morris have been expressly told that it was
through Alfred G persuading and instructing Albert B that ever the latter got
into this great trouble which is to him the worst of all misery. And
considering that the girl is not, nor ever have been in the Church is it
reasonable for the Church to interfere in the case of the girl at all. Until I
get your reply I shall not be able to direct you as to the disposal of the Bank
Notes forwarded last week.
Apologizing for writing you
this lengthy Epistle
I remain
Dear Sir
Yours obediently
Geo Perry
PS Brother Morris appears to
have been displeased with me for not sending all the J?E
money through his hands instead of sending direct to L-p-l office And yet I
have reminded him that the Saints was expressly instructed by a letter
appearing in the Star from Prest Young in 1864 or 1865 that moneys amounting to 10/- or upwards was not to be
sent to the Conference prest but direct to L-p-l office and get receipts for
them. That instruction I have faithfully kept but it seems to displease Bro M.
G.P.
The
following is the reply of Prest Smith
42 Islington Liverpool May 6th 1875
Elder George Perry Dr
Bro
Yours of yesterday is received. I am sorry to hear of the
disgraceful conduct of your two sons Alfred G and Albert B and Miss Godfrey.
The fact that she is not a member of the Church does not paliate the crime of
whoredom on the part of your sons. The children of the Latter-day Saints should
be taught to know better than to commit whoredom or any other crime, and when
they continue such practices for two years together as you admit or affirm in
the case of your sons and Miss Godfrey a moral degradation is exhibited
which, I am sorry to say, speaks in no flattering terms of their religious or
moral culture or training. This fact is all the more aggravated by the boys and
the parents, of them and the girl, being members of the Church.
It is required by the law of God & man and is
therefore religiously & morally and absolutely binding that a man
should be held responsible for, and be made to meet fairly & squarely the
consequences of his acts, the most sacred & binding of which are those
involved in parentage. He that is the Author of life is bound to maintain that
life to his utmost or he is a murderer in the sight of God. A father is bound
by the law of God to maintain & provide for his offspring to the utmost of
his ability according to the legitimate wants of the child until it is of age,
and can provide for itself. Not to do so is simply to
shirk, neglect or not do a positive duty which nature, society and God demand
of every man, and which he has no more right to escape from or to avoid than a
murderer has a right to escape from the just punishment of his crime. Although
both may escape from justice in this life, without restitution the one will be
damned and the other "hath not eternal life abiding in him." If you desire the
salvation of your children, and would teach them the greatest lesson a man can
learn, take this opportunity to impress on their minds and make them to feel
& know that they should meet the consequences of their own acts, that if
they misuse the God-given powers of procreation they are as much responsible
for the results as though they had used them legitimately, (so far as the child
is concerned) whether the woman demands it or not.
To this all men are bound by a higher & holier law
than that of man the law of nature & the law of God.
The parents are responsible for their children & for the acts of their
children until the latter reach the age of accountability before God or become
of age by the laws of the land, where as before stated they become responsible
for their own acts.
These are among the most sacred & important
principles of the gospel with which every Latter-day Saint should be familiar.
To view the subject more clearly suppose your own daughter were the victim - reverse the
case, and you would see that you would expect satisfaction to be made. The
immorality of the woman will not obviate the difficulty for in the act of
whoredom undoubtedly both were equally guilty. the male being regarded as the
stronger vessel & the agent or the responsible party. It is my view
that your son, if he is of age or you until he comes of age should father his
own child & maintain it, no matter tho the woman be were a bad one heathen,
white or black, bond or free.
Wishing you well & praying God will guide you by the
power of his Spirit.
I am Yours &c
Jos F Smith
Mailed
the above to bro Perry this morning Rec'd good letter from Hattie with
encouraging news.
Sunday 9th Birmingham
Learned last night in my wife's letter that she happened
to be down to Sis Clara's when the Prest called in he talked about me & she
asked when I should be likely to return home he asked how long I had been
absent she told. He will be home this fall he replied. I was much pleased to
learn that my children were improving Rec'd this morning a letter from Mr. Wm
Kendrick requesting me to mail him a Book of Mormon to Mr. Wm Burrows of Kineton Warwickshire.
Went down to the Sunday school & to bro: Jas Ferguson to dinner attended
meeting at 2.30 spoke 35 minutes. 6.30 Elder Robinson & myself occupied the
time we spoke about 30 minutes each we had pretty good meeting. a man by the
name of Mr. Rock spoke to me about reunite himself with the Church again he has
been out of the Church for some 18 years.
Monday 10th Birmingham
Myself & bro Halliday went down to Spokes today &
we spent the afternoon there at 6 pm we went to Snow Hill station & met
sister Sharp of Banbury who was emigrating with the first Co took her luggage
to New St. station & she went up with us to '26' bro H went with her to
hunt up her brother's house. This evening Mr. Riley father of Ellen Riley who
emigrated in 1873 together with a Mr. Falkner called to see me to have a chat
we talked together until nearly 11 o-clock they promised to come to our chapel. Ellen Riley is married to James Watson of Salt Lake City 6th Ward.
Tuesday 11th Birmingham
Started out the Bow Family & sister Sharp this
morning for Liverpool, bro Halliday went with them they were to take up the
Elcock family at Dudley Post I returned to 26 & after writing to my wife
Hattie, Aneurin & Mel Clara & Burtie took a nap & then went down to
the Council spoke for a short time there.
Wednesday 12th
& Thursday 13th Birmingham
After we had prepared for the distributing of the 'Stars'
myself & bro Smith went down to bro Geo Smith's had dinner & I went
over to bro Crowton & also with him to the shop, & left bro: Jos F
Smith's pebbles to grind for him. He tested the pebbles that were in the
frames as someone had said they were not pebbles & he pronounced them
genuine not glass. we returned to '26' put up the Stars. Received a letter
this evening from my wife Hattie, with news that the children were improving
some but that the baby was unwell. Thursday 13. We all went down to Hockley
& had a very good meeting we three spoke & occupied about 20 minutes
each there were few strangers present. We distributed the Stars today. bro H
returned from Liverpool from seeing the Co.
off.
Friday 14th Birmingham
Myself & Jno Henry went down to Cook & Sons &
procured our tickets for London at reduced rates with
excursion tomorrow then we went & settled gas bill & down to the Bull
Ring & we got dinner at a Restaurant we then called at the reading room
& called at Crowton's shop for Prest Smith's pebbles paid for frames 4/-
& 1/- for grinding 6 pairs of extra pebbles returned to '26' & spent
the evening at home. Bro. Robinson called to see us.
Saturday 15th London
After dinner myself & John Henry Smith took excursion
train at 3.15 from Birm New St. on Midland new route via Hinckley Bedford
&c reached St. Pancras at 7.45 We were lucky enough to get into a First
Class Car by putting a 1/- in the hands of the Ticket examiner & we had a
very comfortably ride & pretty good social talk & was again shocked at
the unblazoned acknowledgment of one or two men in talking upon the prevailing
sin of the age & his constant connexion with his neighbor's wife who had no
children &c &c We found on our arrival at "20 Bishops Grove" Prest RT
Burton, MH Hardy, WL Binder, HC Fowler, FM Lyman, EN Freeman, WM B Barton, Bro
Watt, L Holbrook afterwards Prest Jos F Smith arrived about 10 o-clock also B
Eardley of Norwich making with myself & JH Smith 13 Elders from Utah
Sunday 16 at 10.30 Conference commenced at Horus Assembly Rooms speakers this
morning were Elders Watt, Eardley & Prest Smith. 2pm Myself was the first
speaker occupied 23 minutes followed by Elder Lyman & WB Barton at the
close of this afternoon Mr. Tho Hadley came up to me & requested to go with
him to tea while I did & was accompanied by J Henry Smith found Mrs. Hadley
with also the children they were glad to see us. Mr. H came as far as Vauxhall
Bridge back with us. 6pm Elder Jno H Smith, Hardy, RT Burton & Prest Smith
occupied the time each speaking from 20 to 30 minutes there was very good
attendance the afternoon & evening & very good audience & we had a
splendid day of it & the people seemed to be highly delighted with the
teachings. omnibus fares Saturday & Sunday 9pence.
Monday 17th London
The brethren scattered in every direction to see sights.
I went with Prest Smith & Burton, Elders Freeman & Holbrook to see the
Alexandra Palace which indeed was very grand & scores of thousands of
people present through the building & in the Park, was amased to see the
people enjoy themselves at all kinds of games &c &c at 2.30 we
attended the concert in the spacious concert Hall we heard Sims Reeves,
Standley Lloyd & three or four ladies returned in the evening to Bishops'
Grove at 7 pm after supper I went with Prest Burton Lyman & others to a
concert held in the Albion Hall London Mall by the Saints. Jno Henry &
myself left about 10 pm so as to be to our lodgings by 11 o-clock spent 1/9 RR
fare & admission
Tuesday 18th London
After breakfast myself
Elder JH smith, HC Fowler & EH Freeman took Train from Ball's Pond
Road for Finsbury Square near the Guildhall which Hall we visited & was
shown the chambers & were permitted to enter into the same Napoleon, King
of Shah of Persia had lunched in we all sat in the chair which they occupied
as well as the chair of the Lord Mayors of London in the Council Chambers
afterward we went into St. Paul's Cathedral up to the wispering gallery the man
in charge talked to us in a low wisper gave a history of the building. We went
up to the Ball on the very top of the Cathedral climbed up between some 4 or 5
iron bars & sat inside of the ball on the top wrote my name in the same
also bore testimony on the tip top of St. Paul's in the hearing of Jno Henry
Smith that the Angel seen by the Revelator John has made his appearances from
St Pauls we four went by rail underground from Blackfriars Bridge to South
Kensington visited Albert Memorial in Hyde Park opposite the Albert Hall
then we went & called upon Mr. Thomas Hadley in the science class who is
studying chemistry. He showed myself & Elder Fowler all through their
classes & experiments made in chemistry we then went into the museum met
Jno Henry & Freeman in the Picture Gallery Mr. Hadley went in with us &
also to the patent museum where we witnessed the first locomotive engine which
run between Manchester & Liverpool called the Puffing Billy also the engine
which killed Hutchinson & great many other ancient curiousities Jno Henry
& myself went with Mr. H to his home 18 Draycott St & he went with us
to Madam Taussaud's Museum which excelled anything in Wax Work I ever beheld
before in my life. They were so natural & somewhat amusing to see persons
make occasional mistake by entering into conversation with figures thinking
they were alive but the blunder occurred with John Henry on the other side as
every figure were numbered I carried the catalogue, he looked for the number of
a lady who sat alongside a figure & asked me "who is this bro Morris" I
replied what is the number & on John looking around her for the number the
lady turned around & laughed & Jno Henry made track to through the
crowd towards the other end of the Hall & I ready to burst for laughing
at 10 o-clock we started by underground railroad for
Kings Cross then walked to the Angel & took Train for Ball's Pond Road highly
delighted with our days sight seeing although we had not time to view the
thousandth Part of what there was for exhibitation at all the places paid this
day for fees, Trans Railroad fares dinner &c 7/1 wrote mother-in-law & mailed it
Wednesday 19th London
Soon after breakfast Prest Jos F Smith returned from
Lpool having been down to appoint the brethren who had arrived on mission and
we all went down to the Docks to see him Lyman, John Hy, Freeman & Hardy
off for Denmark bid them adieu & we then went to the Mint building could
not get admittance without pass & application would have to be made in
writing which would take some three days to get the pass. we walked through a
tube tunnel across under the Thames from the Tower on to the opposite side of
the River. there were 94 steps of six inch each to come up we walked two or
three minutes which took us to a Coffee Saloon on the opposite side of South
Coast Station & we crossed London Bridge & down to Billingsgate passed
around the Custom House to St. Dudstan Lane to Phillip Graves & Co. ship
agents to find out when steamer left for Rotterdam & get prices &c
& then we went through the Bank of England which stand on some 5 acres of
ground. Bro Holbrook took his departure here from us for Birm & Manchester
& Prest Burton, Binder, Eardley & myself went all over to view the most
public buildings such as Exchange Ludgate Prison Post office Telegraph office
&c &c & we separated bro Burton & myself went one way &
they another & we all met in the evening in the East London branch at 7.30
we had a very good little meeting & brother Eardley myself & Prest
Burton occupied the time there were few strangers present we walked along
commercial road to Shoreditch & booked to Dalston purchased stereoscopic
views & paid 12/- for a baker's dozen.
Thursday 20th London
Spent most of the day at 20 Bishop's Grove there went in
company with Prest Burton & Binder to tea with Sister Edinburgh who amused
us with music & in asking great many questions &c We
came back Bishops Grove & went to meeting North London
branch. I spoke for some 15 minutes after Elder Payne (who had just arrived
from the Valley in company with bro Udall) & Elder Eardley Prest Burton
followed for a few minutes after me. we all walked home to Bishop's Grove.
Friday 21st London
After breakfast I struck out with Elder Payne we took
train from Balls Pond Rd down to Alderssgate. we walked through Smithfield
Market called upon Messrs Hickson & Sons Boot & Shoe makers where bro
Payne used to deal then I procured a pass to go through the Postal Telegraph
office an operator showed me through I was very much interested to witness the
perfection which they have got telegraphy & other appliances &
contrivances for conveying messages through suction tubes from one office to
another also the working of the Duplex system their explanation as to how
they send two messages in opposite directions on the same wire is as follows: -
They proved that the electric fluid travel like a wave or in curves & the
rapidity with which it travels accounts for its intersection & still
continue in the direction in which each message is forwarded I learned that
there were no messages received by sound all registered on narrow slips of paper
& afterwards copied by the operators or copyists. There were some 994
instruments in use in that one large Hall with over 400 miles of wire
underneath the floor attached to the same 1000 operators employed nearly one
half were females. I was highly delighted with my visit there. Having
introduced myself as being connected with the telegraph service in Salt Lake I
readily procured a pass from Mr. Patey the assistant secretary of the
Institution. We then called at Old Bailey where bro Payne got measured for a suit
of clothes at Hopes & Co. No. 46 & corner of Ludgate Hill. after we
had dinner we went down to Blackfriars Bridge took stairs for Lambeth, walked
along the Thames back to Westminster Bridge in Front of Thomas Hospital &
we went into the Hall & House of Commons. I was somewhat surprised at
finding the Commons so small & so little accommodation of visitors in the
Gallery the House Keeper showed met he seat of Kenealy opposite to that of the
Marquis of Hartington the Conservatives occupied the right of the chair &
the liberals the opposite Kenealy was on the bottom seat, or first seat on the
Government side. We then went through Westminster Abbey & I parted with bro
Payne he went to Woolwich down the river & I wended my way to the War
office procured a pass for myself & three friends to go to the Woolwich
Arsenal I afterwards had permission to enter the National Gallery in
Trafalgar Square although it was not open for the public on Friday only
students were to be admitted but by my stating that I was an American subject
& would have no other day I was let in readily & witnessed great many
students Males & females copying paintings in oil water colors pencil &
crayon work I had seen this Gallery before & was so pleased with the numerous
paintings that I was anxious to view
them again I took Bus from Trafalgar Square to Ball's Pond Road paid for
Graphiscope view in the Parliament Hall 1/- fares on river Bus dinner &c
1/6 arrived at Bishop's Grove at 6pm found Prest Burton & bro Binder
ready to start out to visit & spend the evening at bro Parson's & was
invited to go out with them we had very pleasant meeting together singing
&c returned to Bishop's Grove about 11 o-clock.
Saturday 22nd Birmingham
Spent this morning at 20 Bishop's Grove Ball's Pond Road
Islington London about I started down towards St. Pancras accompanied by Elders
Burton & Binder we went to took a bath top of Pentonville Road walked down
to King's Cross went into a French Restaurant for dinner the brethren stayed
with until 4 o-clock when I bid them good by. St. Pancras Station has the name
of being the finest Railway Station in the world the Iron arches expand over
the distance of 284 feet & 720 feet long which would admit of nearly 5
buildings like our New Tabernacle within it. I witnessed a Pulman Palace Train
from the north come in although the Cars were considerably smaller than our
American Cars still it made me feel quite at home or as though a train had just
arrived from the other side of the Atlantic had Pulman Conductor an American
on board at 5.5pm I left St. Pancras got into Bedford by 6.5 which is a very
beautiful place in face the whole of the way is much more pleasant route on the
Midland than the North Western from Bedford I in company with a Mr. Jonah Davis
who also happenned to travel in company with myself & Jno Henry Smith last
Saturday to London got into a first class Car, he having slipped a few pence
into the hand of the Ticket examiner we reached Birmingham at 8.20 after a
very pleasant ride & very interesting conversation with Mr. Davis upon
moral & religious principles &c Elder Halliday met me at the station
on arriving found sisters Hurst & Hadley well also Mrs. Smith in the home
laboring under a very severe cold found letters from Hattie & Lavinia
also one from Dr. Heber John Richards.
