The Prophet's Mission--Labors in Massachusetts--The Organization of the
Kirtland Safety Society.
[Sidenote: Departure of the Prophet from Kirtland.]
On Monday afternoon, July 25th, in company with Sidney Rigdon, Brother
Hyrum Smith, and Oliver Cowdery, I left Kirtland, and at seven o'clock
the same evening, we took passage on board the steamer _Charles
Townsend_, S. Fox, master, at Fairport, and the next evening, about
ten o'clock we arrived at Buffalo, New York, and took lodgings at the
"Farmer's Hotel." Here we met with Elders Orson Hyde and Moses C.
Nickerson, the former on his way to Canada, and the latter from that
province.
To avoid the crowding, fisting, fighting, racing and rioting of the
packets, we took passages on a line boat for Utica, where we arrived
about eight o'clock a.m. of the 29th, just in time to take the railroad
car for Schenectady, the first passenger car on the new road. [1] We
were more than six hours traveling eighty miles. The locomotive had
hardly stopped before the cry was, "Albany baggage: the cars start in
five minutes." Amid a scene {464} of confusion, bustle, and crowding,
we succeeded, after a good share of scuffling and pulling, in getting
our trunks on board the luggage car for Albany where we arrived the
same evening.
[Sidenote: A Steamboat Race.]
On the 30th, at seven o'clock a. m., we went on board the Steamer _John
Mason_, which took us to the _Erie_, lying over the bar. While the
passengers were stepping off the _John Mason_, the steamer _Rochester_
passed us: "Now for a race," was the cry from different parts, and
a race trial of speed it was; however, as fate or steam power of
engine would have it, the _Erie_, after touching at Catskill and West
Point, where the _Rochester_ did not, went into New York a few minutes
"ahead." By such undue pressure of steam the lives of thousands have
been sacrificed, and I thanked God that myself and friends were safely
landed.
[Sidenote: The Great Fire in New York City.]
While in New York I visited the burnt district--the part of the city
where it was estimated fifteen millions of property was consumed by
fire on the 16th of December, 1835, [2] according to the prediction of
the ancient Prophets, that there should be "fire and vapor of smoke" in
the last days.
[Sidenote: Arrival of the Prophet's Party in Salem, Mass.]
From New York we continued our journey to Providence, on board a
steamer; from thence to Boston, by steam cars, and arrived in Salem,
Massachusetts, early in August, where we hired a house, and occupied
the same during the month, teaching the people from house to house, and
preaching publicly, as opportunity presented; visiting occasionally,
sections of the surrounding country, which are rich in the history
of the Pilgrim Fathers of New England, in Indian warfare, religious
superstition, bigotry, persecution, and learned ignorance.
[Sidenote: Reflections of the Prophet on Religious Intolerance.]
The early settlers of Boston (the Emporium of New {465} England), who
had fled from their mother country to avoid persecution and death, soon
became so lost to principles of justice and religious liberty as to
whip and hang the Baptist and the Quaker, who like themselves, had fled
from tyranny to a land of freedom; and the fathers of Salem from 1692
to 1693, whipped, imprisoned, tortured, and hung many of their citizens
for supposed witchcraft; and quite recently,--while boasting of her
light and knowledge, of her laws and religion, as surpassed by none
on earth,--has New England been guilty of burning a Catholic convent
in the vicinity of Charleston, and of scattering the inmates to the
four winds; yes, in sight of the very spot where the fire of American
Independence was first kindled, where a monument is now erecting in
memory of the battle of Bunker Hill, and the fate of the immortal
Warren, who bled, who died, on those sacred heights, to purchase
religious liberty for his country--in sight of this very spot, have
the religionists of the nineteenth century, demolished a noble brick
edifice, hurling its inhabitants forth upon a cold, unfeeling world for
protection and subsistence.
Well did the Savior say concerning such, "by their fruits you shall
know them." And if the wicked mob who destroyed the Charleston convent,
and the cool, calculating religious lookers on, who inspired their
hearts with deeds of infamy, do not arise, and redress the wrong,
and restore the injured four-fold, they in turn, will receive of the
measure they have meted out till the just indignation of a righteous
God is satisfied. When will man cease to war with man, and wrest from
him his sacred rights of worshiping his God according as his conscience
dictates? Holy Father, hasten the day.
