Conditions at Orderville.--Letter to E. M. Webb, on Politics.--Visit
Winchester's Cathedral.--Pass Through the Tower of London.--Letter from
President William Budge.--Mobbed at Albourne.
July 4, 1878, a quiet peaceable day, I baptized Miss Eliza Combs, also
Mrs. Powell and her daughter. It is a comfort, while gleaning, to find,
once in a while, a cluster of fruit. I also received letters from home.
Newell is very poor in health. I fasted and prayed that he might be
healed, and live to be an active worker in the vineyard of our Lord.
Today he is an intelligent worker in Church and education lines.
Orderville, May 21, 1878.
"Elder John R. Young. Dear Brother: It is with pleasure I seat myself
to write to you at this time. Health prevails in our midst, and
seemingly there is nothing but prosperity awaiting us; and yet the
power of the adversary is not overcome, by any means.
"I have taken great delight in hearing your descriptive letters. One
can almost imagine himself at the places you mention, looking at,
instead of hearing of them. I am in hopes that you and Brother Claridge
will soon be released. You are needed here. We have had close times
this winter in food and clothing; but if I can see the future right, as
I believe I can, our worst days of poverty are past.
"Yet, looking at things naturally, what varying changes and
circumstances God may call us to pass through, to give us necessary
experience, is more than I am prepared to say. We have been blessed
in having a good yield of wool this clip--about twenty-five hundred
pounds more than we expected. Our prospects for good crops this year
are a great deal better than at this time last year. Our tannery
and furniture shops are beginning to bring us an income. We intend
launching out in these businesses, the tannery especially, and the
manufacture of leather articles.
"We have purchased the Glendale grist mill: price, three thousand
dollars. We pay stock in Kanab mill, twelve hundred dollars; land in
Kanab field, six hundred dollars; your city lot in Kanab, five hundred
dollars; we are to pay four hundred fifty in trade, and two hundred
fifty dollars in cash.
"During the past two years the mill has brought in over a thousand
bushels of grain, for toll. It is in good repair. We take possession
the first of August. I should like you to write to me if you can spare
the time. With kind regards, I am your Brother, E. M. Webb."
This letter interested me, as it awakened sweet recollections of past
labors. In 1874, acting under a written appointment from President
Brigham Young and George A. Smith, I visited the Mt. Carmel Ward,
and organized the Orderville United Order. Israel Hoyt was sustained
as president, and William Heaten, secretary. The organizing of that
society brought division into the ward. Bishop Bryant Jolly, and his
strong, numerous family and relations, formed a wall of opposition
against cooperative labor that made life in the community unpleasant.
To avoid strife and contention the members of the Order sold their
homes, and moved in a body onto a new, unimproved piece of land, two
miles above Mt. Carmel. Here they commenced the town of Orderville,
securing the title of the land to the Order. From that start onward,
no man could say "this is mine." All members were required to deed
their property, both real and personal, to the society, thus all wealth
became common, there were no rich, and no poor, for all were equal. The
first building erected was a hotel, where all who were in health could
eat at one table. William M. Black was placed in charge of the hotel,
with seven sisters as a working force. When the Order was in the zenith
of its prosperity, those eight persons placed the food upon the table
for eight families, the meals were served at 7, 12, and 6 o'clock, and
were as regular as clock work.
If the organization had been perpetuated, that one change would have
brought wealth to the community. For instance, instead of eighty women
getting breakfast, eight persons prepared it, thus saving seventy-two
days labor daily. Again, by the hotel system, all laborers could start
their work at the same minute, thus saving many hours of valuable
time. A president with two counselors were the presiding authority.
Six directors chosen by the people formed the executive board, men and
women were organized into working companies. The men were classified
into three grades, boys, juniors and men--the men were credited $1.50
per day, all men were credited the same wage, there being no difference
between common and skilled labor.