Sunday 23rd Birmingham
After breakfast I went down to Hockley in company with
Elder Halliday and baptized the following persons: - Wm Bush born in Birm 13th
Aug 1862, Wm Knight born at Pippleton Worcestershire in 1845 aged 30, Tho Rock
born in Smithwick Saffordshire Feb 5 1824, Sarah Warren aged 30, Jane Steed
born at Pippleton March 18 1850. Two of the above viz J Steed & Bush were
first baptisms the other had been in the Church several years ago bro Rock had
been out of the Church for 18 years & seemed to be a very find man bore a
very good reputation when in the Church but got slack & cold & was
disfellowshipped sister
Warren had been baptized when 8 years of age but had not
continued with the Saints also Knight had been baptized when young. 2.30 We
had very good meeting the above were confirmed by myself & Elders Halliday
& Robinson I was mouth in confirming bros Rock & Knight bro Halliday
conf'd Wm Bush & Sarah Warren & Jane Steed was confirmed by bro
Robinson Myself, bro Halliday & Spokes occupied the time all the
afternoon & we had very good spirited meeting 6.30 Elder Halliday &
myself preached he occupied 35 minutes & I 40 minutes & we had very
good audience several strangers present both in the afternoon & evening
meetings. Went to tea to bro Geo Smith's. Bro: Rock handed me 10/- on parting
at the Chapel felt well & invited me to call upon him On arriving at 26
we found Misses Bench, Holding & Julia Morgan having arrived before us also
Mothers Hurst & Hadley & we had some good singing & accompaniment
on the violin by bro Halliday until after 10 o-clock had prayer the girls went
home The following letter was handed me at London by Jos F Smith from Geo Perry
Elder Smith Dear
Brother,
The
principle theory of your letter of the 6th just with regard to my
two sons I thoroughly agree with, but to say that I have neglected their moral
culture or training, is to say the least of it both cruel & unjust. I do
know that I have been most careful in the training of my family & that I
can no more be charged with neglect than the First Presidency of the Church can
be justly charged with the Apostacy of the Latter-day Saints. And I am also at
a loss to see how a woman of 24 years can be called the victim of a boy of 16
years. But please not mistake me for I have no desire but to be respectful to
you & also to your instruction and were I satisfied that the child in
question was the offspring of my son AB I should most certainly insist on his
rendering a partial maintenance. But for two months after Miss Godfrey must
have been with child she did positively deny to more than fifty different
individuals (and who are ready to assent) that there never had been any
improper intercourse between herself and my son A.B. Neither me or anyone else
ever saw anything improper between
them & when she herself protested
that there had not been what right had any man to say there had. We have been
treated very bad by this woman & I think that in justice to all parties
concerned the case of parentage should be brought before a proper tribunal
where the evidence of both sides might be given & then we are willing to
abide by the decision of the magistrates you may imagine that I am prompting my
children to evil. But no one but myself knew what I
wrote to you last week in my letter of complaint neither do anyone but myself
know of this.
If you have any further suggestions to make I would
gladly listen to your council.
And remain Dr
Sir
Yours faithfully
Geo Perry
Walkwood Villa
Headless Cross
Redditch
May 10 1875
Monday 24th Birmingham
Having an invitation to Sister Gould's to dinner myself
& bro Halliday went up to Witton place Aston Sister Gould & her
daughters received us very cordially & the daughters entertained us with
sweet music on the piano &c &c we also were requested to stay to tea
& we spent very pleasant time until between 7 & 8 o-clock & I rode
down with Sammy Gould as far as bro Spokes while Sister Spokes was to Hockley
to the singing practice we had tripe supper & home about 11 o-clock.
Sister Gould put 2/- in my hand
Tuesday 25th Birmingham
Sister Eliza Bennett aged 43 having departed this life on
the 21st instant & her dying request was that I should officiate
at her funeral I consequently walked in company with bro Halliday to Witton
Cemetery six miles & I preached her funeral sermon in the Dessenters Church
in that Cemetery we both rode back with the funeral party as far as bro Spokes.
Called at bro Hardings to tea & from there to Council at Hockley at 8.30 I
spoke a few minutes to the brethren & requested them to hold their out door
meetings as often as circumstances & the weather permitted &
distributed our small circular among the crowds & invite them to our
chapel.
Wednesday 26th
Stayed in all day writing & distributed Stars & Journals Elder
Halliday left for Northampton this morning spend the evening in the house by
myself had a very severe cold Rec'd a
letter from Elder Flamank concerning Beatrice which I answered
Thursday 27th
Remained in the house all day, wrote to Zebulon Jacobs also I received Deseret
Evening News from Heber John containing two brass cartridges different sizes
being the size & kind he desire to suit the gun he ordered In the evening
called at Mr. Landan & paid for Elder Halliday's clothes & went down to
Hockley chapel we had very good meeting there Elders Spokes & Ferguson
& myself occupied the most of the time there were several strangers present
Rec'd letter from Prest Burton enclosing one from Dirk
Friday 28th Birmingham
Wrote to Dirk to Corincheur Holland after dinner I took a
walk up to Sister Starmer her son Thomas came called in & invited me over
to their house to tea, his wife treated me very kindly I stayed there some two
hours & then returned to '26' stayed in the evening.
Saturday 29th Birmingham
Sister Pendry called before I was up & invited me to
go up to Egbaston & go through the house & premises of Follet Ostler
Esq he & family being absent from home while the house was been repaired
&c the house & surroundings was very find & beautiful the Footman
(a cockney) showed me all around outside & two or three of the servants
went all through the house with us the House Keeper was a Welsh girl from Denbigh
the county where I was born I called at bro Warrens had dinner there &
then made a call upon bro Thompson to see if they were prepared to emigrate
with the first company in June as I wanted to forward the names to Liverpool
returned to '26' & stayed in the evening. Julia Morgan called in &
stayed a while with me & Mrs. Hurst & sung a couple of songs for us
she also brought me my pocket handkerchief which she had hemmed & marked
for me
Sunday 30th Birmingham
Rec'd letter from my wife Lavinia also one from Jno Henry
Smith from Copenhagan and one each from bro Godfrey & sister Wellington of
Herefordshire Prest Robinson called upon me this morning also bro: Bench We
had very good meeting at Hockley this afternoon after which I went with bro
Robinson & held a meeting on some Waste ground in Hunters Vale, there was
quite a congregation great many stopped & listened very attentively
Elders Ewer & Robinson spoke we distributed several of our circulars to
them & I noticed some in Chapel this evening when Elder Warren & myself
spoke I felt very well while speaking although laboring under a severe cold at
the close of the meeting two gave their names for baptisms one a lady came up
to me & said she was perfectly convinced of what we said & it was her
intention to join our church her husband also was present. I told her that I
was ready at any time to baptize her that I was going out of Town this week
& had arranged to baptize a few next Sunday week. There was a better turn
out of people this evening than I had seen for a long time to our meetings
There is quite a feeling & spirit of enquiry just at present all around
& the prospects are very good that additions will soon be made to the
Church
Monday 31st Birmingham
After writing two or three letters also one to my Son
Richard & Aneurin I walked to Smithwick byway of the Cape distance of five
miles called upon Mrs. Meadows Bro Peeler (Blindman) Bro: Oliver an old
gentleman living with his son in law & from there I went to bro Genge &
called upon bro: Rock whom I baptized week ago last Sunday he felt well in the
work I was introduced to his son & daughter mostly grown up, and they are
very favorable & I expect to baptize them as soon as they get sufficiently
acquainted with our principles bro Rock made me stay to supper he gave me 2/6
& paid for my ticket to Monument Lane 5 pence arrived home at 26 about
10.30
June
Tuesday 1st Mt.
Pleasant Kingswinford
I took train at 1.9 for Swan Village called at sister
Rowley had little bread & cheese there & walked from there to Gt Bridge
& took train to Dudley called upon Sis Wedge had tea there & took
train for Brittle Lane & walked from there to Mt. Pleasant Kingswinford
passed through Wordsley & I put up at bro & sis Ball I walked with a
Mr. Githing who is interested in some Glass Works who was very socialable when he learned I was a stranger & from
Utah was very willing to give any information I desired as regards the
manufacture of Glass & gave me one of his circulars & invited me to
call upon him in Birmingham & he would show me around their work. I found
bro Ball & family tolerably well his son & daughter very much improved
in health since they were baptized their son Richard (18) Lavinia (16) Lizzy
(14) and Esther (10)
Wednesday 2nd Birmingham
I was to have gone with Sis Ball this morning through the
Glass Works but she asked me a question in relation to the sealing powers upon
which she had considerable anxiety of mind for the last two weeks she said
She asked suppose a Sister desires to leave her husband & be sealed to
another man whom she had more love for could she claim that right on their
arrival in Zion I replied that the less people speak about such things in
this country the better if they were faithful & on their arrival in Utah
such grave questions should be submitted to proper authorities doubtless a
woman had a perfect right not to be sealed to a man for whom she had no regard
nor love. If a man had no respect for his wife & ill used her I did not blame
any woman for wanting to leave such a man the first chance she got she said
that the case was not her own but that a
sister with whom she had been very well acquainted with before she & her
husband joined the Church the first time desired to lay claim to her husband
(bro Ball) to my surprise I learned that sister to be sister Warren who has
been married considerable about 20 years to bro Warren & have raised quite
a fine family of boys & girls sister W had kept acquaintance it seems with
bro Ball when they were young (and sister B remarked that it was not her sis
W's fault that bro B had not committed himself with her but he did not take
advantage of her but reproved her this was all in their young days) they felt
great anxiety of mind over the matter because sister Warren approached the
subject of late to both her & bro B prior to these Warren's emigration
& they were all such intimate terms with each other & they knew that
bro Warren was a good man & love sis W so much even sis W herself intimated
that she believed her husband would commit suicide if she should leave him
after their arrival in the Valley in case she should be priviliged to be sealed
to bro: B when he emigrates after them. I told her also that I was in hopes
sister Warren would take more favorable view of the matter & endeavor to
increase her affection toward bro Warren as it was hard for me to judge which
of the two him or bro Ball was the best man &c she said she that she
wanted to do right & did not wish to put a ? with way of her husband's
exaltation &c but hoped sis W would get to feel different &c It appears
that bro B gave her sis W no decisive answer when she asked the question any
further than if bro W did not raise her in the resurrection that he would or
something to that effect. I walked with sister Ball to Round Oak Station we
called upon sis Evans sister in law to bro W G Timmins of the Sugar House Ward
who had a brute of a husband & abuses her awfully & comes home drunk
& destroys everything in the house she raised the cover of chest of
drawers or Bureau which he had put his foot through the panels in two places her daughter who has recently
been married was present I talked to the mother that the best thin she can do
will be to go away to her sister to the Valley who had remitted them money twice her daughter & her
husband had used up the money which they had received. The £10 which Mrs.
Evans had I adviced her to send it to the Lpool office until she would need it
to go I took train from Round Oak at 321 for Dudley called to tea at sister
Wedge went down to bro Rowell & sister Rowberry attended meeting at 7.30
had very good meeting RR fares to & fro 2/1 Rec'd of sis Wedge 1/- bro
Price 6pence & sis James 2pence reached home at 10pm
Thursday 3rd Birmingham
Was to have started off Worcester & Herefordshire way
to day but everything seemed to delay called at Sister Starmer took her her
Hymn Book. Stars came this morning I distributed them & started off for
Camp Hill called pass New St. station to correct the address on the London Star
parcel which was sent to me in a mistake instead of to RT Burton London called
at bro Bench & sis Holding & when I reached Camp Hill saw the train
leaving I took ticket back for New St. waited 45 minutes for the train returned
my ticket & took omnibus for the Bull ring called at bro Spokes had supper
& went with him & bro Bench to the Meeting at Hockley found bro
Belleston from the Valley there who was glad to see me returned we had a good meeting myself & bro
Belleston spoke there were several strangers present there were more present
than I ever saw at any previous meeting on a week night
Friday 4th Beauchamp
Lane Powick
Took train at 12.40 from New St. for Wecester met bro
Ball going to Malvern & had a ride with him as far as Powick I however
stoped at Stoke works called at bro Godfrey had a lunch & walked from there
to Droitwich some 4 miles bro Godfrey gave me 3/- I walked from Powick to bro
Jones 2 ½ miles I administered to his daughter Annie who was very low with
consumption & given up by two doctors
Saturday 5th Ridgeway
Cross
I walked from bro Jones to Ridgeway a distance of some 10
miles through the Malvern Link reached the cross about 3 o-clock found all
the people at the cross well with the exception of sister Bowington, daughter
& bro Cotterall who lives with who have been afflicted for many years.
