Elder Woodruff's Letter

[Concluded]

During my stay in the Potteries, there were 40 added to the church by baptism and many new doors opening; and in the midst of the prosperity of the work, as I arose to speak before a large congregation in Honly, on the 1st day of March, the Lord manifested unto me that it would be the last time I should warn that people for many days, and as I arose and informed the people it would be the last time they would hear my voice for many days, they marveled, for they expected, as well as myself, when I entered the house, that I should spend months in there [their] midst; but the ways and thoughts of God are not like our ways and thoughts in every respect. On the day following Elder Turley returned from Birmingham, we counciled [counseled] together thinking it best for me to go to Birminham [Birmingham] and try to open doors and establish the work in that city, and leave the Potteries in the hands of Elder Turley; but beleiving [believing] it to be my privilege and duty to know the will of the Lord upon the subject, therefore, I asked my Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ to teach me his will in this thing, and as I asked, the Lord gave, and showed me that it was his will that I should go immediately to the south of England. I conversed with brother William Benbow upon this subject, who had lived in Herefordshire and had friends still residing there, and much wished me to visit that region of country, and generously proffered to accompany me to his brother's house and pay my fare, which I readily accepted; and on the 4th of March we left the Potteries and traveled 80 miles together, and in the evening arrived at the house of Mr. John Benbow, at Frooms Hill, Castle Froom, Herefordshire. I would here remark, that as you have already published a letter from me, giving a brief sketch of some of my labor there, and we have also published in the Millennial Star, something of a history of the same, which, perhaps you may have obtained before this, that I shall speak of some things which occured [occurred] during this mission which has not appeared in my other communications.

Mr. John Benbow kindly entertained me for the night during which time I spent several hours in laying before him an account of the origin, rise, and progress of the church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints, and like good old Cornelias [Cornelius] the Spirit of God was upon him, and he received my testimony with all his heart, and opened his doors for preaching, and on the evening following, (the 5th of March,) for the first time I preached the fulness [fullness] of the gospel to a small congregation in that place, who manifested much interest in what they heard, and desired to inquire further into these things; on the evening following I met a still larger number at Mr. Benbows and preached unto them the first principles of the gospel, viz: faith in Christ, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, and the gift of the holy ghost by the laying on of hands, after which I administered the ordinance of baptism unto six persons including Mr. and Mrs. Benbow, four of the six were preachers of an order called the United Brethren. On inquiry I found that the United Brethren were a people who had formely [formerly] belonged to the body of the Primitive Methodist, but had seperated [separated] themselves from that body and chosen the name of United Brethren, they had from forty to fifty preachers, and about the same number of established places of preaching, including one or two chappels [chapels] licensed according to law.-Mr. Thomas Kington was the superintendent of the church of United Brethren, whose members numbered about 400 in all, divided into small branches, and scattered over an extent of country from 20 to 30 miles. This people universally felt willing to hear a matter before they condemned it, they opened their doors for me to

preach, and searched the scripture daily to see if the things which I taught were true, and on finding that the word and spirit agreed and bore record of the truth of the fulness [fullness] of the everlasting gospel, they embraced it with all their hearts, which has brought great joy to many souls in that region.

