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Letter from Orson Hyde, 28 September 1840

Source Note

, Letter, , NJ, to “Dear Brethren” (including JS), [, Hancock Co., IL], 28 Sept. 1840. Featured version published in Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1840, 204–205. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.

Historical Introduction

On 28 September 1840, wrote to JS and other leaders in , Illinois, reporting on his recent proselytizing efforts. On 6 April 1840, Hyde spoke to a general of the church in Nauvoo of an earlier prophecy that he “had a great work to perform among the Jews” and afterward stated his intention to undertake a mission to preach to the Jews. He proposed to visit and gather information from Jews in , , , Constantinople, and the Holy Land, a plan the conference approved. At another session of the conference two days later, apostle was appointed to accompany Hyde, and the two men departed Nauvoo a week later. Hyde and Page made their way eastward, procuring funds for their trip and proselytizing en route. They spent much of the time separated, and Hyde eventually traveled through Europe and on to alone.
On 28 April, and wrote from , Illinois, to the editors of the church’s newspaper, Times and Seasons, regarding their travels and the results of their proselytizing efforts up to that point. Hyde wrote to the newspaper again from Franklin, Ohio, on 7 July. Page wrote to JS and church members in Nauvoo about his recent travels on 23 September, five days before Hyde wrote this 28 September letter. In this letter, Hyde described the events of his mission beginning with his separation from Page in at the end of August. Hyde related the details of his journey through and , noting his own successes and the efforts of other missionaries in developing church throughout the area, especially in and , Pennsylvania.
The original letter is apparently not extant. The version featured here was published in the 1 November 1840 issue of the Times and Seasons.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes and Discourse, 6–8 Apr. 1840.

  2. [2]

    Orson Hyde and John E. Page, Quincy, IL, 28 Apr. 1840, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, June 1840, 1:116–117.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  3. [3]

    “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1842, 3:761–763.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  4. [4]

    Orson Hyde and John E. Page, Quincy, IL, 28 Apr. 1840, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, June 1840, 1:116–117; Orson Hyde, Franklin, OH, 7 July 1840, Letter, Times and Seasons, Aug. 1840, 1:156–157.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  5. [5]

    Letter from John E. Page, 23 Sept. 1840.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter from Orson Hyde, 28 September 1840 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 105 [205]

home, and also, that all Europe is in commotion, and on the eve of breaking out in open hostilities; and also, the tree of liberty which has long flourished in the Republican soil of , has been girdled, and her green foliage which has shielded and protected the sons of oppression from the scorching rays of despotic power, already begins to wither like the accursed fig-tree. What language do these speak to the saints? “lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth near.”
I came on and met with the saints in , Pa. and labored there about one week with , where we added six to their number.— is a kind hearted faithful laborer in the vineyard, his blessings are great. As the evening Sunbeams tinge the distant landscapes with a golden hue, so his name shall reflect honor upon those with whom he may be connected in the bonds of the covenant. is a good yoke-fellow with him. I preached about one week in and twelve.— Came on to this place with brothers and and held a two days meeting at which sixteen were baptized, baptism administered by . There is truly a great prospect here.— If three or four , like unto Br. , could be sent here, great good would undoubtedly be done. would be welcomed by hundreds to this country again, will he not come? It requires good faithful and able men here, and every where else. Br. Ivins will give you more particulars about the people in this country. I shall return to in a few days where I expect to meet , and then, if the Lord will, after holding a few meetings in this country, we shall proceed on to , there take ship and sail over the seas. We were in hopes of sailing earlier: but it has been impossible to get away from the people any sooner. I have a great desire that some able defenders of the faith, should be sent into this country. There are many populous towns and cities here, and we want men who are able to stand up and declare the whole counsel of God.
I have preached this day to a large audience in the woods. At our meeting was an old gentleman who accused me of lying in my preaching, and interrupted the discourse. He was so badly intoxicated that he could not tell a lie from a bottle of rum. He was soon taken off the ground by the civil authority. Here we had a fair specimen of the depravity of that spirit and heart that oppose the work of God. The minister in the pulpit, the profane person, the thief, the liar, and the drunkard wallowing in filth and mire, all join to put down the truth and accuse the servants of the Lord of lying, etc. What an honorable, worthy and pious company, they, all actuated by one spirit, serving one Master, traveling the same road, and going to the same hell!! If ever there was a time when the trump of repentance ought to be sounded in the ears of sectarian priests and drunkards, it is now. But the day is at hand when these agents of the “lower house” will be called in, and the truth of Heaven roll forth in glory and fill the whole earth. Roll on thy kingdom, O Lord! Hasten thou the day when truth shall triumph in the earth. Brethren, God bless you all. pray for us, and we will do the same for you.
Farewell.
. [p. 105 [205]]
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Page 105 [205]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Orson Hyde, 28 September 1840
ID #
574
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D7:405–409
Handwriting on This Page
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Footnotes

  1. [5]