They engaged, in farming, sheep and cattle raising, saw mills, grist
mills, furniture, tanning, manufacturing boots, shoes and harness,
blacksmithing; and established a woolen factory. They were the most
independent self-sustaining community in the state of Utah. Each branch
of industry had a foreman selected from the community, and nominated
by the directors, but we were governed by common consent, hence
nominations were not in force, until voted upon. Each family had their
separate home, which was sacred to the family, subject strictly to the
parents' government and discipline.
Honesty, virtue and temperance were necessary to secure fellowship in
the society; the policy of the Order was to select the wisest men and
women to be our leaders.
Soon after organizing, Howard O. Spencer was sustained as president. He
was a fearless, good man, but by nature not a financial business man.
Later, Thomas Chamberlain, a young, progressive man, developed in the
community, presided, and Edward M. Webb, became secretary. Under this
capable guidance the association was prospering.
But President Brigham Young was the pilot, the guiding star. When he
died the master mind was gone.
The visible leader, who said, "Unless you are one in temporal things,
how can you be one in spiritual things?" and "The way the world does
business is a sin, the strong build themselves up by putting the weak
ones down." That was the voice of the Good Shepherd to that people,
and when that voice was hushed in death, the light was gone--and the
community dissolved. It needs the Leadership of the Priesthood to
establish the United Order.
July 10, 1878. I received a letter from my Brother Franklin giving an
account of the death of his son David. He was a lovable boy. I wrote:
"Let me rest, for I am weary; tell the children to keep
still--
Soon I'll pass the trackless prairie, and will stand on
Zion's hill,
O, how hard to some the journey! but to me 'tis peace
and joy,
Truth and purity bring favor, and I've been a faithful
boy.
Saying thus, he turned him over, gently sank in peaceful
rest;
Who can doubt that now in glory, David liveth with the
blest.
O how happy was the passing o'er the desert we call
death,
Like a ship with fair wind sailing to the Saints' Haven
of rest.
"To a land of fruit and flowers, where pure fountains ever
flow,
Where the gentle summer showers cause life-giving food
to grow,
And we'll find celestial order in that land of fruit and
vines--
Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, 'tis so sacred and
divine.
Here we are but few in number; there we'll meet a
countless throng,
And we'll smile, and ask in wonder, how we tarried here
so long.
"Then we'll see the hidden wisdom of concealing from our
view,
Light and knowledge, and the vision of our home where
all is new.
May we all have strength to follow, in this happy painless
way;
Short the struggle and the sorrow when we leave this
house of clay;
With our kindred dear to bless us, all the loved ones
gathered round,
Angels also near to lead us, to the home where Christ is
found."
I passed Sunday, July 14th, at Satchel. From my journal:
"Today we had a most excellent meeting. I had the privilege of giving
my testimony to several intelligent strangers. I trust I am sowing seed
that will bring a harvest of souls to some future reaper. On July 16th.
I walked to Bosham. My health is poor. I wrote as follows:
"Elder E. M. Webb, Dear Brother: In answer to yours will say, we are
having a fine summer, warm and clear; crops look well, and the oats and
barley harvest has commenced. Wheat is also looking golden and ripe.
Potato blight is not quite so bad as last year.
"Before this reaches you, you will have learned that peace has crowned
the efforts of the Berlin conference, and the Russian-Turks war is
ended. Russia acquires Batoum and considerable adjoining territory of
importance to her, as it opens the way for her to make further advance
into eastern Persia and Egypt. To offset this, England, to the surprise
of all Europe, has secured by purchase and secret treaty, at the very
time of the convening of the peace congress, the island of Cypress,
said to be the key to the highway leading into the rich agricultural
districts of the Nile; and also the overland road to her extensive East
India Empire.
"I am not a political man, but in my opinion, England has got the
lion's share. Her gold, and Disraeli's diplomacy have given her the
victory. Russia submits with a deep low growl! Austria gets a nice
bone, sweeter than she expected; while France, snubbed and defied,
is loud in her expressions of discontent and indignation. Earl
Beaconsfield has covered himself with present glory, while Gladstone is
no longer glad--the stone of disappointment lying heavy on his heart.