On Saturday the 7th, I spent the day in prepareing [preparing] a pool for baptizing, for I saw their [there] was much to be done. On Sunday the 8th, I preached at Br. Benbows before a large congregation, and baptized seven, four were preachers, I confirmed 13 and broke bread unto them: the power of God was with me and we had an interesting time. On the 9th I preached at Standly Hill and baptized 7, two were preachers. On the 10th, I preached again at Br. Benbows, and baptized twelve, three were preachers; next morning Br. William Benbow parted with us and returned home, after having the happy privilege of seeing his brother John Benbow, and all his household, consisting of ten persons, two of whom were his own mother and son, baptized into the new and everlasting covenant, making 32 persons, 13 of whom were Methodist preachers of the United Brethren, which were baptized during the first five days, after my arrival in Herefordshire; and the report of these things flew through all parts of the country like electricity, and the whole country was stired [stirred] up to inquire into these matters. The church Minister of Frooms Hill, or Bishop Froom, called upon the constable of that Parish to take me up, but he called upon the wrong man, for as soon as he saw me he received my testimony and I babtized [baptized] him: next one of the church Clerks attended one of my meetings to see what I was doing, and likewise he received my testimony, and when meeting was closed he said he would soon be baptized: thus mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. The church Ministers in that region held a council, I was informed, to see what measures they could adopt to stop the work; but I was licensed to preach in any part of the English government, and the law tolerated all Protestant religion, and the Old and New Testament supported our principles in every sense of the word, therefore there was no steps taken against it except to warn the people not to hear. I would here say, Herefordshire as well as the surrounding country is a farming country altogether, and I can say as pleasent [pleasant] and healthy as any part of England I have visited. Hereford, Glocester, and Worcester are large towns being the capitol of those Shires, yet the country being given to farming, it is not so densly [densely] populated as many other parts of England, yet the report of a work like the fulness [fullness] of the gospel would spread far more rapid in such a country than in a dense city, which was the case in Herefordshire and all the surrounding country; in fine I never had seen such a work before, and the like had not been known in the last days, it was not the work of man but the work of God, the power of God was among the people, and his spirit was like a rushing mighty wind in our midst from time to time, untill [until] multitudes were stired [stirred] up to inquire into these things. If any one asks why these things are so, I answer because the Lord is about to make a short work in England, and not only in England, but upon the face of the whole earth, for the wickedness of the earth is great, and the cry of the widow, the orphan, and the poor, and oppressed, are entering into the care of the Lord of Saboaoth [Sabaoth], who is about to call down his indignation upon the heads of the Gentile world. But to return to my subject, I would say that I continued daily to preach and to baptize. On the 15th (Sunday) I preached at Brother Benbows and confirmed 22; and in the evening I preached to about 800, notwithstanding it was entirely a country place, 10 offered themselves for paptism [baptism], but had to go home without receiving the ordiance [ordinance] that night, in consequence of the excitement and crowd of the throng. I sent for Mr. Thomas Kington, the superintendent of the United Brethren, as I wished an interview with him, which I was agreeably favored with on the 17th: Mr. Kington, as an humble man of God, heard my sayings and testimony with candor, we parted with good feelings and he made it a subject of prayer, and he returned to me again on the 21st in company with Mrs. Kington, and I baptized them both, and all their household straightway; and the enquiry [inquiry]

and excitement continued to increase far and near. On the 24th, a preacher called upon me to inquire into these things, I spoke unto him the word of God, he received my testimony and requested baptism at my hands; just as I got ready to go to the pool, three preachers rode up to the house in a charriot [chariot] vehicle, they had never heard a word from my mouth, only had heard the sound thereof, and had now come more than twenty miles to see me and inquire into these things for themselves. I invited them into a room; notwithstanding they were strangers I stood up before them and boldly preached unto them Jesus Christ, and testified unto them of the Book of Mormon, and the bible, and the great work of God in these last days, and the power of God rested upon us, and we all bowed down and prayed and gave glory to God: we then rose up and the chariot stood still until we all went down into the water at the same hour, and I baptized all four of them, (being preachers) I laid my hands upon them that they might receive the Holy Ghost, and they went their way rejoicing. I then walked three miles to another pool and baptized five others the same day. On Sunday the 29th, I preached three times at Frooms Hill, baptized thirteen, confirmed thirty five, broke bread unto eighty saints, had the Spirit of God and a good time, and felt that I needed strength of body and mind, much of the grace of God, and humility. I arose next morning and baptized five preachers aud [and] four members, making nine in all. I then immediately walked to the town of Ledbury, distance six miles; it was the first time I had visited this town: I had not been in town an hour before many flocked around me to see me and give me the hand of fellowship, though strangers unto me. The Baptist minister opened his chappel [chapel] for me to preach in, and he went into the pulpit with me and opened the meeting by reading the 35 chap. of Isaiah and praying mightily for me; I then arose and preached to a large and attentive audience and when I closed thirteen offered themselves for baptism, notwithstanding it was the first meeting we had held in the town, which made twenty two persons during the day, 9 of whom where [were] preachers, however I did not baptize the last 13 named until the next morning.-These preachers of whom I speak, were mostly United Brethren, who, on hearing the report of these things assembled together at the place of my meeting for the purpose of investigating our doctrine and to receive it if true. By this time doors were open upon every hand, many more than I could possibly fill; and I frequently was called upon to go to pools three or four times in a day to baptize those who received my testimony and believed the gospel.

