Scotland

We have lately had the long -wished for pleasure of paying a visit to our brethren in the north; and we can truly say that though our journey was in part performed amid the rigours [rigors] of severe weather, yet we have been amply rewarded for every toil. We feel convinced of one fact, which is, that there is scarcely anything more confirmatory of the faith of the saints, than to travel and behold the effects of the principles of truth upon others. A feeling of this kind we fully realized on our visit to Scotland, where we beheld a people widely different in their national customs, habits, and

feelings from ourselves, yet under the influence of the gospel of Jesus Christ to which they had become obedient, we found them, as it were, one with ourselves; of one heart and of one mind in relation to the principles of eternal truth, and the glorious prospect that are opened out to the saints of God in the future.

On the 16th of March, we held a conference in the Odd Fellows' Hall, in the city of Glasgow, and notwithstanding the severity of the weather, our brethren and sisters flocked in from the country, crowding the hall with joyous and happy countenances, the recollection of which assembly will be long remembered by us. We found the conference in a most encouraging and prosperous condition, under the presidency of our beloved brother Peter McCue, and our prayer is that he may be long preserved in connexion [connection] with the honest-hearted by whom he is surrounded, to be instrumental in rolling onward the kingdom of God.

After separately visiting several of the branches in the Glasgow conference, where we had an opportunity of witnessing in an individual branch, the effect of the power of truth, confirmatory of what we had before realized as a whole, we proceeded on our journey to the ancient city of Stirling. Here we found but few saints, but sufficient to whisper to each heart, that we were not entirely in the land of strangers, but some of the great family of the redeemed of the Lord were there. With the city itself and the surrounding country we were greatly interested, each glance as it were bringing back the recollections of the stirring deeds of days of yore. May the saints that spring from such a soil, exhibit in connexion [connection] with the kingdom of God, a like heroism with that which has spread as it were a halo of glory over their sires.

From Stirling we took one of the steamers on the Forth, for Edinburgh, and though the weather was very unpropitious, it was impossible to destroy the effect of the romantic nature of the scenery by which we were surrounded. After a very severe passage, the storm continuing to increase in violence, we at length arrived at the capital of Scotland-the Athens of modern times. We need not say that our welcome was most hearty, and that we rejoiced much in meeting some of the saints of God in a city distinguished for its wisdom and learning. One Sunday, the 23rd of March, we met in conference, making what changes we considered necessary for the well-being of the whole, and appointed Elder John Banks, late of Preston, to preside over the Edinburgh conference. We anticipate a great work being accomplished there, and the true secret of success will be found in the union of the saints, upholding by faith and prayer those who have been set apart to the service of the Lord. May the spirit of the Lord rest upon the saints mightily in that great metropolis, that multitudes through their instrumentality may be born again into the kingdom of God.

With the best feeling of our hearts, bidding adieu for a season to the saints in Scotland, we have to express our regret that circumstances should have compelled us to leave so abruptly, but anticipate with much pleasure the time when we shall be able to renew our visit.

WILFORD WOODRUFF,

REUBEN HADLOCK

THOMAS WARD.