, 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.
said that if there were any body else, they would have no objections in being ; they said if Mr [George G.] Cookman would say it was true, that they would obey the 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 — 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 [leave]— 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 to <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 [p. 120]