Letter to the Editor of the Millennial Star, 1 July 1857
G. S. L. City
Ed. of Millennial Star
The Eastern mail from the U. S. arrived on the 23rd
Ulto. in charge of br. Ephraim K. Hanks—23 days from Independence,
one of the shortest trips on record.
Elders Amasa Lyman and Chas. C. Rich have arrived from
San Bernardino, the former with the Cala. mail June 3, the latter on
the 8th with a small Coy. [company] of Saints; subsequently another small company
arrived from San Bernardino, who brought along a seven stopped organ
donated to the church by the Australasian Saints; which is being fitted
up in the Tabernacle at the North end, by br. Joseph Ridges who built
it in Australia. Prests. Young, Kimball, & Wells and Elders Geo. A. Smith A.
Lyman and others stepped in on Sabbath last, and heard brs. Ridges &
Orson Pratt Jr. play upon the organ, with which they expressed themselves
much gratified. It is a valuable acquisition to our choir.
Elder Geo. A. Smith has visited Utah Co. since his arrival,
found the people of Provo in good health and Spirits, with excellent prospects
for grain this season: attended a sabbath school meeting with 300 scholars,
and preached to a congregation of about 3000 Saints in the Bowery.
Brethren from Iron Co. report very favorably in relation to the
crops in cedar & Parowan, also in Beaver Co.
By the arrival of the May mail we learned of the agitation of
the public press in the U. S. pertaining to Utah—her Governor—and
the Saints. Never at any former time have we witnessed a more universal
better feeling against Mormonism than at the present. Gov. Young thinking
the working bees of Utah would not take time to read what the pub-
lic press say in relation to them and himself, set apart Sab. June
14th. at 8 a.m., to have some of the most rabid articles read to
