FAREWELL TO NATIVE LAND--"UPON THE WIDE, WIDE SEA"--HEBER'S DREAM OF
JOSEPH--A SHIP OUT OF HER RECKONING--A DYING CHILD HEALED--APOSTLE
HYDE PREACHES ON BOARD--ARRIVAL AT LIVERPOOL--THE ELDERS LEAP ASHORE.
"Adieu, adieu, my native shore
Fades o'er the waters blue;
The night-winds sigh, the breakers roar,
And shrieks the wild sea-mew.
Yon sun that sets upon the sea
We follow in his flight;
Farewell, awhile, to him and thee,
My native land--Good night!"
At ten o'clock on the morning of July 1st, 1837, the _Garrick_ weighed
anchor, and, being towed down the river by a steamer as far as Sandy
Hook, set sail oceanward. A few hours later Heber lost sight of his
native land. Say he:
"I had feelings which I cannot describe, when I could no longer behold
its shores, and when I bade adieu to the land of my birth, I felt to
exclaim:
'Yes, my native land, I love thee:
All thy scenes I love them well:
Friends, connections, happy country,
Can I bid you all farewell?
Can I leave you,
Far in distant lands to dwell?'
"However, when I reflected on the causes which had induced me to leave
it for awhile, and the work which depended upon me, I could likewise
say:
"I go, but not to plough the main,
To ease a restless mind."
"I was actuated by a different motive than either to please myself, or
gain the riches and applause of the world; it was a higher
consideration than these that induced me to leave my home. It was
because a dispensation of the Gospel had been committed to me; and I
felt an ardent desire that my fellow creatures in other lands might
hear the sound of the everlasting Gospel, obey its requisitions,
rejoice in the fullness and blessings thereof, and escape the
judgments which will come upon the ungodly."
Only souls where sentiment and feeling dwell, who have been upon the
mighty waters, floating like an insect on a leaf amid the immensity of
the liquid waste, can realize that awful loneliness, that sense of
helplessness and utter dependency upon a power superior to man's.
Atheism, thy home is not the boundless deep! Ocean, thou art
religious, thou art worshipful, and throwest heavenward the thoughts
of man as though they were thy spray!
Especially was it so with Heber and his companions, God-fearing men,
upon whom rested the burden of a mission fraught with salvation to
thousands. The solemnities of eternity encompassed them. They felt as
little children in the presence of the Infinite. And children they
were in their humility. Not in their own strength went they forth, but
in the strength of Him who made the seas, and who holdeth their waters
in the hollow of His hand.
"Angels shall accompany thee and bear thee up!"
Were they not even now upon the vessel, in mid-ocean, guiding it
unerringly toward its destiny? Aye, lest at any time that fated bark
should "dash its foot against a stone."
"While crossing the sea," says Heber, "I dreamed that the Prophet
Joseph came to me while I was standing upon the forecastle of the
ship, and said, 'Brother Heber, here is a rod (putting it into my
hands), with which you are to guide the ship. While you hold this rod
you shall prosper, and there shall be no obstacles thrown before you
but what you shall have power to overcome, and the hand of God shall
be with you.' After this I discovered every kind of obstruction was
placed before the ship to stop its progress; but the bow being sharp,
the obstacles were compelled to move out on either side; and when the
ship would come to a mountain, it would plow its course straight
through, as though it was in water. This rod which Joseph gave me was
about three and a half feet in length. His appearance was just as
natural as I ever beheld him in the flesh. He blessed me and
disappeared."
It is a singular fact that during fifty years, the period covered by
the history of Mormon emigration from the nations abroad, not a
ship-load of Latter-day Saints, not a vessel bearing the Elders of
Israel to or from foreign shores, has ever been lost at sea. Even
rough captains and sailors have learned to regard this with feelings
akin to reverential awe, and to accept as a good omen, an assurance of
a safe and prosperous voyage, the presence of Mormon Elders or
emigrants among their ship's passengers.
In such a light, Heber's dream of Joseph and the rod wherewith he was
to "guide the ship," takes on added interest and significance.
Remarkable, too, that this same ship, the _Garrick_, now on its first
voyage, after twice ploughing the Atlantic with Apostles Kimball and
Hyde on board--for on this vessel they returned to America--was
doomed, on almost its very next voyage, to go down at sea, in the year
1841.
Heber continues his narrative:
"During the voyage we were hailed by a large vessel throwing up a
signal of distress. Our captain hauled to, and with his speaking
trumpet enquired what was wanted. The answer was, 'we are bound for
Quebec, but are lost, having lost our reckoning.' Our captain took an
observation, and through his speaking trumpet gave them the latitude
and longitude, and the course for them to steer, showing them that
they were about a thousand miles from the American shore. They replied
that they thought they were close to the shore and were afraid of
running on the reefs for several days past. This reminded me that when
a person has lost his course, or is out of the way, it is necessary to
apply to the Lord, through a Prophet, Seer and Revelator, to put him
right.
