THE
DESERET NEWS.
TRUTH AND LIBERTY.
No. 20. FILLMORE CITY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1858. VOL VIII.

HISTORY
OF
WILFORD WOODRUFF.
(FROM HIS OWN PEN.)

-[CONTINUED.]-

MAY 31—I left my wife and friends in Kirt-
land, and walked to Fairport with bro. Hale;
we were joined by Milton Holmes, and took
the steamer Sandusky and arrived in Buffalo
June 1st, and Syracuse on the 4th; walked 36
miles to Richland, Oswego Co., N. Y., and
called upon my two brothers, Azmon and
Thompson, whom I had not seen for several
years. We visited the churches as far as
Sackett's Harbor, called upon Archibald Pat-
ten, and delivered to him some letters from
Warren Parrish, in which were enclosed many
one hundred dollar bills, which he had taken
from the Kirtland Bank.

We crossed Lake Ontario, visited Upper
Canada, and attended a conference, May [June] 10th,
with Elders John E. Page and James Blakesly,
in the township of Bastard, Leeds Co. There
were eight branches represented, containing
300 members, 13 elders, 5 priests, 8 teachers
and 6 deacons. Elder Wm. Draper and my-
self ordained 7 elders, 9 priests, 11 teachers
and 5 deacons: five were baptized by Elder
Page at the close of the conference.

A woman was possessed of the devil and
greatly afflicted, much of the time was dumb;
four of us laid hands upon her, and cast the
devil out in the name of Jesus Christ, and she
was made whole, and gave thanks unto God,
and went on her way rejoicing.

We visited several other branches and
preached the word of God, and several of the
sick were healed.

We returned to Kingston, took steamer for
Oswego, and canal for Albany; bros. John
Goodson, Isaac Russell and John Snider ac-
companied us from Canada, and left us at
Schenectady, to join Elders Kimball, Hyde
and Richards at New York, to go to England.

We walked from Albany to Farmington,
Conn.; attended a conference of the Saints in
Canaan; arrived at my father's house July
6th. This was the first time I had seen my
father or relatives in Conn., since I joined the
church; they received me kindly. On the 10th,
I preached in the City Hall in Colinsville, and
a mob gathered and attempted to break up the
meeting, with fife and drum, hollowing and
yelling; they were urged on by a Presbyterian
priest. At the close of the meeting the priest
came to me with his rabble, and asked many
questions; he said I had no right to my opinion,
and no man had a right to preach the gospel
unless he had a collegiate education. I told
him I would admit that point when he would
tell me at what college Jesus Christ and his
apostles obtained their education: the priest
and rabble then left.

—12—I preached in a schoolhouse in West
Avon to an attentive congregation; after meet-
ing I baptized my uncle, Ozem Woodruff, his
wife and son, John, in fulfillment of a dream
which I had at ten years of age.

I visited most of my relatives in Conn., and
preached the gospel to them.

—16—I preached at Adna Hart's in Avon,
where I was met by my step-mother and sis-
ter, also by my wife, who had travelled alone
from Kirtland, and was on her way to visit
her father in Maine.

—19—Elder Hale went to New Rowley,
Mass., to visit his friends. I had been soli-
cited to preach to the citizens of Farmington
by many prominent men, but every room which
was offered me, including the town hall, was
closed against me by the Rev. Noah Porter,
pastor of the Presbyterian church, until the
Methodist church was offered me, which he
had not influence to close. Two hours after I
gave out the appointment, the house was filled,
and I preached to a very attentive congrega-
tion, including my father and his household,
for an hour and a half, upon the first princi-
ples of the gospel; I gave liberty to the assem-
bly to ask any questions, or find any fault with
what I had said, but I met with no opposition.

—20—I left my father's house, and, with
my wife, rode by stage to Hartford.

—21—Not having money to pay the fare
for us both, I paid her fare in the stage to New
Rowley, Mass., and I walked through a hot
sultry day fifteen hours, averaging three and
a half miles per hour, making 52 miles.

—22—I walked 48 miles.

—23—I walked 36 miles, and arrived at
Elder Nathaniel Holmes', in New Rowley, at
2 o'clock, p.m., making 136 miles in a little
over two days and a half. I met with my
wife and Elder Milton Holmes, at his father's
house: I spent several days in preaching to the
Saints in that region.

Aug. 1—We left New Rowley, and was
joined by Elder Hale, who accompanied us to
Saco, Maine.

—7—I accompanied my wife to her father's,
in Scarborough, Maine. We were kindly re-
ceived: it was the first time I had seen any of
her relations. We found mother Carter very
sick. I spent several days visiting the Saints
in that region.

—10—I accompanied Ezra and Fabien
Carter, my brothers-in-law, on a fishing excur-
sion; we caught with hooks 250 cod fish, had-
dock, and hake, and saw four whales; it being
the first time I had ever seen that class of fish
that swallowed Jonah.

—18—With Elder Hale, I started to fill my
mission on Fox Islands; we walked to Port-
land, and spent the night at Mr. Samuel
Hale's.

—19—We took the steamer Bangor 85
miles to Owl's Head, where we arrived at sun-
set, without means to prosecute our journey
further. We retired to a high hill, and bowed
before the Lord, and prayed that he would
open our way; the Spirit of the Lord rested
upon us, and testified unto us that our prayers
would be answered. As we arose from our
knees, a sloop came into the harbor; we went
to the captain, and enquired where he was
going; he replied, through the channel of
Vinal Haven; he took us on board and landed
us on North Fox Islands, at 2 a.m. on the
20th. We wandered in the dark about an
hour, rambling over rocks and bushes, found the
house of Mr. Nathaniel Dyer, and were enter-
tained. It being Sunday morning, Mr. Benj.
Kent piloted us to the Baptist meeting-house,
occupied by Elder Gideon J. Newton, pastor
of the only religious denomination upon the
island. At the door, I sent for the deacon,
and told him I wished him to inform the min-
ister that we were servants of God, and wish-
ed to deliver a message to that people. The
minister sent word for us to come into the pul-
pit; accordingly, with valize in hand, we walk-
ed up into the pulpit, and took a seat on each
side of him. When he closed his discourse,
he asked me what hour we would like to
speak; I told him at five; he gave out our ap-
pointment, and invited us to his house. I
asked him how many school houses were on
the island; he said four, and gave me their
names. I asked him if they were free for any
one to preach in; he answered in the affirma-
tive. I took out my Bible, Book of Mormon,
and Doctrine and Covenants, and laid them all
upon his stand; he promised to read them.
The hour of meeting arrived, and I preached
to a full house upon the first principles of the
gospel, and bore testimony that the Lord had
raised up a prophet, and had commenced to
establish his church and kingdom again upon
the earth, in fulfillment of his word, as spoken
through the ancient prophets and apostles.
This was the first discourse ever delivered by
any Latter-day Saint upon this chain of is-
lands; Elder Hale bore testimony. I gave out
appointments for preaching in the four school
houses. The people came out en masse to in-
vestigate the principles which we taught. In
fourteen days we preached nineteen discourses.
Capt. Justice Ames and wife were baptized
by Elder Hale. Elder Newton, the Baptist
minister, with his family, attended twelve of
our meetings, read the books, and was con-
vinced by the Spirit of the Lord that our doc-
trine was true, and he had a hard struggle in

[Column 3]
his mind to know which to do, receive it or re-
ject it; he finally resolved to reject it, and
commenced preaching against us. He sent for
Mr. Douglass, Methodist minister, on the
South Island, to come and help him; he had
been long at variance with Mr. Douglass, but
they became very friendly and united in a war
against us. We continued preaching daily
until we baptized most of the members of Mr.
Newton's church, and those who owned the
meeting house.

I followed Mr. Douglas to his own island,
and commenced preaching to his church, and
baptized a good share of his members, among
whom were several sea captains. Ministers
from the main land were sent for, who came
over and tried to put a stop to the work by
preaching and lying about us; but the work
continued to roll on. They wished me to work
a miracle to convince them that my doctrine
was true. I told them they had rejected the
truth, and they would see signs, but not unto
salvation.

Vinal Haven, which includes both north and
south Fox Island, is in lat. 44°, long. 69° 10'.
The inhabitants are generally healthy and in-
dustrious, and hospitable to strangers. The peo-
ple obtain most of their wealth by fishing, and
fit out annually over one hundred licensed ves-
sels, beside many smaller crafts. The north
island is nine miles long and two wide; popu-
lation 800, and contains a post office, a store, a
grist mill, four school houses, and a Baptist
church. The land is rocky and rough, yet
there are farms which produce good wheat,
barley, oats, potatoes and grass; the principal
timber is fir, spruce, hemlock and birch. The
rasp and gooseberry grow in great abundance.
Sheep are the principal stock.

South Fox island is about ten miles long and
five wide, and is a mass of rocks, principally
granite, formed into shelves, hills, hollows,
and cut up into nooks, points and ravines by
coves and harbors; population, 1000. There
are some small patches under cultivation, at
the expense of great labor and toil. Many
resident fishermen fish at Newfoundland, and
bring them home, and dry them upon flakes;
they annually supply the market with a great
amount of cod fish, mackerel and boxed her-
ring. The latter island contains two stores,
three tide saw mills, six school houses, a small
branch of the Methodist church and a priest.
The timber is pine, fir, spruce, hemlock and
birch, also gooseberries, raspberries, whortle-
berries and upland cranberries; bushes and
timber grow out of the crevices of the rocks.

There is a great amount and variety of fish
in the waters around these islands, viz.: whale,
black fish, shark, ground shark, pilot fish,
horse mackerel, sturgeon, salmon, halibut,
cod, pollock, tom cod, hake, haddock, macker-
el, shad, bass, alewives, herring, pohagen,
dolphin, whiting, frost fish, flounders, smelt,
skate, shrimp, shad, cusk, bluebacks, scollop,
dogfish, muttonfish, lumpfish, squid, five fin-
gers, monkfish, nursefish, sunfish, swordfish,
thrasher, cat, scuppog, twotog, eyefish, cunner,
ling eels, lobsters, clams, mussels, winkles,
porpoises, seals, &c. &c.

Sept. 6—The harbor was filled with a
school of mackerel, which were caught in
great numbers by the people standing upon the
wharf.

While standing upon the farm of Eleazar
Carver on the north island I counted fifty five
islands, many of which were inhabited.

Oct. 2—I left the island with Elder Hale;
Capt. Ames took us to Thomastown in a sloop.

—3—We walked forty six miles to Bath.

—4—We attended a Baptist convention,
and preached to a large congregation in the
evening in Pierce's hall; the people listened
attentively.

—5—We walked thirty six miles to Port-
land.

—6—Walked ten miles to father Carter's
in Scarborough, where I found my wife and
friends well.

—9—I parted with Elder Hale, who re-
turned to Kirtland. I continued preaching
through various towns on the main land until

[Column 4]
Nov. 2, when I again returned to Fox Islands,
accompanied by my wife.

—15—I visited the Isle of Holt, twelve
miles east, and preached to an attentive con-
gregation, leaving them the Book of Mormon,
which they promised to read. I returned on
the 16th.

I continued my labors during the winter of
1837-8, and nearly every person had attended
my meetings, and taken sides for or against.
Our enemies made attempts to break up our
meetings.

Jan. 15, 1838—A company of sailors be-
longing to the United States revenue cutter,
brought on shore a swivel and joined the mob,
parading near the house where I was preach-
ing, and discharged it several times, accom-
panied with small arms, with the intention of
breaking up the meeting. Some of the mob
gathered around to see what effect this would
have. I warned them in the name of the Lord,
and proclaimed the judgments of God that
awaited the wicked, and shook my garments
in the presence of the people, and told them I
was clear of their blood; but they only heard
my voice intermingled with the roar of cannon
and musketry. Before I closed speaking, the
sailors went back on board the revenue cutter.
At the close of the meeting I baptized two,
also one next day, and while baptizing, the
mob again commenced firing guns. The Bap-
tists and Methodists got up the mob. Mr.
Douglas, the Methodist priest, when argument
failed him, applied to all the magistrates for
warrants against me; they refused to grant
them as he had no cause of complaint.

