History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

WELSH, SCOTCH, AND IRISH PROSELYTES. 409
98, of priests to 182, of elders to 521, of teachers to
105, and of deacons to 128. 20
In Wales and Scotland the Mormons were at first
no less successful, the number of proselytes at the
close of 1852 being in the former country nearly
5,000, 21 22
and in the latter more than 3,000 but in
;
these countries also a reaction occurred, the number
of Welsh members at the close of 1878 having fallen
to 325 and of Scotch to 35 l. 23 In Ireland, as in other
catholic countries, their missionaries were regarded
with little favor, the converts mustering in 1852 only
245, though between 1846 and 1852 Ireland was
passing through the years of her sorest tribulation,
and those of her people who accepted Mormonism
Scotland, and Wales, and were well received. Taylor relates that the converts
were in the habit of getting up tea-parties, at which he was often requested
to sin a, one of the songs composed by himself being ' The Upper California,
O that's the land for me!' He also states that a marked feeling among the
English was the desire to emigrate. Reminiscences, MS., 18-19.
2U Millennial Star, xli. 1 10.
21 Millennial Star, xv. 78. On July 6, 1840, Henry Royle and Frederick
Cook were appointed to Flintshire, and on Oct. 30th a church of 32 members
was established there. Jas Burnham reported from Wrexham on Dec. 23,
1S40, that there were about 100 saints in that neighborhood. On Feb. 10,
1841, the 2 churches had an aggregate membership of 150. Utah Pioneers,
33d Ann., 26. In 1844 Elder Henshaw was in South Wales and meeting
with good success. Millennial Star, iv. 203. In 1845, Stratton and Henshaw
were in Wales, the latter preaching in the south the language of the country.
Capt. Dan. Jones was preaching in Wrexham. Times and Seasons, vi. 9S8-9.
Jones writes from Rhyd-y-bont, Feb. 7, 1846, that he has more places to preach
in than he can possibly attend to. Millennial Star, vii. 63. For several years
a periodical entitled The Ucbjorn Seion was published at Merthyr Tydvil, and
continued until emigration greatly reduced the numbers at the Welsh mission.
Richards' Bibliog. of Utah, MS., 9.
22 Alexander Wright and Samuel Mulliner were sent to Scotland in Dec.
1839, shortly after their arrival in England. At the beginning of March, they
had baptized a few converts at Paisley. Times and Seasons, i. 110; 0. Pratt,
in Utah Pioneers, 33d Ann., 26. At a general conference on Apr. 17, 1S40,
it was reported the Scotland branch had 3 elders and 21 members. Times and
Seasons, i. 120. Elder H. Clark left Liverpool for Scotland July 27, 1840.
Id., ii. 229. About May 1, 1840, Elder Orson Pratt was sent to Edinburgh.
Id.', ii. 91. At a conference at Glasgow April 6, 1841, the membership was
368. In 1842 Jno. McAuley was stationed there. In 1S43, Elder Jno. Cairns
was appointed to Scotland, and at the Glasgow conference of Nov. 5, 1843,
the membership had increased to 768. Id., ii. 191, iv. 129-30; Times and Seasons,
iv. 232. In 1845 Peter McCue was president of the Glasgow conference
and Jno. Banks of the one at Edinburgh. Millennial Star, v. 1S2-3. In
1S46 Franklin D. Richards was appointed to the presidency of the church in
Scotland, nssisted by his brother Samuel. Richards' Narr., MS., 27.
23 Millennial Star, xli. 110.