On the 2nd of April, I visited Leigh, Gloucestershire, and preached twice and baptized 9. On the 3d I preached for the first time in the Gadfield Elm Chapel, Worcestershire, to a large congregation, when I closed 11 offered themselves for baptism whom I baptized next morning. I would here remark that in all my labors in this part of the vineyard, first and last, there has not been the first person to arise and oppose me before the public at any of my meetings, although there has been instances where persons have come for that purpose, but yet there has been rabbles, or mobs of the baser sort, who have attended my meetings from time to time, and in some instances disturbed the public. While in the midst of my labors I received a letter from Elder Taylor at Liverpool, informing me that five of the Twelve had just arrived from N. Y. viz: Elders B. Young, H. C. Kimball, P. P. and O. Pratt, and G. A. Smith, and also Elder Hadlock, and they wished me to meet them in council at Preston. I received this letter on the evening of the 9th, as I was going to fill an appointment in a place which I had not before visited, called Howcross, when I arrived at the place, I found a vast assembly of people, the house, yard, and street was thronged, and among the number a mob was collecting; however, I arose and preached the gospel unto the people, many of whom could hear notwithstanding their was much confusion created by the mob, and when I closed a number wished to be baptized, and I told these who made the request, that notwithstanding the desperation of the mob if they had faith enough to be baptized, I had faith enough to administer the ordinance unto

them; and we repaired to the pool, which was surrounded by the mob armed with stones, I walked into the water with my mind stayed on God and baptized five persons while they were pelting my body with stones, one of which hit me on the head and came very near knocking me down, however I received no lasting injury. I complied with the request of my brethren, and left this field of labor for a season to meet with my brethren the Twelve at Preston. When I left Herefordshire, I had labored one month and five days, had baptized more than forty preachers, and about 120 members, making 160 in all, and more than 30 established places of preaching, licensed according to law, which opened a wide field for the spread of the work in that country. I was absent from this field of labor ten days, during which time I sat in conference and council with the Twelve, and church in general, on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of April, it being the first council and general conference we had ever held in a foreign nation, at which time their was 1671 saints, 34 elders, 52 priests, 38 teachers, and 8 deacons represented. After attending this conference, I continued my labors in Herefordshire and surrounding country in company with Elders Young and Richards; Elder Young labored with us about one month, during which time many were baptized, confirmed, and numbers ordained to preach the gospel; and while the saints were much edified and their hearts made glad with the teachings and instruction of Elder Young, I also obtained much benefit myself by enjoying his society, siting [sitting] under his instructions and sharing in his councils. Elder Richards continued his labors with me about two months and the Lord constantly blessed our labors, and before we left to attend the Manchester conference which was held in July, we organized the churches and formed them into two conferences called the Bran Green, and Gadfield Elm conference in Worcestershire, and the Frooms Hill conference in Herefordshire.-These two conferences consisted of 33 churches, 534 members, 75 officers, viz: 10 elders 52 priests, and 13 teachers: and these all embraced the work in this field of labor, in less than four months after they first heard of it.

