1843 08 01 Times and Seasons-Letter of L A Shirtliff

From the Times and Seasons 1 August 1843, pg 280-281

LETTER OF L. A. SHIRTLIFF.

BROTHER TAYLOR:

SIR--Having just returned from a mission in the east, according to appointment, and as I feel anxious while absent to hear from the elders abroad, I judged that others possess similar feelings to myself, and that they would be pleased to read a few lines from my pen, altho' little known to the Saints in general, yet well known to some who would rejoice to hear of my prosperity and success the past winter.

I left Nauvoo the nineteenth of September last, in company with elders T. billings, N. Packard and D. Allen, without money "purse or script," and with the intention of spending the winter in holding forth the principles of our religion in New England.

Portion of this article omitted because it isn't relevant to New York City.

While in this situation you may judge of my feelings when informed that elders B. S. Willber and William Hyde were preaching and baptizing about twenty miles north of me.--About this time, also a young elder by the name of Sparks, from New York, came to me and continued with me a few weeks, when we received a line from elder Woolley, stating that he had commenced preaching a few miles east of me. This rejoiced my heart, and I felt to take new courage; for while he was preaching to the citizens of the valley, I continued to blow the gospel trumpet on the mountains.--Thuse we wielded the sword of the spirit, until we succeeded in establishing the truth in the hearts of many in that part of the state. I labored in Hampshire and Hampden counties mostly alone, until spring, when I organized a branch in Russel, called The Russel Branch.

Remainder of this article omitted because it isn't relevant to New York City.