    Hyde was referring to escalating European tensions relating to the Egyptian-Ottoman War. Over the preceding decades, Muhammad (Mehmet) Ali Pasha of Egypt had been continually expanding his control of Ottoman territory through successive military campaigns. By 1840 the Ottoman Empire was on the brink of total defeat by Muhammad Ali, and on 15 July 1840, Britain, Russia, Prussia, and the Austrian Empire signed a treaty called the Convention of London. This treaty offered support to the Ottoman Empire provided that Muhammad Ali accept permanent control of Egypt, Sudan, and the Eyalet of Acre and that these territories remain officially part of the Ottoman Empire. Disagreement within the European nations about how to handle the situation, in addition to the threat of France entering the conflict in support of Muhammad Ali, resulted in the tensions Hyde described. After Muhammad Ali refused to accept the terms of the treaty, British and Austrian military forces moved against Muhammad Ali’s troops in Syria and Alexandria in September 1840—shortly before Hyde wrote this letter. (Bartle, “Bowring and the Near Eastern Crisis of 1838–1840,” 761–774; Karsh and Karsh, Empires of the Sand, 36–38.)

    Bartle, G. F. “Bowring and the Near Eastern Crisis of 1838–1840.” English Historical Review 79, no. 313 (Oct. 1964): 761–774.

    Karsh, Efraim, and Inari Karsh. Empires of the Sand: The Struggle for Mastery in the Middle East, 1789–1923. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1999.

  2. [6]

    See Matthew 21:19–21.

  3. [7]

    See Luke 21:28.

  4. [8]

    Probably the Brandywine branch of the church—located in West Nantmeal, Chester County, Pennsylvania—where Lorenzo Barnes presided over a conference on 18 July 1840. The Brandywine branch was a large congregation, reporting 107 members “in good standing.” (“Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1840, 2:206.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  5. [9]

    In September 1838, Barnes was appointed by the high council at Adam-ondi-Ahman, Missouri, to serve a mission to the southern and eastern United States. He built up the branch of the church in Chester County in 1839 and 1840. (JS History, vol. B-1, addenda, 7; Lorenzo Barnes, Wilmington, DE, 8 Sept. 1839, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:27–28; Lorenzo Barnes, Philadelphia, PA, 5 May 1840, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, June 1840, 1:117.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  6. [10]

    Snow left Nauvoo on 28 April 1840 for a proselytizing mission to the eastern United States. He returned to Nauvoo by the end of October 1840. (Erastus Snow, Nauvoo, IL, 31 Oct. 1840, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, 15 Nov. 1840, 2:221.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  7. [11]

    Hyde described these baptisms of sixteen new church members as occurring in “this place,” implying Burlington County, from where he was writing the letter. However, Snow recorded in his journal that he “went with elders Orson Hyde and Barns to cream rid[g]e Monmouth Co New Jersey where we held a meeting 3 days and baptised 16 persons.” (Snow, Journal, 1838–1841, 91.)

    Snow, Erastus. Journals, 1835–1851; 1856–1857. CHL. MS 1329, box 1, fds. 1–3.

  8. [12]

    James began his proselytizing mission on 15 May 1839 and spent at least the next four months traveling through the eastern United States, primarily in Monmouth County, New Jersey, and also in Pennsylvania and New York. (Samuel James, ca. 9 Aug. 1839, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, Jan. 1840, 1:44–45; John P. Greene, Monmouth Co., NJ, 10 Sept. 1839, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:28.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  9. [13]

    Probably Charles or James Ivins, brothers who lived in New Jersey. Charles was a member of a committee to raise funds in the area to assist with church publications. (Parley P. Pratt et al., New York City, NY, to “the Church of Jesus Christ,” Commerce, IL, 19 Feb. 1840, in Times and Seasons, Mar. 1840, 1:70–71.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  10. [14]

    Hyde apparently returned to Chester County, where he had spent a week prior to traveling to Philadelphia. Edward Hunter later reported being baptized by Hyde at his home in West Nantmeal on 8 October 1840. (Hunter, Edward Hunter, 52–53.)

    Hunter, William E. Edward Hunter: Faithful Steward. [Salt Lake City]: Mrs. William E. Hunter, 1970.

  11. [15]

    Five days earlier, Page wrote that he believed Hyde was already in New York. (Letter from John E. Page, 23 Sept. 1840.)

  12. [16]

    At a “Special Conference” of the church in Nauvoo in April 1842, during which Page was reprimanded for separating from Hyde and therefore not journeying with him to Europe and the Holy Land, Page said that the original plan was to set sail on 25 July 1840 but that local church members pressured Hyde and Page to linger, delaying their departure. (“Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1842, 3:761–762.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  13. [17]

    In a letter dated 31 October 1840, Snow wrote of the local population’s interest in hearing sermons: “Calls for preaching are very numerous, and indeed, all eastern Pennsylvania is literally crying out ‘come and help us,’ ‘send us preachers,’ &c. and on the other side of the Delaware it is the same. Prospects are very flattering through all that country.” (Erastus Snow, Nauvoo, IL, 31 Oct. 1840, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, 15 Nov. 1840, 2:221.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

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