Feb. 13—I crossed in the mail boat to
Hampden and ordained James Townsend; we
walked together through deep snows, and
visited and preached in the towns of Sears-
mont, Belfast, Northport, Frankfort, Hamp-
den, and twice in the city hall in Bangor, to
large assemblies, and returned to Fox Islands
via Casteem and the Isle of Holt. Arrived in
Vinal Haven March 8. Elder Townsend re-
turned home.

March 22—I accompanied br. Stirrat, at
low tide, on to a bar some forty rods from
shore, to dig some clams. We were soon join-
ed by Mrs. Woodruff and sister Stone, who
had a curiosity to see how clams were dug.
The ground for about twelve rods nearer shore
was several feet lower than the point we were
on, but we were so busily engaged we did not
observe the flowing tide until we were sur-
rounded by water, and having no boat, our only
alternative was to wade ashore and carry the
women, which we safely accomplished amid
the reflection that tide nor time waited for no
man.

April 4—Mr. Kent, the postmaster, showed
me a letter containing two sheets of foolscap
signed by Warren Parrish and several of the
Twelve, who had apostatized and been cut off
from the church. The communication was
full of slander and falsehoods against Joseph
Smith and all that stood by him. It was sent
with the intention of breaking up the work
upon these islands.

—11—I was visited by Elders Townsend
and Milton Holmes, who attended conferences
with me upon both islands, and bore their tes-
timony to the people, but the spirit of oppo-
sition increased to a great height. I was
warned by the Spirit of the Lord to leave for a
season and take a western mission. After
visiting the Saints from house to house, and
praying with and encouraging them, I left on
the 28th and went to the main land with Elders
Townsend and Holmes. Mrs. Woodruff re-
turned to her father's. We walked to Scar-
borough. I left May 7th, and walked to Brad-
ford, where I left Elder Holmes, and proceed-
ed to Boston.

May 11—I gave out an appointment to preach
at sister Vose's room, and I went to Cambridge-
port to visit Elder A. P. Rockwood, who had
been imprisoned in jail on pretence of debt,
but in reality out of religious persecution.
The jailor locked me in until ten p.m.; but
while it disappointed a congregation of people,
it gave me a happy visit with Elder Rockwood,

THE DESERET NEWS. TRUTH AND LIBERTY. No. 20. FILLMORE CITY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1858. VOL VIII.

HISTORY OF WILFORD WOODRUFF. (FROM HIS OWN PEN.)

[CONTINUED.]

MAY 31—I left my wife and friends in Kirtland, and walked to Fairport with bro. Hale; we were joined by Milton Holmes, and took the steamer Sandusky and arrived in Buffalo June 1st, and Syracuse on the 4th; walked 36 miles to Richland, Oswego Co., N. Y., and called upon my two brothers, Azmon and Thompson, whom I had not seen for several years. We visited the churches as far as Sackett's Harbor, called upon Archibald Patten, and delivered to him some letters from Warren Parrish, in which were enclosed many one hundred dollar bills, which he had taken from the Kirtland Bank.

We crossed Lake Ontario, visited Upper Canada, and attended a conference, May June 10th, with Elders John E. Page and James Blakesly, in the township of Bastard, Leeds Co. There were eight branches represented, containing 300 members, 13 elders, 5 priests, 8 teachers and 6 deacons. Elder Wm. Draper and myself ordained 7 elders, 9 priests, 11 teachers and 5 deacons: five were baptized by Elder Page at the close of the conference.

A woman was possessed of the devil and greatly afflicted, much of the time was dumb; four of us laid hands upon her, and cast the devil out in the name of Jesus Christ, and she was made whole, and gave thanks unto God, and went on her way rejoicing.