Went & administered to Sister Bowington the old lady
Sunday 6th Ridgeway
Cross
After breakfast Elders Hill & Hadley arrived from
Malvern to go with us to attend Camp meeting at Brinksty Commons Bro Ball &
Emma Box caught up with us on the road. In passing through the village of
Acton the brethren told me they had held a meeting once there & they
received very good hearing I told a couple of the brethren to notify through
the village that an Elder from America would preach to them at 6.30 this
evening on the Green by the Toll Gate. we reached the house of sister Grumbrum
on the Commons about 130 had a little
bit of bread & butter & we proceeded to the Common at 2.30 we had quite
an audience of some 150 people who listened very attentively while I preached
for one hour Elder Daniel Hill preceded me for about 15 minutes I noticed while
he spoke some throwing clods at one another also some engaged in conversation
& laughing &c &c When I got up to speak I requested the people the
young men to cease all such actions as long as I was speaking & if they
must amuse themselves I wished them to retire one side to do so. Then had a
preacher named Williams & a reporter or one associated with one of the Bromyard papers present & they
took notes - & after I got through & meeting dismissed Mr. Williams
asked me several questions which brought the crowd all around me & I had a
better chance than ever to preach to them. He remarked he had nothing to say
against what I had said for it was all scriptural but he begged to disagree
with me when I declare that there can be no other sects right but us. I
replied he had a perfect right to differ but I wished to remember that there
could be but one way to heaven, one faith one Lord & one baptism &c
& that Paul stated whoever should teach any other gospel than that which he
taught let him be accursed & the congregation were very much pleased &
considered that my friend came out second best. the people invited us to come
again so we announced another Camp meeting four weeks from to day the weather
permitting the prospects are that a great many will yet join the Church in
this neighborhood if preaching is followed up by the brethren &c we
returned to Acton & at 630 we opened our meeting on the Road side &
most of the village turned out to hear us brother Hill spoke about 10 minutes
& I followed with more freedom than ever for a little over 30 minutes we
had some 60 persons present there was the Parish Clerk present who interrupted
me once or twice with speaking. I made some personall remarks to him &
stated I did not wish to be interrupted in my discourse but I would give him an
ample opportunity to speak if he wished after I was through & that I
thought that a man of his cloth & calling in the Parish above all others
present should show respect towards a stranger &c some of the people told
him to hush up &c after we were through some of the people came forward
& requested us to sing some more hymns & came to me shook hands &
bid me good buy an old Lady & her daughter who kept the toll gate very nice
people appeared very friendly - & they invited us to come again to we
announced another meeting there four weeks from to day at 6.30 pm. We reached
the Cross about 9 o-clock I slept at the Hinds last night bro Hadley & Hill
gave me 1/- each bro Ball 1/6 & I received 1/6 from the branch. Rec'd
letters from Hattie & bro Elias
Monday 7th Powick
I went down to sister Bowington I found the old Lady in
bed not able to stir she is 85 years of age. I procured as much of her
geneology as I could glean which is as follows her husband John Bowington (or Boughington) pronounced
generally Buffington was an illegitimate son (as I found from a certificate
from the Minister of Cradley Parish Herefordshire) of Thomas & Mary
Bowington born in Cradley was baptized July 2 1840 by Elder Jno Gailey was
confirmed by Elder Wilford Woodruff some 5 or 6 weeks afterwards together with
15 others at Ridgeway Cross was an Elder & died Jan 12 1865 aged 84 or
thereabouts & was buried in Cradley churchyard. the Ministers certificate
showed that he had been baptised in Cradley church Dec 30 1781, which meant
christened I expect Hannah Bowington (maiden name Hadley) born Nov 14 1790 in
Bishop Frome Herefordshire daughter of Edad & Elizabeth Hadley was
baptized same time as her husband & is now not likely to live many years
aged 85 years I talked to the old lady as consoling as I knew how & that I
would act as a friend to her if the Lord would spare my life & do the work
for her husband & have her sealed to him inasmuch as that is her desire she
burst out in tears & felt like thanking the Lord for answering her prayers
she said & felt so thankful & blessed & hoped my life should be
spared to return in safety home. Well says she there is my daughter Hannah I
hope something can be done for her. she said that bro Cotterall intends to
have her & replied that would be all right they would have to gather home
with the saints to attend to that matter they were young enough yet & not
too sick but what they might gather out if they so desired they would be all
right. I left my blessing with the old lady I left for Malvern where I reached
at bro Daniel Hill at about 2 o-clock
had bit of lunch there his wife was very distant also her sister married to bro
Hadley who came in to see me from there I went to sister Harris & bro:
Cox who used to be in the Church Emma's Father found bro Ball we returned to
sister Harris & met Fanny Jones & a Miss Jones (Polly) a catholic who
had come from Powick to see the American Panorama at Malvern we waited until 8
o-clock no people seem to attend we left & walked to Powick where we
reached about 10 o-clock had quite a talk with my catholic friend on arriving
at bro Jones I found his little daughter very much improved since I had
administered to her on Friday evening & they all felt so thankful & to
rejoice
Tuesday 8th Birmingham
I was again requested to administer to Annie who was very
much improved & able to go out in the garden with the neighboring children
a Mrs. Charles next door neighbor to bro Jones & sister to the Miss Jones
came in & I was introduced to her she is a strong catholic but I learned
that she had been baptized by bro Merril (Frank) but she came into the church
more particularly to please him than any other motion she thought so much of
him she was then single she was very talkative & there seemed to be quite
an excitement in the neighborhood concerning the spirit of a woman who had died
recently seen by two or three persons which they recognized by her dress &c
exactly as she & she asked my opinion
about such things which led us to talk for an hour upon the principles of the
gospel there were others in the house listening Miss Clay neighbor of bro:
Jones paid particular attention to what was said on leaving for Worcester I
called at Mrs. Charles to bid her & her sister Polly good bye & Miss
Clay came after us & met her on leaving at the gate & told her I want
to make a Latter-day-Saint of you one of these days she replied soberly I
want to be In walking to Worcester 5 miles I fell in with old bro Williams
who is a Mail carrier he is related to Samuel S Jones the stone cutter has
relations in Farmington & he is very anxious to emigrate also his daughter
who lives in the North of England I reached bro Ball about 12.25 had little
lunch & went up to Strieb Hill station took 220 train for Birmingham
reached 26 Tenby about 4 o-clock found
bro: Belleston present We went down to the council together to Hockley. Geo
Smith handed me 10/- which sister Gould had sent me I spoke for a few minutes.
heard very favorable report from Coppice
Wednesday 9th Birmingham
Stayed in all day expecting the Star parcel to arrive.
In the afternoon I went to Mr. Barrington for Prest Smith's rule I walked with
him to the Station & we went through the picture Gallery at the Library. I
went down to bro Spokes & spent in the evening there had supper with them
Thursday 10th Birmingham
Busy writing up my Journal & then distributed the
Stars went down to bro Geo Smiths to dinner witnessed one of the prettiest
little models of locomotive engine belonging to Chas F Smith of Salt Lake which
is perfect in every particular which bro Smith ordered for his little son it
weighed 80 lbs & can be run just like another engine on rails &c I
attended meeting at Hockley there were 3 or 4 strangers present one of them
walked up with part of the way home & said it was the first meeting had
ever attended of our was very much pleased with what he had heard & said he
would come again he was a Watch Maker in Town here
Friday 11th Birmingham
Took a walk down to the General Post office met bro
Harding who made me go with him to dinner who had left
the Provincial Bank & gone to live into some offices in Waterloo St. From bro H I walked up to Aston & called upon Mr.
Phillips had tea with them him & his wife & son expressed a desire to
join our Church & I arranged with them if they would come to the Chapel 12. Sunday I wold baptize them Mrs. P was not fit at
present to go into the water having had a miscarriage a few days ago so I
requested her to wait a short time longer. On my arrival at "26" I found Elder
Halliday having arrived. Having received a Card from Lpool calling for names
& ages of all those intending to emigrate. I went over to bro Warrens
& mailed the letter from there. We called upon sis Holding & went to
bro: Bench. Elder Halliday asked if there was a Tripe shop in the neighborhood. I gave them a shilling to go & buy a shillings worth after supper I left
for '26' reached home little before 11 o-clock
Saturday 12th Birmingham
Wrote Hattie & Lavinia good long
letters myself & Elder Halliday went down to New St. station to find out
about the best train to send the emigrants with on Tuesday found 8.50 the most
convenient. We then went to bro Spokes where we had tea & we came back to
'26' found Julia Morgan had been planting flowers for us in the yard. We got
another tripe for supper again
Sunday 13th Birmingham
I went down to Hockley chapel & attended to the
baptisms of the following persons:
Kate Warren born in Birm
Ellen Florence Warren born in Birm
Wm Phillips born July 18 18 in Birm
Henry Phillips his son born Apl
22 1862 in Birm
Henry Beckett born Aug 4 1830 (rebaptism) at Waloah
Also sister Priscilla Goodyear I baptized for her health who has had a
paralletic stroke she is a good woman & has an awful mean husband who
prevents her from attending meetings &c 230
The weather being very rough there were few present Elder Jas Ferguson gave his
farewell address. We confirmed three of the above Wm Phillips was confirmed
myself being mouth Henry Beckett by TH Robinson & Henry Philips by Elder
Jno Robinson lately arrived on a visit from Utah. I took bro Warrnes two
little girls to our house to save them walking so far home & back again
& it being too wet for them to go to the afternoon meeting I confirmed both
of them at 26 Tenby St. At 630 There was a very good attendance in meeting & several
strangers present some primitive Methodists & I had very good audience
Elder J Robinson spoke for ten minutes before me. both of us went to Wm Smiths
to supper & we went with bro: Robinson to Hockley Station
Monday 14th At
about noon Elder Jno: Henry Smith arrived from his continental tour well &
hearty with the exception of a slight cold which started a coughing again.
after dinner we both went down to bro Warrens they were out we went to bro Ash
& bro Bench from there we came to '26' & went down with the folks to
the singing class. we met Julia Hancock at the station this afternoon &
sent her up to '26' in a cab who also went with us
Tuesday 15th Birmingham
& Lpool
I took 8.50 train from New St. for Lpool with 14 Saints
& 1 widow Mrs. Burdau not a member of the Church where we arrived at 12
noon. I engaged a Cart & sent them down to the Landing stage where they
had to wait until 7 o-clock before the could get a Tug to go on board. I was
sent with them to arrange them in their berths did not rest much myself &
bro Hardy slept in a Saloon berth. we had supper on board
Wednesday 16th Liverpool
Myself & bro Hardy got ashore & were landed at
Sandin Dock we took Bar. & went up to '42' had breakfast there at 1 o-clock
we went on board again in company with Prest Smith & others We bid the
Company good bye at 4.30 & went
ashore again reached '42' at 5.30. felt very tired slept in the chair in bro Smiths
room which was very cold & felt quite unwell after it. Wrote Hattie Clara
& Burtie to notify her that I had sent Than's books - & that bro RT
Burton her Uncle was on the way home slept with bro: Stucki on the floor in
bro Smith's room
Thursday 17th Lpool
& Birmingham
Wrote bro: Ball of Kingswinford after dinner I took train
from Lime St. for Stafford called & spent a little time with Sister Clark
& bro Flamank families on leaving the latter gave me 4/- & the former
2/- sister Clark is the one that was sick several months ago & was given up
by two Physicians who stated it was impossible for her to live many days I
was telegraphed for to go & administer to her & I promised her if she
would exercise faith she should not die yet awhile but would get well so I
administered to her & she very soon got over her decease I never saw a
person hardly in my life look so bad as she did at that time. I took train
from Stafford for New St. paid (2/7 & 6/1 Lpool to Stafford) total 8/7
being 1/1 more by booking twice & at 7.25 reached New St 8.30
Found a letter from my wife
Hattie & Post office order from New
York for 9/9 but no letter to state who it was from
or what it was for about 10 pm Elders Smith & Halliday arrived from the
meeting
Friday 18th Birmingham
Stayed in until bro: Belleston arrived after which I went
over to Spin Lane called upon bro Rock & bro Genge the former walked out
with as far as the Cemetery showed me his wife's grave we then went over to bro
Abraham Brice who went with us to Mr. Brindley Canal Lock Blakley Hall Oldbury
both him and his wife received us very kindly & made us stay to tea we went
back to bro: R's house who got us some supper. I spoke to bro Rock about
paying his tithing upon the property which he had accumulated while out of the
Church & that I would petition Prest Jos F Smith if the same can be used
for the emigration of some of these poor worth Saints. he promised he would
pay his tithing on the property which he had sold before leaving here. Returned
home with 9.30 train. he gave me 4/- & hoped I would come soon again. I
administered to him he being very much troubled with bronchitis & felt very
much better since I laid hands with bro Genge on him the last time
Saturday 19th Birmingham
Elder Belleston called this morning & requested to
know what he was to do I instructed him to travel in the Conf by direction of
Prst Smith & that he had better go to Halesowen tomorrow with bro Halliday I went with him to Hyam's & got him a new hat & pair of pants &
paid 20/- myself & bro: Smith went to brother Harding to dinner & from
there to '26' afterwards we walked to sister Pendry to consult with her about
the propriety of sending Sarah Jane & one of the boys out with the next
ship & adviced her to send them but Sarah Jane is not very desirous to go
on account of keeping company with an outsider so I thought it would be the
best thing for her to go
Sunday 20th Birmingham
Received letters from Hattie & Lavinia they were all
well with the exception of poor Burtie who is puny & peevish Bro S &
myself went down to the Sunday school - found the best turn out of children
this morning than ever. I spoke for a few minutes to the children. we went to
Bro Geo Smiths to dinner 2.30
We had very good meeting Elders John Robinson & JH Smith & myself spoke
to the saints. 6.30 I preached to a very good audience for 45 minutes followed
for 10 minutes by JH Smith we closed the meeting and I took the Choir out side
corner of Villa Street & we held a meeting Elders Ash & JH Smith
preached we had pretty good attendance of people just coming out of the church
close by we also distributed invitations to strangers. few of the
singers went up with us to the conference house & singing for us
Monday 21st Birmingham
JHS & myself went to New S. & we both sat for
pictures. went into a restaurant & had some dinner & then down to
sister Holdings where we stayed the afternoon. she sent for a neighbor is
named Mrs. Petsford a sister to Adam Whites' wife of Levan back to '26' at
7.30 stayed in the evening
Tuesday 22nd Birmingham
Went over to Spin Lane with bro JHS this morning did not
find Mr. Rock at home we walked up to West Bromwich called at Sister Barber
went over to see the Rooms engaged also to Mr. Britten's office &
______[illegible] some posters painted as follows:
A Voice from Heaven !!!
And I
saw another Angel fly in the midst of heaven having the Everlasting Gospel to
preach unto them
that dwell on the Earth and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue and
people! Rev xiv.6
Discourses
Will be delivered by
Elder R. V. Morris missionary
From Salt
Lake City Utah Territory America
In the Assembly
Room Walsall Street
On Sunday next June 27th
The inhabitants of West Bromwich
are advised
To "Search the Scriptures" for themselves,
"Prove all things and hld fast to that which
is
good." St Paul
"He that answereth a matter before he heareth
it, it is
folly and shame unto him." Pov.
"And I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come
out of her my people, that
be not
partakers of her sins, and that
receive
not of her plagues." Rev.
Meetings will be held every Sunday in the above
Room at 230 and 630 pm
Friends invited to attend. No collection.
Wednesday 23rd Birmingham
Waited until the Stars arrived left Elder JHS to
distribute them & I booked to Spon Lane fell in with Mr. W Granger Report
"Daily Post" whose residence is at 211 Herbert Road Coventry Rd Birmingham he
recognized me having been to our conference & made a report of same he
commenced conversation concerning Brigham Young & the trouble he was in
through the divorce suit I gave him a short synopsis of the case and of
McKean and what his successor Judge Lowe had done in the matter which led to an
argument upon the subject of polygamy, he brought forth his best arguments
which I upset upon Bible foundation & also through reason & common
sense he gave way & acknowledge that it was no use the Bible surely did
substantiate the doctrine &c He told me that he was going to Spon Lane
Glass Works I replied that I had been very anxious ever since I have been in
the country to visit that Works myself & witness the process of glass
Manufacturer. he said he was going to see Mr. Chance himself in the capacity
of a Reporter from the 'Post' to find out something concerning the strike &
that he would ask him t the same time to have the privilege of going through
& that I could go along as a friend so he got a pass & a Mr. Jas Jones
Warf Clerk went with us & explained the different processes &c &c
on separating he expressed great satisfaction in meeting with me & hoped to
see me again & gave his name & address as above & I was very much
pleased with what little I had seen - & I arranged with Mr. Jones to try &
get in again some day when the whole works was in operation with another sent.
I gave Mr. Granger one of Orson Pratts tracts entitled "True repentance" I then
went over to bro Rock had a cup of tea he handed me 2/6 to pay my fare to
Deepfields. I walked over to West Bromwich to Mr. Brittens the printer got to
see the proof of our bills announcing our meeting on Sunday in that Town.
walked to Hill top called at the house where bro Jno Robinson put up he was not
in I walked through to Wednesbury & booked to Bradley & Moxley called
at bro Lunds & Wootton & walked up to Sodom To bro Hand found the Hall
was all settled for for the last quarter & they had engaged it for another
I had quite a talk with a Mr. Hale at Dupfield who used to be in the Church
some 15 years ago but was cut off for contempt of council by bro Hanham as he
said he could not go out & preach he had not the courage &c he
appeared to be a very sensible man stated that he had been taking the Stars
& Journals nearly all the time since & that he knew the work is true.
I talked to him upon the necessity of receiving his Covenants & come again
& help to carry on the work, he stated he had helped to pay for the room in
the Coppice & intended to as long as they had it. he would consider the
matter & let me know I showed him the danger of delaying so important a
matter &c Returned to Spon Lane had supper with bro Rock & took 11
o-clock train for Monument Lane Birm. found all the brethren in bed. Elder
Belleston & Halliday having returned from Dudley
Thursday 24th Birmingham
Called upon Joseph
Thompson to find out what certainty was there that there was money in
Liverpool for his emigration, he showed me a letter from his Son-in-law &
his wife informing him that the money sent by Mr. Hooper would do for them in
the spring & for them to be sure & come &c Wrote to inform Prest
Jos F Smith of the same Myself
& bro JHS went over to Chester and took dinner with MR. Barrington and
family & we all went over to the Sutton Park to witness the WRV drill &
there were some 30,000 people altogether present & less drunkenness than I
ever saw in any such gathering before. we stayed in the Park until 6pm &
walked back to Mr. B 3 miles. after supper we returned with the 10.20 train to
New St. fare to & fro 11pence Made
the acquaintance of Mr. Winterton a
cabinet Maker in Union St. who was well acquainted with the Jennings family & asked about Wm Jennings
&c
Friday 25th Birmingham
After breakfast I called the brethren together & we
had a council together Elders Belleston (High Priest) Jno H Smith (Seventy) VL
Halliday (Elder) & myself were present I remarked while the brethren should
be travelling together sometimes that it would be nothing but right and proper
that bro Belleston should be respected is on account of his seniority and
Priesthood & kind of taking the lead of meetings &c although they had
been laboring longer in the field & for us all to unite together & do
all we could do disseminate the principles of the Gospel wherever we have an
opportunity of doing so in public and out of doors. we had very good spirit
among us & we seemed to be one. We talked over the Perry case of Ridditch
& I laid the matter from beginning to end before them so they could
understand the case & so bro Belleston & Smith could make such
alterations in that branch as would be for the best interest of the work then
as I thought if there was the right kind of a man there some good might be done
there. The brethren parted Elders Belleston & Smith started for Ridditch
about noon Wrote home to Hattie & Lavinia enclosed photos to both
Saturday 26th Birmingham
Mailed the home letters today also wrote sister M Barrett
to Southport enclosed draft No 42/372 for £6.8.3 to procure me 4 ½ yard of silk
velvet like pattern sent price 28/6 per yard. We witnessed Sangers Circus
percession along New St. also at 4.30 Dr. Keneally's procession which was poor
affair & the crowd which was with him was not very creditable to him Dr.
