Scarborough Maine
Dear Brother
While the Sun is shedding its beams to gladden
earth I sit down beneath a fathers roof in company with my
companion to address a few lines to you. My last was dated
March Vinalhaven Maine that sheet was principally occupied with the
feelings of my mind upon things future. I would here remark that
a person situated as I am in life & calling knows not whare the morrow
will find him at all times. I have of late held two conferences in
Vinalhaven one upon each Island & organized a Church in each place
both containing about fifty members & so they are now in a situation
to attend to their meetings without me I have concluded to leave
them for a season & in consequence of recieving some intelligence
of interest from the City of New York from Elder P. P. Pratt & others
I have concluded to take a mission that way for two or three months I
shall probably visit Lynn, Boston, Holliston, & N Y City as we have [Members]
in these places. The work of the Lord is progressing with great rapidity & power
in the City of N Y. under the preaching of Elder Pratt he is now Baptizing
in the city by day & night he has the use of two meeting houses & also
Tammany's Hall the most noted Hall in the City which is freely furnished and
advertized at the expens of the Infidels as the Priests are disposed to call them
the work is spreading in the county as well as City some come 20 or 30 miles
to hear and obey the gospel & the calls are more numerous than they can possibly
attend to. As to opposition the City is in a general uproar in many parts[,] the
Priests many of them rage and foam & go to such lengths that every honest
man is under the necessity of coming out from them. The Saints are firm
in the City & are ready to suffer death for Christs sake & the truths. I do not
know the number Baptized in the City Elder Pratt writes in his last that 75 have been
added & that the work has but just begun & sayes we are crouded beyond conception
- two pamphlets & many papers are filled against us but all tends to give us
the attention of the people The Editor of the Zions Watchman is vary busy against
us & his paper is teeming with falshood & misrepresentation. I have answered him
in a pamphlet of 42 pages which I want circulated whareever the
Zions Watchman has gone those with many other things sayes Elder Pratt
As our printing Office is burned I am well aware that those opposed to us in
sentiment will make every exertion to prejudice the minds of community
before we are in a cituation to answer them but I expect the Elders Journal
will soon be issued from the press at the City far West Mo There is some
individuals that have been cut off from the Church in Kirtland (by the voice
of the Church) which are making as great an exertion against us as any of the
world W Parrish is their leader; but the work of God still rolls on in spite
of all their falshoods & misrepresentations.
I have just arived at Father
Carter's from the Islands I shall leave in few days for the City of N. Y. in
company with Elder Milton Holmes a Brother that I highly essteem I have
traveled with him thousands of miles we have passed through sufferings & trials
together as well as enjoyed many happy seasons
I wish here to remark that
as I may not be stationary at present that I wish you to direct your
communications to Scarborough Maine those that you send to me
at present perhaps you may have sent one letter to Vinalhaven that I have
not yet recieved if so I expect it will be remailed to me & forwarded to Scarborough
Mrs Woodruff will remain here at her fathers house until we go west in the fall &
she will attend to all letters sent me she is enjoying comfortable health & wishes to
be remembered to you. I am still enjoying good health. I am expecting to
be gone about two months on my journey to N Y. & it is my present intention
to visit our friends in Connecticut before I return. I have not herd from
any of them for a length of time. I have not much temporal news to
communicate to you at this time business is exceding dull in this county
some of the Banks are resuming specie payment most of them I think will soon
except the rotten ones which are numerous. This state are waking up as to their
political matters they are determined to redeem themselves from their last
years negligence which I think they will do. Their is a company of Saints
expect to accompany me from fox Islands to the far west in Sept next
should you come east this spring I should be happy to meet you
in Connecticut at our Fathers House
When you write to me give me the inteligence you have from any of
our friends which would be greatfully recieved. I have recieved the papers
from your City which you sent me from time to time I learned
from your last that Terre Haute was an incorporated City & that you
& Mr Smith had dissolved pardonship & that you was carrying on
your business alone I wish you much success in all lawful
& honorable undertakings & I have no reason to suppose that
you will be [FIGURE] engaged in any other. I would suppose that your
tinde of business would increase & hold as good as any trade in that
country as the tide of emigration is constant & without doubt
will continue to increase. I am pleased with the Idea of your
locating yourself so far west & I wish more of our friends were
in the western country for the west must increase while the east
decreases in my view. I could not be contented to locate myself
& till the earth in New England but should delight in it in the west
I presume you are closely confined to your business as your
are now alone & perhaps you do not think of visiting the east [page torn]
at present. I should be happy to visit our Parents & Sister once.
I often feel sorry for our Father considering his age & how hard he has to
work in old connecticut alone without any of his Children to visit
him or Mother I expect they have many gloomy hours thinking about
it But so it is time makes a great seperation & changes with a gener-
ation. I should be glad to hear from them & know how they get
along. I intend to write a letter to them as soon as I finish this Sheet
I want to hear from Eunice & know whare she is & what she is doing
I have not yet heard any thing from Azmon, Thompson, or the family.
if you get any word from any of them I should be glad to have you
send it to me when you write.
As ever yours with
Respect & essteem
W Woodruff
A H. Woodruff