1857-06-07-New York Herald-The Church of Mormon
The Church of Mormon
- New York Herald, 7 June 1857, col. E.
The Church of Mormon.
Proclamation of the President of the Mormon Church in the East.
To the Saints in the Eastern and Middle States--Greeting:--
Dear Brethren--Just on the eve of my contemplated departure for Utah, I received an appointment from the authorities in Zion, and have been set apart by President John Taylor to take the presidency of the Church in the East, and superintend the publication of the Mormon in the place of President George J. Taylor.
In entering upon the duiies of my appointment, I feel that the responsibilities devolving upon me are great. To be a shepherd over the flock of Christ is no small matter--the value of souls who can compute? To have one's skirts clean of the blood of all men, by faithful warnings, teachings and counsel, requires a person of the purest integrity, a virtuous, holy and upright walk; and to be filled with the Spirit of God continually, to enlighten his understanding, to illuminate his mind, and to give him wisdom and intelligence, in order to counsel and direct in righteousness the affairs of those over whom he presides, and proclaim the principles of eternal truth, according to the mind and will of Him who groaned upon the tree, and suffered his own precious blood to be shed for us that we might live.
These are the feelings and sentiments of my soul, and I enter upon the duties of my Presidency with joy, and not with grief (although I would like to see my family and brethren whom I love in Utah), with a sincere desire, and earnest prayer for the welfare and prosperity of the saints, and the building up of the kingdom of God.
In order that all the presiding officers and travelling elders under my charge may understand their several duties and fields of labor, and all act in unison for the welfare of the Saints, and the extension of the principles of eternal truth, and in carrying out, as near as possible, the appointments made at the last April Conference, I therefore reconfirm and make the following appointments:--
1. Elders Angus M. Cannon and T. B. H. Stenhouse are appointed my Counsellors.
2. Elder Stenhouse is also appointed to assist in editing and publishing the Mormon.
3. Elder Charles C. Dulin will continue to assist in this office.
4. Elder Alexander Ott's appointment at last April Conference as President of the New York Conference is hereby confirmed; likewise that of Elders William H. Miles and Charles C. Dulin as his Counsellers.
5. President Ott is hereby released from assisting in the office and will devote his time in visiting the various branches of the church in his conference, preaching, teaching, instructing and building up the Saints, in setting them in order and teaching them their duties in relation to the suppost of The Mormon. He will also correspond weekly for The Mormon, and also preach wherever a chance may be opened.
6. President Angus M. Cannon's appointment as President of the Philadelphia Conference I hereby confirm. He will visit the different branches of the church in that conference, instructing the Saints, strengthening them, building them up, and preaching the Gospel to all, wherever an opening may be had, and enjoining upon the Saints their duties in all things, not forgetting The Mormon. As one of my counsellors, President Cannon is also appointed to travel through the New York conference (whenever circumstances will admit) to counsel with President Ott, for the welfare of the Saints, preach the Gospel and assist in building up the Kingdom of our God; and will visit other branches of the church, under my Presidency, with me or otherwise, whenever the benefit of the Saints and circumstances require it.
7. Elder William H. Miles will continue to preside over the church in the city of New York.
8. Elder Samuel Harrison will continue to preside over the church in Philadelphia.
9. Elder James F. Cleary will continue to preside over the church in Boston.
10. Elders John F. Snedaker and A. P. Welchman, will continue to labor in the Philadelphia conference under the direction of President A. M. Cannon, until further orders.
11. The regulations of the Presidents over other branches of the church in conferences will be left for the Presidents of conferences to attend to; in all cases of appointments, however, consulting the President of the mission at New York.
The Presidents over conferences, presiding elders over branches, and Presidents of districts, elders, priests and teachers, will be diligent and see that the Saints do their duty in all things. It is the counsel fo the authorities in Zion, and the wish of President J. Taylor thatThe Mormon should be continued, but we cannot accomplish this without means to do so; it requires meaterial aid; our bills have to be paid every week. Now, brethren, and ye Saints of the Most High, are you willing to take hold and use your utmost exertions in support of The Mormon? It comes into my charge without means on hand for its support, nearly all the subscriptions for the present year having been paid in at the commencement of the present volume, and been used in liquidating back indebtedness, hence the necessity of calling upon the Saints now for support and the continuance of its publication, and which must be done. Saints, the Mormon is the unflinching advocate of your rights, the defender of truth, and of the Kingdom of God. It is the herald of light and the disseminator of true principles. It imparts to you counsel weekly, and gives the latest intelligence of the affairs of the church in Zion, and throughout the world. It is a refuter of slanders, a shield and protector to the Saints, which certainly makes it a welcome messenger to your homes; and it is the imperative duty of the saints to uphold and support it, as much so, as to say your prayers or do anything else.
The subscriptions to The Mormon since the commencement of its publication thus far have not half supported it; scarcely any but Saints subscribe for it, and but few of them, in comparison with the number of Saints residing in the States. We shall endeavor by the aid of our friends to continue the publication of the paper in its present form, avoiding all unnecessary expense, and now call upon all the Saints to hold up our hands, and send on, without delay, subscriptions and donations; likewise the confrence funds that the various presiding officers subscribed to at the April conference, and as much more as you can weekly.
Therefore, let the presidents of the conferences, elders, teachers and all attend to this matter, and impress the importance of the same upon the Saints.
Let the Saints subscribe for the paoer, read it carefully, and then hand it to their friends; also get their friends to subscribe for it.
