In a letter dated December 24, 1839 to Joseph Smith, Foster recounted his interactions with Cookman:
Washington City Dec 24th. 1839
Dear Brother
Since you left this city I have been endeavoring to magnify
my calling in some measure, and have succeeded so far in my work, by the
assistance of God as to show to the satisfaction of all the inmates of the
house where you left me boarding that Mormonism is no bugbear but the truths of
J[es]us Christ, as testifyed by Paul, Peter and all the Apostles and inspired
writers, You are aware that the Lady. Mrs. Baker was very hostile when you
left, but her proud heart has come down, and she now says she was once afraid
to have me in the house, but is now willing I should stay. The day you left and
the next day I kept preaching in the chimney corner, and to Mrs. Baker, who
acted as though she was possessed of Seven Devils, but I kept a steady hand.
Last night I got up and preached till 11½ P.M., and they listened, said they
believd us verily, but they have not courage to come out; they are going to
invite their relatives & friends so, as to give me a fair chance to preach;
they say I am the greatest preacher they ever heard: God blessed me more in
that endeavour than I can express, yea Brothe[r] my very heart glorifies God
for his goodness. what was said I dont know, but I do know I had a feast, and
to morrow they are going to have three friends come and see me; that girl says
she wants to be baptized; though her Bro. is coming <to> see her in
regard to it as he is her guardian— I pray that you would lend me your special
prayers in this matter & and verily believe you will. As I was agoing to
say they all listened attentively, and after this I asked God to add his
blessings to what had been done and said, and they all responded amen; they
then said that if there were any body else, they would have no objections in
being baptized; they said if Mr Cookman would say it was true, that they would
obey the ordinance of baptism immediately— I showed them it was no way to risk
their salvation, on Mr. Cookman— but they wished I would go and see him— and
<I> offered to do so provided they would accompany me, and introduce the
matter in due form; but they backed out, Well you know I sd. I would not stop
untill I got through & am not through yet. I went to bed, thanked God for
his goodness to me, & resolved to do any thing, that would further the
cause, or plant the seed in <this> wicked, and adulterous City— then I
goes and hunts out this Golia[t]h of Methodism (Mr. Cookman), I wrapped at the
door, was ushered in with much form, when I very poli[t]ely told him my
business; that I had glad tidings of great joy, and he stood and gased [gazed]
as though I had been an Angel— He then begged lief— to introduce his pious
friend, (Mr. Wait), and also his wife, which I admitted; I began to tell him by
littles, and he asked me if I would argue the point, from the Bible; I said
amen to it, and we went at it— He, at first, acted like a Gentn., but soon
turned black, & awful; looking like a Demon. I kept a steady course,
keeping my temper— prayed God to uphold me, and he did it in such a manner, as
I never experienced before— I was afraid at first, asked God to strengthen me,
and he did it; he showed himself to me, and sent help in time of need, He (Mr.
Cookman) could not quote a passage of— scripture right, nor knew anything about
the Bible at all; all he could say was, you are deluded you are a fanatick you
are crazy, and demanded a sign— The Apostles & Prop[h]ets come on purpose
to show a sign, & they— were no longer needed; but Jos. Smith must let me
take a Rattlesnake & hold it to him, to bite him— then if he lives I will
believe; but he is an imposter, a fanatic and a child of the Devil, & you
are another— I begd. him not be so hard, as I preached nothing but the
scripture— I asked God to give me the victory, and <down> came the Mighty
Methodist, by a little— shepherd boy of a Mormon— I asked him to be so kind as
to give me his meeting house, to preach in some in the night— but he
said he would not— he would not pollute it— I then told him that was not right—
he said it was, and would consider my doctrine <false> till I performed a
miricle— I told him not to forbid others believing, but he said he would—
I told him if he said any thing ungentlemanly from the
pulpit, if I heard him I should take the liberty to reply— said if I did he
would have me put out of the house— I then requested him to appoint time and
place, and we would discuss before the publick— but he said he would not waste
his time with such nonsence— and that he was sorry such a promising young man
should be so deluded— I told him I asked no sorrow, and begged he would give
himself no uneasiness on that head— He was the most whipped <man> I ever
have seen, and repented having his friends brought in, I know; he is the
champion of the Methodist and is whipped well— I did not tell him how I whipped
him but I will tell you— I asked God to close his mouth, if he did not receive
it gladly, and he did— I can whip as many Methodist as there are blades of
grass on the largest Prairie in Illinois, if God will assist me— and this is
way in which I whipped him— God filled my mouth and my heart— and I was as
happy as any mortal could be— while he was writhing in the most awful agony of
body & mind.
I cannot tell you all, but I will visit all the
Priests in Washington, but what I will find some honest heart to embrace the
truth.— I am not discouraged, I am going to hunt them out and leave them
without excuse— I preach at Mr. Bakers on Christmas day, or rather in the
evening— and then I expect God will bless me, and not let me be confounded— I
know nothing about preaching, only, as the Lord shows me while I am speaking—
They all say that I preached the best last night they ever heard— I will go on;
pray that I may be humble and faithful— I hope by the time you returns, I shall
have work for you in the Potomac— I conclude by sending my whole soul <to
you> wrapped up in the love and power of God through the merits of Jesus—
The message come to day & I sent one to Commerce & also one to
B[enjamin] S. Wilber; but our case is not mentioned at all, Bro, [Sidney]
Rigdon is upon the whole better— he is as well where he is as any where, at
present— We have no letters, in consequence of the Rail Road being blocked up—
I hope you are all happy in the Lord & Savior— I thank you for all your
friendly advise & kind admonitions; may they continue for I have found they
are doing me good; but dont whip poor Judge too hard, for he is a faithful
soul— In all your letters to Commerce send our love, and we will do the same in
our correspondence— I am agoing hunting to morrow after another Priest— please
send us a full letter as soon as you please— We shall be happy to receive any
good inteligence, and you will send no othe[r]— here ends the letter, and aint
it a long one— Yes says you and a rough one too— but it is better than none for
you know I was not dead when this was written— I dont know any thing about you
only that I love you all, dead or alive am this night your
Brother in Christ
R[obert] D. Foster
Further
Reading:
Robert D. Foster's 1874 Recollection of Joseph Smith's Prophecy Concerning Rev. George Cookman
Resources on
Joseph Smith’s Prophecies
