| 72 at Springfield, I fell in company with Brother George W. Robinson, of this place, who was going eastward to Vermont & other States, having with him the history of the church from 1833, written by President Rigdon, read and approved of by the Quincy conference. His design was to procure the printing of this book and put it into immediate circulation, together with some other business. We agreed to unite our exertions to accomplish this work; and having been spoken to by President Rigdon previous to this time, to take an active part in publishing it, I the more readily took hold with bro. R. to throw out before the world a history of the various persecutions which this church has suffered since its organization in 1830.
We pursued our journey in company as far as Putman co. Ia. In crossing one of those large prairies in this State, a violent storm of wind, snow, rain and hail arose from the north-east, which we were compelled to face, brought the ague upon me again. We lay by, a day or two at bro. William Hauks, who received and treated us with the greatest kindness. He lives about sixteen miles west from Terre Haute. We held a consultation in Pleasant Garden, Ia. where it was advised for me to remain for a season, and preach the gospel, and raise all the funds I could to defray the expenses of printing the book. Bro. Robinson went on to Cincinatti [Cincinnati] and engaged the printing of the work at that place and informed me immediately by letter. I continued laboring in the vicinity of Pleasant Garden for a number of weeks. There were many, apparently, believing the gospel; but few were ready to obey it. Yet there is a prospect of doing much good; and if some experienced elder would call and spend some time there, I am persuaded that great good would be the result.
About the first of January, I began to exert myself to raise funds to pay for printing the book at Cincinnatti [Cincinnati].-I called upon some of the rich men who professed to be brethren in the church; and asked their liberality for this very necessary work. But they said like one of old, "go thy way for this time; and at a more convenient season I will call for thee," or assist thee. I called at another time; but that convenient time never came. There are men who wish to be thought very liberal and philanthropic if they can without being to any expense about the matter: But when a draft is made upon their purse their philanthropy retreats behind the bulwarks of a thousand specious and plausible excuses. God knows just how much virtue and righteousness there are in them all; and may HE reward such according to their liberality. I visited some of the poor brethren in the same place, and found them willing to divide the last shilling, and the last loaf. How great the contrast! It reminds me of the poor beggar and the rich man that we read of in the bible: Also, of the words of Christ which say, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." I am happy to say however; that I found those who were willing to assist; and did relieve me out of all my trouble in that respect. There are men who have forecast enough to make to themselves friends with the mammon of unrighteousness, that when they fail on earth, they may be received into everlasting habitation. As they wanted not their right hand to know what their left hand doeth; I say may the Lord bless them forever. Let their companion be the son of peace; and let him never depart from their habitation. Let their business be prosperous, and their fields bring forth in plenty. Let the arm of the Lord protect them, and his angels guard their way. In the midst of these exertions I have been much afflicted with the ague; and also, while preaching the gospel. About the 6th of Jan. I started for Cincinnatti [Cincinnati] to get the books and carry them on eastward to distribute them and raise all the funds I could for the church, but when I arrived there, the books were not done, and would not be short of about ten days, at this time my health became so poor through exposure etc. that I abandoned the idea of going any farther east at that time; but concluded to leave the books and return directly home, and take some little time to recruit my health; and also, till the cold weather was past, and then try it again.
I now expect to leave for England soon, by way of Cincinnatti [Cincinnati], Philadelphia
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