I received the following:
_Revelation given in Salem, Massachusetts, August 6th, 1836_. [3]
1. I, the Lord your God, am not displeased with your coming this
journey, notwithstanding your follies;
{466} 2. I have much treasure in this city for you, for the benefit
of Zion; and many people in this city whom I will gather out in due
time for the benefit of Zion, through your instrumentality.
3. Therefore it is expedient that you should form acquaintance with
men in this city, as you shall be led, and as it shall be given you;
4. And it shall come to pass in due time, that I will give this
city into your hands; that you shall have power over it, insomuch
that they shall not discover your secret parts; and its wealth
pertaining to gold and silver shall be yours.
5. Concern not yourselves about your debts, for I will give you
power to pay them.
6. Concern not yourselves about Zion, for I will deal mercifully
with her.
7. Tarry in this place, and in the regions round about;
8. And the place where it is my will that you should tarry, for the
main, shall be signalized unto you by the peace and power of my
Spirit, that shall flow unto you.
9. This place you may obtain by hire, etc. And inquire diligently
concerning the more ancient inhabitants and founders of this city;
10. For there are more treasures than one for you in this city;
11. Therefore be ye as wise as serpents and yet without sin, and
I will order all things for your good, as fast as ye are able to
receive them. Amen.
While here [at Salem] Brothers Brigham Young and Lyman E. Johnson
arrived. Brother Young had been through New York, Vermont, and
Massachusetts, in company with his brother Joseph Young. They visited
their relations in this country, and baptized a good number into the
Church; they remained in Boston two or three weeks, and baptized
seventeen persons. We had a good visit with the brethren, for which I
feel very thankful.
Thus I continued in Salem and vicinity until I returned to Kirtland,
some time in the month of September. During this month the Church in
Clay county, Missouri, commenced removing to their newly selected
location on Shoal Creek, in the territory attached to Ray County.
[Sidenote: Success of the Ministry.]
During the quarter ending September 3rd, fifty-two Elders', six
Priests', three Teachers', and two Deacons' licenses were recorded
in the license records, in Kirtland, Ohio, by Thomas Burdick. The
intelligence from the Elders abroad was {467} interesting. Elder Parley
P. Pratt still continued his labors in Upper Canada, Toronto, and
vicinity, with good success. Elder Lyman E. Johnson had been laboring
in New Brunswick, and other places on the sea-board; and on the 12th,
13th, and 14th of August a conference was held by Elders Brigham Young
and Lyman E. Johnson, at Newry, Maine, where seventeen branches were
represented, numbering in all three hundred and seventeen members.
[Sidenote: Labors of the Patriarch Joseph Smith, Sen.]
_October 2nd, 1836_.--My father and Uncle John Smith returned to
Kirtland from their mission to the Eastern States, having traveled
about two thousand four hundred miles, and visited nearly all the
branches of the Church in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and
Pennsylvania. During this mission they baptized many, conferred
blessings upon many hundreds, and preached the Gospel to many
thousands. They also visited their friends and relatives in the land of
their nativity. My cousin, George A. Smith, returned the same day from
his mission to Richland County, Ohio. Brother Heber C. Kimball returned
to Kirtland, having been absent nearly five months, during which time
he baptized thirty persons into the Church of the Latter-day Saints,
this being in fulfillment of a blessing that I had conferred upon his
head before he started on his mission.
[Sidenote: Movements of the Saints in Missouri.]
Through the month of October the Saints continued to gather at Shoal
Creek, Missouri, and my attention was particularly directed to the
building up of Kirtland, and the spiritual interests of the Church.
[Sidenote: Organization of Kirtland Safety Society.]
On the 2nd of November the brethren at Kirtland drew up certain
articles of agreement, preparatory to the organization of a banking
institution, to be called the "Kirtland Safety Society." [4] President
Oliver Cowdery was delegated to Philadelphia {468} to procure plates
for the institution; and Elder Orson Hyde to repair to Columbus with a
petition to the legislature of Ohio, for an act of incorporation, which
was presented at an early period of their session, but because we were
"Mormons" the legislature raised some frivolous excuse on which they
refused to grant us those banking privileges they so freely granted to
others. Thus Elder Hyde was compelled to return without accomplishing
the object of his mission, while Elder Cowdery succeeded at a great
expense in procuring the plates, and bringing them to Kirtland.
