| 680 merchants and great men of the earth must prepare to mourn: Alas, alas! that great city!
O saints, saints! inasmuch as the almighty has displayed, and will display his "handy work" for the glory and benefit of his saints, his covenant people, will you not arise, and shake your garments, cleansing them from the dust, and spots of corruption, idleness and folly, and show your faith by your works. God will soon make a man more precious than fine gold. Do you know it? Let the world traffic, we must make men better by wisdom, virtue, and industry.
By a letter from Elder B. Brown and J. W. Crosby, we learn than Mormonism has began to blossom and bear fruit in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia. Before they left Jefferson county, New York, they added about 150 to the church by baptism; and went via. Montreal and Quebec to this place, where they have baptized fourteen, and the cry around them is, 'come over from Macedonia and help us.' We shall try to give some or all of the letter in our next.
CONFERENCE MINUTES
From the New York Prophet.
NEW YORK CONFERENCE.
Met pursuant to notice at the corner of Canal and Hudson streets, September 4th, 1844, at 10 o'clock, A, M. Elder William Smith, was called to the chair, and Elder David Rogers, chosen secretary.
The meeting was opened by singing, and prayer by Elder William Smith.
After which President Smith arose and stated that he had not expected to be present and therefore did not know what business they had before them, there are some things, he thought would be beneficial to their branch of the church; he spoke with great effect and at length on the fulness [fullness] of the gospel and the wonderful effects on those who embraced it, and the great benefits to be derived therefrom, that it was, a matter of astonishment to him how they could refrain from putting forth all their energies in this mighty work of the last days, when we all know the work must be accomplished-when the calls are so great from every quarter and the people are so anxious to hear-our labors would be abundantly blessed by every one trying to roll the cause forward-for this must truly be a great and glorious work, when all the Hosts of Heaven are engaged in carrying out these great principles of salvation-you must have an eye single to the glory of God and be united and have no more bickerings about things that do not concern you, and cease finding fault, with those, whom you ought to uphold as the authorities of the church of God. Brethren, it is decidedly wrong in any of you speaking evil of those, who are laboring for you and doing all the good they can for you. We have suffered time and again from such means and it is by such means, our brethren have sealed their testimony with their blood, and by such means you will cause our blood to be shed if you persist in it; it is by false brethren, that all of our worst troubles have come upon us-God has called us and not man, and it grieves us to hear you say, that you will support the authorities of this church in righteousness-it is in reality an insult. I can say that I have done nothing contrary to the spirit of Christ since I have been among you-it is not your place to dictate to us, but some of you would wish to do it, (from your actions I judge,) as much as to say that we could point out a wiser course if you would listen to us-such a spirt [spirit] should be put down, for God has chosen us (the Twelve) as special witnesses, and what could you do, should they be taken from you?-you would be without a head-like the snake who got tired of following its head and thought it would make its tail perform the office of a head-but it soon got into difficulty in consequence of not having a head to lead-the tail got into a crevice of a rock and could not extricate itself without calling upon the head, which would soon be the case with the troubled and fault finding members should they undertake to get along without a head-how shameful it is that individuals should offend and persecute those who have labored and borne the head and burden of the day, by telling lies which are calculated to injure them. They forget the Mormons creed "mind your own business."
A committee was appointed to wait upon Brother Hewett and inform him that charges would be preferred against him in the afternoon, and invite him to be present to answer them; whereupon, Elders Miles and Braidwood were appointed said committee.
After which, Elder G. J. Adams made some very judicious remarks in his usual bold, pointed, and forcible manner.
Adjourned till three o'clock, P. M.
3 o'clock, P. M., met according to adjournment, and the committee was called upon to lay the case of Brother Hewett before the conference. Brother Hewett said many things injurious to those he had slandered, and as he did not appear on notice being given, it was
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