Keneally spoke off the Portico of the Hen & chickens
to the crowd on the street which did not amount to much his aim was to make it
appear that he was very enthusiastically received by a numerous concourse of
people Wagons & conveyances which tried to travel through the crowd were
stopped by the mob who were listening below & I thought once it would end
seriously as the excited teamsters were determined they would not be turned
back & endeavored to whip their horses through the crowd some succeeded
& others were turned back & there were some narrow escapes from being
run over while all this was going on the Dr. was just remarking that it was
generally reported that it was the roughs & the rabble that gave him
welcome everywhere & that not a single accident occurred to mar our peace
on this occasion which showed they crowd were all loyal & law abiding
citizens he said there was one accident however just as the procession was
passing the office of the 'Morning News' the Editor got so excited to see the
grand procession backed himself & fell backwards into tub of water which
however was not so serious an affair after all as he had not bathed himself for
a month before. Keneally delivered his Magna Charta lecture in the Town Hall
this evening sent letters to JHS by Herbert Willis
Sunday 27th Birmingham
Received letters from Hattie Melvyn & Burtie better
news concerning the health of the family which I was pleased to learn Elder
Halliday went to Coppice this morning
At 1.40 I in company with bro Robinson to West Bromwich to open a room
Assembly room in Walsall St. we met at Hockley station with sisters of the
Choir & also bro Spokes we had two very nice meetings at 230 & 630
some 40 people present I went 9 hours without anything to eat & preached
twice felt very much fatigued & weak was glad when I got back to '26'
learned they had good meetings at Hockley think some good might be done yet
around West Bromwich
Monday 28th Birmingham
Wrote Bp LJ Henrick of Ogden City went down Town to find
what time the Saints could start for Liverpool in the morning called at bro:
Harding had bite of dinner with him. Wrote Prest Jos F Smith enclosed three
receipts sent me by John Whale amounting to £13.0.0 for the emigration of his
two little girls & requested their ticket made out with Sister Hurst so as to
bunk together. sent by sister Hurst 6/8 being amount due Wm Hughes of Hereford
on one Indiv Emig Book a/c to hand to him at Lpool he & family being sent
for by friends from Utah
Tuesday 29th Birmingham
Received letters from JHS & one from bro Genge
requesting me to go over to Greets Green to see & administer to sis
Rowley's husband who is very sick with Bronchitis & Lung fever. He
remarked that if he felt like joining any religion it should be the
Latter-day-Saints. I felt very much opposed in my feelings to go & to
administer to him but for his wife's sake who has been very kind to the Elders
I could not very well forbear especially when he expressed a wish. I
administered to him. I called at the Marchaut famly's house who are related to
Elcock of Salt Lake whose son & daughter emigrated this season & they
had received a very good letter from them yesterday I booked from Albion for Spon Lane called at bro Rocks who
made me stay to tea also bro Genge who was there. I administered to bro Rock
on leaving he handed me 2/6 to pay my fare. Genge accompanied me to Hockley
Council I spoke for a few
minutes at the council upo9n the duties of the saints & in taking care of the poor & those who are in
destitute circumstances that I did not mean those who were poor & destitute
through their own slothfulness & mismanagement but the poor widows who were
old & had nothing but what they got by charity & from the parish &c
Wednesday 30th Birmingham
Prepared wrappers for Stars in the afternoon went over to
bro Ash & Bench the latter went up Camp Hill with we expected to see the
Balloon go up from Sangers Circus but being too wet it did not ascend. Went
& got tripe supper 7pence at the Parade. Mr. Thomas Hadley & family
arrived from London Bro Halliday
returned from Dudley
July
1875
July 1st
Thursday 1st Birmingham
Went with bro: Halliday to New St he sat for a pictures.
we went to a restaurant for some dinner & from there to bro Spokes spent
the afternoon there and returned to '26' expecting to distribute the Stars but
the same not having arrived we both went to Hockley together bro: Halliday
spoke few minutes
Friday 2nd Birmingham
We distributed the Stars busy all day made out bills
& sent out to all the branches & individuals. In the evening we went
to the Tripe House in the Parade & we got a tripe supper in the private
room
Saturday 3rd Birmingham
After dinner we went to Aston called at sister Goulds who
invited us there back to supper on our way back from the Flower Show. the
flowers were grand & no mistake if anything ahead of last year's show. We
spent the evening at sister Gould very pleasantly the young ladies sang &
played for us & we had very agreeable time until after 10 o-clock. Received
a letter from my wife Hattie learned they were well & that Burtie was
improving
Sunday 4th Birmingham
Elder Halliday started for Northamptonshire at 8.30 I
went down to the Priesthood meeting at Hockley at 12 n spoke for 20 minutes
after the reports of the various districts had been given at 2pm We had a
very good meeting although not many people present we had a testimony meeting I
occupied some 20 minutes at 630pm Bro Bench preached for 15 minutes I
followed for some 40 minutes & had very good audience followed by Jno
Robinson for some 10 minutes I walked with bro: Robinson to '26' Tenby he has
come here to England to attend to business & visit friends he gave me 10/-
I went with him to Hockley station 9.20
Monday 5th Birmingham
Spent the day mostly at home in the evening took a walk
down Town & to the singing class at Hockley dismissed the same through
prayer
Tuesday 6th Birmingham
Went to Webley & Son & ordered Heber John
Richards Rifle valued at £10 to get the cash from Prest Jos F Smith when ready
Wednesday 7th Birmingham
After attending some communications I went over to Spon Lane on my way
to see Mrs. Rowley when I learned she had removed to Great Barr returned home
by way of Standsworth. stayed in the rest of the evening. wrote some letters
Thursday 8 Birmingham
At home all morning went over to bro
Geo Smiths to dinner & then returned to put up Stars. attended meeting at
Hockley spoke for a few minutes
Friday 9th Birmingham
Spent most of the day at home writing letters
Saturday 10th Birmingham
Wrote home to Richard & Mother RM Jones sent them
each my photo Received letters from Richard & Lavinia in a few hours after
I mailed the above Wrote several letters to different parties
Sunday 11th Coppice
Took train from New
St for Deepfields met with Bro Robinson Wm
Phillips & Ton [Son?] Also sisters Cardwell & Lucas who went with us,
we had a very good meeting at the Coppice & I organized a branch there with
Elder George Boddison as President the most of us went down to bro Hand to Tea
at 5.30 I proposed we go to the street & hold meeting so we went &
Elders Robinson & Price of Lipton preached & we invited the people to
the Temperance hall that an Elder from America would address them so we had a
very good meeting in the evening I occupied one hour & bro: Robinson
followed for 15 minutes they started for Bilston & I went with bro Boddison
to Womburne His neighbors Mr. & Mrs. Payden who is a bailiff for and
living in a large gentleman's house they both came to see me into bro Boddison
& stayed until 1 o-clock in the morning we sung & I talked occasionally
to them & they felt very much pleased & they both believe in our
doctrine although she goes to the Independents & is a secretary or
Treasurer of the Mission Fund for that Society. I never came across a couple
who felt better towards us and the work in my life & they take great
interest in our principles
Monday 12th Womburne
I
spent the most of the day here Mrs. Payden brought me some new milk for my
breakfast & soon after she came for me to go to their house & she
commenced to talk & ask questions & I had great freedom in speaking to
her & she believed it every word and then came in Mrs. Timmins of Sugar
House Ward. she & her husband used to belong to the Church & when Mrs.
Payden introduced me as an Elder from Salt Lake City she felt very much
astonished & while I was talking she joined in & commenced to bear her
testimony to the truth of Mormonism. altho she had been out of the Church for
a long time at least had met with no branch since their branch broke up at
WomburneI spoke to her concerning renewing her covenants & go with bro
Boddison to the Coppice branch. I stayed with Mrs. P some 3 hours or more stay
to dinner until Mr. Payden came home & they expressed themselves much
pleased to see me & hoped I would come again soon & also they hoped
they would see me at Salt Lake some time if not before Mrs. P said she never
saw two men she felt freer with than myself & Elder Halliday in her life
she told me that she was very fond of their Missionary who comes around
occasionally to preach for them but she don't feel as free in his company as
she did with us. Their little girl Polly felt quite attached towards me & was
with me the most of three hours & was there & she cried after me when I
left about 4 o-clock I left for Mt. Pleasant where I arrived at bro Bull
about 6 o-clock found two of the daughters very delicate & weak &
administered to one Lavinia she felt some little better before I left
Tuesday 13th Birmingham
About 11 o-clock I started in company with sister Bull
& Richard her son we went to Mr. Northwoods glass Works at Wordsley Mr. N
himself showed me all through his establishment which to me was very
interesting especially carving on glass he was to work himself on a glass
bottle or jar on which he was carving the imitation of some ancient piece of
work there are only two of them in the world one at the British Museum &
one in some other museum It took him two years to make it & cost £1000 he showed me some 7 or 8
bottles on a shelf in the rough which would take 20 years to finish them
Sister Bull told me that I might see in the Factory with the women a lady in
charge of them who is the mistress of Mr. N & that I might know her by the
curls she wore he has children by her & sometimes he stays away from his
own wife several months I called at the brother of Sister Bull who together
with his wife used to be in the Church I spoke with both of them as regards the
importance of receiving their covenants but they had nothing against the
principles but Elder Bullock or somebody had cut them off hurriedly & they think they have not been treated
rightfully I told them to pay no attention to what men would do they ought
not to sacrifice their Salvation on account of the actions of men they
promised they would think of my words & wished me to call again. I called
at the glass Works of her other brother who is opposed to our Church & with
whom Thomas Evans her other bro works We went up to Brettle Lane & called
upon Sister Esther Shaw who Keeps a little store with her Aunt she gave me 1/-
& was very glad to see us we stayed to tea I took train at 440 for Dudley
called at sister Wedge found Emily Boddingtons sisters Susan & Selina's
sister Emily Tyner I went with them & sister Mary Ann Allen to the Castle
grounds & we had very good time for an hour. I took 7.40 train for Hockley
reached home at 8.10 & felt quite unwell through a severe cold I had
caught, I went straight to bed found Elder JHS was gone to Council there were 8
or 10 letters awaiting my return which I was too sick to open
Wednesday 14th Birmingham
Received letter from my wife Hattie Stayed in the most of
the day with the exception of going down to Hyam's to try my overcoat
Thursday 15th Birmingham
John H & myself distributed the Stars we then went
down to bro Spokes to dinner. I returned to attend to my tithe list for half
year ending June 30th & I E [Individual Emigrant] Statement for
quarter ending same date &c Did not feel very well having caught a cold
& did not go with bro Smith to Hockley meeting this evening
Friday 16th Birmingham
Elder WAC Bryan of Nottingham arrived here this morning to
transact some business with a Lawyer Washburn of Gloucester pertaining to some
property of a man named Jennings of Nephi the Book of Mormon on our table was
taken up by him & he read the two testimonies in the forepart of the book
& while I went out to Spon Lane the brethren had couple of hours talk with
him & preached to him. I called at bro: Rock his brother came in as we
were going to eat dinner he was a devout Methodist but he took one of my
posters to put in his window & stated he would come up to our meeting
Sunday if it was not for their anniversary sermon in their chapel. We then
walked to Birmingham bro: Rock was going to a Mr. Brettle in Monument Lane who
was making a couple of fishing rods for him. we all stayed there to tea they
were very religious people judging from the manner Mr. B asked a blessing on
the food. they did not know who I was but presume soon did after I and bro R
had gone out as I had had quite a talk with my Methodist friend who remained.
I agreed with bro Rock to go with him & Mr. B some day fishing. Bro Rock
gave me 2/6. returned to '26' at 5.30 & then went to meet bro Smith &
Bryan at bro Bench from there we went over to Cannon Hill Park bro Bench went
with us & had quite a pleasant walk which would make about 12 miles today
Saturday 17th Birmingham
After I was through with my writing we then went over to
Great Barr Station & walked over to Sister Rowley to Scotch Arrus. About 1
½ mile & found she was gone over to West Bromwich we stayed there few
minutes & then walked over to Chester Road to Mr. Barrington's we had tea
there & the girls asked us if we would take a walk into Sutton Park so bro
Smith & Bryan & myself went with Sarah Ellen & Ewana & we had a
very pleasant walk & a good opportunity to preach to them & they seemed
very much pleased with the exception of polygamy which is the doctrine that
caused there Father to apostatize & he has prejudiced their minds more or
less against the principle & brought them up in the Church of England but
we talked straight to them & endeavored to explain the principle from a
Bible stand point, but we did not wish them by any means to think that polygamy
is all our people think about &c &c We returned to their house about
8.30 had supper & returned to Birmingham with the 10.22 train reached '26'
about 11.30 having enjoyed a very pleasant day
Sunday 18th West Bromwich
Myself & Elder Smith took train from Hockley to
W Bromwich at 1.05 Elders Crowton & Barrett were also there & sisters
Morgan & Beckett the weather being so very unfavorable there were but few
people present one stranger who has attended since we first opened has
continued to attend every sabbath I occupied the whole of the afternoon after
Elder John Robinson had spoken This stranger gave an invitation for one of us
to go with him to tea I requested bro Smith to go & I stayed in the Room
& had lunch with sister Tait Mumford & others & at 5.30 I started
to walk to Birmingham so as to be at Hockley chapel for the evening I was overtaken
by the most terrific rain storm I ever heard I went into a Tavern & got me
a bottle of Ginger beer & waited some half hour & then started on again
I was not out two minutes when it commenced as bad as ever so I run into a
private house to shelter until the Train comes & rode down to Hockley in a
very few seconds the rain come so heavily that it flooded into the houses &
men women & children were out with brooms & brushes trying to keep the
stream from their houses &c Met with bro WCA Bryan at Hockley who spoke for
15 minutes & followed by bro: Thos H Robinson & I dismissed through
prayer
Monday 19th Birmingham
Felt quite unwell all day laid up the most of the day
with cold never tasted anything until about 2 o-clock in the afternoon had
Elders Smith & Bryan to administer to me in bed. It rained all day. Elder
Halliday returned from Loxley
Tuesday 20th Birmingham
Elders Smith & Halliday started out together to
sister Rowley and through the Black Country the former to be in Chasetown &
the latter in Coppice on Sunday. Elder Bryan left for Nottingham. I stayed in
the most of the day. I was engaged on my Tithe list & quarterly a/c &c
. Rec'd letters from my wife Hattie & Mother also from Mrs. Barrett &
Prest Jos F Smith replied to Mrs. B's
Wednesday 21st Birmingham
Stars arrived & prepared for distribution when sister
Gould called & invited me & Elder JT Belliston who returned today from
Redditch to go up to their house to dinner so we followed her up & we spent
the afternoon & part of the evening there returned at 8pm & we put up
the Stars
Thursday 22nd Birmingham
We stamped the Stars & mailed them visited Mr. Barrington at the factory &
stayed to tea. Received a letter from Mrs. Riley of the London Conference.