[Sidenote: Licenses.]
Forty-four Elders' licenses were recorded in the license records at
Kirtland during the quarter ending December 1st; also five Priests' and
one Teachers' license, by Thomas Burdick.
[Sidenote: Organization of Caldwell County.]
The Saints having gathered in considerable numbers on Shoal Creek,
Missouri, petitioned for an act of incorporation for a new county,
which was granted about the middle of December, under the name of
Caldwell County, from which time a fresh impetus was given to the
gathering, and the county grew like Jonah's gourd.
_Minutes of a Conference held in the House of the Lord at Kirtland
on the 22nd of December, 1836_.
The authorities of the Church being present, viz.: The First
Presidency, the High Council of Kirtland, the quorum of the Twelve,
the presidents of the Seventies, the president of the Elders and
his counselors, and many other official members, such as Priests,
Teachers, Deacons etc., the house was called to order, and the
following motions were made and carried by the unanimous voice of
the assembly:
First--That it has been the case that a very improper and
unchristianlike course of conduct has been pursued by the Elders
of this Church, and the churches abroad, in sending their poor
from among them to this place, without the necessary means of
subsistence. Whereas the Church in this place being poor from the
beginning, having had to pay an extraordinate price for their
lands, provisions, etc. and having a serious burden imposed upon
them by comers and goers, from most parts of the world, and an
assisting traveling Elder and theirs the {469} families, while
they themselves have been laboring in the vineyard of the Lord,
to preach the Gospel; and also having suffered great loss in
endeavoring to benefit Zion, it (the thing complained of) has
become a serious matter which ought to be considered by us.
Therefore, after deliberate discussion upon the subject, it was
moved seconded, and unanimously carried, that we have borne our
part of this burden, and that it becomes the duty, henceforth, of
all the churches abroad to provide for those who are objects of
charity, that are not able to provide for themselves; and not send
them from their midst, to burden the Church in this place, unless
they come and prepare a place for them, and provide means for their
support.
Second--That there be a stop put to churches or families gathering
or moving to this place, without their first coming or sending
their wise men to prepare a place for them, as our houses are all
full, and our lands mostly occupied, except those houses that
do not belong to the Church, which cannot be obtained without
great sacrifice, especially when brethren with their families are
crowding in upon us, and are compelled to purchase at any rate,
and consequently are thrown into the hands of speculators, and
extortioners, with which course the Lord is not well pleased.
Also that the churches abroad be required to do according to
the revelation contained in the book of Doctrine and Covenants,
commencing at section 101:72-73, which is as follows:
"Now verily I say unto you, let all the churches gather together
all their monies; let these things be done in their time, be not in
haste; and observe to have all things prepared before you, and let
honorable men be appointed, Church in the eastern countries when
they are built up, if they will harken unto this counsel, they may
buy lands and gather together upon them, and in this way they may
establish Zion."
Joseph Smith, Chairman,
Warren Parrish, Clerk.
[Sidenote: Baptism of Doctor Richards.]
On the 31st of December, at the setting of the sun, Dr. Willard
Richards was baptized at Kirtland, under the hands of President Brigham
Young, in the presence of Heber C. Kimball and others, who had spent
the afternoon in cutting the ice to prepare for the baptism. [5]
{470} _Minutes of a Meeting of the Members of the "Kirtland Safety
Society," held on the 2nd day of January, 1837_.
At a special meeting of the "Kirtland Safety Society," two-thirds
of the members being present, Sidney Rigdon was called to the
chair, and Warren Parrish chosen secretary.
The house was called to order, and the object of the meeting
explained by the chairman; which was--1st, to annul the old
constitution which was adopted by the society, on the second day of
November, 1836; which was, on motion by the unanimous voice of the
meeting, annulled. 2nd, to adopt articles of agreement, by which
the "Kirtland Safety Society" is to be governed.