We visited several other branches and preached the word of God, and several of the sick were healed.

We returned to Kingston, took steamer for Oswego, and canal for Albany; bros. John Goodson, Isaac Russell and John Snider accompanied us from Canada, and left us at Schenectady, to join Elders Kimball, Hyde and Richards at New York, to go to England.

We walked from Albany to Farmington, Conn.; attended a conference of the Saints in Canaan; arrived at my father's house July 6th. This was the first time I had seen my father or relatives in Conn., since I joined the church; they received me kindly. On the 10th, I preached in the City Hall in Colinsville, and a mob gathered and attempted to break up the meeting, with fife and drum, hollowing and yelling; they were urged on by a Presbyterian priest. At the close of the meeting the priest came to me with his rabble, and asked many questions; he said I had no right to my opinion, and no man had a right to preach the gospel unless he had a collegiate education. I told him I would admit that point when he would tell me at what college Jesus Christ and his apostles obtained their education: the priest and rabble then left.

—12—I preached in a schoolhouse in West Avon to an attentive congregation; after meeting I baptized my uncle, Ozem Woodruff, his wife and son, John, in fulfillment of a dream which I had at ten years of age.

I visited most of my relatives in Conn., and preached the gospel to them.

—16—I preached at Adna Hart's in Avon, where I was met by my step-mother and sister, also by my wife, who had travelled alone from Kirtland, and was on her way to visit her father in Maine.

—19—Elder Hale went to New Rowley, Mass., to visit his friends. I had been solicited to preach to the citizens of Farmington by many prominent men, but every room which was offered me, including the town hall, was closed against me by the Rev. Noah Porter, pastor of the Presbyterian church, until the Methodist church was offered me, which he had not influence to close. Two hours after I gave out the appointment, the house was filled, and I preached to a very attentive congregation, including my father and his household, for an hour and a half, upon the first principles of the gospel; I gave liberty to the assembly to ask any questions, or find any fault with what I had said, but I met with no opposition.

—20—I left my father's house, and, with my wife, rode by stage to Hartford.

—21—Not having money to pay the fare for us both, I paid her fare in the stage to New Rowley, Mass., and I walked through a hot sultry day fifteen hours, averaging three and a half miles per hour, making 52 miles.

—22—I walked 48 miles.

—23—I walked 36 miles, and arrived at Elder Nathaniel Holmes', in New Rowley, at 2 o'clock, p.m., making 136 miles in a little over two days and a half. I met with my wife and Elder Milton Holmes, at his father's house: I spent several days in preaching to the Saints in that region.

Aug. 1—We left New Rowley, and was joined by Elder Hale, who accompanied us to Saco, Maine.

—7—I accompanied my wife to her father's, in Scarborough, Maine. We were kindly received: it was the first time I had seen any of her relations. We found mother Carter very sick. I spent several days visiting the Saints in that region.

—10—I accompanied Ezra and Fabien Carter, my brothers-in-law, on a fishing excursion; we caught with hooks 250 cod fish, haddock, and hake, and saw four whales; it being the first time I had ever seen that class of fish that swallowed Jonah.

—18—With Elder Hale, I started to fill my mission on Fox Islands; we walked to Portland, and spent the night at Mr. Samuel Hale's.