Attended meeting at Hockley & took stars down. Elders Ash Spokes Belliston
& myself occupied the time
Friday 23rd Birmingham
Stayed in the most of the day felt quite unwell having
caught a severe cold last Sunday. went down to bro Spokes by invitation to
dinner & returned soon after to work on my quarterly a/c's &c
Saturday 24th Birmingham
At home all day until evening went down & took bro
Halliday's letters to Bro: Bench for him to take to the Coppice Sunday.
returned right back again went to bed early
Sunday 25th Birmingham
Stayed in until afternoon went to Hockley meeting at 2.30
spoke for 30 minutes brought bro & sis Spokes home to tea 6.30 Bro:
Ever & myself spoke about 30 minutes each had quite a good attendance
gave old sister Williams a shilling & sister Brooks gave me 2/6 sister
Jewkes gave me 1/- - several of the Choir came home with me also Miss Walsh
& young Mr. Gould & we have some good singing & Thomas Hadley
accompanied on the Concertina
Monday 26th Birmingham
Early this morning young Gould & Miss Walsh came for
me before breakfast with a trap to go and administer to sister Gould who was
laid up in bed with swelling in the glands of the throat I anointed her &
laid hands upon her and I was returned an hour again in the trap Went to
Mr. Prime to dinner & having been invited yesterday to sister Griffiths to
tea went down to sister Bench & she went with me we then went to sister
Bench & bro Ash & wife Ted & wife & bro & sis Jakes &
we had some good singing together sister Griffiths put 1/- in my hand Sister
Hadley having been up to sister Goulds who sent by her 4/- for myself 2/6 for
TH Robinson 2/6 tithing & 1/- poor
Tuesday 27th Birmingham
Received an invitation from Mr. Henry Fowler a Methodist
Preacher to go and spend a week with him at his home at Wellingborough
Northamptonshire I replied I would try & come & spend a day or so on or
about the 20th of August when I should be glad to hold a series of
meetings in their Town & preach for them, Went
over to West Bromwich to see bro: Genge Concerning his tithe list of names
&c called at bro Rock but he was gone fishing went over to sister Barber
had tea there & then to Genge & we walked up to W Bromwich took train
for Hockley for Council spoke for 15 minutes
Wednesday 28th Birmingham
Busy on accounts finished Tithe list & quarterly a/c
this evening Elders Belliston & Halliday arrived from Dudley. felt quite
unwell & retired immediately after I finished reports
Thursday 29th Liverpool
7 o-clock AM telegram arrived for John Henry (who was at
Stafford) which I opened & found his father Prest Geo A Smith had
telegraphed for him to return home immediately & he was required to be at
Lime St Liverpool at 12 o-clock today, so telegraphed Jno Henry to Stafford to
meet me at 953 & go to Liverpool. I accompanied him to Liverpool & we
were at 4. Exactly at 12 o-clock we
took dinner & Prest Smith Ernest & myself rode down with him to the
Pier Head & we went on board the "City of Chester" with him & saw him
off we sailed down the River some distance with them. they had very pleasant
day to start on. We never know what a day brings forth. I took with me his
traps all I could find to Stafford & we both went on with the same train.
we found Elder Smith, Harihan, Ernest & Jos H Parry well & the latter
hailed me to go & hold meeting with him out of doors on the Square near
St. George's Hall. It looked like hard work to mount a chair & commence
to preach without a congregation but after was there of us Parry myself &
Harihan had spoken there was a tolerably good audience & had a severe cold
& my speaking in the open air later did not help it any slept with Jos
Hyrum at '42'
Friday 30th Lpool
& Birmingham
After breakfast Prest Jos F Smith informed me that I
should be released to return home with the next Company on the 10th
of September he accompanied me to the station I took 9.30 for Birm arrived at
12.30 called at bro Harding & then continued on for '26' Tenby St found
Elders Belliston & Halliday O.K. I felt very unwell & went & laid
on the bed for a couple of hours took a cup of tea & retired pretty early
had a good sweat which help me some
Saturday 31st Birmingham
Had a rather bad night did not rest until a very late
hour, had a very good sweat & feel somewhat better this morning but weak
Louisa Meadows called & I paid her £3.9.0 by orders
of Prest Smith which her father sent. I opened Jno Henry's letters one from
his father one from Robt A Anderson enclosing £10.0.0 draft & one from bro
Ayring enclosing a photo of himself & Elder Walser all of which I mailed
today to Prest. Jos F Smith with the draft. Wrote Johnson of Hereford,
Wellington & Ross &c
Took train at 4.30 for St Malvern & as I was going down
to the train I met a man whom I suspected to be bro Jacob Miller & whom
& expected & went up to him & found he was the man returned to the
house with for him to put up his things & we walked down to New St. Bro
Halliday took him to get some dinner & the met me at the statio. I found
bro Thomas Steed at the Wych St Malvern at his cousins Henry Steed, I went up
with bro S to one of his couzins where I was to stay over night very clean
people, the man Mr. Steed had been baptized when a boy & had a chance to
emigrate 32 years ago but his wife prevented him from going I preached to them
for two hours - & Mrs. Steed stated she would be very willing to emigrate
if it was not for the water. she had some stories about some men who had gone
away with other men's wives from this neighborhood which caused her to loose
confidence in our people, but they had great faith in what Bro. Steed said as
he was considered a very good boy before he went away
August
1875
Sunday 1st August Gt
Malvern
Had a very good bed last night & rested better than I
had done for several nights. I went up
to breakfast to sister Chamberlain a sister of bro Steed & who
accompanied over to Ridgeway Cross some
5 miles & we found bro Belliston & some of the Saints just starting to
Brinster Commons we got into the house I took a wash & we started with them
some 7 miles further. we anticipated some opposition today by what we had
heard & seen enough a Mr. Williams who has attended every one of our
meetings here was present & a lot of other rough young men who were smoking
speaking & carrying on & after bro Steed had spoke Williams commenced
to talk something about the Book of Mormon when I got up to speak he also spoke
at the same time & some fellow who had come along with bro Ball commenced
to argue with him & they drawed half the congregation around them I told
Williams that his conduct was very unbecoming a man let alone a Christian &
if he would only hold his peace until I was through he might then have the
opportunity of saying what he had to but he thought he had a perfect right to
speak on the Commons so I continued my remarks & many listened very
attentively even with all the annoyance caused by him I was followed by Bro
Belliston & also quite a number gave good audience to what he said. we
then gave out a hymn & closed the meeting leaving Williams & his crowd
we gave announcement that another meeting would be held there in a month from
that day. we walked back to Acton Beauchamp & held another meeting in the
open air when bro Belliston Steed & myself occupied the time. we had some
150 people at each of our meetings. one person a very respectable woman named
Dala (Elizth) came up & gave her name for baptism. I believe some good
will be done here yet eight having been baptized since I was here last 4 of
which were rebaptisms. we got back to Ridgeway Cross about 9.30 having walked
to day some 18 miles & preached ___[illegible] & felt well at night
having done some good
Monday 2nd Ridgeway
Cross
Having been invited over to Bro Jonathan Davies at
Bishops Froome some 4 miles off myself Elder Belliston Elizabeth Williams and
Annie Hind went with us the former is engaged to bro James Davies We spent the
day there with bro Davies found him to be a very fine old gentleman been with
the Church from an early day was baptized by Elder Woodruff & has done a
great deal of good in his day. He told me in the orchard that he had been
rebaptized recently & wished me to reordain him which I did assisted by
Elder JT Belliston & we also reconfirmed all former blessings sealed upon
his head. We returned & held a meeting in the Old Shop myself & bro B
occupied the time & the saints felt well I administered to sisters Susannah
Covington [?] & Gibbons who were sick
Tuesday 3rd Wyche
I walked over from Ridgeway Cross to this place distance
some 5 miles found Elder Thomas Steed at James Chamberlain his brother-in-law
about noon I had a lunch & then went with Bro Steed over the hill to Gt
Malvern down to the Link & up to New Town walked all together this day 14
miles Mrs. Parry met us at the latter place & invited us to her house to
get some bread & cheese & cider her husband died recently through an
accident & was a very good member of the Church & since his death she
feels inclined to join the Church. We called upon a Mr. Henry Jones Shoe
Manufacturers pretty well to do at the Link & who used to be strong
advocate of Mormonism some 30 years ago but professes now to be a Free Thinker. abandoned Mormonism because a promise as he said was pronounced upon the head
of some man which he considered never were fulfilled & some such nonsense I
talked in very plain language, & told him that I understood that once he
used to preach Mormonism & testified of its truth & now he denies its
truth that there must be something wrong somewhere & that he must surely be
telling an untruth either that time or now. take whichever position he placed
it placed him in an awkard dilema. he came out with us as far as the Link
Station & hope to see me again he would like further talk with me &
wished me to call any time & pass but never asked to eat any thing. I
invited him & family up to the Wyche on Sunday next to our Camp Meeting.
he promised he would surely come, Wrote Halliday & Jacob Miller
Wednesday 4th Wyche
After breakfast at bro Steed's sister where we slept last
night. we went in search of a man named John Matthews of the British Camp a
Farmer & on the way called at some house where we met with a Mrs. Lucy from
Bristol visiting her mother-in-law. she is a Scripture reader with whom I had
a conversation upon our doctrine she professed to be a member of the Church of
England & she appeared to be a very stern member of that church but felt
very much taken down after an hour's conversation with her & there was
another woman next door neighbor who listened to all that we said - & myself & bro Steed seemed to have
made a strong impression upon them We found Matthews after a walk of some 5 miles
got back to Chamberlain & found a little girl come for bro S stating that
Elder Jacob Miller had arrived. We went down had a lunch of bread & cheese
& cider & then we went down to Gt Malvern & back. Wrote Job
Welling ____[?] him here for Sunday. Bro Miller arrived [?] Walked some 14
miles today Went into Gr Malvern old Abbey paid attendant 3pence which he
accepted thankfully although there was a notice on the column inside
prohibiting him from receiving money but all donations to be placed in a
donation box. While being shown things the Church I saw a great big rat, I
asked the attendant if it was possible that was a rat I observed run across
& under the curtain where the surplices of the singers &c were hung he
replied "very likely there are any amount of them here" he said we returned to the
Wyche & put up at the Railway Inn Wrote bro Johnson of Hereford we would be
there tomorrow
Thursday 5th Hereford
After breakfast myself & Elders Steed & Miller
went to Wall Station 1 ½ miles & then 1 ½ miles in search of a bro: named
Ireland, but could not find him he being
away so we continued our way to Ledbury some 5 miles further north [?] from
there to Hereford at noon 15 miles 1/3 we reached Hereford at 12.30 went to bro
Johnson's found no arrangement had been made for the Lecture Hall to secure it
for certain neither had he engaged the Bell man to cry it, so we found it was
too late for this evening to get anything of a congregation so we went over to
the Bellman & bro Johson paid him 2/- for crying it twice at 7.30
Friday 6th Hereford
We attended the meeting & had a small audience of
some 75 or 80 persons very respectable people who listened very assiduously
throughout I arose with the view of introducing Elder Miller after we had sung
& offered prayer but instead of introducing him I felt impressed to speak
first myself & occupied some 35 minutes then introduced bro Miller who
continued about 20 minutes & who was followed by bro Steed for some 15
minutes longer & we closed by singing the doxology & benediction by bro
Thos Steed there were some who made some enquiries after the meeting was two very nice young men well behaved & of
respectable birth who waited & detained us
30 minutes in the rooms & who followed us half a mile towards our
lodgings asking great many questions & I gave them "the only way to be
saved" with my address on it he said he would communicate with me further &
they bid us good bye & hoped we would excuse the liberty they had taken in
detaining us etc. Mrs. Johnson never made her appearance to us all day &
I learned she felt like the devil because we went & held a meeting at the
house where sister Hughes lived. on our arrival last night we found bro &
sis Wellington & son from Ross had come on purpose to attend meeting &
to save them their disappointment I proposed inasmuch as there were a good few
of us even there present we would have held a meeting if we had a place to do
so Mr. & Mrs. Weaver said we could come to stay in their house &
welcome but the Wellington family had to return with the 8.35 train So [?] hey
left & we had a very good little meeting Elder Steed Miller & myself
occupying the time all of which it seems displeased her Majesty so bro: Johnson
informed me etc. Went through the Cathedral today
Saturday 7th Malvern
Took train this a.m. 950 for Malvern Wells accompanied
with Elders S & M called at Bro Steed's brother's house & then we went
to the Link & called upon Sister Mary Ann Williams who is a member of the
Church she has a mother & three sisters in the Valley her father named Firkins'
died a faithful Latter-Day Saint. her husband who is considerably older than
her is a very nice old gentleman they have 3 children one aged 22 a young man a
boy 12 & little girl 8 very well behaved children found they are all
anxious to emigrate & they think something of sending the oldest son this
fall I wrote home to Hattie in answer to her s of the 13th of July
& also to inform her of my release to return home with the next company.
It turned out very wet & the prospect very bad for an out door meeting
tomorrow returned to the Wyche & put up alone at the Railway Inn bro:
Miller going over the hill with bro Steed & to get some letter which had
arrived for him
Sunday 8th Malvern
Went over to Jas Chamberlain where Elders Steed &
Miller was staying to breakfast stayed there to diner with them, laid on the
bed for a couple of hours before dinner. then we all went down the Wyche to
Malvern Commons where we met with the brethren from Ridgeway Cross & Elder
Belliston at 230 we had a congregation of some 200 people many were acquainted
with Elder Steed & anxious to hear from him prayer by Elder Belliston and
I spoke _____[?] & occupied about 25 minutes
followed by bro B for about the same length of time then bro: Steed for 20
minutes closed by prayer by bro Miller. While I was speaking one man who was
little the worse for liquor grumbled a little while I denounced drunkeness who
also was supported by the proprietor of the Railway Inn where I put up but
they kind of redeemed themselves in the evening the one who was drunk came
there with his wife & was very quiet &c 6.30 p.m. Meeting opened
through prayer by Elder Steed then Elder Miller occupied about 20 minutes
followed by bro S for 15 minutes & I closed with a sermon of some 30 minutes
duration we had very good attention on the whole with the exception of a little
grumbling from one young man who as I was afterwards informed was a policeman
but dressed in a citizens attire & while I was treating upon the
organization of the Church of Christ in the days of Jesus & showing the
division which existed upon religious matters he yelled out "Wont you tell us
which is the right church?" I replied the Church which has Apostles, Prophets,
Evangelists Pastors & Teachers all inspired men to lead & guide it
& for the work of the ministry and it would be useless to unite with those
who denied the necessity of such men for the work of the ministry &c
after the meeting I had a conversation with a very respectable gentleman who
came up to me & asked me several questions & the Rev Mr. Richardson the
parson of the Emanuel Evangelical Church of England (of Lady Huntington Trust)
came & endeavored to lead him away from [?] as he distributed some little
circular on "the way to be saved" & some songs The gentleman took a
Testament out of his pocket with the name of T. Webber Smith he questioned
considerable concerning Joe Smith (I said his name was not Joe but Joseph he
begged my pardon & said well Joseph) polygamy, & whether Brigham Young
was still living & if the Government had not put down polygamy yet &c
all of which I answered the parson's wife also stood on the hill above us
& listened to all who spoke A man named Ireland came up to me stated that
he used to belong to the church years gone by & that he wished to be
rebaptized I told him Elder Belliston would call upon him & baptize him
Monday 9th Powick
Myself & Elders Steed & Miller went up on the
Worcester Beacon the highest hill from which they say 15 counties can be seen
from the same on a fine clear day, - We then met with bro Belliston at the
Wyche & started on foot for Powick to Bro: Jas Jones walked today about 9
miles called at sister Williams Link Common & Mr. Henry Jones Shoe Maker
who used to preach Mormonism at an early day but manifested very little regard
for us although he pressed on me to call upon him he did not even ask us to sit
down, he had a bro named Peter Jones living at Goshen bro B knows him & we
gave him his address reached Beauchamp Road about 6pm & we arranged for a
meeting & Elder Belliston went & notified the neighbors we would preach
at bro Jas Jones this evening at 8.30 In
less than an hour after we had decided on having a meeting we had a house full
of people several who stood on the outside I sung a hymn myself & Elder
Belliston engaged in prayer & spoke for 40 minutes I followed him for 25
minutes and we had the best of attention throughout & they thank us for
coming & I announced that we or some of us would come around occasionally
& preach to them & would send word around they thank us very kindly
& bid us good night & they all went away (with the exception of one
named Lees who got up & went away before the meeting was over) all the
others were highly delighted we closed our meeting five minutes after 10 o-clock After supper we administered to Annie Jones daughter of bro Jones who has
been ill more or less for the last two years, not been able to attend school
bro Belliston anointed her & I was mouth
Tuesday 10th
This morning Sister Jones related to me a circumstances
concerning Elder Dye who was over here on a mission some few years ago &
how he tried to seduce her daughter Polly
who is now married I have heard bad account of brother Dye before in
Herefordshire, which confirms me that there is some truth in what they speak of
him The young woman told her mother what he endeavored to do she was out
visiting & did not come home until after the family had retired & bro
Dye did not want to go to bed when they did but waited until Polly came home
& he took her on his knee &
endeavored to take advantage of her, she told her mother to accuse him next
time he came around right before her, but he never came any more The young woman went out of the Church
through it & has not been much account ever since Walked to Worcester called at bro: Ball Bro Steed had
been but had gone to see bro Miller off for London, I called at Mrs. Neal the
above young woman daughter of sister Jones & waited until Elder Steed &
neice came after staying about one hour I started for Birm calling at Sister
Elton took from her 5 vols of the back Star in lieu of her Star debt some where
about 12/- which I settled for her. Booked by Great Western by way of Dudley.
laid over an hour or so & went up to sister Wedge had tea & took 6.20
for Hockley. found letters from my wives Hattie & Lavinia which both
contained "good news from home"
Wednesday 11th Birmingham
Called down to Town Post office, bro Spokes at Mrs.
