--- title: Times and Seasons description: Issues of 1840 to 1841. authors: - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints editors: - Ebenezer Robinson - Don Carlos Smith - Smith, Joseph, Jr. - Taylor, John collections: - periodicals tags: - newspaper - times-and-seasons - nauvoo - nineteenth-century periodical: Times and Seasons volume: 2 number: 1 published: 1840-11-01 publisher: E. Robinson and D. C. Smith; later John Taylor publisher_place: Commerce and Nauvoo, Illinois language: en type: article reference: "“Hymns!! Hymns!!,” *Times and Seasons* 2, no. 1 (November 1, 1840): 204–205." printed_title: HYMNS!! HYMNS!! source: url: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1840-11-01_2_1 transcription: Text from the Centerplace.org transcription (https://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v2n01.htm), with its page breaks; this Internet Archive scan is the reference copy (its OCR was used only as a witness for OCR repair) identifier: per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1840-11-01_2_1 start_page: 204 end_page: 205 curator_note: A Mormon newspaper published by the church in Nauvoo; included for historical study. Inclusion does not imply endorsement. rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1840 (Nauvoo, Illinois); published before 1931, so public domain in the United States source: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1840-11-01_2_1 publication_year: 1840 --- # Hymns!! Hymns!! Having just returned from Cincinnati Ohio, with paper and other materials for publishing a new selection of Hymns which have so long been desired by the saints, we contemplate commenceing [commencing] the work immediately; and feeling desirous to have an extensive, and valuable book; it is requested that all those who have been endowed with a poetical genius, whose muse has not been altogether idle, will feel enough interest in a work of this kind, to immediately forward all choice, newly composed or revised hymns. In designating those who are endowed with a Poetical genius, we do not intend to exclude others; we mean all who have good hymns that will cheer the heart of the righteous man, to send them as soon as practicable, directed to Mrs. Emma Smith, Nauvoo, Ill. Post Paid. Elder David Holman, left this place a few days since, under rather suspicious circumstances; he is therefore, requested by his friends to return and show himself approved, a "workman that needeth not to be ashamed:" If he does not comply, he will not have the fellowship of the Saints. Burlington co. N. J. Sept. 28, 1840. Dear Brethren, I left Elder Page at Cincinnati the latter part of August, and came on up the Ohio river as far as Wellsburgh, Va. I stopped with father James, who received and entertained me with great kindness and hospitality. He and his daughter, a very fine amiable young lady, were keeping house together; and very pleasantly situated on the delightful banks of the beautiful Ohio. Here I preached twice and baptized three persons.-Had a very pleasant visit with a brother of Elder S. Rigdon's; came on by stage and Steam Boats to Pittsburgh: from thence took the canal to Leechburgh, where I stopped and preached to a small number of saints, raised up by the instrumentality of father Nickerson-all in good spirits. As I left this place, about 9 o'clock in the morning, the most remarkable phenomenon occurred in the heavens that I ever witnessed. There appeared two bright and luminous bodies, one on the north, and the other on the south side of the sun: in length about ten yards, inclining to a circle resembling a Rainbow, about fifty yards distant from the sun; apparently east of the sun, about twenty-five yards, was a body of light as briliant [brilliant], almost, as the sun itself; and on the west, a great distance from the sun, appeared a white simi-circle [semi-circle] passing half way round the horizon, and another crossing it at right angles, exhibiting a scenery of the sublimest kind. It was a great wonder to the passengers on board the boat. Put this with the fact that the Jews are gathering home, and also, that all Europe is in commotion and on the eve of breaking out in open hostilities; and also, the tree of liberty which has long flourished in the Republican soil of America, has been girdled, and her green foliage which has shielded and protected the sons of oppression from the scorching rays of despotic power, already begins to wither like the accursed fig-tree. What language do these speak to the saints? "Lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth near." I came on and met with the saints in Chester county, Pa. and labored there about one week with brother Barnes, where we added six to their number.-Br. Barnes is a kind hearted, faithful laborer in the vineyard, his blessings are great. As the evening Sunbeams tinge the distant landscapes with a golden hue, so his name shall reflect honor upon those with whom he may be connected in the bonds of the covenant. Br. Snow is a good yoke-fellow with him. I preached about one week in Philadelphia and baptized twelve.-Came on to this place with brothers Snow and Barnes and held a two days meeting at which sixteen were baptized, baptism administered by brother Snow. There is truly a great prospect here.-If three or four elders, like unto Br. Samuel James, could be sent here, great good would undoubtedly be done. Br. James would be welcomed by hundreds to this country again, will he not come? It requires good faithful and able men here, and every where else. Br. Ivins will give you more particulars about the people in this country. I shall return to Philadelphia in a few days where I expect to meet brother Page, and then, if the Lord will, after holding a few meetings in this country, we shall proceed on to New York, there take ship and sail over the seas. We were in hopes of sailing earlier: but it has been impossible to get away from the people any sooner. I have a great desire that some able defenders of the faith, should be sent into this country. There are many populous towns and cities here, and we want men who are able to stand up and declare the whole counsel of God. I have preached this day to a large audience in the woods. At our meeting was an old gentleman who accused me of lying in my preaching, and interrupted the discourse. He was so badly intoxicated that he could not tell a lie from a bottle of rum. He was soon taken off the ground by the civil authority. Here we had a fair specimen of the depravity of that spirit and heart that oppose the work of God. The minister in the pulpit, the profane person, the thief, the liar, and the drunkard wallowing in filth and mire, all join to put down the truth and accuse the servants of the Lord of lying, etc. What an honorable, worth and pious company, they, all actuated by one spirit, serving one Master, traveling the same road, and going to the same hell!! If ever there was a time when the trump of repentance ought to be sounded in the ears of sectarian priests and drunkards, it is now. But the day is at hand when these agents of the "lower house" will be called in, and the truth of Heaven roll forth in glory and fill the whole earth. Roll on thy kingdom, O Lord! Hasten thou the day when truth shall triumph in the earth. Brethren, God bless you all, pray for us and we will do the same for you. Farewell. ORSON HYDE.