After much discussion and investigation, the following preamble and
articles of agreement were adopted by the unanimous voice of the
meeting:
We, the undersigned subscribers, for the promotion of our temporal
interests, and for the better management of our different
occupations, {471} which consist in agriculture, mechanical arts,
and merchandising, do hereby form ourselves into a firm or company
for the before-mentioned objects, by the name of the "Kirtland
Safety Society Anti-Banking Company," for the proper management of
said firm, we individually and jointly enter into and adopt the
following articles of agreement:
Article 1st. The capital stock of said society or firm shall not
be less than four millions of dollars; to be divided into shares
of fifty dollars each; and may be increased to any amount, at the
discretion of the managers.
Art. 2nd. The management of said company shall be under the
superintendence of thirty-two managers, to be chosen annually, by,
and from among, the members of the same; each member being entitled
to one vote for each share, which he, she, or they, may hold in
said company; and said votes may be given by proxy or in _propria
persona_.
Art. 3rd. It shall be the duty of said managers, when chosen, to
elect from their number, a treasurer and secretary. It shall be
the further duty of said managers to meet in the upper room of
the office of said company, on the first Mondays of November and
May, of each year, at 9 o'clock a. m., to inspect the books of
said company, and transact such other business as may be deemed
necessary,
Art. 4th. It shall be the duty of said managers to choose from
among their number, seven men, who shall meet in the upper room of
said office on Tuesday of each week, at 3 o'clock p. m., to inquire
into and assist in all matters pertaining to said company.
Art. 5th. Each manager shall receive from the company one dollar
per day for his services when called together at the annual and
semiannual meetings. The treasurer and secretary and the seven the
committee of the managers, shall receive a compensation for their
services as shall be agreed by the managers at their semi-annual
meetings.
Art. 6th. The first election of managers, as set forth in the
second article, shall take place at the meeting of the members to
adopt this agreement, who shall hold their offices until the first
Monday of November, 1837, unless removed by death or misdemeanor,
and until others are duly elected. Every annual election of
managers shall take place on the first Monday of November in each
year. It shall be the duty of the treasurer and secretary of said
company to receive the votes of the members by ballot, and declare
the election.
Art. 7th. The books of the company shall be always open for the
inspection of the members.
Art. 8th. It shall be the duty of the managers of the company to
declare a divided once in six months; which dividend shall be
apportioned among the members, according to the installments by
them paid in.
Art. 9th. All persons subscribing stock in said firm shall pay
their {472} first installment at the time of subscribing, and
other installments from time to time, as shall be required by the
managers.
Art. 10th. The managers shall give thirty days notice in some
public paper, printed in this county, previous to an installment
being paid in. All subscribers residing out of the state, shall be
required to pay in half the amount of their subscriptions at the
time of subscribing; and the remainder, or such part thereof as
shall be required at any time by the managers, after thirty days
notice.
Art. 11th. The treasurer shall be empowered to call special
meetings of the managers whenever he shall deem it necessary,
separate and aside from the annual and semi-annual meetings.
Art. 12th. Two-thirds of the managers shall form a quorum to act
at the semi-annual meetings, and any number of the seven, the
committee of the managers, with the treasurer and secretary, or
either of them, may form a quorum to transact business at the
weekly meetings, and in case none of the seven is present at the
weekly meetings, the treasurer and secretary must transact the
business.
Art. 13th. The managers shall have power to enact such by-laws as
they may deem necessary from time to time, provided they do not
infringe upon these articles of agreement.
Art. 14th. All notes given by said society shall be signed by the
treasurer and secretary thereof, and we, the individual members of
said firm, hereby hold ourselves bound for the redemption of all
such notes.
Art. 15th. The notes given for the benefit of said society shall
be given to the treasurer in the following form; "Ninety days
after date, we jointly, and severally, promise to pay A. B. or
order,------------dollars and--------cents, value received." A
record of which shall be made in the books at the time, of the
amount, and by whom given, and when due, and deposited with the
files and papers of said society.
Art. 16th. Any article in this agreement may be altered at any
time, annulled, added unto, or expunged by the vote of two-thirds
of the members of said society, except the 14th article, that shall
remain unaltered during the existence of said company. For the true
and faithful fulfillment of the above covenant and agreement, we
individually bind ourselves to each other, under the penal sum of
one hundred thousand dollars. In witness whereof we have hereunto
set our hands and seals, the day and date first above written.