—19—We took the steamer Bangor 85 miles to Owl's Head, where we arrived at sunset, without means to prosecute our journey further. We retired to a high hill, and bowed before the Lord, and prayed that he would open our way; the Spirit of the Lord rested upon us, and testified unto us that our prayers would be answered. As we arose from our knees, a sloop came into the harbor; we went to the captain, and enquired where he was going; he replied, through the channel of Vinal Haven; he took us on board and landed us on North Fox Islands, at 2 a.m. on the 20th. We wandered in the dark about an hour, rambling over rocks and bushes, found the house of Mr. Nathaniel Dyer, and were entertained. It being Sunday morning, Mr. Benj. Kent piloted us to the Baptist meeting-house, occupied by Elder Gideon J. Newton, pastor of the only religious denomination upon the island. At the door, I sent for the deacon, and told him I wished him to inform the minister that we were servants of God, and wished to deliver a message to that people. The minister sent word for us to come into the pulpit; accordingly, with valize in hand, we walked up into the pulpit, and took a seat on each side of him. When he closed his discourse, he asked me what hour we would like to speak; I told him at five; he gave out our appointment, and invited us to his house. I asked him how many school houses were on the island; he said four, and gave me their names. I asked him if they were free for any one to preach in; he answered in the affirmative. I took out my Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants, and laid them all upon his stand; he promised to read them. The hour of meeting arrived, and I preached to a full house upon the first principles of the gospel, and bore testimony that the Lord had raised up a prophet, and had commenced to establish his church and kingdom again upon the earth, in fulfillment of his word, as spoken through the ancient prophets and apostles. This was the first discourse ever delivered by any Latter-day Saint upon this chain of islands; Elder Hale bore testimony. I gave out appointments for preaching in the four school houses. The people came out en masse to investigate the principles which we taught. In fourteen days we preached nineteen discourses. Capt. Justice Ames and wife were baptized by Elder Hale. Elder Newton, the Baptist minister, with his family, attended twelve of our meetings, read the books, and was convinced by the Spirit of the Lord that our doctrine was true, and he had a hard struggle in

Column 3 his mind to know which to do, receive it or reject it; he finally resolved to reject it, and commenced preaching against us. He sent for Mr. Douglass, Methodist minister, on the South Island, to come and help him; he had been long at variance with Mr. Douglass, but they became very friendly and united in a war against us. We continued preaching daily until we baptized most of the members of Mr. Newton's church, and those who owned the meeting house.

I followed Mr. Douglas to his own island, and commenced preaching to his church, and baptized a good share of his members, among whom were several sea captains. Ministers from the main land were sent for, who came over and tried to put a stop to the work by preaching and lying about us; but the work continued to roll on. They wished me to work a miracle to convince them that my doctrine was true. I told them they had rejected the truth, and they would see signs, but not unto salvation.

Vinal Haven, which includes both north and south Fox Island, is in lat. 44°, long. 69° 10'. The inhabitants are generally healthy and industrious, and hospitable to strangers. The people obtain most of their wealth by fishing, and fit out annually over one hundred licensed vessels, beside many smaller crafts. The north island is nine miles long and two wide; population 800, and contains a post office, a store, a grist mill, four school houses, and a Baptist church. The land is rocky and rough, yet there are farms which produce good wheat, barley, oats, potatoes and grass; the principal timber is fir, spruce, hemlock and birch. The rasp and gooseberry grow in great abundance. Sheep are the principal stock.

South Fox island is about ten miles long and five wide, and is a mass of rocks, principally granite, formed into shelves, hills, hollows, and cut up into nooks, points and ravines by coves and harbors; population, 1000. There are some small patches under cultivation, at the expense of great labor and toil. Many resident fishermen fish at Newfoundland, and bring them home, and dry them upon flakes; they annually supply the market with a great amount of cod fish, mackerel and boxed herring. The latter island contains two stores, three tide saw mills, six school houses, a small branch of the Methodist church and a priest. The timber is pine, fir, spruce, hemlock and birch, also gooseberries, raspberries, whortleberries and upland cranberries; bushes and timber grow out of the crevices of the rocks.

There is a great amount and variety of fish in the waters around these islands, viz.: whale, black fish, shark, ground shark, pilot fish, horse mackerel, sturgeon, salmon, halibut, cod, pollock, tom cod, hake, haddock, mackerel, shad, bass, alewives, herring, pohagen, dolphin, whiting, frost fish, flounders, smelt, skate, shrimp, shad, cusk, bluebacks, scollop, dogfish, muttonfish, lumpfish, squid, five fingers, monkfish, nursefish, sunfish, swordfish, thrasher, cat, scuppog, twotog, eyefish, cunner, ling eels, lobsters, clams, mussels, winkles, porpoises, seals, &c. &c.