Ashton Aunt of bro Jno Worwood Engineer on the Utah Southern R Road Got lunch
at Bull St. & went over to Webley's & Son to see about bro Heber John's
rifle they promised it in two weeks ready. returned by way of Snow Hill
Station to Hockley wrote several letters. three parcels of Star arrived
Thursday 12th Birmingham
After distributing the Stars & writing some few
letters I went over to Spon Lane called upon bro Rock took a walk with him to
the cemetery & back to bro & sis Booth who used to be in the Church he
not being at home his wife seemed to be a good sort of woman but they fell back
through some unwise words of bro: White. she promised they would come to
meetings again. Bro Rock & myself walked to Smithwick he put 3/- in my
hand & got me RR ticket to Monument Lane 3pence I attended meeting at Hockley
there were some 8, or 10, of us present, some roughs outside endeavored to
create a fuss throwing brick bats at the door &c
Friday 13th Birmingham
After writing several letters I went with Mr. Hadley down to bro
Spokes to see if the latter would give him a valuation upon his household
things as he had made up his mind together with his wife to embrace the gospel
& gather out with me in September. we stayed to tea with bro & sister
Spokes. on our return we found bro VL Halliday having returned from Dudley
Saturday 14th Birmingham
I stayed in all day wrote my wife Lavinia also my bro:
Elias & enclosed him my photo. wrote Elder Geo L Farrell promising to meet
him at Brixworth on Thursday the 19th next. at 6.40 I went &
met Elder Thomas Steed at New St met also with Miss Emma Barrington at the
station gave her my photo which I had promised her some weeks ago & before
I returned. Bro Steed & myself took cab for '26' and we both went down to
Mrs. Wm Smiths Gt King St. & spent the evening had tripe supper bro:
Halliday followed us there
Sunday 15th Birmingham
Baptized William Green of Syndon West Bromwich
Staffordshire he used to be a local preacher with the Methodists, he attended
our first meeting at W'Bromwich & afterwards attended every meeting since
he was born at West Bromwich in 1835 Nov 12th We had a very good meeting at 2.30 I ordained bro Thomas Rock an
Elder & Elder Tho Steed confirmed bro: Green Elder Steed & myself
occupied the time both afternoon & evening we had a very crowded meeting in
the evening & several strangers presen. Mr. Hadley went down with us to
chapel & stated that he was much pleased with what we had said. both him
& his wife intend to be baptized & gather out this fall if possible
some of the Saints came to '26' & we had some singing
Monday 16th Birmingham
I walked down to Cape Smithwick accompanied by Elder
Stucki to see Mrs. Meadows, & to find out from her personally whether she
inteded to emigrate or not, & she manifested not a very good spirit at
first & told us she did not intend to go I asked the reason & she said
that Mr. Meadows had not done right by her at all & neglected to write to
her &c & that he stated there were plenty of housekeepers that he could
get & that he had plenty women. he told her hold on sister Meadows your
husband has no such things neither did he say any thing of the kind unless he
might say it in a joke to stir you up to go there & that all the letters
which I have seen from him were all good letters, I asked for to see what he
said in the last letter concerning she showed us the letter & a better
sentiment could not have been expressed by any man & it was quite the
reverse to what she wished to convey viz. That he wanted no one but her to keep
house for him that she was his first wife & wanted her to come. but on
talking to her & telling her she had not done right by her husband she went
into the Pantry & sobbed so we could hear her from the kitchen & I am
inclined to believe that her husband's half brother who is living with her has
much to do with the feeling she manifests & if she has not committed
herself since her husbands departure I shall be happily disappointed in the
matter I have been suspicious of her for some time. she told us she would call
upon me at '26' tomorrow & tell me what she intended to do she promised to
attend to it by 10 o-clock as I wanted to go out. We walked from there to Soho
Station & booked to Spon Lane had dinner with bro Rock & we walked to
Oldbury Station & booked for Dudley went to see sister Rowley about her
emigration matter - & from there to the Castle grounds where we had a fine
tea party & the folks enjoyed themselves very much in singing recitation
& games we also went on the Tower & had a very good view of the surrounding
country. we returned to Birm with 9.05 train to Monument Lane Sta. Elder Wm
Barton came there
Tuesday 17th Birmingham
I started Elder Steed for London
with 11.20 Midland
to St. Pancras Station. When I returned Elder Barton was in also his
sister-in-law Mrs. Bailey. she invited me up tomorrow to dinner. attended
council, at Hockley Elder Barton accompanied us who spoke for half an hour
Wednesday 18th Birmingham
Wrote several letters, one to Chas Meadows of Salt Lake
concerning his wife here who refuses to emigrate Went & made a purchase of some £4.16.3 of
hardware for my wives & then took omnibus for Lozzells to Mr. & Mrs.
Bailey & spent the afternoon with them & bro Barton their
brother-in-law In the evening
Miss Boclair (a friend of Mr. & Mrs. Hadley) she is reporter for Geo:
Dawson's chapel & a young man Tom Wolf a relative of theirs came &
spent the evening with us Elders Halliday and Mr. L Watkin (of Brigham City now
on a visit) also present. We arranged for them to come again in about 8 or 10
days
Thursday 19th Brixworth
We took (myself & bro Halliday) train from Birm to
Brixwoth had to lay over an hour & a half at Blisworth reached this place
about 5.30 did not meet with Elder Farrell as we expected however as bro F had
given out an appointment for an out door meeting we had gone to the appointed
place & commenced meeting which was opened through singing & prayer by
Elder Halliday singing again & Elder Saml Littledike was speaking when
Elder Farrell arrived and also followed bro: Littledike we had a congregation
of some 30 people & the monument upon which
the speakers stood was literally covered with children we closed through
a hymn sung by bro & sis Littledike & children & benediction by
Elder Hallida. my cold has incurred much on me since I left Brim being too
hoarse to take any active part in the proceedings as I would desire. and was
much pleased to see bro: F come up when I did. We went to lodge at the Coach
& Horses paid fare Birm & Brix worth 4/6 ½
Friday 20th Brixworth
Felt quite unwell all day my cold being still bad. I
laid in bed most of the afternoon, & Elders Farrell & Halliday went out
for a walk, In the evening I went with Elders Farrell & Halliday &
Littledike over to Spratton & held meeting & Elders Halliday &
Farrell preached I closed by benediction a man named Wm Butler interrupted
immediately after the close of bro Halliday's discourse I told him to please be
still until after we close the meeting. Then he commenced to harangue &
persuade the people to have nothing to do with the Latter day-Saints and he was
sure if they read the Scriptures they would not become Latter-day-Saints. I
then [?] stopped him & told him we had no time to listen to him preach an
hour's sermon I thought he wanted to ask some questions. I informed him &
the audience that we had several miles to walk to our lodgings, the audience
was not at all pleased with his interference & the people bid good night we
walked away & Butler quit speaking. He said he never had been a Mormon
never would be worlds without end. (I had a hard job from saying Amen)
Saturday 21st Northampton
We walked today from Brixworth about 7 miles called at
bro Challis had tea & then we went out to Mr. Marks son of ____[?] Marks of
Salt Lake City who treated us very kindly & told us that two of us could
sleep & stay at his house so we accepted of his kind offer went over to
Sister Shaw's left bro Halliday there & myself & bro Farrell went to
Challis for our satchels. Bro Halliday came to Mr. Marks & related to us
the ill treatment he had received at the hands of Mr. Mead who came into the
room in which he was in Sister Shaw's house & commenced to damn & curse
& ordered him out of the house that he did not want any damned Mormon there
bro H paid no particular attention to him but looked him smilingly in the face
& Mead came to him pushed over from the arm chair right over threatening
him if ever he caught him in that house again he would kill him he replied he
was invited there by the those who owned the house so that he would continue to
come there until they prohibited him Mead
is only a tenant in the back kitchen & it was his impudence to speak &
act as he did Sister Shaw was present & saw bro H knocked over & Mead
used abusive language to her for interfere in the matter. About 9.30 Mr. &
Sis Show came to Mr. Marks to see brother Halliday & find out also from him
as well as from his wife & he invited us to call when we please stated that
he was not a Mormon but that we were welcome to his house. Sister Shaw invited
us to dinner. Mr. S said that he intended to go out of Town but that would
make no difference for us to come
Sunday 22nd Northampton
We
agreed [?] to have held three meetings Monday one on the Race Course in the
morning with the Saints in the afternoon and [?] somewhere else in the evening. so we were taken by bro: Challis down to the Cow Meadow & found there a
Mr. Barber Lecturer for the Bible defence Association occupying our portion
& some secularist about 50 yards off making redicule of the Bible Miracles
&c so we considered it a very inappropriate place to hold meetings as it
would only cause contention & the clans who were present were of that kind
we listened a while to both speakers & then we took a stroll around Town to
look for the best place to hold meetings. we went to the Market Square &
from there to the Race Course we decided that the latter place would be the
best about 6.30 so we held Saints meeting at the house of bro Challis some 10
of us in all we had very good little meeting Elders Halliday Farrell myself
& brother Littledike occupied the time, also bro Challis spoke for a few
minutes I went & laid down for an hour or so & then we went to the Race
Course & found a splend place a bench there with several ladies sitting on
it & mounted the bench & gave out the hymn "We Thank Thee O God for a
Prophet" & we sung it pretty good Elders Farrell & Halliday being good
singers & I could join a little although laboring under a severe cold. I
engaged in prayer and by the time I was through there was quite a respectable
audience ____[?] Elder Farrell spoke _____[?] &
occupied some 45 minutes had very good attention & brother Halliday
followed for about 15 minutes then gave out notice that if there were any
present who desired to learn further of our doctrine they might procure some of
our tracts at Mr. Alfred Challis 71 Gt Russell St. - We again sung &
prayer by Elder Littledike had supper at Mr. Jno R Marks Ethel St. were
myself & Elder Farrell also lodged
Monday 23rd Northampton
We went to Sister Shaw to breakfast & met there with
Elder Halliday but luckily we did not see Mr. Mead (her son in law) who had
yesterday threatened to kill bro H if ever he came there again, we thought we
would give him a chance to do some killing but he was to work up stairs in the
factory. we met with his brother when we first went in who started out as we
arrive he is on a visit from London, I understood that Mr. Shaw gave him to
understand if he could not behave himself he should look out for a house for
himself. We went up to Challis. & from there to Jno R Marks' to dinner
then myself & bro Farrell went to witness the first great Bicycle Contest
& fete in connection with the Northampton "Star" Bicycle Club which was
carried on under the patronage of the Right Hon the Earl Spencer K.G. P
Phillips Esq M.P. &c there were 16 heats advertized to run. but 15 races
viz. 7th J Keen late of Surbiton who is the champion of England run
against W Wilson of Northampton. G Owens of Birmingham the champion ____[?]
from scratch the former 170 yards & the latter 125 yards from scratch, Owen
came out winner & the champion almost ___[?] with him. The 9th
& 10th runs which were thrown into one was very interesting to see
them pass each other so often so it was impossible to tell who would win it was
a tight race between J Letts of Northampton J Potter same place won by the
former by a very few inches. The last heat between J Robinson (Northampton)
Green 180 yards H Flear (Derby) orange 190 yards G Thusillett (Paris) Blue 30
yards & A Keen (London) brother of the champion) Red 230 yards, the tire of
Robinsons large wheel came off as he went round the sharp curve which tossed
him over head over heels bicycle & all. A Keen came out winner but a few
inches ahead of the Frenchman although he had 200 yards the start with Mile
Handicap was run in 3 minutes & 4 seconds.
Myself & bro Farrell
enjoyed ourselves very much the weather was very fine and pretty good order
throughout did not see any person drunk nor any betting, cards were posted
prohibited betting &c 5.30 we left for the Midland station & reached
Wellington at 7.36 paid 11 ½ d RR fare found Mr. Henry Fowler who
received us very kindly. about 10 o-clock he took the Bible & read a
portion of the 20th chapter of St. John & then called upon me to
pray which I did I had a hard struggle however he groaning Methodist style
& saying "praise the Lord" "Amen" &c He gave a hearty Amen at the close
of my prayer on behalf of the authority of the Kingdom of God which very much
amused Elder Farrell. so we returned at an early hour and was not kept up by
him as he said to when I was here before
Tuesday 24th Wellington
We had a good nights rest last night the 'parson' &
his wife were having breakfast in the kitchen when we came down to the parlour,
he brought us our shoes, he read some scripture in the kitchen after their
breakfast & then we had breakfast with the young man who clerks in the
store after them
The parson told me that Jno
Barson said he would kill me the first time he had a chance he had been on the
spree for the last week ever since he heard I was coming because I cut him off
from the church. I went over to his house & he was working in the
adjoining room I walked I to see him and said Well Jno Barson how do you do Oh
how are you said he & we shook hands as hearty as ever although he did not
look me in the face. After dinner at Mr. Fowler we called by sister Pearson's
& walked over to the station & booked for Higham Ferrus & walked to
Stanwick some two miles distance Myself & bro Farrell put up at a Mr Chas
Baker. at 7.30 we held a meeting at the Gate of Mr. Bush a gentlemans'
residence in Stanwick we had quite an audience of some 50 persons there were
great many who listened whom we could not see as there were many houses in the
hollow we had very good attention with the exception of one drunken body the
people assisted us in the singing I occupied some twenty minutes & Elder
Farrell about the same time we gave out another meeting for tomorrow evening.
closed by prayer Halliday.
Wednesday 25th Stanwick
We slept last night at Mr. Bakers.
Elder Farrell this morning we two walked through Rounds & to the station
some two miles further & back to Stanwick by dinner a distance of 7 miles
Rounds I learned after I returned to Stanwick was the native place of Jno &
Timothy Adams also Jno: X Smith of Cedar City Iron County who have friends
there now.