[Sidenote: The Prophet's Remarks on the Kirtland Safety Society.]
In connection with the above articles of agreement of the "Kirtland
Safety Society," I published the following remarks to all who were
preparing themselves, and appointing their wise men, for the purpose
of building up Zion and {473} her stakes in the January number of the
_Messenger and Advocate_:
It is wisdom and according to the mind of the Holy Spirit, that you
should call at Kirtland, and receive counsel and instruction upon
those principles that are necessary to further the great work of
the Lord, and to establish the children of the kingdom, according
to the oracles of God; as they are had among us: and further, we
invite the brethren from abroad, to call on us, and take stock in
our Safety Society; and we would remind them also of the sayings
of Isaiah, contained in the 60th chapter and more particularly
the 9th and 17th verses, which are as follows: "Surely the isles
shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy
sons from far, their silver and their gold [not their bank notes]
with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One
of Israel, because He hath glorified thee. * * * For brass I will
bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood, brass,
and for stone, iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine
exactors righteousness." Also 62nd chapter, 1st verse: "For Zion's
sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not
rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and
the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth."
Joseph Smith, Jun.
Footnotes
1. This was the Albany & Schenectady Railway, the first railroad
contracted for in New York; it began to operate in September, 1831.
It was at that time called the Mohawk & Hudson railroad and ran from
Albany to Schenectady. Its charter was "issued in 1826 and is generally
regarded as the earliest charter given in the United States for the
construction of a railroad."
2. The fire here alluded to broke out on the night of the 16th of
December, 1835, and in fourteen hours there was consumed over seventeen
million dollars' worth of property. The burnt district covered several
acres of ground in the most prominent business part of the city.
3. See Doctrine and covenants sec. 111.
4. "Kirtland Safety Society Bank" was the full title of the proposed
institution, and Oliver Cowdery had the plates on which bank notes were
to be printed so engraved.
5. Dr. Willard Richards was born at Hopkinton, Middlesex county,
Masschusetts, June 24, 1804, and from the religious teachings of
his parents (Joseph and Rhoda Richards), he was the subject of
religious impressions from his earliest moments, although careless and
indifferent in his external deportment. At the age of ten years he
removed with his father's family to Richmond, in the same state, where
he witnessed several sectarian "revivals," and offered himself to the
Congregational Church in that place, at the age of seventeen, having
previously passed the painful ordeal of conviction and conversion,
according to that order, even to the belief that he had committed
the unpardonable sin; but the total disregard of that Church to his
request for admission, led him to a more thorough investigation of
the principles of religion, when he became convinced that the sects
were all wrong, and that God had no Church on earth, but that He would
soon have a Church whose creed would be the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth, and from that time kept himself aloof from
sectarian influence, boldly declaring his belief to all who wished to
learn his views: until the summer of 1835, while in the practice of
medicine near Boston, the Book of Mormon, which President Brigham Young
had left with his cousin Lucius Parker, at Southborough, accidentally
or providentially fell in his way, which was the first he had seen or
heard of the Latter-Day Saints, except the scurrilous reports of the
public prints, which amounted to nothing more than that "a boy named
Jo Smith, somewhere out west, had found a gold Bible." He opened the
book without regard to place, and totally ignorant of its design or
contents, and before reading half a page, declared "God or the Devil
has had a hand in that book, for man never wrote it." He read it twice
through in about ten days, and so firm was his conviction of the
truth, that he immediately commenced settling his accounts, selling
his medicine, and freeing himself from every incumbrance, that he
might go to Kirtland, seven hundred miles west, the nearest point he
could hear of a Saint, and give the work a thorough investigation;
firmly believing that if the doctrine was true, God had some greater
work for him to do than to peddle pills. But no sooner did he commence
a settlement than he was smitten with palsy, from which he suffered
exceedingly, and was prevented executing his design until October,
1836, when he arrived at Kirtland, in company with his brother (Doctor
Levi Richards, who attended him as physician), where he was most
cordially and hospitably received and entertained by his cousin,
President Brigham Young, with whom he tarried, and gave the work an
unceasing and untiring investigation until the day of his baptism.
{474}