Sept. 6—The harbor was filled with a school of mackerel, which were caught in great numbers by the people standing upon the wharf.

While standing upon the farm of Eleazar Carver on the north island I counted fifty five islands, many of which were inhabited.

Oct. 2—I left the island with Elder Hale; Capt. Ames took us to Thomastown in a sloop.

—3—We walked forty six miles to Bath.

—4—We attended a Baptist convention, and preached to a large congregation in the evening in Pierce's hall; the people listened attentively.

—5—We walked thirty six miles to Portland.

—6—Walked ten miles to father Carter's in Scarborough, where I found my wife and friends well.

—9—I parted with Elder Hale, who returned to Kirtland. I continued preaching through various towns on the main land until

Column 4 Nov. 2, when I again returned to Fox Islands, accompanied by my wife.

—15—I visited the Isle of Holt, twelve miles east, and preached to an attentive congregation, leaving them the Book of Mormon, which they promised to read. I returned on the 16th.

I continued my labors during the winter of 1837-8, and nearly every person had attended my meetings, and taken sides for or against. Our enemies made attempts to break up our meetings.

Jan. 15, 1838—A company of sailors belonging to the United States revenue cutter, brought on shore a swivel and joined the mob, parading near the house where I was preaching, and discharged it several times, accompanied with small arms, with the intention of breaking up the meeting. Some of the mob gathered around to see what effect this would have. I warned them in the name of the Lord, and proclaimed the judgments of God that awaited the wicked, and shook my garments in the presence of the people, and told them I was clear of their blood; but they only heard my voice intermingled with the roar of cannon and musketry. Before I closed speaking, the sailors went back on board the revenue cutter. At the close of the meeting I baptized two, also one next day, and while baptizing, the mob again commenced firing guns. The Baptists and Methodists got up the mob. Mr. Douglas, the Methodist priest, when argument failed him, applied to all the magistrates for warrants against me; they refused to grant them as he had no cause of complaint.

Feb. 13—I crossed in the mail boat to Hampden and ordained James Townsend; we walked together through deep snows, and visited and preached in the towns of Searsmont, Belfast, Northport, Frankfort, Hampden, and twice in the city hall in Bangor, to large assemblies, and returned to Fox Islands via Casteem and the Isle of Holt. Arrived in Vinal Haven March 8. Elder Townsend returned home.

March 22—I accompanied br. Stirrat, at low tide, on to a bar some forty rods from shore, to dig some clams. We were soon joined by Mrs. Woodruff and sister Stone, who had a curiosity to see how clams were dug. The ground for about twelve rods nearer shore was several feet lower than the point we were on, but we were so busily engaged we did not observe the flowing tide until we were surrounded by water, and having no boat, our only alternative was to wade ashore and carry the women, which we safely accomplished amid the reflection that tide nor time waited for no man.

April 4—Mr. Kent, the postmaster, showed me a letter containing two sheets of foolscap signed by Warren Parrish and several of the Twelve, who had apostatized and been cut off from the church. The communication was full of slander and falsehoods against Joseph Smith and all that stood by him. It was sent with the intention of breaking up the work upon these islands.

—11—I was visited by Elders Townsend and Milton Holmes, who attended conferences with me upon both islands, and bore their testimony to the people, but the spirit of opposition increased to a great height. I was warned by the Spirit of the Lord to leave for a season and take a western mission. After visiting the Saints from house to house, and praying with and encouraging them, I left on the 28th and went to the main land with Elders Townsend and Holmes. Mrs. Woodruff returned to her father's. We walked to Scarborough. I left May 7th, and walked to Bradford, where I left Elder Holmes, and proceeded to Boston.

May 11—I gave out an appointment to preach at sister Vose's room, and I went to Cambridgeport to visit Elder A. P. Rockwood, who had been imprisoned in jail on pretence of debt, but in reality out of religious persecution. The jailor locked me in until ten p.m.; but while it disappointed a congregation of people, it gave me a happy visit with Elder Rockwood,