When I came to England, the masses spoke of him as the people's "Will;"
now they call him "the discarded Bill."
"Strange such a difference there should be,
'Twixt tweedledum and tweedledee."
This is the result, and fortune of politics. In all nations, so far
as I have seen, are restless spirits who must be active. If assailed
by outside enemies, these restless cusses will unite in the common
defense; but overcome outward pressure, and they will turn round and
sow division, just for the pure love of the thing.
"England is a grand nation; and her laws are administered impartially
in harmony with the moral tone of the nation. This gives her strength
and durability; but the life-destroying doctrines of Bradlaugh, falsely
called the philosophy of life, are slowly but surely, sapping her
strength and durability. Class distinction is also a great evil. The
hereditary aristocrat fears the tiller of the soil, and does all in his
power to perpetuate his poverty; which means weakness to the nation,
begetting as it does, jealousy and hate; while the wage earner, true to
the law of fallen humanity, returns hate for hate; steals and defrauds
whenever he can, and smiles as he thinks of a day of change when he
will break the neck of the proud man, and scatter his wealth as the
sower scatters the grain in fresh-plowed fields.
"The kings of the earth have their eye upon this discontent; and try
for self protection, what suavity and promise of reform may do, or else
get up a war abroad in order to have peace at home. Yet their jealousy
of one another, coupled with internal restlessness compels every
European country to keep large standing armies--to maintain their power
by a wall of cannon and a circle of steel.
"Today the kings are taking counsel of one another, while the working
men are forming unions; hence two great powers are consolidating. In
course of time, like angry clouds driven by different winds, they
will dash upon each other, until they are broken. Thus may the way be
prepared for the kingdom of God, beneath whose justice and mercy men
will feel a spirit of compromise, the forerunner of universal peace.
"The mail has just come, bringing letters from you, Thomas Robertson,
and from my wife Lydia. While I read these, political ideas vanish from
my mind as dews fade before the rising sun; and now increased love,
deep yearnings, and fond recollections of home swell in the heart:
O Zion, thou loved one,
When shall I behold thy chaste brow,
And view thy lofty hills
All clothed in snow?
"I walked to Winchester, looked again through the cathedral, and had
a long gospel talk with a lady and Church of England minister. Next I
visited Sister Mathews at Newfishborne. She is very feeble and nigh
unto death. I gave her the sacrament and blessed her.
"Monday, July 22nd, I went to London. I met President Warren B. Smith
and his Brother Alma L., who is released to return home. In the
evening, with them, I visited Madame Tussaud's Wax Works, viewed over
two hundred life-sized statues of the leading men and women of the
world, examined the French guillotine, an instrument used to clip off
suspected people's heads. On the side wall was a row of heads, showing
a specimen of work done. It looked too natural to be pleasant,--as if
the blood were still dripping from the severed necks.
"I was pleased with Napoleon's carriage. Order and comfort were
combined in its arrangements. He could write, sleep, or eat, as he
chose. A group of the Berlin Congress attracted most attention.
Prince Bismarck's towering and powerful figure was in marked contrast
with Earl Beaconsfield's diminutive body. The Russian ministers were
noble-looking men: they may be barbarous, but they are nobody's fools.
Henry VIII, with his six wives grouped around him were interesting to
me. Strong will and voluptuous tendencies were plainly stamped upon his
features.
"With Alma L. and Warren B. Smith, I took a street buss to London
Bridge, and went through St. Paul's cathedral. It is a stupendous
building. The spire is four hundred seventy-four feet high. The gilded
cross looks from the ground to be six inches in diameter, yet six men
can sit on it. From the cathedral I went by steamer down the Thames to
Westminster Abbey, passed through its venerated halls, then visited the
House of Parliament, the forum of Anglo Saxon legislation. We lingered
some time in the lobbies, but did not hear the voice of Chatham nor
Burke.
