| 881 minister at Walkerfold, Chaidgley, whom she had found at Preston, and what she had done, and requested him to send for elder Kimball to preach in his chapel; Mr. Richards complied with his daughter's request. Elder Kimball arrived at Walkerfold, Saturday eve, August 12th, and the day following preached three times in Mr. Richard's pulpit to crowded assemblies; also twice during the week, and twice the Sunday following, being most kindly and cordially entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Richards for nine days, during which time elder Kimball baptised [baptized] several in the neighborhood.
After a short visit to Preston, where elder Hyde continued to preach and baptise [baptize], elder Kimball returned to Walkerfold and continued to receive the hospitality of Mr. Richards' house for some days, while the work spread in the neighborhood, and from thence the work went forth to Clitherow, Waddington, Downham, Chatburn, Thornly, and Ribchester, through the labors of brothers Kimball and Fielding.
Elders Goodson and Richards arrived in Bedford on the 2d of August, and having letters of introduction to the Rev. Timothy R. Matthews, from brother Joseph Fielding, (Mrs. Matthew's brother,) they immediately waited on Mr. Matthews, who expressed great joy at their arrival, and manifested his sincerity by walking arm in arm with the elders through the streets of Bedford, calling on the members of his church, and inviting them to attend the lecture of the elders, at his chapel vestry that evening. Mr. Matthews had previously been apprised of the Saints in America, through the medium of the Rev. James Fielding, of Preston, and the letters from America before referred to. In the evening, his church assembled in the vestry, and elders Goodson and Richards continued to lecture and testify of the work of God, on that and the three following evenings in the same place, with the entire approbation of Mr. Matthews, who at the close of the lectures publicly bore testimony to the truths advanced, and called upon his people to know why they did not come forward for baptism; while they in return wished to know why he did not set them the example.
After this, Mr. Matthews engaged another house in the neighborhood for the elders to preach in, under the pretence [pretense] that some of the proprietors of the chapel might not be pleased with the elders occupying the vestry, and Mr. Matthews continued to attend the preaching of the elders, and also spent a great share of his time, from day to day, in conversation with them.
Mr. Matthews told the elders that he had received two ordinations, one from Bishop West, whom he had proved to be an impostor; and another from the church of England, which he acknowledged to be descended from the church of Rome, and he further acknowledged that he had no authority from God for administering in the ordinances of God's house.
On the 10th, Mrs. Braddock and four others were baptised [baptized] by elder Goodson. Soon after this, Mr. Joseph Saville, member of Mr. Matthews' church, being very desirous of receiving baptism at the same time with Mr. Matthews, waited on him at his house in company with elders G. and R., and Mr. Matthews and Mr. Saville mutually agreed to meet the elders on the bank of the river Ouse, at a specified hour in the afternoon, and attend to the ordinance of baptism.
At the hour appointed, Mr. Saville met the elders at the place previously designated by Mr. Matthews; but as he did not make his appearance according to promise, after waiting for him an hour, Mr. Saville was baptised [baptized], when the elders repaired to Mr. Matthews' to learn the cause of his not fulfilling his engagement, and were informed by Mr. Matthews family that he had gone out in the country to preach.
In a day or two it was currently rumored that Mr. Matthews had baptised [baptized] himself, and this rumor was afterwards confirmed by Mrs. Matthews, who stated to elder Kimball, at Preston, that Mr. Matthews had baptised [baptized] himself, reasoning upon this principle within himself, "If I have authority to administer the sacrament to my people, why not have anthority [authority] to baptise [baptize] myself," &c., and all this after Mr. Matthews had acknowledged to elders Goodson and Richards that he had no authority to administer in the ordinances of God's house; and altogether regardless of the words of the Apostle, (Heb. v. 4) "No man taketh this honor unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron."
By the foregoing it is plainly to be seen that Mr. Matthews has attempted to take that upon himself which was never conferred
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