Bro Farrell & myself had
dinner at Sister Clarks her husband is dry old customer & he used to abuse
her very much & would not allow her to go to any meetings nor read of our
book but is some better now except when he takes a fit. Mrs Clark & her
daughter Martha Elizabeth (Lizzie) are the only saints in this village There
are several here on the eve of being baptized. Mr Wakeling & wife Mr Baker
& wife also Mrs Bakers father who used to be in the church & an Elder
& used to preach around this neighborhood some 12 or 15 years ago. We had
some good music & singing at Mr Clark until a late hour also some sharp
talk with Mr Clark he hardly knows what he believes in
We had a very good attendance
this evening of people and they gave good hearing at the close a Mr Sharman
asked the priviledge of asking a question I replied yes Sir after we dismiss so
after prayer by Elder Halliday. I gave my friend an opportunity so he remarked You seemed to lay a great deal of stress upon the ordinance of baptisms &
wished to know if I considered the 3000 on the day of pentecost had been
baptized. I replied yes sir, for we read that Peter told them had to do to be
saved Repent and be pledged every one of you &c and we read that the 3000
were added to the church that day & of course they had to comply with the
apostle's command. There was another man an infidel named Shrives present who
we afterwards learned through a servant girl of a Public House where he had
been drinking the most of the afternoon that he intended to have a squabble
with the Mormons at night. He said that Peter could not have baptized that
many people in one day. I replied I do not suppose myself that he alone
baptized them all Well says he the twelve apostles could not do it. I answered
the scriptures did not inform us how many were engaged in administering that sacred
ordinance to them any further they were added to the church. There were
seventy other apostles & then another seventy ordained who could assist in
the great work
Then they brought up the
thief on the cross I explained to them that the thief was not saved neither did
go to heaven he went to the spirit world where Jesus also went & preached
to the spirits in prison who were once disobedient in the days of Noah the
infidel said that was not in the scriptures, Oh yes said the reformed Wesleyan
it is in Peter Well then says I that is where the thief went with Jesus. A Mr
Bass followed us to express his gratitude for the light thrown upon the
subjects of the thief on the Cross, & stated it was made very plain to him
but never had seen it in that light before we talked together for half an hour
& there were quite a crowd around I procured a copy of the voice of Warning
to lend Mr Bass also one for another young man & gave them each only way
to be saved. very good feeling existed we went into Mr Bakers house & sat a
while & the first thing we knew Mrs Baker was preparing to be baptized so
Elders Farrell & myself & Halliday went with her husband one way &
sister Clark & her daughter Lizzie went another way with Mrs B to the
Meadows & about 12.30 bro Halliday baptized her & I confirmed her at
her own house assisted by Elders Farrell & Halliday We three slept together
at Mr Bakers there are quite a number in the village who are likely to obey the
gospel soon Sister Clark has a sister in the 16th ward married to one
Perkins her former husbands name was Timson. Mr Clark wanted I should be sure
to remember him kindly to Jno X Smith his old schoolmate
Thursday 26th Norton
We walked 2 miles from Stanwick to
Higham Ferrus. Station booked for Wellingborough went up to Mr Fowler had
dinner there bid them good buy also Barsons & Pearsons took train for
Weedon at 325 had to wait at Blisworth Junction 2 hours reached Weedon at 6.15
walked 4 miles to Norton reached there at 7.30 and we preached on the square to
about 30 people bro Halliday spoke about 20 minutes & I followed for about
30 & we had very good hearing. we put up at brother Ballard.
Friday 27th Birmingham
We walked from Norton to Crick 4 miles caught 11.30 train
reached R? at 12 o-clock called upon Sister Harriet Smith who was glad to see
us & she thinks something of emigrating this season. Elder VL stopped at
Coventry & came on to Birmingham. In the afternoon I went over to Barr St
to Mr Barrington & we went out for a walk together Bro Belliston came in
about 9.30 who had been in Birmingham since Tuesday
Saturday 28th Birmingham
Spent most of the day in the house went down to Weaman St
to Weblys to see about Heber John's gun & was told they could not get it
ready for me in a week I spoke rather strong to them for disappointing me they
ought to have let me know in time so I could get it made somewhere else, then
they promised me it would be ready two week today sure. I told them I should
depend upon having it sure. Bro Belliston went to Halesowen & bro Halliday
arrived from Coventry
Sunday 29th Birmingham
Attended Hockley meeting at 230 had splendid good meeting
I spoke ten minutes bro Halliday spoke before me. 6.30 Elder Halliday spoke
for 35 minutes I followed for 45 min & we had good audience & several
strangers present. Recd letters from Hattie Lavinia & Bp RT Burton
Monday 30th Birmingham
Went up to see Mrs Meadows this morning saw her & all
the family also Bro Meadows' half brother who lives with them she said she did
not wish to go this year, but Louisa said she would go. I promised her I would
pay her way to Liverpool & get her tin ware &c in Liverpool. Wrote
several letters one to Bro Burton one to Richard one to sis Barbara &c Went
to bro Spokes to dinner & from there we went to the children's party &
had a splendid time together & everybody seemed to enjoy themselves in
various kind of games swing dancing one cottelion as they had a violin &
Bass Viol present returned by way of bro Bench home
Tuesday 31st Birmingham
Went with Elder Belliston to Barr Street to Mr Barrington
spent all the afternoon & we had quite a talk with an old gentleman Mr
Rawlings an old batchelor a baptist who said that he had been expelled from
that society because he could not agree with them in their extreme views &
ideas concerning "hell fire & damnation" so he said he was a seeker after
truth but it was difficult to make an impression upon him as regards the
necessity of baptism, still he acknowledged the consistency of our doctrine we
preached to him for 1 ½ hours returned to "26" & spent part of the
evening in the company of Mr Eccleson a friend of Mr Hadley we had some music
on the guitar by bro Halliday & Mr E sung few songs &c we then went to
the Council.
September 1875
Wednesday Sept 1st Birmingham
Wrote all morning & then went over to SponLane 4
miles from Hockley. spent the afternoon with bro Thomas Rock his Mother in law
& her sister Miss Elizabeth Smith were present. we all went for a walk
after dinner to the Cemetery & I had quite an interesting chat with the old
maid & she felt very pleasant & agreeable. we returned to tea. called
at bro: Genge a man came in to see me to ask about a family in the Valley bro
Joseph Hall of Ogden married one of the daughters. gave him bro H's address.
We took grain from Spon Lane to Bir 8.56 bro: Rock paid the far & also gave
me 2/6.
Thursday 2nd Birmingham
Attended to some writing in the morning & then went
to the Waterworks to settle for the water bill found that they had increased
the rate 100%
Was invited to dinner to Mr
Rotheram His wife is a member of the church Mr R's sister was present who is a
devout Methodist to whom I preached for an hour or more also her sister younger
than her came to tea. Miss Rotheram believed in baptism by immersion as the
proper mode & she told me that she had been baptized. I asked by whom Oh
she said our minister went with me to a Baptist minister & arranged with
him to baptize me, Y yet you belong to the Methodist do you says I she smiled
& saw the inconsistency of it I explained to her that it is quite as
necessary that the man who officiates in that holy ordinance should be called
by God as men formerly were called & as Paul says "No man taketh this honor
unto himself but he that is called as was Aaron" I returned to "26" & made arrangement to go
& baptized Thomas Hadley & wife at Hockley Chapel after we had got through & gone
into the chapel. Samuel Gould son of sister Gould came in & I told him if you
had been in half an hour sooner you might have seen something & be in time
yourself "Well, said why ain't I now, What hindereth me from being baptized? nothing" said I "if thou
believest then request I believe said he so we went into the vestry he put on
bro Hadley's wet shirt on & I put on my wet garment & pants &
baptized him"
Thos Hadley was born at
Birmingham Oct 7 1848 baptized by RV Morris & confirmed by VL Halliday
Eliza Jane his wife born at Huddersfield Yorkshire Nov 15 1846 baptized by
RVM & also confirmed same evening in
the meeting by myself. Samuel Gould born in Birmingham baptized & confirmed same evening
by RVM returned to "26" Tenby having had
a good meeting
Friday 3rd Birmingham
Received news from Prest Jos F Smith of the death of
Prest Geo A Smith who died 2 or 3 days ago as per telegraph received. settled
some bills & went down with bro Halliday & bro Bench & I went to
sis Griffiths & had quite an interesting time with her & her sister
Eliz Smith took tea with them
Saturday 4th Birmingham
Done some purchases around Town bought some
]at Bp Lents' brothers establishment saw his bro & had a little
chat with him Met Elder W H Maughan at 5 o-clock who came to succeed me in the
providences of the Birmingham Conf we rode in a cab to 26 Tenby Street &
then we went down to New St & took the omnibus for sis: Goulds where we
spent the evening very interestingly & had some music & singing had
supper there.
Sunday 5th Birmingham
Having received letter from Prest Jos F Smith concerning
the Rowbury family not having enough to take them away & to see them if the
had the balance on hand besides the $228 in possession of bro: Stains at N.Y. I
run over & found she had a draft on L.pool office for £28.1.5 which would
nearly make enough to take them through I sent the draft to Prest Smith also
bro Jukes' letter recommending left in case they needed £5 or £6 stayed in
Dudley the afternoon meeting & had very good meeting & spoke about 35
minutes gave the saints some good advice to enconomize their limited means
& gather out with the saints as soon as possible Took 4.25 train for
Hockley & went straight to Wm Smith Gt King St attended Hockley meeting in
the evening preached for 45 minutes Elder Maughan preferred not to speak but
that he would bear testimony which he did for some 15 minutes there was quite a
good congregation & excellent attention paid bro: Maughan stated it was the
best meeting he had been to since he came to England we returned to Wm Smiths
to supper sister Brooks gave me 5/-
Monday 6th Great
Barr
Took train from New St for this place in company with
Elder Maughan Halliday & Rock the latter paid for our tickets & we
walked 1 ¼ mile to sister Rowley there we found sister Mountford, Tait, young
Mrs Mountford John Robinson & his Mother in law & bro Genge &
family & we had splendid time laughing & singing & playing ____[?]
in the field jumping &c with dancing in the evening in the house bro:
Halliday playing the violin sis Tait handed me 2/- sis Mountford 1/-
Tuesday 7th Birmingham
We all took train from Gt
Barr for New St on arriving at "26" found quite a bunch of letters one
requesting my attention in Dudley so bro: Maughan & myself went with 1.0.5
spent the afternoon with sister Wedge after tea we went to the Castle grounds
& from there with 740 to Hockley for council sister Wedge made me take 7/6
being the proceeds of the tea party & she would not take no for an answer.
she also handed me 2/- herself We had very good council spoke for 20 minutes
also bro Maughan spoke after me for 15 minutes.
Wednesday 8th Birmingham
Very busy all day made some
purchases of table cloths &c blanket for travelling & other chores
called at sister Harding had tea there
Thursday 9th Birmingham
After distributing stars &c went down Town called at
sister Starmer who gave me as is customary with her when the Elders return home
£1.0.0 I returned to "26" wrote a little & went down with sister Gould to
the chapel & baptized ____Phillips aged ____she was born at __________ wife
of Wm Phillips I also confirmed her baptized at the same time Hannah ______ daughter of sister Moore aged______ born
at ______who was confirmed by WH Maughan. also Annie Holding young girl
adopted to Sarah Holding aged 8 years who was confirmed by JT Belliston. we
had a testimony meeting also Elders Maughan & myself occupied a few minutes
each.
Friday 10th Birmingham
Attended
to some chores & made a few
purchases accompanied by Bp Maughan, we run over to Wolverhampton together
& had dinner at Mr Walsh's found the Gould family there we went with them
down to the race course Mr Walsh paid our fee to go on the side stand returned
to Birmingham early in the evening.
Saturday 11th Birmingham
Making up accounts to transfer over to my successor bro:
Maughan arranged matters for District meeting. Met Elder Hanham at New St
Station 8.30 Prest Jos F Smith not being able to attend on acct of Elder
Carrington being expected in tomorrow night with sister Carrington & son
Calvin.
Sunday 12th Birmingham
At 10.30 attended meeting in St James Hall Snow Hill
there were quite a turn out for a morning meeting
Elders Belliston & Hanham occupied the time.
2 p.m. Meeting again convened
Elders Halliday Maughan & Hanham spoke.
6 p.m. The speakers were
Elder Hanham & myself, the Hall was very full and
we had a splendid time. The proprietors of the Hall remarked our gatherings
were as respectable as they ever had. We had some £2 & odd collection
which I charged to collection a/c
Monday 13th Birmingham
Turned over all books & papers Cash on hand &
accounts to Elder Maughan the assets being some 8£ odd in excess of liabilities. Done all my packing today went over as requested to Mr Barrington who made up
a parcel of rules for me & him & his daughter Emma went with me &
Bp Maughan to the Saints Concert at Hockley Chapel we had a very good Concert
& closed about 10.30. after I returned to "26" Tenby I finished pack my
things ready for morning. there were several people present to bid us good bye
Went to bed about 1.30 a.m.
Tuesday 14th &
15th Liverpool
We took train from New Street at 8.50 a.m. for Lpool
where we arrived at 12 noon Elder Barton & Bockholt met us Elders Maughan
went with the Saints to the ship in Sandon Dock while I went & procured the
tickets from the office about 5 p.m. I went down to the ship stayed on board
all night at 11 a.m. Prest Smith Carrington & Lady, Lyman & several
other Elders came on board & we set sail. The following Elders are on
board as returning missionaries. Prest Jos F Smith FM Lyman BH Watts PO Hansen
Even Torgeson & John Burrows who has been laboring in the Lpool Office.
also the following Elders who have been over here on visits - WL Watkins John
Robinson Jno Dewsnap John Wardrobe WC Parker Daniel Jones J W. McKay - &
myself making in all 243 souls including 2 stewarts Thos Hadley & sis Limb. Just as we were ready to sail Prest Carrington introduced me to Capt Price as
the Prest of the Company to my great astonishment. We left the Mersey about
11.30 a.m. had fine beautiful weather all the afternoon & fair wind at
Holyhead we passed the "Erin" of the National line which had left Lpool about
an hour ahead of us
Thursday 16th Queenstown
Reached here this morning at 6.30 having had the quickest
passage ever made by any of the Guion Boats before we had to wait two hours
for the mail & then we set out with fair wind & smooth sea met this day
the Hibernia & Montana steamers made good headway all day some few of the
saints were sick this afternoon While taking my walk on deck this pm Capt Price
walked with me & asked me if the ship's Doctor had insulted me today I
replied no that I had had no words with him at all. he asked if he did not go
down with me to see a sick child & when they had taken the child on deck he
said I might go to hell. I said never said any such thing to me I replied that
the woman had to go on deck while the were cleaning below & that was the
reason the Dr could not see the child, he said then that he could not hunt for
her all day. I told him he need not do so but that I would hunt her up &
bring her to him Well said he "I might not be in all day" The Captain thought
he had not said such a thing although he the Dr himself told him right before
the ladies & he reproved him for using such language before the ladies (the
Captns sisters) I afterwards noticed him pretty tight after did prayers with
stenographers
Friday 17th
We made good time last night had a very interesting conversation
with the Captns two sisters today on eof them was very sick & assisted her
around a little they are Welsh people from Newport Monmouthshire & they
felt perfectly astonished when I told them I was Welsh I gave them quite a
history of our people in Utah and answered great may questions to them this
afternoon I had a little touch of sea sickness through being so much among the
sick down in the steerage towards evening I was all right. I went and
administered to a little child in the steerage who was very bad with the bowel
complaint had very good night's rest & felt all right.
Saturday 18th
Had good weather all night although the ship rocked
considerable & great many of the people sick. assisted all I could among
the sick this morning & routed them out of beds & get them on deck all
I could. the Captain stewarts being extremely good & obliging & told
me _____[?] anything I wanted I could get when they were sick ____[?] it ? this
morning at 10 a m we passed one of the White Star steamers going to Lpool it
was supposed to be the Gernamic sailing finely. We made 320 knots today.
Sunday 19th
Made a good run last night. the weather today being a
little more boisterous yet fine at 2 pm we held a meeting on deck for part.
Elders Squire & Jos F Smith addressed the audience who listened with mark
attention there being about 70 gentile emigrants who with some of the Crew and
a good turn out of the Saints made quite a large audience. Also bro Hansen
(PO) addressed the Scandinavians - &
we had a very good meeting. The Captns two sisters were present and expressed
themselves much pleased with the services. The vessel rocked considerable this
evening which made several of the people worse. Bro Reeve of Leeds appeared as
tho he would die he gave himself up so we moved him along side the Engine where
it was warm & after he was warmed up moved him to his bed.
