[page torn] [hole burned in paper] Glostershire
Elder W. Richards
Dear Brother
I supposed you noticed that I did not answer
any of your qustion in my last letter which you asked in March 27th the truth is I
did not have time ownly to glance it over hastily & hurry since looked it over care
fully I thought I would sit down & write a few lines more to you. I remarked
to you in the last that I wished. you to come soon & labour with me awhile I did not
as fully give my reason for the remark as I ought & should have done if I had room. But I
would here remark that I did not make the request thinking that I had any power, desire, or
wish to controll you. But Becaus it was the desire of my heart, & feeling that I need
council & assistance for much depends upon the manner the field is governed here
I want to hold several councils or conferences in this region & ordain officers in
the different Branches Besides their will be many to confirm. I have confirmed about
100 & their will soon be another hundred to confirmed & I have just as much
as I can do to preach & to Baptze daily without confirming. theirfore I stand much
in need of some assistance & council in such a field. I have Baptzed about 40 preachers
of the Unted Brethren primitive Methidist. [&] it has flung into my hands about 50 esstablished
places of preaching which are licensed including one or two chapels. & you can see at once
Elder Richards that it am overwhelming labour to be upon one man. & he needs his spirit
sanctified & his Body Immortal to stand such a labour & it has put me at times to my
wits ends to know what to do with so many places of preachings & preachers, But according to the Best
wisdom I could get I could have pursued the following course I have finally told the preahers
to continue to fill their appointments & teach righteousness & try to prepare the minds
of the people for the fulness of the gospel, but not to administer in any of the ordinances of the
gospel untill I can have some help & set in order the churches & ordain such persons
as God shall call. the reason I have done this is the as soon as the preachers disappoint the
meeting & congregation those houses of worship will be shut up & sants might be shut out
of the Kingdom that otherwise might come [in] tell me what your feelings are about such
a course. I am well aware Brother Richards their is much to do in many places But
it does appear to me that their is no field at present in England, whare your labour &
council is more needed or would be of more benefit than to join me in this field a
season. I have no controll at oll over you in this matter. But should consider it a great
privilege & favor to labour together awhile you with you. If you can set in order
your house & leave Sister Richards a season with some friends or friend, I think you
would enjoy Bettr health here as it is entirey a farming country. Should you come will
you please remember to Bring me the first No of times & Seasons & the Book of written Rev
that I left with you & if you come by the way of the Potteries will you call upon Brother Wm
Hulme in Stoke & ask him to send to me that Little china Box a present from Brother Rowley. I have written
to Brothr Turley but had no answer as yet. if either preston, Manchester, or the potteries churches
felt to do any thing for him as you come along you could conveigh it to tim in Stafford as
you pass though. If you can any way come soon I should be glad to see you I wonder
why the Twelve do not come from America. I feel as though word ought to be soon sent
for 20 or 30 or a whole quorum of the Seventies for I dont see when their will be a Better
opportunity to prune England than the present. I Baptzed 13 the day that I wrote your letter 9 yesterday &
many tomorrow & Sunday (Write after [1] pence a letter) If the Moon family gets ready would it not be well
to give them a Recommendation & let them go. did the three families go from preston. should you
be in Ledbury alone their is a lane neary opposite the Market house walk down that street by a tan yard 100
yards & enquire for Francis Pullen his wife is a Member. I am sorry about Brothr Mullener I wondr
what is the Matter of him whether he is under any transgressing or whether it is the devil desireing to destroy
his usefullness I am inclined to believe the Latter let us pray for him that he may be supported untill
some Elders come [that] one go to his assistance I think of writing him a letter to day as I have not yet
I am now leaving all confirming for another time & shall appont meetings for [that] purpose &
I pray God that you may be with me to assist me in it. It is strange that none of us hear from
America I have not herd from my family for about 6 months. It seems that Abisah & Abiram in
Preston begins to think that Moses takes to much upon himself but they must be careful that they dont
burn their fingers give my Best Respects to Sistr Richards let not her courage fail, [Rememebrre]
me to all Saints
I am ever yours in the Love of God
W Woodruff
Mr Willard Richards
Meadow St New house opposite No 3.
Preston
Lancashire
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NEWENT
[177]
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GLOUCESTER
AP 4
1840