| 762 stand by each other even unto death, and not separate unless to go a few miles to preach a sermon; that all monies [moneys] should go into one purse, and it did so. Elder Hyde in Indiana first said he would go to visit Br. Knight, and that Elder Page should stay and preach, he assented, and he went and returned to Indianapolis. Elder Page had a mare given him on account of both, Elder Hyde then took the mare, went on, and left his luggage with Elder Page; while away he sold the mare for $40, and received $60 more as a donation from the man to whom he sold the mare, he returned, they preached in Dayton and received a handsome contribution, Elder Page preached 16 miles off and raised a branch, Elder Hyde went to Cincinnati, revised the Missouri Persecutions, got 2000 copies printed, and paid for them, and took part of them with him and left a large box full and about 150 loose copies with Elder Page. Elder Hyde started for Philadelphia purposing to visit churches on the way: he left Elder Page $23.31. Elder Page returned to Dayton, and Milton, and sold books, with the intention of following Elder Hyde as soon as practicable; but he stayed a day or two too long, and the river closed by the frost, from one to two weeks earlier than usual; Elder Hyde told him that it was possible they might be from one to two years before they would leave America, as it would take upwards of $1000 each to take them to Jerusalem and back, that it would be slow gleaning in England, and assigned this as a reason for not immediately following Elder Hyde, thinking that he would be sure of seeing him in the spring.
Elder Page accused himself of not using better economy in proceeding on his journey; there came out a piece in the paper stating the displeasure of the Lord respecting Elder Hyde and Elder Page, he sat down and wrote a piece to put in the paper acknowledging the justice of the charge, but wisdom prevented its being published, preached about Washington, &c., gathered funds for the mission, in Westchester and in Philadelphia. Elder Hyde raised funds on behalf of the mission, by applauding Elder Page's talents, wisdom &c., but they were disappointed in him when they saw him, he raised funds for the mission, the most liberal was in Philadelphia; he intended to sail on the 25th of July, but the brethren said that if he would remain two weeks they would raise funds for him, they found that it would take longer, and he decided to stay a month, he then received a command through a letter from Pres't Smith to an official character in Philadelphia, requesting him to return; he wrote to ascertain the reason but did not get an answer, he was then called in by Pres't. J. Smith, and Elder B. Young. Elder Hyde would often renew the covenant between them to never part with each other in that mission. Elder Page had no blame to attach to Elder Hyde; he supposed that he had done right but if he had been in his place he would have tarried for him until the spring.
The reports of his having apostatized &c. returned even from this place to New York. Many reproved him for leaving Cincinnati for Dayton.
Pres't J. Smith then arose and stated that it was wrong to make the covenant referred to by him; that it created a lack of confidence for two men to covenant to reveal all acts of secrecy or otherwise to each other-and Elder Page showed a little grannyism. He said that no two men when they agreed to go together ought to separate, that the prophets of old would not and quoted the circumstance of Elijah and Elisha iii Kings 2 chap. when about to go to Gilgal, also when about to go to Jericho, and to Jordan, that Elisha could not get clear of Elijah, that he clung to his garment until he was taken to heaven and that Elder Page should have stuck by Elder Hyde, and he might have gone to Jerusalem, that there is nothing very bad in it, but by the experience let us profit; again, the Lord made use of Elder Page as a scape goat to procure funds for Elder Hyde.
When Elder Hyde returns we will reconsider the matter, and perhaps send them back to Jerusalem, we will fellowship Elder Page until Elder Hyde comes, and we will then weld them together and make them one. A vote was then put, and carried that we hold Elder Page in full fellowship.
Voted, that Elder Page be sent to Pittsburgh. Sung a hymn-Adjourned for one hour and a half, at one o'clock.
Met agreeable to adjournment.-Sung a hymn-Prayer by Elder Kimball.
Elder Wight called to know if there were any present of the rough and weak things, who wished to be ordained, and go
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