Seneca Co. Tiffin, Ohio Dec. 14th
1842
Dear Brethren
After an absence of five months,
from those I sincerely love in the truth, I find myself in this place in
Company with Brother O. Cowley, whom the most of you know, and with whom we
have had a most friendly acquaintance; the sight of such a man brings fresh to
my memory those Scenes which transpired in the days of our espousals to Christ,
scenes never to be forgotten by those of us who love the truth, when all the
world was arrayed against the truth and against the Lords anointed I long to
see the day when I Can again visit my brethren and see the Lords prophet and
hear the words of life sweetly distilling from his lips; but let me be where I
may I am determined to keep the Commandments of God, and preach the gospel to
all that will hear; Brother Oliver is well and doing well as far as this time
is concerned, and his heart is still with his old friends, and I believe he
would be with them in person and that soon if Brother Joseph only knew the true
state of affairs; at the time brother Oliver was driven from [unclear], we are
all unaware of the fact that many were trying to break him down that they might
rise thereby Gi say George M. Hinkle George W. Robinson, Thomas Marsh and
others who Brother Joseph thought to be his friends, and they told many things
prejudicial to brother Oliver which he had no Chance whatever to Contradict,
Such for instance as that if he (Oliver) left the Church it would all go down,
and all this sort of thing, which he never said, neither Came it into his
heart.
There is one thing I wish to
mention which he Seemed to express Considerable Concern about that is some
notes he held in his hands against Brother Brigham and others he Said he
had let Oliver Cowdery have all the notes he had in possession as soon as he
learned he was authorized to receive them, and he has Since learned that Oliver
Cowdery instead of giving them to the brethren as he ought to have done Sold
some and gave others to his son Gilbert for Collection; there are many such
like things he expresses great anxiety about, I wish if there are any of those
notes presented for Collection the brethren would write to Oliver and let the
fraud be made manifest in a lawful way and that would put a stop to the whole
affair.
There is a serious affair now
before the Church to wit, the Case of Brother John Snyder who the Weekly New
Era Morning Post, says, was arrested on the 14th Nov, on board the ship Henry
by Capt. Taylor the Bounding officer at the Balize with two other persons
ringleader of a mutiny and lodged in the Balihouse at New Orleans; now if the
High Council think proper to authorise me to raise funds to defray expences;
Brother Oliver will start for New Orleans and do all for the Brethren that Can
be done, he will wait for an answer from you, therefore if you feel disposed to
write direct to this place, and if I shall be where Oliver Can hear from me
immediately, as I expect to preach in this region for a time, Brother Brooks
and myself Calculate to give this part a loud warning this winter, he is the
presiding Elder at Kirtland, and a very good man, and I believe we shall do
much good if we are humble enough.
I would further state that
Brother Oliver I am satisfied has no sinister motives in the above proposition
as he is burdened with his business Continually, this is the third time I have
visited him Since I Came from the west, and as far as I am able to judge he has
as much business as any other man of his profession, and perhaps double the
amount of any other in the District bar in both of Common pleas an in the
United States Court. he starts next monday for Columbus to attend the United
States Court where he has five or six Suits of importance. I feel an interest
in Brother Snyders Case and wish it might please you to get Brother Oliver to
go and with your permission I will accompany him, as it will be necessary for
some one to go with him now Dear Brethren dont feel to write send me a line
to Kirtland at the time you write to Brother Oliver, give my love to Brother
Joseph when you see him tell him I would Come to the Rocky mountains to
see him, and fight my way through an army of wild Cats on Missouri
mules and live on Skunks the whole journey if necessary God bless you all
Farewell from your unworthy brother in Christ. (Phineas
H. Young Letter, December 14, 1842, CHL call no.: CR 1234 1, emphasis in
bold added)