Teach the Saint sot be cleanly in their habits, virtuous, holy and pure; watchful, prayerful, with an upright walk and godly conversation before all men, shunning all vain and frivolous talk; see that there is no backbiting or evil speaking among the Saints, and that they keep themeslves unspotted from the evils and corruptions that surround them in the world; see that no one partakes of the sacrament unworthily, and that all prepare themeslves as fast as possible to gather to Zion.
Let prudence, wisdom and economy be studied; but let no selfish or sordid views or feelings ever enter the heart of any one professing to be a Saint of God when called upon to uphold His work. Brethren, the more we do in the cause of God, the more we will receive from Him, after He has proven us. I have proved it, and I know it.
No papers or books will be sent to any one unless the subscriptions or moneys are remitted in advance. It has become absolutely necessary to adopt this rule in order to sustain the paper. Neither will andy person be expected to receive subscriptions, donations, or receipts for the sales of The Mormon, retain the means in their own hands, apply it to their own uses, and then advise us to charge it to them. We cannot do any such thing. We are always willing to oblige as far as we can, consistently, but such a course would soon decide the continuance of the publication of the paper.
The Presidents over Conferences, and travelling Elders, are requested to report to me, from time to time, the situations of the branches through wihch they travel. We also wish all those who can contribute any correspondence worthy of publication in The Mormon to do so.
Let Elders be appointed to hold meetings in the cities and towns whenever they can obtain a place to preach, every night in the week if possible--and let the presiding officers do the same whenever they can, and whenever they have an opportunity of doing good, do it. Preach the first principles of the gospel of Christ; let all doctrine you do not understand alone, and seek to save instead of destroy. Proclaim to the people that God has spoken from on high; that the heavens have been unveiled; that angels have administered to man; that prophets and apostles have been raised up in this dispensation; that the keys of apostleship and priesthood have been restored to man; and that God has now a church established on earth according to the pattern of heaven. Teach faith, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, and the imposition of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Let all the saints, officers included, who have not renewed their covenants by being re-baptized according to the counsel of the presidency in Zion, attend to it forthwith, for no one will be considered in fellowship who refuses or neglects to obey this counsel when they have an opportunity, if they have not already attended to it.
Let the presiding officers see that no elder or lay member goes through the conferences collecting means without authority, or idling away their time and living upon the Saints. Let all elders sent here on missions from Zion report themselves immediately to the Presidency, at New York, when they will have their field of labor assigned them, so that all things may work together in harmony, according to the order of God, and for the benefit of the cause.
A great deal of slander, falsehood, and calumny is published and circulated freely at the present time by a venal vitiated press against the Mormons, but let the wicked howl; we know the work is of God--He is its author, upholder, supporter, and protector, and it is bound to prosper, go ahead, and finally triumph. Of this we have not the least doubt, and no power on earth or in hell can stop it. Therefore let us do our duty, come life or come death. God is our shield and protector, and in Him we will ever put our trust.
Whatever counsel may be necessary for us to give for the benefit of the Saints and Elders will be imparted through the columns of the Mormon, or otherwise, from time to time.
Thus, dear brethren, ye servants of the Most High, clothed upon with the priesthood of the Son of God, after the order of an endless life, and ye saints of the latter days, your duties are laid before you. Take hold with me and strengthen my hands and uphold the elders sent among you; hearken to the counsels and instructions given you, ans assist me in carrying out the counsel and wishes of our brethren in Zion, and I promise you, in the name of Israel's God, you shall be blest in so doing.
Elders of Israel, be men of God in very deed; honor your priesthood, honor your calling, be meek, watchful, humble, prayerful and diligent in all things; seek to be filled with the Spirit of the Lord continually, and let the fire of the Holy Ghost dwell richly in your bosoms, and be ye saviours of men; preach, teach, council, set in order, rebuke and exhort, with all longsuffering; preach wherever a door opens, seek after the welfare of souls, and let us all co-operate together to do the work assigned us, so that we may rejoice in our labors, and finish our mission with joy to ourselves; meet the approbation of our God and of our brethren in Zion. Can we sit down and say in our hearts, "It is enough?" Are there not yet some honest souls who have never heard the Gospel? Are our skirts clean from the blood of all men? Are the saints prepared for the appearing of the Saviour to inherit the earth and enter into the celestial glory and eternal life? Verily no.
Shall we, as servants and saints of the Most High, bearing the priesthood of the Son of the Virgin, members of the church of Christ, organized after the order of heaven, with apostles and prophets, with whom are the keys of apostleship and priesthood, to open the door of salvation to a lost and ruined world, to whom angels have ministered, who have heard the voice of God and gazed, while wrapt in the visions of heaven, upon the glories of the celestial, terrestrial, and celestial worlds, and also upon the misery of the damned--shall we who have tasted of the good word of God, been made partakers of the Holy Ghost,and realized a portion of the power of the world to come, and the order of heaven, that leads to crowns, thrones, sceptres, exaltations, and dominions, and redemption of our dead--shall we, I say, ever be unfaithful or weary in such a cause? No, verily no. While water runs, and grass grows; while virtue is lovely and vice hateful; while we have a God to serve and a soul to save; ever let us be unflinching in the cause of Jehovah; continue while the brittle thread of life shall last, until the race is run, the battle is fought, and the victory won.
- W. I. APPLEBY
- President fo the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Eastern and Middle States.
- New York, May 28, 1857.Catgory: New York NY
