| 484 asked many questions which were answered to his satisfaction, and before I returned from England he obeyed the gospel, with many others in the city. I tarried in, and about the city until the 7th of October, preaching almost daily, in Spring street, and the Military Hall, in the Bowry, and other places, in different parts of the city, which were well attended, and the people gave good heed to the word, while the Saints were refreshed in spirit, and blessed. I must say, I was never more cordially, received, and I pray God, in the name of Jesus Christ, to reward them. I have reason to believe that there was much good seed, sown, in that place while I was there. On the 7th of October, in company with elders James Burnham and Levi Richards, I went on board the ship George Washington, Capt. Buras, and that day went to sea, and after a rough passage of 25 days, found ourselves in the port of Liverpool, England. We immediately proceeded to Manchester, and after having refreshed ourselves with the brethren, and preaching a few times; we met in Council with elder B. Young, W. Richards, H. C. Kimball, P. P. Pratt, of the twelve elders-Levi Richards, Snow and Burnham and myself; where it was decided that I should go to Glasgow, Scotland, and Br. Burnham, to N. Wales, &c.
I immediately proceeded to Liverpool where I found elder John Taylor, one of the Twelve, who had just returned from the Isle of man, and wished me to go and take his place, as he was wanted in other places very much. I told him, if the Twelve were willing, I had no objections to do so, he then wrote to Manchester, and obtained the approbation of the Twelve to that affect, and I preached several times in the city, while I was there, (and while I was in Manchester, I went out to Oldham, about 8 miles distant, and preached twice and opened the door for baptism, whereupon seven men gave their names for baptism,) why I speak of this, is to show to my countrymen that Englishmen, are more willing to obey the gospel, when they are convinced of the truth, than many even of my own countrymen. I went to the Isle of Man, where I arrived the 16th day of November, in the town of Douglas, and where I found elder Hyram Clark, and he took the country, and I the town, and we commenced our labors, and the 25th of December, (met the brethren who had been baptized while I was there, and who had been baptized before I went there,) in Douglas at the house of br. John Cowell's where we organized a branch of the Church, called the Church of the Isle of Man; and ordained br. John Barns, presiding elder, and br. John Mills, teacher, and appointed a clerk by the voice of the branch; the branch then numbered about 40 members. Elder Clark tarried until January 8th, when he took leave of the sweet little Island for Liverpool and I tarried preaching in the town of Douglas, and in the country occasionally and baptizing until the 16th of February, when I took leave for Liverpool to prepare for home. The people of the Isle, treated me very kindly indeed; and I feel in duty bound to say, of brother John Cowell's people, where I boarded, that I never was treated more tenderly, and with more respect, then [than] at their house, I had a large room well furnished, and a bedroom adjoining was well furnished aloted [allotted] to me, and my brethren; where our meals were served up four times a day, (which is customary in that country,) and every attention paid to us that we could wish for, at a very moderate price; (may the Lord reward them four-fold.
When I left the Isle, the Church numbered about 70 in good standing; I tarried at Liverpool until the 4th of March, preaching and visiting the brethren from house to house, while the work continued to roll forth gathering in souls continually. I attended several blessing meetings, while I was in Liverpool, in company with elders Brigham Young, John Taylor and Willard Richards and others, which was great satisfaction to me. Those meetings were attended as follows: a feast was prepared at a private house, and several brethren invited to attend, and after refreshment the meeting was opened by singing and prayer: then the patriarch (elder Peter Mellen), laid hands upon the head of a brother, or sister as the case might be, and pronounced a sentence, at a time, and his scribe (elder - Whitehead), write the same; all things were conducted with decorum, while the spirit of the Lord came down upon us in mighty power.
On the 4th day of March, I sailed from Liverpool, for New-York, on board the ship Oswego, of Boston. Capt. David Wood, a christian and a gentleman, with about 280 passengers, and I had not been on board long before it was surmised that I was a minister, and I was invited to speak to the people, which I did having an invitation by the Captain so to do. The people many of them were well pleased and wished me to continue to preach during the voyage, which I did as the Lord gave ability. 3 Priests of the Methodist order were on board, and preached several times and began to feel quite uneasy, finally challenged me to debate with them, I told them I was not fond of controversy, and declined; But they gave notice to the passengers after we arrived near Sandyhook), that they was going to up set what I had preached, and show that it was unscriptural, &c. Accordingly at 7 in the evening the people came together in the second cabin, when a chairman was chosen, and one of the priests arose and talked one hour, in endeavoring to show the people that the gospel as I had preached it to them was not true; I then told the people I did not know what to say as my principles had not been attacked in any shape whatever, but as they insisted upon my speaking I did so for an hour, reviewing my lectures by scripture. The preacher then spake a half hour, and I a half hour, and then 15 minutes a piece, until 11 o'clock, at which time, I asked him why he had not quoted one scripture if no more (to support his assertions if he could), instead of quoting mens comment; to which he replied, there were so many texts of scripture to prove his doctrine, that he could not quote all of them, in one night, so he thought he would not quote any, you may guess whether the people laughed him to scorn or not. It was then moved and seconded, that Mr. Blakeslee, had sustained his doctrine in every particular; and the motion was about to be put, but I objected to it, and told the passengers I thought it would be best to leave it with them, for I did not feel as though I had obtained a victory, as they all must see that I had been (as it were), playing
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