MORMONISM CARRIED TO GREAT BRITAIN--"TRUTH WILL PREVAIL"--THE REV. MR.
FIELDING--FIRST BAPTISM IN ENGLAND--FIRST WOMAN BAPTIZED--STORY OF
MISS JEANNETTA RICHARDS--FIRST BRANCH OF THE CHURCH IN FOREIGN LANDS
ORGANIZED AT THE HOUSE OF ANN DAWSON--FIRST CHILD BORN INTO THE CHURCH
IN ENGLAND--ROMANTIC SEQUEL--VILATE KIMBALL AGAIN.
The voice of prophesy was no longer hushed; the heavens were no longer
sealed; the Almighty really spoke to these prophets and apostles of
the latter days; their words were strangely, sometimes romantically,
fulfilled; the genius of Mormonism was alike potent at home and abroad.
"Thou shalt go to Upper Canada, even to the city of Toronto, and there
thou shalt find a people prepared for the fullness of the gospel, and
they shall receive thee;" the prophet Heber had oracled over the head
of a fellow laborer, "and from the things growing out of this mission
shall the fullness of the gospel spread into England and cause a great
work to be done in that land."
One part of this prophesy the reader has seen exactly fulfilled in
the mission of Parley P. Pratt to Canada, enlivened with some very
interesting episodes. It falls upon Heber himself--the father of the
British mission--to fulfill, with the brethren who accompany him, the
supreme part of the prophesy referring to Great Britain.
It will be remembered from the sketch of Vilate Kimball, that Mary
Fielding gave to Heber five dollars to help him on his journey,
and that she with her sister and her sister's husband, Elder R. B.
Thompson, were on their way to Canada to engage in the second mission
to that Province, while Heber, Orson Hyde, Willard Richards, and Joseph
Fielding, with several other brethren from Canada, pursued their course
to England.
It was July 1st, 1837, when these elders embarked on board the ship
_Garrick_, bound for Liverpool, which they reached on the 20th of the
same month.
On their arrival in that foreign land the three principal
elders--Heber, Orson and Willard--had not as much as one farthing
in their possession, yet were they destined to accomplish marvelous
results ere their return to America.
Having remained two days in Liverpool, these elders were directed by
the spirit to go to Preston, a flourishing English town in Lancashire,
to plant the standard of their Church.
It generally came to pass that some singular incident occurred in all
of the initial movements of these elders, opening their way before
them, or omening their success. So now, the people of Preston were
celebrating a grand national occasion. Queen Victoria, a few days
previously (July 17th), had ascended the throne. A fitting event this
to notice in a woman's book. The "Woman's Age" dawned, not only upon
England, but, it would seem, upon all of the civilized world.
A general election was being held throughout the realm in consequence
of the ascension of the Queen. The populace were parading the streets
of Preston, bands were playing, and flags flying.
In the midst of this universal joy the elders alighted from the coach,
and just at that moment a flag was unfurled over their heads, from the
hotel, bearing this motto in gold letters: "Truth is mighty and will
prevail!" It was as a prophesy to these elders, as if to welcome their
coming, and they lifted up their voices and shouted, "Glory be to God,
truth will prevail!" By the way, this flag proclaimed the rise of the
temperance movement in England.
That night Heber and his compeers were entertained by the Rev. James
Fielding, the brother of the sisters Fielding. Already was the
other half of the prophesy uttered over the head of Parley being
fulfilled--that the gospel should spread from Canada into England, "and
cause a great work to be done in that land."
Previously to this the Rev. James Fielding had received letters from
his brother Joseph, and his sisters, who had, as we have seen, embraced
Mormonism in Canada; and these letters, burdened with the tidings of
the advent of the prophet of America and the administration of angels
in our own times, he read to his congregation. He also exhorted his
flock to pray fervently that the Lord would send over to England his
apostles, and solemnly adjured them to receive their message when they
should come bearing their glad tidings. Thus in England, as in Canada,
a people were "prepared" according to the prophesy.
On Sunday morning, the day after their arrival in Preston, the elders
went to Vauxhall Chapel to hear the Rev. James Fielding preach. At the
close of his discourse he gave out that in the afternoon and evening
meetings ministers from America would preach in his chapel.
The news spread rapidly in the town, and in a few hours quite a
sensation was abroad among the inhabitants, who flocked to the chapel
at the appointed times, some out of curiosity, others from a genuine
interest. Both in the afternoon and evening the chapel was crowded, and
the apostles preached their opening sermons, Heber C. Kimball being the
first of them who bore his testimony to "Mormonism" in foreign lands.
On the following Wednesday Vauxhall Chapel was again crowded, when
Elder Orson Hyde preached, and Willard Richards bore testimony; and
the Holy Ghost, we are told, powerfully accompanied the word on the
occasion.
Only a few days had passed since the elders arrived on the shores of
Great Britain, yet "a number believed and began to praise God and
rejoice exceedingly."
