| 552 On November 15 the Twelve wrote an epistle "to the saints scattered abroad in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, and the eastern continent," in which they gave instruction regarding the gathering, the building of the temple, and the Nauvoo House. This epistle was signed by each one of the quorum except P. P. Pratt, who was in England, Orson Hyde, who was on a mission to Jerusalem, and John E. Page.
November 20, the Twelve in council expressed their disapproval of the manner in which the Times and Seasons was conducted.
Sunday, November 21, the first baptisms for the dead in the font were administered by Elders B. Young, H. C. Kimball, and John Taylor.
On November 22,1841, Orson Hyde wrote a letter from Alexandria, Egypt, in which he gave an account of his visit to Jerusalem and of his prayer upon the Mount of Olives. 10
The font stands upon twelve oxen, four on each side and two at each end, their head, shoulders, and forelegs projecting out from under the font; they are carved out of pine plank, glued together, and copied after the most beautiful five-year-old steer that could be found in the country and they are an excellent striking likeness of the original; the horns were geometrically formed after the most perfect horn that could be procured.
The oxen and ornamental moldings of the font were carved by Elder Elijah Fordham, from the city of New York, which occupied eight months of time. The font was inclosed [enclosed] by a temporary frame building sided up with split oak clapboards, with a roof of the same material, and was so low that the timbers of the first story were laid above it. The water was supplied from a well thirty feet deep in the east end of the basement.
This font was built for the baptisms for the dead until the temple shall be finished, when a more durable one will supply its place.-Millennial Star, vol. 18, pp. 743, 744.
10 INTERESTING NEWS FROM ALEXANDRIA AND JERUSALEM.-
LETTER FROM ELDER HYDE.
ALEXANDRIA, Nov. 22, 1841.
Dear Brother Pratt:-A few minutes now offer for me to write, and I improve them in writing to you. I have only time to say that I have seen Jerusalem precisely according to the vision which I had. I saw no one with me in the vision; and although Elder Page was appointed to accompany me there, yet I found myself there alone.
The Lord knows that I have had a hard time, and suffered much; but I have great reason to thank him that I enjoy good health at present and have a prospect before me of soon going to a civilized country where I shall see no more turbans or camels. The heat is most oppressive, and has been all through Syria.
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