"From Parliament we went to the Crystal Palace, where we remained
until 8 p.m. This is the loveliest place that I have ever seen. The
palace is a model of beauty, and it was a feast to wander in the
garden-beds of flowers and rose plants, interspersed with statuary or
stuffed animals, and the statues of noted travelers, teaching history
with object lessons. We next passed into the art gallery, and looked
at novelties from all parts of the known world. Here we listened to a
dramatic tragedy, followed by music from the grand Handel organ; which
latter, to my untutored ear, was a real treat. The hour was late when
we returned to Bishop's Grove; but the best part of my sight-seeing
came after midnight: I dreamed of home, blessed home!
On July 24th, Utah's sacred holiday, we visited the Tower of London,
the ancient, national, political prison of England. If these gloomy
walls could speak, what tragedies they could unfold! Here are specimens
of arms, and accoutrements of war, ancient and modern; from the knotty
hawthorn war-club to the improved repeating rifle; men and horses
clothed in armor; instruments of torture; the heading block and the ax
that severed the gentle Lady Grey's head from her shoulders.
But the gem of the tower was the "jewel room," in which are
deposited crowns and jewels to the value of six million pounds
sterling--wonderful wealth locked up where it can do no good. It can
neither feed the hungry nor clothe the naked; it can satisfy only pride
and power. We next went to Albert's Hall, and saw Albert's monument.
I shall long remember this beautiful work of art, the witness of a
nation's love for a noble man.
In the evening I attended meeting, and listened to an interesting
discourse by Elder A. L. Smith, who gave a thrilling narrative of the
massacre at Haun's mill, where eighteen of our brethren were shot down
in cold blood. His father and little brother were among the killed, and
he was himself grievously wounded, his hip bone having been shot away.
On my return home I found the following letter from the mission
headquarters in Liverpool:
"Elder John R. Young. Dear Brother: On my arrival from Sheffield last
night I found a letter from President John Taylor in which he says,
'We shall be pleased to have you release Elder John R. Young, now
laboring in England, to return home this fall.' The reason is, your
father wishes to gather all his children together at St. George this
fall or coming winter to attend to ordinances in the temple, which he
does not think it prudent to delay. You are therefore, Brother Young,
at liberty, with our approbation and blessing, to make preparations to
return home.
"And as we are anxious to have your help in the mission as long as we
consistently can during the favorable season, we therefore suggest that
you return in the ship to sail about the 12th of October. I have not
heretofore made your acquaintance, but shall be pleased to do so when
you reach Liverpool. Praying that God may continue to bless you in your
labors, I am your brother in the Gospel, William Budge."
On Saturday, July 27, 1878, I went to Newbury, where I had the pleasure
of meeting Elder Howard O. Spencer, a friend much-loved. Sunday,
the 28th, we held meeting at Brother Bristow's. Elder Spencer and I
occupied the time. At 6:30 p.m. I preached on the public square, near
the Corn Exchange, then went home with Brother Pocock, four miles--and
English miles are long. July 29th, I wrote letters until dinner, then
walked back to Newbury and preached on the public square, followed by
Elder Spencer. We encountered much opposition.
I am glad that father desires to get his family together. How pleased
I shall be to see my parents stand as prince and princess in the Holy
Priesthood, at the head of their numerous offspring, and see all this
sealed upon them in this life. Then, it seems to me, they can pass
the portals of death in joy; knowing that rest and peace, as well as
eternal life are blessings gained by union, obedience and sacrifice.
I walked to Ramsbury, seven miles, and attended a Methodist open-air
meeting. At the close of their service. Elder Spencer and I addressed
the people.
Thursday, August 1st, Howard and I went to Aidbourne and held meeting
on the public square. We were mobbed by about one hundred fifty
persons. Brothers Spencer, Chouls, Griffin and his wife and I backed
into a narrow alley, where we kept a solid front, and beat the mob
back. Howard, Griffin, and his wife fought like heroes--until we
reached Brother Griffin's house, where we found shelter; but the mob
broke in all the windows, and hammered on the door until a late hour.