I received much benefit from the council which Elder Richards gave, in the organizing of the churches in that region, and it was manifest that he had passed through an important school of experience during the three years of his travels in England. The minutes of these conferences are published in the 7th No. of the Millennial Star. We left that field of labor again for a season, to attend the general conference at Manchester on the 6th of July, at which time we heard 71 churches and conferences represented, containing 2513 members, 56 elders, 126 priests, 61 teachers, 13 deacons, making an increase since April 15th, of 840 members, including 22 elders, 74 priests, 23 teachers, and 5 deacons.-From this conference we designed to go forth and open other new places and while numbers of our brethren went into new places in different parts of Europe, Elders Kimball, G. A. Smith, and myself concluded to visit London, and we took our departure from Manchester for that purpose: we spent about a month on the way, visiting the churches in Herefordshire and other places on our route, we baptized and confirmed about 125 during this time, and arrived in London on the 18th of Aug. We shall forward you an account of our mission and ministry in that city in a communication hereafter. I will just remark however, that we spent 23 days together in that city, which was as profitable a school to me as any I have met with in my travels. I left Elders Kimball and Smith in London and returned to Herefordshire, to attend two conferences in that region, and again meet my brethren at the general conference in Manchester. I attended the Bran Green, and Gadfield Elm conference in Worcestershire on the 14th of Sept. Also the Frooms Hill conference, in Herefordshire on the 21st of Sept., and heard 70 churches represented containing 1007 members, and 113 officers, viz: 19 elders, 78 priests, 15 teachers, and 1 deacon, all of whom have embraced the fulness (fullness) of the everlasting gospel in less than seven months in that part of the vineyard or field which I opened, commencing on the 5th day of last March at Bro. John Benbows at Frooms Hill, Herefordshire;

and I would here say that never at any time hath the work been as prosperous as at the present day in that region, and was it not for continuing this communication to great a length, I could speak of many circumstances that would be interesting to your readers. Notwithstanding the church ministers are alarmed in that region and using every exertion against the work, for numbers of the church clerks and musicians and many members have been baptized, and the Lord is truly making a short work in that region, and in some instances the spirit of mob is manifest.

On the 16th Sept. I met at the house of Elder Kington in Dymock, near Ledbury for the purpose of holding a prayer meeting, and as the saints began to assemble, the beat of pails, kettles, pans, and sticks were heard through the streets, and soon a mob of 50 or a 100 assembled and parraded [paraded] rank and file before the house where we were met, we closed our window shutters and doors in the room where we were, and I opened the meeting by singing and prayer, and as soon as I commenced, they armed themselves with stones, brick-bats, eggs, and every thing they could lay their hands upon and began to throw them upon the house like a shower of hail for nearly an hour, they dashed in the windows, scatered [scattered] stones, brick and glass through the rooms, broke the tile on the roof, and continued to commit such depridations [depredations] until I closed the meeting, and we considered it wisdom to make a begining [beginning] to try what virtue there was in english laws, which are very strict against such proceedings. We considered this our duty in order to leave the people without excuse, therefore I proposed to accompany some of my brethren into the midst of the mob that we might see who they were, that there might be sufficent [sufficient] testimony against them; but my brethren would not permit me in consequence of the shower of stones, however some of the brethren went themselves and took the names of the leaders and returned into the house amid a shower of stones and brick-bats, though without injury; the saints soon went home, the mob dispersed, we cleared the house of stones, brick-bats, and glass, and lay down and had a good night's rest.-Their has about 40 emigrated to America from Herefordshire, mostly thro.' the generosity of Elder John Benbow, who has used every exertion to assist in building up the kingdom of God; my prayer is that the blessing of God may rest upon him and his household and those that accompanied him from this land, and all saints.

I left Herefordshire on the 26th of Sept. for Manchester; and again met with Elders Kimball, and Smith at Staffordshire Potteries, we held several meetings with the saints there and baptized 14 and returned to Manchester and held a general conference on the 6th of Oct. & heard 26 churches and conferences represented containing 3616 members, and 402 officers, viz: 81 elders 211 priests 84 teachers, and 26 deacons, making an increase since July of 1349 saints.

I am expecting to return to London to spend the winter in that city in company with elders Kimball, Smith and others if the Lord will: I shall visit the churches in Herefordshire on my return. You will hear from me from time to time, and we shall endeavor to give you an account of things and matters with us as time passes along. I never was more sensible than at the present time that what we do we have got to do quickly, for soon night cometh when no man can work, and we shall be under the necesity [necessity] of entering into our closetts [closets] and shuting [shutting] the door that we may be hid while the indignation of the Lord passeth by, may the Lord prepare his saints for this, and every other event which awaiteth this generation W. WOODRUFF.