1858-03-12-New York Herald-Arrival of Mormon Elders from Europe
Arrival of Mormon Elders from Europe
- New York Herald, 12 March 1858, pg. 5; col. E.
Arrival of Mormon Elders from Europe
- Bishops, Seventies and High Priests—A Vermonter Gives an Oration on the War Question—Missions Abroad Flourishing, Etc.
A company of twenty-four Mormon elders arrived at this port on Wednesday afternoon, in the packet ship Underwriter, Capt. J. P. Roberts. They sailed from Liverpool on the 21st of January and had a stormy passage of forty-eight days. Immediately on debarking at Castle Garden, they gathered up their "traps" and sallied forth into the city, taking-up their abode in various hotels, each on suiting his fancy and the state of his fortune. Our reporter found them yesterday morning at their rendezvous, and in the course of conversation got some items of information and their sentiments on passing events.
The twenty-four were divided in the ranks of the priesthood. Three were bishops, presiding when at home in Utah over the temporal and spiritual interests of the inhabitants of Box Elder, Ogden and Willow Creek. One of them holds the high office of "one of the seven presidents over all the Seventies"--numbering under that head forty-six times seventy elders. The others were either members of the "Quorum's" of the Seventies or High Priests. Unlike our notions of morose looking, sedate, quiet, talking bishops and high priests, our Utah dignitaries were a jovial lot of fellows, who, when they met with some of their Utah brethren residing in the States, would hug them in the bear style--more warm than fashionable. Our reporter happened to drop in upon them at one of these moments of greeting, and thought that for cold weather the mode à la Utah was certainly and improvement upon the hand-shake and formal bow.
If the grasshoppers in the valleys had damaged the physique of the brethren, the roast beef of Old England had defaced every trace of famine. With the exception of one or two who had suffered from the tossing of the big waters, they were big, stout, hearty and hale fellows--just such a class would enjoy a tussle or a fight in the mountains.
They reported themselves citizens of America, principally of the Eastern and Middle States. The recent orders from "President Young," as they now and again called Brother Brigham, to stop the emigration from Europe to the United States, had so changed the character of their missions that they had been "released" to return and see their relatives. They leave to day for home and friends in different States, and doubtless their lectures and preaching will be delivered to create an influence in favor of Utah and Brigham Young.
On the mention of the war question they seemed less communicative; a little prudent reserve was visible among them. On being interrogated on the subject the secretary of the company, a Vermonter, said if our reporter would give a fair account of what they did say they would talk, whereupon he delivered himself of the following oration, in a small way:--
We are not willing to believe that this boasted land of religious liberty, the country of our birth, whose interest is ever near to our hearts, will so far stoop from her lofty position as to persist in carrying on a war of extermination against the sons of her own soil, who are true and loyal to the back bone, for only having chosen to avail ourselves of our constitutional right to worship God after the dictates of our own consciences. The charge of resisting the authority of the United States in Utah as a plea for the President's expedition we declare in all sobriety to be without foundation and originated with men who had motives for slandering Utah and the Mormons. The government has acted unadvisedly, we think, by seeking to introduce an army into the midst of our people, which would be the opening of a door for the violation of every principle of virtue. Our wives and daughters would become a prey to a licentious and unprincipled soldiery, who, sword in hand, would mock the suffering of their victims, backed as they would be by the authority of Congress. By this armed movement they have provoked the resistance of our people, and who that has the heart of a man would not resist such a wrong? The beasts of the field will defend their young against a devouring enemy, and shall man, created in the image of God, do less than they? Whoever will may submit to the wiles, snares and debauchery of the wicked; but we have sworn before heaven to keep our families pure, and the men, professed friends or open enemies, that violate their chastity must die. Our people are not yet prepared to witness calmly and unconcernedly the repetition of such scenes as have hither to been enacted in Missouri and Illinois. Our wives and daughters may be subjected to such wrongs again, and may fall a prey to fiends in a human shape, deaf to every cry of pity, remorseless to the last; but their protectors shall be spared the pain of witnessing it, for they will assuredly pave the way to such inhuman wrongs with their own bodies. We love peace, we hate war, and hope that the good sense of the nation will oppose the measures now taken to send armed troops to Utah, and thereby they may yet be turned away; but if otherwise, we expect the Lord will preserve the righteous.
The brethren put on no long face about the preparations of the government to storm their mountain home. They were all happy and extremely pleased at being once more under the stars and stripes. Some of them have been absent a number of years, and held important positions in the church in Europe. Our reporter on inquiring if any of them did not mean to join the expedition, and get out to Utah in that style, they answered jocosely that there were, according to accounts, plenty of the brthren there already. Too many in the ranks might spoil the game.
They report the missions abroad in a flourishing condition. Some five thousand persons have been added to the Mormon Church in Europe since the reformation began there last year. The brethren and sisters were full of faith, and "rejoicing in the fulfillment of ancient and modern prophets." The "boys," as the individual parts of this company call each other, are willing to die for Brother Brigham.