The Rev. Mr. Fielding, however, saw now the consequence of all this.
He was in danger of losing his entire flock. Many were resolving to be
baptized into the Church of Latter-day Saints. A continuation of this
result for a few weeks signified the entire dissolution of his own
church. He was in consternation at the prospect. Trembling, it is said,
as if suddenly stricken with the palsy, he presented himself before
the elders on the morning appointed for the baptism of a number of his
former disciples, and forbade the baptism. Of course this was in vain.
He had met the inevitable.
On Sunday, July 30th, just one month from the time the elders embarked
at New York, the eventful scene occurred in Preston, of the baptism in
the River Ribble of the nine first converts to Mormonism in foreign
lands. They were
George D. Watt, Ann Elizabeth Walmesley,
Thomas Walmesley, George Wate,
Miles Hodgen, Mary Ann Brown,
Henry Billsburg, ---- Miller,
Ann Dawson.
A public ceremony of baptism in the open air was such a novel event in
England at that time, when religious innovations were so rare, that
seven or eight thousand persons assembled on the banks of the river
to witness the scene. It is said that this was the first time baptism
by immersion was ever thus administered in England, though at a later
period several sects of Baptists arose who immersed openly in the
rivers and for the remission of sins. Such scenes were picturesque,
and some of the "new lights" seem to have delighted in them for their
religious sensation, just as the Methodists did in their camp meetings.
The first woman whose name is recorded in the list of the baptized of
the Mormon Church in England is Sister Ann Elizabeth Walmesley; and her
case presents the first miracle of the Church in foreign lands. Here is
the incident as related by Heber C. Kimball:
"I had visited Thomas Walmesley, whose wife was sick of the
consumption, and had been so for several years. She was reduced to
skin and bone--a mere skeleton--and was given up by the doctors to
die. I preached the gospel to her, and promised her in the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ that if she would believe, repent and be baptized,
she should be healed of her sickness. She was carried to the water,
and after her baptism began to mend, and at her confirmation she was
blessed and her disease rebuked, when she immediately recovered, and in
less than one week after, she was attending to her household duties."
This incident will be the more interesting to the reader from the fact
that to-day (forty years after the miracle) Sister Walmesley is living
at Bloomington, Bear Lake Valley, Oneida county, Idaho.
Next came quite an evangelical episode, introducing, with a touch of
romance, Miss Jennetta Richards.
This young lady was the daughter of a minister, of the independent
order, who resided at Walkerfold, about fifteen miles from Preston.
She was not only personally interesting and intelligent, but, from the
influence she possessed over her father and his congregation, coupled
with the fact that the most classical of the apostles "fell in love"
with her, she appears to have been a maiden of considerable character.
She was a proper person to be the heroine of the British mission, and
her conversion was very important in its results, as will be seen in
the following incidents, related by Heber:
It was several days after the public baptism in Preston. "Miss
Jennetta Richards," says the apostle, "came to the house of Thomas
Walmesley, with whom she was acquainted. Calling in to see them at
the time she was there, I was introduced to her, and we immediately
entered into conversation on the subject of the gospel. I found her
very intelligent. She seemed very desirous to hear the things I had to
teach and to understand the doctrines of the gospel. I informed her of
my appointment to preach that evening, and invited her to attend. She
did so; and likewise the evening following. After attending these two
services she was fully convinced of the truth.
"Friday morning, 4th, she sent for me, desiring to be baptized, which
request I cheerfully complied with, in the River Ribble, and confirmed
her at the water side, Elder Hyde assisting. This was the first
confirmation in England. The following day she started for home, and
wept as she was about to leave us. I said to her, 'Sister, be of good
cheer, for the Lord will soften the heart of thy father, that I will
yet have the privilege of preaching in his chapel, and it shall result
in a great opening to preach the gospel in that region.' I exhorted
her to pray and be humble. She requested me to pray for her, and gave
me some encouragement to expect that her father would open his chapel
for me to preach in. I then hastened to my brethren, told them of the
circumstances and the result of my visit with the young lady, and
called upon them to unite with me in prayer that the Lord would soften
the heart of her father, that he might be induced to open his chapel
for us to preach in."
On the third Sabbath after the arrival of the elders in England, they
met at the house of Sister Ann Dawson, when twenty-seven members were
confirmed and the first branch of the Church was organized in foreign
lands. In the forepart of the ensuing week Heber received a letter
from Miss Jennetta Richards, and an invitation from her father to come
to Walkerfold and preach in his chapel. The invitation was accepted,
and Heber met with great success in laying the gospel before the
congregation of Mr. Richards; so successful was he indeed that the
reverend gentleman was forced to shut his chapel doors in order to
prevent a complete stampede of his flock.
