RLDS Church History Search

Chapter Context

RLDS History Context Results


Source: Times and Seasons Vol. 6 Chapter 19 Page: 1066

Read Previous Page / Next Page
1066 keeps me almost constantly in Liverpool at the present time. I have just returned from a few days tour to Leamington (between Birmingham and London.) Elder Hedlock was with me. Leamington is a resort for the gentry who visit the springs, similar to the Saratoga Springs. We held a Conference there last Sunday. The saints' meetings there for several weeks previous had been fully attended but much disturbed by mobs who had broken down their banisters, tables, benches, &c. We had however a very still time, good attention, and good was done. On Sunday we went through each apartment of the Warwich castle and tower, said to be the most splendid castle in England, occupied by the Earl of Warwich, and furnished in the most splendid manner the genius of nobility could invent. The main body of the Castle is composed of several rooms; the whole being three hundred and thirty three feet long, filled with the richest paintings and furniture. The walls hung with the richest tapestry, damask covered chairs, tables and stands profusely interwoven with pearl, shell, and precious stones, some of them cost fifteen thousand pounds each. This castle is eight hundred years old, and the Tower five hundred years old and one hundred and fifty feet high. It has connected with it forty acres of pleasure ground and a park five miles in circumference. Among the ancient Armoury [Armory] I saw that worn by the great Guy, his helmet and breast plate and shield of steel weighed one hundred and twenty pounds; his sword twenty pounds, and his brass porridge pot held one hundred and twenty gallons. Among the splendid paintings of the Kings, Queens, Princes, Lords, Orators, Poets and Reformers, stands one as large as life of the founder of the Jesuits. The Butler treated us very politely.

After leaving the Castle, we took railway to Birmingham, where we arrived in the evening. We found between four and five hundred saints assembled in a large hall, to what is called, in England, a Tea Meeting. They were all seated at the table when we entered, waiting our arrival. As we entered the door, the clapping of hands and stamping of feet, as tokens of applause, made the house tremble. After feasting with them we addressed them for about two hours, and had a good time. We spent several hours with the officers and broke up at midnight, and in the morning returned home.

I have many calls through the Kingdom to visit the churches, but I have very little time to go abroad. The work of the Lord is taking a higher stand in this country than it has done; by means of servants and our books it is beginning to be investigated by some of the nobility and rich ones of the earth. I hope it will not be a great while before some of them will begin to open their hearts to begin to do something for Israel. A few days since, I received the Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles, to the Kings, Rulers, and Nations of the earth. I shall do what I can to circulate it in this country. I have now twenty thousand in press in English, and have sent word to Elder Jones to prepare to publish it in Welsh as soon as it is out of press here. I shall visit the Rabbis in this place with the work and see if I can get them to publish it Hebrew. I received your "Come to me," and "Capstone," for which I was thankful. We shall make arrangements about forwarding you "Punch." We have cleared the ship "Palmyra" again to day with about sixty passengers on her, only about thirteen saints. The rest were transient passengers. This is the same ship that A. Fielding went over in the last time.

Mrs. Woodruff joins me in respects to Brother and sister Phelps, Brother Richards, Mother Smith, Sister Emma, and sister Mary Smith, and their families, with the Twelve and all enquiring [inquiring ]friends.

I still remain your brother in the truth,

WILFORD WOODRUFF.

From the Millennial Star.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO THE SAINTS.

A copy of the Great Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to all the Kings of the world, to the Presidents, Governors, Rulers, and People of all nations, has just come to hand, with a request that we should circulate it as widely as possible through the kingdoms of Europe.

As we are about publishing a considerable number of copies of this proclamation, we feel particularly to call the attention of the saints to it at the present time. They must be already aware that they are conjointly engaged in a work, on the accomplishment of which hang important events; and, also that, according to the testimony of the ancients who have spoken of it, but little time is to be given for its fulfilment [fulfillment.] Since the organization of the church of God, much has been done by the establishment of the principles of truth, while tens of thousands have boldly stepped forward and avowed their love for God by obedience to his counsel, and some have not forborne to shed their blood in its defence [defense], still comparatively speaking, but few of the great men of the earth have heard anything of the work of God, and still fewer have declared themselves at all in its favor.

(page 1066)

Read Previous Page / Next Page