Elder Woodruff's Letter

Elder Woodruff's letter, in this number of the Times and Seasons, is full of interest. Every saint that reads it will see at once, the handy work of God in the great moves of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Certainly it is a strange work and a wonder! Well might the prophet Isaiah exclaim: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

Although we have to flee from the presence of freemen, or civilized society, mark the act: watch till the end of the matter, and then judge whether God had a hand in it or not. The power of Israel was lost, by disobedience and scattering; and his power will be regained by obedience and gathering. Stand fast in the faith, brethren, the work of the Father hath commenced among all nations to restore Israel to mercy. Sing, therefore, ye that was barren, for your iniquity is pardoned, and the kingdoms of the world must pass out of your way like the chaff of the summer threshing floor.

The Lord will cope with you for the benefit of Israel. So let us rejoice.

Liverpool, Dec. 18, 1845.

Dear Brother George:

I received your letter of Nov. 12, and you may rest assured it met a welcome reception and came in good time, for every item of news it contained was of much interest to me. I received a letter some time back from Brother Young, informing me of the intentions to move, which I have since answered. I have concluded to return immediately myself to America, and get my child in Maine, my father and mother in Connecticut, and hasten to Nauvoo, as speedily as possible, so as to be enabled to join the camp in their exodus in the mountains and the wilderness. This is the only way I can discover a deliverance for my own children and my father's household, and as all the Quorum of the Twelve, except myself, are in Nauvoo to go out with the camp; (having received no council to tarry here) I thought I would arrange my affairs here so as to accompany them, that the chain of the Quorum of the Twelve might be unbroken, as they go out at the head of the most interesting camp that ever moved, (Moses at the head of Israel, and Joshua with the Priests and rams horns nor excepted.) My wife and family, with Elders Sheets and Hater, also Brother and Sister Clark, and probably some others, will leave here about the 1st of January for Nauvoo, by way of New Orleans. And immediately after I shall take ship for New York, accompanied by Elder Stratten, and shall be in Nauvoo as soon as possible. Immediately on making up my mind to leave, I called a special conference of all the churches of the British Isles, which met at Manchester on the 14th inst. We had a most interesting conference. The following is the result of the representation of the churches. Eleven thousand and seventy two members, eight High Priests, three hundred and ninety two Elders; five hundred and ninety Priests; three hundred and eleven Teachers, and one hundred and eighty eight Deacons, added since last Conference one thousand five hundred and seventy five (being eight months.) The Staffordshire Conference was not included in this representation, which would have made several hundred more. It is the largest representation ever known in this country. The Conferences are all well united and the saints in good spirits. The exodus of the saints from Babylon has given the saints in this country an onward spur; they seem to be more than ever determined to be diligent in fullfiling [fulfilling] their duty. It is expected that the 'Joint Stock Company' will own a ship or two pretty, soon, They intend commencing emigration round Cape Horn as soon as possible. As I was about to leave, I organised [organized] a Presidency; appointed Brother Hedlock President, and Brothers Ward and John Banks Councilors [councilors]. Brother Hedlock is expecting to stop, hoping that his family will go in the camp, and he will go round and meet them in about a year, taking such farming utensils and goods as he considers they will need. Brother Davis will still tarry in London for a season. I have circulated twenty thousand proclamations, commencing with the Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, and Lord John Russell, and so on through all the officers of Government and the Clergy, as well as many of the Jewish Rabbis. We are thoroughly known now throughout England. The papers quote the Mormons as one of the first items of foreign news. The London Times has quoted certain Revelations signed by Oliver Olney, supposed to be published in America, by Wm. Smith. We have but little opposition from this Government as yet, considering how extensively the 'Doctrine and Covenants,' and Proclamations have been circulated. For my part I feel that my work is about done here for the present and that my garments are clear of the blood of the Gentiles. This nation is making great preparation for war, they are beating up for recruits throughout the land, and all the large steamers have undergone examination to see what amount of metal they 'all carry.' Scarcely any thing else is expected here but war with America, and the decisive point will be whether the United States claim Oregon; if they do the thunderings of war will speedily be heard at their doors. They have been warned of these things through the Revelations of God given in this dispensation.

It has been expected that the Corn Laws will be repealed in this country; the state of the country demands it. The question has caused serious disputes in the house of Lords; the former ministry, including Sir Robert Peel, have resigned, and they are about forming a new one Ireland is in her usual unsettled state.

Our cause is still onward in this land. Elder Galley, of Macclesfield, was cut off at our Conference, which should have been done years ago. Elder Jones is doing very well in Wales; they have baptised [baptized] about two hundred since last Conference and are laying the foundation for a great work. Among other Welsh publications, he has published four thousand proclamations. He and his family are well and in good spirits. I was much rejoiced at the news from Tahiti, in the 'Times and Seasons.' I was glad you gave me a list of the deaths, of none of which I had heard before. Truly, how

fast our old friends are going the way of all the earth. My own toils, labors, cares and fatigues during the last year have been so great, that I have grown old very fast, and at times have felt quite out of health, and Mrs. Woodruff has also felt much the fatigues of her journeyings. Still we live and are in good spirits, and have faith to believe we shall live to see the faces of our friends again in Nauvoo, and go with them to California, or West of the Rocky Mountains. You may look for us early in the spring.

Your brother in the kingdom of God.

W. WOODRUFF.

"In all countries there is a great aversion to being ruled and governed by persons coming from foreign countries. We have alluded to the deep rooted and implacable indignation that pervades the mind of every true hearted Irishman when he sees his country ruled and governed by persons from England. When William, the Conqueror, subjugated England, the most bitter part of the oppression suffered by the conquered people was the painful mortification of having foreign normans placed over their heads. In all ages it has produced a natural but deep mortification and indignation among the people, to have foreigners imported to beat sway over those who have been born and grown up in the country. This aversion to be ruled and governed by foreigners is nothing more than a patriotic impulse, which is natural to all men, and which is noble in its origin and useful in its practical effects. If it were not for this natural feeling prompting men to prefer to be governed by their own countrymen, and to object to be ruled by persons from other countries, patriotism would cease to exist, and men would soon become cosmopolites, and would as readily serve and fight under a foreign standard as under that of our own native country. Every nation should be governed by men who are bound to it by the ties of birth and education-if they have men fit to administer their government; and when they cease to have natives of the country fit to fill its offices, it will be times to seek for officers among foreigners. This opposition to foreign sway and domination, is found ever where; it is natural and beneficial, and serves to make men true and faithful to the country of their birth. The emigrant Irishman partakes of this feeling in a high degree; the exiled Pole is actuated by the same natural motive, and all foreigners who come to our shores are governed by the same natural attachment to their own native country. The Pole swells with patriotic indignation when he thinks of his own native country being ruled and governed by the Russian, and is as bitter against the Russian as the Irishman is against the Englishman for the same cause. But whilst this strong natural feeling of attachment to their native country governs and controls all foreign emigrants, many of them seem to forget that this feeling is just as natural to the American as it is to the Pole and to the Irishman: they seem to forget that it is a natural feeling with Americans to have America governed by their own countrymen: they appear to be unwilling to allow to Americans the same feelings and motives that control the action of all other men. If Americans are capable of self-government without the supervision of foreigners, they should exercise their right, and should not surrender it to foreigners: and no reasonable foreigner should complain of Americans for entertaining a feeling which is common to all men, and which nature for wise purposes has planted deeply in the heart of a man. If this view of the subject were properly taken by emigrant foreigners we would not find among them such a rush for office, and such a desire to thrust themselves into elections, to control the public affairs of this country.-America should be governed by Americans."

New Era.

The feeling expressed in the above, is probably universal, but is it a just national trait, where the motto floats on the walls of every citadel of a great country and nation:-"The asylum of the oppressed for all nations." One thing is clear, God is not in it, for he says he will gather of every nation, tongues and kindred, and let them set under their own vine and fig tree, when there is none to molest or make afraid. The freedom of the United States is like a stool pigeon, it flutters by force to decoy others. The love of man waxes cold. Alas for the world.

"Straws show which way the Wind Blows."-The following keen thrust at the popular causes of American Freedom, was clipt [clipped] from a correspondent in the St. Louis American:

"How long!-O, how long, shall we continue to be a free and happy people, when the very elements of all freedom-all happiness, viz: virtue and religion, are so eagerly sought to be derided and destroyed? Alas, it is time, indeed, for a struggle; it is time, high time "to strike for our altars and our fires."

Public opinion, politics, and mobocracy, the grand trio to test, and use up "Liberty" in America, can look into the Mirror, and see:

"Coming events cast their shadows before."