, Letter, , to JS, , Philadelphia Co., PA, 24 Dec. 1839. Featured version copied [between Apr. and June 1840] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 119–122; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.
Historical Introduction
On 24 December 1839, wrote a letter from to JS, who was then visiting the in and surrounding areas. Though Foster was traveling with the church’s delegation to the federal government, he was not an official member of that group. Instead, he had been asked to accompany , who was recovering from malaria. Foster wrote in a later reminiscence that after JS and left for Philadelphia, Foster remained in Washington in order “to take care of Mr. Rigdon; and also to wait upon every preacher in the city.” In this letter, Foster briefly updated JS on Rigdon’s health and described his own proselytizing efforts, including an encounter with Reverend George G. Cookman, a prominent Methodist minister in the city.
JS received the letter a few days after sent it and responded on 30 December. Foster’s original letter is not extant. copied the version featured here into JS Letterbook 2 sometime between April and June 1840.
The English-born Cookman immigrated to the United States in 1825 and in 1838 moved to Washington DC, where he led the congregation at Wesley Chapel. Seven days after Foster wrote this letter, the United States Senate appointed Cookman as its chaplain, a position he held until he perished at sea in March 1841. (Ridgaway, Life of the Rev. Alfred Cookman, 19–20, 31, 63, 65, 72–76, 81; Journal of the Senate of the United States, 26th Cong., 1st Sess., 31 Dec. 1839, 68.)
Ridgaway, Henry B. The Life of the Rev. Alfred Cookman; with Some Account of His Father, the Rev. George Grimston Cookman. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1873.
Journal of the Senate of the United States of America, Being the First Session of the Twenty-Sixth Congress, Begun and Held at the City of Washington, December 2, 1839, and in the Sixty-Fourth Year of the Independence of the Said United States. Washington DC: Blair and Rives, 1839.
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 & also one to ; but our case is not mentioned at all, 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 Roads 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 too hard, for he is a faithful Soul— In all your letters to 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
President Martin Van Buren sent his annual message to Congress on 24 December 1839. The president’s message (after 1942 commonly referred to as the State of the Union Address) is mandated by article 2, section 3, of the United States Constitution. The church’s delegation to Washington DC was awaiting the publication of this message, which was delayed by a dispute in the House of Representatives. (Message from the President of the United States, Senate doc. no. 1, 26th Cong., 1st Sess. [1839]; Letter to Seymour Brunson and Nauvoo High Council, 7 Dec. 1839.)
Message from the President of the United States, to the Two Houses of Congress, at the Commencement of the First Session of the Twenty-Sixth Congress. December 24, 1839. Senate Doc. no. 1, 26th Cong., 1st Sess. (1839).
According to a Washington DC newspaper, heavy snow had closed railroad lines from the nation’s capital to New England, resulting in a “complete interruption of the mails.” (News Item, Madisonian [Washington DC], 25 Dec. 1839, [3].)