"Our passage was very agreeable, the winds for the most part being
favorable. On the banks of Newfoundland we saw several large fish,
called by some, whales, and by others, finners; also many porpoises
and different species of fish. We were kindly treated by the officers
and crew; their conduct was indeed praiseworthy. Had we been their own
relatives, they could not have behaved more kindly, or treated us
better. Thus the Lord answered our prayers, for which I desire to
praise His holy name.
"The Lord also gave us favor in the eyes of the passengers, who
treated us with the greatest respect. During the voyage, a child
belonging to one of the passengers was very sick, and given up by the
doctor to die; consequently its parents had given up all hopes of its
recovery, and expected to have to commit their little one to the
ocean. Feeling a great anxiety for the child, I went to its parents
and reasoned with them, and laid before them the principle of faith,
and told them that the Lord was able to restore their child,
notwithstanding there was no earthly prospect of its recovery. To
which they listened with great interest. Shortly after, having an
opportunity to secretly lay hands upon the child, I did so, and in the
name of Jesus Christ rebuked the disease which preyed upon its system.
The spirit of the Lord attended the administration, and from that time
the child began to recover, and in two or three days after it was
running about, perfectly well. Afterwards I informed the parents that
I had laid hands on their child, and they acknowledged that it was
healed by the power of the Almighty.
"Our health, while on the water, was good, with the exception of
Brothers Richards and Fielding, who were sick a day or two.
"Sunday, July 16th, I went to the captain and asked the privilege for
one of us to preach on board. He very obligingly agreed, and appointed
1 o'clock, p. m., when it would be most suitable for himself and the
crew to attend. I requested Elder Hyde to speak, and notified the
captain, crew and passengers of the intended meeting for preaching on
the aft quarter deck. At the time appointed there was a congregation
of between two and three hundred persons assembled, who listened, with
great attention and deep interest, to the discourse. I think I never
heard Brother Hyde speak with such power and eloquence. He spoke on
the subject of the resurrection, which was necessarily condensed, the
time being limited on account of the duties of the crew. The
congregation was composed of persons of different faiths, and from
different nations, English, Irish, Scotch, French Germans, etc.,--both
Jews and Christians. A great feeling was produced upon the minds of
the assembly, who had never heard the subject treated in like manner
before; and from the conversation we had afterwards with several of
them, I believe that good was done. The congregation appointed a
committee who came to us and returned thanks for the favor conferred
on them.
"On the 18th, the captain sent a man up to the masthead to look for
land. He had not been up long before he cried out, "land," which was
the Irish shore. It caused joy and gratitude to arise in my bosom to
my heavenly Father for the favorable passage so far, and the prospect
of soon reaching our destination. We sailed up the Irish Channel,
having Ireland on our left and Wales on our right. The scenery was
very beautiful and imposing.
"At daybreak, on July 20th, we arrived in the river Mersey, opposite
Liverpool, being eighteen days and eighteen hours from our departure
from the anchorage at New York. The packet ship _South America_, which
left New York at the same time we did, came in a few lengths behind,
thus losing a wager of ten thousand dollars which had been made the
day of starting. She had been seen daily during the voyage, but never
passed us. The sight was very interesting to see these two vessels
enter port with every inch of canvas spread.
"When we first sighted Liverpool I went to the side of the vessel and
poured out my soul in praise and thanksgiving to God for the
prosperous voyage, and for all the mercies which He had vouchsafed to
me, and while thus engaged, and contemplating the scene presented to
my view, the spirit of the Lord rested down upon me in a powerful
manner, and my soul was filled with love and gratitude. I felt humble,
while I covenanted to dedicate myself to God, and to love and serve
Him with all my heart.
"Immediately after we anchored, a small boat came along-side, when
several of the passengers, with Brothers Hyde, Richards, Goodson and
myself got in and went to shore. When we were within six or seven feet
of the pier, I leaped on shore, followed by Elders Hyde and Richards,
and for the first time in my life I stood on British ground, among
strangers, whose manners and customs were different from my own. My
feelings at that time were peculiar, particularly when I realized the
importance and extent of my mission; the work to which I had been
appointed and in which I was shortly to be engaged. However, I put my
trust in God, believing that He would assist me in publishing the
truth, give me utterance, and be a present help in time of need.
"Elders Hyde, Richards, and myself, being without purse or scrip,
wandered in the streets of Liverpool, where wealth and luxury abound,
side by side with penury and want. I there met the rich attired in the
most costly dresses, and the next minute was saluted with the cries of
the poor with scarce covering sufficient to screen them from the
weather. Such a wide distinction I never saw before. Looking for a
place to lodge in, we found a room belonging to a widow in Union
Street, which we engaged for a few days."