Part 14 (1/2)
As we have seen, the man chosen to pioneer the work on Europe's sh.o.r.es, to lead the a.s.sault on Satan's strongholds in the old world, and wave back over the Atlantic to his chief the signal of truth triumphant among the nations, was Heber C. Kimball.
Speaking of those ”lesser lights” who went before him and his brethren and unwittingly helped them to establish Mormonism in the British Isles, Heber says, referring now to the mission of Elders Richards and Goodson to the city of Bedford:
”A minister by the name of Timothy R. Matthews, a brother-in-law to Joseph Fielding, received them very kindly, and invited them to preach in his church, which was accepted, and in it they preached several times, when a number, amongst whom were Mr. Matthews and his lady, believed their testimony, and the truths which they proclaimed. Mr.
Matthews had likewise borne testimony to his congregation of the truth of these things, and that they were the same principles that were taught by the Apostles anciently; and besought his congregation to receive the same. Forty of his members went forward and were baptized, and the time was appointed when he was to be baptized. In the interval, however, Brother Goodson, contrary to my counsel and positive instructions, and without advising with any one, read to Mr.
Matthews the vision seen by President Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, which caused him to stumble, and darkness pervaded his mind; so much so, that at the time specified he did not make his appearance, but went and baptized himself in the river Ouse; and from that time he began to preach baptism for the remission of sins. He wrote to Rev.
James Fielding saying that his best members had left him.”
”Mr. Matthews was a gentleman of considerable learning and talent. He had been a minister in the established church of England, but seeing many things in that church contrary to truth and righteousness, and feeling that an overturn was nigh at hand, and that the church was dest.i.tute of the gifts of the Spirit, and was not expecting the Savior to come to reign upon the earth, as had been spoken by the prophets; he felt led to withdraw from that body, and gave up his prospects in that establishment. He then began to preach the things which he verily believed, and was instrumental in raising up quite a church in that place.”
This of the Reverend Mr. Fielding, in Preston:
”Mr. James Fielding had been a minister in the Methodist Church, but for some of the above causes had withdrawn from that society, and had collected a considerable church in Preston. Those gentlemen, with their congregations at the time we arrived were diligently contending for that faith which was once delivered to the saints; but they afterwards rejected the truth. Notwithstanding they did not obey the Gospel, the greater portion of their members received our testimony, obeyed the ordinances we taught, and are now rejoicing in the blessings of the new and everlasting covenant.”
Of the Rev. Robert Aitken, the most famous of these reform ministers, Tullidge, our local historian, says:
”He seems to have been almost a Whitefield in his eloquence and magical influence over the people. He was emphatically the most popular 'new light' of the period in England. For years he had been preaching very successfully against 'the corruptions of the established church.' His mission had been quite a crusade against the English Episcopacy, and he had established many flouris.h.i.+ng chapels in Liverpool, Preston, Manchester, Burslem, London and elsewhere. In the metropolis he founded 'Zion's chapel' and what is interesting in the case was that his themes on the ancient prophecies and their fulfillment in 'these latter days' were very like what might have been heard from Alexander Campbell or the eloquent Sidney Rigdon, before as well as after he became a Mormon Elder. The Rev. Robert Aitken was also powerful in his 'warnings to the Gentiles,' and his sermons were often glorious outbursts of inspiration, when he dwelt upon the prospect of a latter-day church rising in fulfillment of the prophets.”
But the power and influence of this brilliant star were about to wane.
A greater luminary had arisen--the very Latter-day Church of which he had spoken--before whose rays the light of ”Zion's Chapel” must pale as pales the starlight before the morn.
Concerning this celebrated expounder of the Bible, and _pounder_ of the Book of Mormon--for such it seems he literally was--Apostle Kimball writes:
”Soon after our arrival in England, many of the Aitkenites embraced the Gospel, which caused considerable feeling and opposition in the ministers belonging to that sect. Having lost quite a number of members, and seeing that more were on the eve of being baptized, the Rev. Robert Aitken came to Preston, and gave out that he was going to put down Mormonism, expose the doctrines, and overthrow the Book of Mormon. He made a very long oration on the subject, was very vehement in his manner, and pounded the Book of Mormon on the pulpit many times. He then exhorted the people to pray that the Lord would drive us from their coast; and if the Lord would not hear them in that pet.i.tion, that He would smite the leaders.
”The next Sunday Elder Hyde and myself went to our meeting room, read the thirteenth chapter of first Corinthians, and strongly urged upon the people the grace of charity which is so highly spoken of in that chapter, and made some remarks on the proceedings of the Reverend Robert Aitken, who had abused us and the Book of Mormon so very much.
In return for his railing we exhorted the Saints to pray that the Lord would soften his heart and open his eyes that he might see that it was hard to 'kick against the p.r.i.c.ks.' This discourse had a very good effect, and that week we had the pleasure of baptizing fifty into the kingdom of Jesus, a large number of whom were members of Mr. Aitken's church.”
Thus did the sheep of Israel, straying in Idumean pastures, continue flocking back into the Master's fold. They knew the voice of their Shepherd when He called, and a stranger they would no longer follow.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE TEMPERANCE REFORM IN PRESTON--A WORK PREPARATORY TO THE GOSPEL--PREACHING IN THE ”c.o.c.k PIT”--HEBER WRITES HOME AN ACCOUNT OF HIS MISSION--THE WORK IN c.u.mBERLAND--EPISODE OF MARY SMITHIES--”SHE SHALL LIVE TO BECOME A MOTHER IN ISRAEL.”
One of the great movements in England, commenced just prior to the landing of the Elders, was the temperance reform. Undoubtedly this was a work preparatory to the advent of the Gospel, and one recognized as such, not only by the Elders, but by their converts connected with the temperance cause.
”In almost every place we went,” says Elder Kimball, ”where there was a temperance hall, we could get it to preach in, many believing that we made men temperate faster than they did; for as soon as any obeyed the Gospel they abandoned their excesses in drinking; none of us drank any kind of spirits, porter, small beer, or even wine; neither did we drink tea, coffee or chocolate.”
It is an interesting fact that this temperance movement began in Preston, where later was first proclaimed in Britain the glad tidings of the Gospel. Very fitting and appropriate, and quite in keeping with our theme, that the lesser movement should thus precede the greater, and from the same starting-point go forth preparing the way.
Herein, too, is sound Gospel philosophy. The spirit of the Lord and the demon of alcohol are essentially antagonistic. That which corrupts the body or darkens the mind, has nothing in common with Mormonism.
The Holy Ghost dwelleth not in unclean tabernacles. To be ready for the reception of that spirit which maketh manifest the things of G.o.d, and retain its light within the lamp of the soul, the heart must be pure, the mind unclouded, the body clean and undefiled.
On the first Sunday in September, 1837, the Saints in Preston commenced holding meetings in what was known as the ”c.o.c.k Pit.” It was a large and commodious place, capable of seating eight hundred persons, and situated in the center of the town. It had formerly been used by the sporting fraternity for the purpose indicated by its name, but recently had been converted into a temperance hall. Says Heber, describing this unique, historic edifice: