| 1126 spring and summer. After coming to order President Joseph Smith, spoke at considerable length upon the circumstances of their Journey to and from Missouri, and very minutely laid open the causes out of which those jealousies of Brother Sylvester and others, had grown. He made a satisfactory statement concerning his rebukes and chastisments upon Sylvester and others, and also concerning the distribution of monies and other properties, calling on brethren present who accompanied him to attend the same, all of which was satisfactory to the brethren present, as appeared by their own remarks afterwards.
After President Joseph had closed his lengthy remarks, brother Sylvester made some observations relative to the subject of their difficulties, and began to make a partial confession for his previous conduct, asking forgiveness for accusing brother Joseph publicly, on the Saturday previous of prophecying [prophesying] lies in the name of the Lord, and for abusing (as he had said,) his (Sylvester's) character, before the brethren.
From the New York Messenger Extra.
TO OUR BRETHREN AND FRIENDS SCATTERED ABROAD,
We have thought proper to issue an Extra this morning, to inform our brethren and friends scattered abroad, of the ship Brooklyn leaving port last Wednesday, with about two hundred and thirty souls on board including men, women and children, together with three or four passengers. As it regards the getting up of this company of emigrants, we desire to give a brief and correct statement, for the benefit of all concerned. Some two months since, Elder S. Brannan was counselled [counseled] by President O. Pratt, of this city, before leaving for the west, to charter a vessel, and take out a company of the saints to Oregon or California, and as soon as an opportunity offered, others would follow, and endeavor to get beyond the reach of persecution and oppression. Accordingly he obeyed the counsel. It is now about one month since he chartered the ship Brooklyn, Capt. Richardson, for twelve hundred dollars per month, besides paying the Port Charges. In this short space of time, by untiring assiduity, has he collected together the number heretofore stated, consisting of Farmers, Mechanics, &c., the greater part young and middle aged men and women.
The ship was expected to sail on the twenty-fourth or twenty-sixth of January, but in order to have all things in readiness, and complete to make them comfortable she did not get off until last Wednesday. At two o'clock, P. M., she left her moorings and swung around the Pier into the stream. The Steamboat Sampson came along side, made fast to her, to pilot her down towards the narrows. As she left the wharf, it was a beautiful sight to behold. The noble ship with hundreds of ladies and gentlemen, lining her decks, friends, relations, &c., of the Emigrants. As she left the wharf, three hearty cheers were sent up, by the numerous crowd of gentlemen upon the Pier, which was as heartily returned, or responded to by those on board the ship. The day was propitious, the bright luminary of the heavens, had passed the zenith of his meridian glory, and was retiring in his stately robes toward the chamber of the West! Yet his oblique rays, as the noble ship passed down the bay, glistened with a propitious smile upon the bosom of the waves, which were now being parted asunder by the bow of the gallant ship. The order at length was given, for all those who did not belong to the ship's company, to get on board the steamboat preparatory to her casting off. Then there was a scene, we feel ourselves inadequate to describe. There you could behold the father bidding adieu to his only son perhaps forever. In another quarter you could see the mother embracing a daughter, and bidding each other farewell. While tears of parental and filial affection, trickled warmly down each other cheeks there, you could also behold the young man and young woman, without Father, Mother, Brother or Sister, (except those of their brothers and sisters endeared to them by the Gospel of the Son of God) willing to leave all behind, sacfrising [sacrificing] all the comforts and enjoyments of the scenes of their childhood and former associations, for the faith which they have embraced, and which they know is true, and are willing to die for the same. They have borne reproach, defamation, obloquy, and scorn, they have been persecuted (or at least the church they belong to,) mobbed, plundered, robbed, driven and murdered, and now they go as exiles, banished from the land of their nativity, the land that gave them birth, the land that is called the "asylum of the oppressed," the liberty that was obtained by the sweat, blood and tears of their fathers, and bequeathed to them as the greatest legacy they could have, has taken its flight and gone, when it comes to be exercised in their behalf. But to return from my digression after bidding a last farewell, the steamboat was disengaged, and as she rounded to return to the city, three hearty cheers were given by them on board, the steamboat consisting of ladies and gentlemen, (among whom were doctors, clergymen, merchants, ship owners, clerks, &c.,) which was immediately responded to, by three more,
(page 1126) |