Monday 20th
Very windy all night which caused the ship to rock very
much & tumbled things about in every direction. at 7 a.m. attended to prayer
was mouth most of the Elders were sick. It remained very windy most of the day
& the ship. considerably & many of the
people sick. We however had it tolerably fine towards evening when we
amused ourselves in a game of quoits on the deck Attended prayer with the
passengers below at 7 o-clock
Tuesday 21st
Had pretty good weather all night & made a run of 302
miles by noon today. We saw this morning a most beautiful sight & ever
beheld an ice-berg like a good size island towering much higher than the top of
our masts out of the ocean It was some 2 ½ miles away from us & we could
see it plainly with the naked eye but most beautiful through the Mariner
glasses of Prest Jos F Smith. Capt Jos B Price said at the dinner table it was
the grandest iceberg he ever beheld. It greatly amused the people. the
weather today is pretty fine but cold. the people mostly getting better of
their sea sickness I handed Mr D Dineen Chief Stewart half a sovereign which
the Elders donated with myself for his generosity towards the sick whenever I
have asked for any thing he has invariably
procured for them such things as they fancied. Myself & Prest Smith
played a few games of chess & also taught the Misses Price the Captains
sisters how to play about 11 o-clock ship
time this evening we had a breakdown circulating pump rod broke which delayed
us some two hours we had very calm & fine night of it. run 302 miles
Wednesday
22nd
Very fine & calm this morning about 7 o-clock the rod
broke again & detained us four or five hours. It being very fine we had
play at quoits & shuffle boards to pass the time away. run since
yesterday noon 230 miles
Thursday 23rd
Fine day people feeling well hardly any sickness. We
amused ourselves in various games on the deck The Inman Steamer "City of Berlin" passed us which
was some 2 miles distant north of us.
Friday 24th
Very fine weather but not able to put full speed on owing
to the breakage of the circulating pump rod.
Sunday 26th
Reached the Bar about 2 o-clock am
we landed at Pier 46 about 9 o-clock am altho only cabin Passengers were
permitted to go ashore several of us Elders went out up Town Pres Joseph F
Smith & Elder FM Lyman too train for the West this evening we paid to get some things by the brethren paid
the Customs House officers some money for letting their things go by
Monday 27th
Very busy went up to ____[?]
with Bp John Sharp who introduced ____[?] respectable House where I exchanged
the money of the company & returned as soon as possible to Castle Garden to
the people we had some little difficulty in passing a sack of clothing
forwarded by Elder D McKenzie in charge of john Wardrobe who acted very unwise
in persisting to get the sack passed in spite of the officers it cost us $44.60
gold duty which was paid by bro W.C. Staines. At 3 o-clock our luggage were all
sent to Pier No 1 & we all went on board the Ferry boat at 4 o-clock &
started for ____[?] City about 6.30 pm with 8 Cars Including the one given
expressly for my own use & three of my friends who I saw proper to invite
with me ____[?] reached Pittsburgh great many strangers would mix in with us I
arranged with the station master there that no one be picked up so all that
were on board of our train were left at Pittsburgh to await the regular
emigrant train and we got along very well with the captain if a straggler
occasionally that would try & steal a ride which we managed pretty well to
get rid of by sending them to the Conductor's Caboose between Pittsburgh &
Columbus a breaksman who was seen loitering around near sister Atkinson
(Stanger) ____[?] stole her satchel containing her gold Watch, ring, some £13
sterling & her small things. he also stole a hat from bro McKay & left
his old one on the seat I telegraphed Mr Joseph Miller Dir Supt at Richmond who
promised he would do all he could to recover the same. At Columbus Ohio bro Reeves & Son were left
behind they went up Town to purchase provisions. this same brother had refused
to join to purchase provisions together I told him then that they would be left
behind but he thought he could manage it I telegraphed for them to be sent by
Express I left a couple of tickets at a station for them so they caught up with
us in a day or two
Thursday 31st [30th]
We reached Omaha, there were great preparations for the
reception of Gen (Prest) Grant & suite who were on their way West We left
Omaha about 11 o-clock. Grant passed us at Luck on the Platte near Columbus
Neb. He again returned having been to Salt Lake City & passed us at ____[?]
on his way East
October 1875
Tuesday
5th
We reached Ogden City
this morning about 6 o-clock am have collected money of the people to pay for
overfreight of 1800 lbs @ 4.00 per lb. I went & settled for the same at the
Freight office. several of the Saints stopped at Ogden & some four Cars of
them went down to Salt Lake City with the regular train at 9.40 a.m. reached
Salt Lake depôt at noon there were a great crowd of people to meet us & we
had a warm reception Prest Joseph F Smith & others came up to Ogden to meet
the Company.
I left Elder Arch McFarlane in charge of the luggage to
distribute what belonged to those emigrants going North & forward balance
to Salt Lake. I found Hattie my wife & the
children tolerably well but great change in little Burtie's look specifically
& little Victor I should not of known. I went down & found Lavinia
tolerably well but very thin. returned up town.
Wednesday
6th
Was very busy all morning
distributing luggage to Emigrants on the Temple
block got through pretty much by noon & collected some $16 or $17.00 RR
fare from Ogden
to the City of those who had not paid & took over to Utah Central office. I
attended conference this afternoon & Prest Smith met me as I went in
through the gate & made me go up with him on the stand. Elders Lyman,
myself, Squires & Cannon occupied the time there
was a large congregation the largest I ever address and the first time in my
life from that stand - conf adjd 10 o-clock tomorrow
Thursday
7th
I attended Conference all day
several more of the returning Missionaries addressed the same
Friday
8th
Attended Conference all day several
of the Twelve spoke and very good feeling prevailed
Saturday
9th
Attended Conference morning &
afternoon & Priesthood meeting in the evening in the Old Tabernacle which
was addressed very interestingly by Elders Taylor Cannon Wells & Woodruff
upon the principles of the United Order & the laws of the same were read
Sunday
10th
Attended
Conference all day. this evening after the afternoon meeting Elder FM Lyman
& wife also Elder Champneys, Thos Hadley & wife came & took supper
with us conference adjourned this day until 6th day of April next to
meet in the New Tabernacle
Worked
around my house until
Tuesday
19th
When I was taken very sick with pain
in my head kind of chilly & feverish troubled with catarrh in my head. My
wife Hattie waited upon me hand & foot I was not able to move out of my
room
Thursday
21st
My wife gave a lobilia emitic which
did not effect me any more than to throw up just what warm drinks I had taken never "the bile"
I
was very sick until Sunday 24th when my bro Elias called to see me
also Bro RT Burton they administered to me & I felt much better
Monday
25th
My wife gave me a Tartar emitic
which had its effect in less than half an hour & I throwed up some 2 quarts
of pure bile & I began to feel better but felt very weakly & was not
able to get out of my room until Saturday the 30th
Wednesday
30th
Elias came up again & invited my
down to his house & promised to send his Buggy after me so I & Hattie
went & spent the afternoon there called on the way at Douglas Swan's
returned early in the evening it was several days before I was able to be
around & when I got a little stouter I worked round the lot straighten
things up a little & cleaning around Went several times down Town to
enquire for work but failed at every place where I made enquiries
Monday Nov 15
Capt Hooper sent little Sidy to ask
me to come down & do some writing for him so I went & commenced at 9
o-clock worked until after 6 o-clock pm
Tuesday
16th
About 6 o-clock or ½ past this
morning there was a quite a fire down town which proved to be Hussey's New Bank
& adjoining store or two which were burnt entirely down. The Deseret
National managed to get all their Books & papers &c out of the building
while the house in flames in roof & upper stories
Worked all day at Capt Hoopers until
5.30
Wednesday
17th
Writing at Capt W.H. Hoopers until
5.30 Went to Lavinia's
Thursday
18th
Worked at W.H. Hoopers until 5
o-clock very wet all day.
Friday
19th & Saturday 20th
Worked for W.H. Hooper. Received of
him $30
Hunted
for work until
Dec
6th called at City
Hall Bro Winder told me there was $46 taxes against me which had accrued while
I had been absent for last 2 yrs on my mission & that I could have the
privilege of working them out on the City Water Works. My son Aneurin
commenced to work it this day
Dec
23rd
Commenced to keep books for Day
& Co at the rate of $90 per month with a promise of an increase of salary
if business justified in giving more with a discount of 8 % on all goods bought
1876
Monday Jan 10th
Discharged while having a stool about 3 feet of Tape worm
Wednesday Jan 12
Went on business for Day & Co to Spanish Fork to see
one of Debtors who had failed in business.
Monday Jan 17
Procured some medicine from Dr EL Plant who had promised
to cure me for $5.00 who told me to bring him the Tape worm tomorrow morning
attended Council Chamber 2 o-clock to 5 p.m.
Tuesday Jan 18
Having come home straight from the Legislature last
evening for the purpose of taking my worm medicine took it as directed by Dr
Plant ½ of the medicine about 6 pm & the other half at 12 o-clock at night
took ____[?] oz of Castor oil in an hour afterwards but
no Tape worm made its appearance Stayed in all day to day with a note to Geo J
Taylor & one to DL Davis to apologize for non attendance
June 1st 1876
Was engaged as clerk by Supt Jno Sharp of the Utah
Central RR in the Machine Department where I have served until the present time
June 30, 1877 having spent very little at anything with the exception of
clerking and recording back minutes of the High Priest Quorum, several years
minutes being turned over to me when appointed clerk of the Quorum which had
not been recorded by the former clerk. Father Hezekiah Mitchell, also two
years minutes accumulated during my absence on my mission to Europe attended
High Priest Quorum 2 p.m.
July 1st 1877
Attended
circle meeting at noon, after non meeting in the Tabernacle Elders Albert
Carrington and Orson Pratt preached.
July 2nd
Office all day, attended meeting of the Organization of
the 19th Ward at 7 p.m. present Prest DH Wells, O Pratt, Angus
Cannon Prest of the Stake & Councillors.
After meeting was commenced Bro Asper came down from the
stand and invited me up the Bishop desired me to go Prest Wells nodded to me to
take seat by him, I knew not what it meant. Elder Pratt spoke about 30 minutes
during the course of his remarks he said they had come to organize this Ward
and that there was a new Bishop to be appointed &c.
Prest AM Cannon next presented the name of RV Morris as
Bishop of the 19th Ward Salt Lake City which was unanimously
sustained, Wm Asper as first and Henry Arnold as second Councillors which were
unanimously carried. I was then called upon to speak my feelings in relation
to the appointed and was followed by Bro Asper &
Arnold. then the Active Teachers of the Ward were presented & carried.
I was ordained or rather set apart as Bishop under the
hands of Prest DH Wells Orson Pratt, AM Cannon DO Calder Joseph Taylor & Bp
Raleigh the former being mouth, then Bros Asper & Arnold were set apart as
Councillors to me by the same brother in which I assisted. Prest Wells being
mouth in both instances
July 3rd 1877
Attended office all day
July 4th 1877
Worked about 3 hours in my lot Jordan St attended the
office awhile left for my house on the Hill, when sister Clark the wife of Gus
M Clark called to see me and made complaint against her husband of assault on
her last evening, he was a little under the influence of drink when he got home
for supper, and was about pouncing upon one of the children when she jumped
between them, and he caught her by the throat and choked her until the blood gushed
out of her nose and he acted in a shameful manner I wrote a note to Bro Perkins
& Noals their Teachers to attend to the matter & see if they could
settle the case without the necessity of a Bishop's Court.
July 5th
Attended office all day
Teachers meeting in the evening We
ordained ______ Ridd son of Wm Ridd Teacher also ______ Davis son of Theophilus Davis a deacon
July 6th
Office all day
Worked until a late hour in my lot 16th
Ward.
July 7th
Attended office all day. Watered my lot in the evening.
In the evening Bp AH Raleigh called at my house and delivered up to my all the
Books & papers pertaining to the Bishopric. also $10.85 cash offering
Sunday July 8/77
Attended Circle meeting at the Historian's Office at 12
no
Bro Jos M Watson my next door
neighbor called upon me to state that he was going on a visit to England made
the matter known to the authorities who set him apart also to preach &
perform a mission if the way opened before him among his friends the object of
his visit was to see his brother who was is about to leave England for
Australia. He wished my recommendation to Prest Jos F Smith which I gave him
Attended Ward Meeting Elder J Smith preached two
strangers present the
elder of whom took synopsis of the proceedings of the meeting. Capt Hooper's
family except himself were rebaptized & they together with sister Knowlton
& their servant were reconfirmed by myself & council
July 9th 1877
Went up in company with J Sharp Jr Jno ____[?] LS Hills J Clark
AN Hill Conrad J Ferguson JT Little & others up Weber as far as Loss Creek
to see the Missionaries Elder SH Hill, Riggs, A Dunford Nels Empey W Beatie
& Jos M Watson bound for Europe we fished for two or three hours until the
UP Train came who brought one Caboose down to Ogden arrived home on the regular
train 8.20 pm
Tuesday July 10
Attended office all day.
Wednesday July 11
Attended office
Thursday July 12
Office all day attended Bp's Meeting at the Council House
the First Presidency & Presidency of the Stake being present Pres Young
introduced the subject of improvement in the present orthography of the English
Alphabet language and a ? of five composed of
DO Calder Geo Q Cannon Wm Willis Theo McKean and myself to
invent a phonetic alphabet & report to next meeting in order that school
books might be published for our schools, some little discussion took place pro
& con in relation to the subject
Prest Young called me after the close of the meeting
& said he had a call from my wife Hattie concerning the injury done my son
Victor by the street car & wished me to call tomorrow evening & bring
my wife with me
Friday July 13th
Attended office In
the evening called according to appointment upon Prest Young there were present
several of his clerks. The Prest asked me what amount I exacted from him as
compensation for the damage I replied I did not wish to name the amount but
preferred leaving it to arbitration of two or three brethren. he asked who I
wanted I mentioned Bp Sharp HS Eldredge & Wm H Hooper, he said all right
that Bp Sharp was a very liberal man in making allowances for persons injured
on Railroads &c and no doubt that he would be liberal towards the widow of bro Frank Decker who was
recently killed on the Railroad having had a sunstroke & fell off the Car
and was killed but he did not consider the RR to blame for such occurrence. He
told me as I left he would let me know whether he would be willing to abide the
decision of the brethren. We went down for a walk to Miss Cooks 12th Ward.
Saturday July 14/77
Attended office all day, went in Company with H Brough & J
Tuckfield to try the US Way Car. we were nearly to Bingham Junction and found
the car was on fire as a spark from the Engine having settled on the platform
and it was blazing but we put it out with two or three buckets of water before
much damage was done ? Elder Halliday (VL) called upon me at the office.
Went up with the Freight train 5.05 pm to Ogden to meet the
emigrants several of the B'ham saints along arrived at the SL depôt about 11
o-clock pm.
Sunday July 15
Attended Jubilee rehearsal of SS children at 11 a.m. Circle meeting at
12 n Tabernacle at 2 p m and Ward meeting at 6 in the evening Elder NH Felt
delivered an ? discourse
upon the gathering of Israel
&c &c
July 16th 1877
Attended the office all day
Went down to bro Elias who is to start
on a mission to Wales
Wednesday morning in company with O Pratt & two or three others.
July 17th
Attended the office all day. Sister Sarah A Gould
arrived this morning from Ogden in company with Thomas Hadley & his mother
took them over to bro Jos F Smith's, and called upon them at 6 p.m. took them
up to my house for supper sister Gould & Thomas Hadley stayed overnight
Was called upon by Teachers South & Woods accompanied
by Bro Jos Prescott a canvasser of pictures who was very much demented having
carried on for considerable length of time ____[?] in going around from
place to place he acknowledged to several connections with women in different
parts of the Territory.
July 18
Was called up at 630 am by Jos Prescott who made further
acknowledgements to me of his evil and wicked practices which astonished me
beyond measure. Went around trying to get Bp Hunter a couple of men to work
for him in the 19th Ward attended office all day.
Engaged John August to work for me he commenced at about
10.30 in the lot.
July 19th
Attended office all day
Teacher's meeting in the
evening
We ordained Felt son of N.H. Felt a deacon
bro Arnold
being mouth
Friday July 20th 1877
Attended office all day Bro Chas Cashmore of West Bromwich came to my house on Jordan St and I wrote him a letter to his
wife.
Saturday July 21
Attended office all day Watering
in the evening my lot on the Bench. The children having gone down to Miss
Cook's this afternoon My wife Hattie & myself got a buggy from than &
we drove after them & bring them home.
Sunday July 22
Engaged writing up the High Priest record. attend Circle
meeting at 12 noon