This evangelical success is crowned with an interesting incident
between Jennetta and Elder Willard Richards. Willard, who had been on
a mission to Bedford early in January, 1838, visited his brethren at
Preston; and then, he says:
"I took a tour through the branches, and preached. While walking in
Thornly I plucked a snowdrop, far through the hedge, and carried it
to James Mercer's and hung it up in his kitchen. Soon after Jennetta
Richards came into the room, and I walked with her and Alice Parker to
Ribchester, and attended meeting with Brothers Kimball and Hyde, at
Brother Clark's.
"While walking with these sisters, I remarked, 'Richards is a good
name; I never want to change it; do you, Jennetta?' 'No; I do not,' was
her reply, 'and I think I never will.'"
The following note in his diary of the same year, furnishes the sequel:
"September 24, 1839, I married Jennetta Richards, daughter of the
Rev. John Richards, independent minister at Walkerfold, Chaidgley,
Lancashire. Most truly do I praise my Heavenly Father for his great
kindness in providing me a partner according to his promise. I receive
her from the Lord, and hold her at his disposal. I pray that he may
bless us forever. Amen!"
Passing from Sister Jennetta Richards, we now introduce the first child
born in the British mission. It is a female child. She is also the
first infant blessed in England; and the incidents of her birth and
blessing are both pretty and novel, especially when coupled with the
sequel of her womanhood. Heber thus tells the initial part of her story:
"She was the daughter of James and Nancy Smithies, formerly Nancy
Knowles. After she was born her parents wanted to take her to the
church to be sprinkled, or christened, as they call it. I used every
kind of persuasion to convince them of their folly--it being contrary
to the Scriptures and the will of God; the parents wept bitterly, and
it seemed as though I could not prevail on them to omit it. I wanted to
know of them why they were so tenacious. The answer was, 'If she dies
she cannot have a burial in the churchyard.' I said to them, 'Brother
and Sister Smithies, I say unto you in the name of Israel's God, she
shall not die on this land, for she shall live until she becomes a
mother in Israel, and I say it in the name of Jesus Christ, and by
virtue of the holy priesthood vested in me.' That silenced them, and
when she was two weeks old they presented the child to me; I took it
in my arms and blessed it, that it should live to become a mother in
Israel. She was the first child blessed in that country, and the first
born unto them."
The child lived, and fulfilled the prophesy that she should become
a "mother in Israel." Her birth was destined to glorify Heber's own
kingdom, for she, twenty years afterwards, became his last wife, and is
now the mother of four of his children.
The gospel spread rapidly during the first mission of the elders in
England. In eight months two thousand were baptized, and the "signs
followed the believers." We shall meet some of the British converts
hereafter, and read the testimonies of the sisters concerning the great
spiritual work of Mormonism in their native land.
Heber, and Orson Hyde, returned to America, leaving the British mission
in charge of Joseph Fielding, with Willard Richards and William Clayton
as councilors. Here the apostolic thread connects with the wife and
family of Heber, who have been left to the care of Providence and the
brotherly and sisterly love of the saints during this immortal mission
to Great Britain. His daughter Helen, in her journal, says:
"In the absence of my father the Lord was true to his promise. My
father's prayer, that he had made upon the heads of his wife and little
ones whom he had left poor and destitute, was answered. Kind friends
came forward to cheer and comfort them, and administer to their wants.
"Soon after my father's return to Kirtland he commenced making
preparations to move his family to Missouri, where Brother Joseph Smith
and a majority of the church authorities and nearly all of the members
had gone. About the first of July he commenced the journey with his
family, accompanied by Brother Orson Hyde and others, and arrived in
Far West on the 25th of July, when he had a happy meeting with Joseph,
Hyrum, Sidney, and others of the twelve, and numbers of his friends and
brethren, some of whom were affected to tears when they took him by the
hand. During our journey from Kirtland, the weather being very warm, we
suffered very much, and were much reduced by sickness. Father continued
quite feeble for a considerable length of time. Joseph requested him to
preach to the saints, saying, 'It will revive their spirits and do them
good if you will give them a history of your mission;' which he did,
although he was scarcely able to stand. It cheered their hearts and
many of the elders were stirred up to diligence.
"Soon after our arrival Bishop Partridge gave father a lot, and also
sufficient timber to build a house. While it was being erected we
lived in a place eight by eleven feet and four feet high at the eaves,
which had been built for a cow. The brethren were remarkably kind, and
contributed to our necessities. Brother Charles Hubbard made my father
a present of forty acres of land; another brother gave him a cow. But
about the last of August, after he had labored hard and nearly finished
his house, he was obliged to abandon it to the mob, who again commenced
to persecute the saints."
The history of those persecutions, and the exodus of the saints, is
already sufficiently told. Suffice it to say that Sister Vilate nobly
bore her part in those trying scenes, while Heber, with Brigham and
the rest of the twelve, kept their covenant--never to rest a moment
until the last faithful saint was delivered from that State, and the
feet of the whole people planted firmly, in peace and safety, in a new
gathering place.