| 311 You will also have read of the dismemberment that has taken place in the Scottish Church; the rapid and wide-spreading 'heresy' existing in the national, established under the name of Puseyism, or Popery, as some call it. These, and the ever restless spirit of the various sectarian churches, watching with a jealous and malicious eye, the movements of their mother-indicate that all is not peace within their borders-and foretell something that should make men's hearts quail within them for fear. when I look at these things in conjunction with the word of the Lord, spoken in these last days, my heart sickens at the contemplation; and I again and again 'long to be in your midst.'-Brother Ward has been anxiously waiting to hear from you, relative to the continuation of the Star. There is a very general wish expressed by all the churches for its continuance; and it seems highly desirable that the church should have some channel of communication with its respective branches, independent of the good it may diffuse through other mediums. Of course this is only my own opinion. You will no doubt have heard also that we have given up the Music Hall, and taken a smaller place, called the 'Portico;' but no sooner had we done so, than we were sadly annoyed, and shortly after received notice to quit. In consequence, we were glad to go back again to the Music Hall, at a reduction in the rent of L12-so that in the end it was overruled for good. We are now comfortably fixed again in the Hall-a place, I have no doubt, is often looked upon by the saints with peculiar feelings of delight and gratitude. Many may say, 'it was there that I first hear the glad sound of the gospel from YOUR LIPS-it was there we first enjoyed the fellowship with the saints-it was there we first testified of the goodness of God to us-it was there we felt the power of the Holy Ghost, illuminating our minds, dispelling the dark clouds of ignorance and sectarian bigotry-it was there we heard of Zion, the city of our God-it was there we first heard that God had again spoken from the heavens-called his servant "Joseph," to be a Prophet and Seer.' These, with many other glorious truths, we have heard from you and others, sent of God, within those walls: and they, with us, I doubt not, love the "Music Hall." * * * * *
W. ROWLEY.
(For the Times and Seasons.)
NAUVOO, SEPT. 11TH, 1843.
MR. EDITOR.-
Sir,-After an absence of several months, I have returned to our beloved city, and feel under obligations to render an account of my stewardship to my brethren, and give them a short history of my travels, while absent from them. I left here sometime about last Christmas, and proceeded south, in company with elder Henry B. Jacobs, until we arrived in the southern part of this State, where I had labored in the fall before-at which place we stopped some time, and labored. Owing to the extreme cold weather, and the blocking up of the river, I was unable to proceed farther on my journey south until spring, when I proceeded on my mission to Tennessee, leaving brother Jacobs in the southern part of this State, where he labored with considerable success-baptizing some ten or twelve persons. After I left him, I landed in Nashville on the 7th of May last, in company with elder John S. Twiss, and immediately proceeded to the ground appointed for us to labor on, and commenced operations. Brother John S. Twiss, after laboring with me a short time, returned home; after which time I continued to labor in several counties in Tennessee, for nearly three months, with considerable success. I baptised [baptized] twenty-eight persons, and organized a branch of the church in the western part of Rutherford county, amidst great opposition. I would here inform you that I encountered Lieutenant Dickey, who, you will recollect, was a Lieutenant in Bogart's company of mobbers in Missouri, and who, of course, resorted to every possible resource in his power, to put down the cause of truth, misrepresenting the difficulties in Missouri. But it would not all do-the power of God was manifested in many instances, and Dickey's machinations against the gospel of Jesus Christ, proved of no avail; and I found, by a straightforward, independent and firm course of conduct, that I succeeded in allaying the prejudices of the community to a very considerable degree: and there is now an opening through several of these counties for quite a number of elders.
During the time I spent there, I received calls regularly to preach, many that I could not possibly attend to; and were there a number of efficient elders sent to occupy this ground, much good would be done.
During my mission, I encountered great opposition from the various sects of the day: but 'truth is mighty, and will prevail;' and by the help of the spirit of God, I succeeded in fastening it on the minds of many. Thus the prophecy which was put on my head before I left Nauvoo, was literally fulfilled. The power of God was manifested in healing several who were sick-one in particular-who had been sick near seven months, was restored to health
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