Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer, again visited Mr. Knight at Colesville, in the neighborhood of which a number of peo ple now were believers and desired to be baptized. Consequently a meeting was appointed for the coming Sabbath, and on the Saturday afternoon the brethren erected a dam across a stream of water which was convenient for the purpose of attending to the ordinance of baptism; but during the night a mob collected and tore down the dam, which hindered the brethren from carrying out their purpose on the Sabbath. A meeting, however, was held, at which Oliver Cowdery and others preached, and early on Monday morning, the brethren were on the alert, and had, before their enemies were aware of it, repaired the dam, when Oliver Cowdery baptized Emma Smith, Hezekiah Peck and wife, Joseph Knight and wife, William Stringham and wife, Joseph Knight, jun., Aaron Culver and wife, Levi Hall, Polly Knight and Julia Stringham. Before Elder Cowdery got through with baptizing, the mobbers again began to collect, and shortly after the brethren had left, they numbered about fifty men, who now surrounded the house of Mr. Knight, whither the Saints had retired, raging with anger, apparently very desirous of committing violence upon them. At length the brethren thought it advisable to leave and go to the house of Newel Knight; but also thither the mob followed them, and it was only by the exercise of great prudence on the part of the brethren and their reliance upon the Lord that they were preserved from violence.

They had appointed a meeting for the evening for the purpose of attending to the confirmation of those who had been baptized in the morning; but when the time appointed had arrived and most of the friends had gathered, who should step in but a constable, who at once arrested Joseph Smith on a charge of "being a disorderly person, of setting the country in an uproar by preaching the Book of Mormon." The constable, however, soon learned that Joseph was a different person to what his enemies

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had represented him to be, and he consequently befriended his prisoner by planning against the mob who lay in ambush by the roadside near Mr. Knight's house, ready to spring upon Joseph when the vehicle containing him and the constable should pass by. But the constable gave his horse the whip and soon outdistanced the mob, who followed in hot pursuit. The constable took his prisoner to the town of South Bainbridge, Chenango County, New York, where a court was convened on the following day for the purpose of investigating the charges which had been preferred against Joseph. Nothing, of course, could be proven against him, which greatly enraged his prosecutors, who finally managed to get out another warrant of arrest and thus made Joseph submit to another trial, this time at Colesville; but this also resulted in Joseph's acquittal, after which he had considerable trouble in escaping from his enemies and reaching his home in Harmony, in safety.

A few days later, however, Joseph again returned to Colesville, in company with Oliver Cowdery, for the purpose of confirming those who had been baptized, but they had scarcely arrived at Mr. Knight's house, when the mob was seen collecting together to oppose them, and the brethren found it advisable to leave for home at once. Their enemies pursued them, and it required all the ingenuity they could muster to escape them; but they finally managed to get home after having traveled all night, except a short time when they rested under a large tree by the roadside, sleeping and watching alternately. "Thus," writes Joseph, "were we persecuted on account of our religious faith-in a country, the Constitution of which guarantees to every man the indefeasible right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience—and by men, too, who were professors of religion, and who were not backward to maintain this privilege for themselves, though they thus wantonly could deny it to us."

Early in August, 1830, Newel Knight and his wife visited Joseph at his home

in Harmony, and as neither Joseph's nor Newel's wife had been confirmed members of the Church yet, it was proposed that a little confirmation and sacrament meeting be held. In order to prepare for this Joseph started out to procure some wine for the occasion, but had gone only a short distance when he was met by a heavenly messenger, and received the important revelation on Sacrament, which is found in the Doctrine and Covenants, section xxvii, and in obedience to which Joseph and his friends prepared some wine of their own make, and held their meeting, only five (Joseph and his wife, Newel Knight and wife, and John Whitmer) being present. The brethren now confirmed the two sisters (Emma Smith and Sally Knight) members of the Church, partook of the sacrament, and "spent the evening in aglorious manner.' Thus Newel Knight and his wife were the first confirmed members of the Colesville branch.

On Sunday, August 29th, Joseph, in company with John and David Whitmer, and Hyrum Smith, again started out for Colesville, the object of their visit being to confirm those who had been baptized in June previous. Well knowing the determined hostilities of their enemies, they had in earnest prayer asked the Lord that He would grant them an opportunity of meeting with their friends, that He would blind the eyes of their enemies so that they would not know them, and that His servants on this occasion might return unmolested. Their prayers were not in vain, for when within a short distance of Newel Knight's house they encountered a large company of men at work on the public road, among whom were several of their most bitter enemies, who looked earnestly at the brethren, but failed to recognize them. On the evening of that same day Joseph and his brethren called the newly baptized members of the Church together, confirmed them, partook of the sacrament with them, and held a pleasant meeting. Thus in the midst of persecutions, mobbings, and arrests, had the second branch of the true Church of Christ been organized in this dispensa

tion-a branch that was also destined to lead the van of all other branches in the great gathering in the last days.

The next morning, August 30th, Joseph and his companions set out on their return to Harmony, and although their enemies had offered a reward of five dollars to any one who would give them information of the arrival of Mormons in Colesville, they left the neighborhood without the least annoyance, and arrived home in safety. Soon after they had left, however, the mob heard of their visit, when they immediately collected together, and began to threaten the Saints, who during a whole day were subjected to insults and annoyances.

Soon after the second Conference of the Church, held in September, 1830, at Fayette, Hyrum Smith moved with his family to Colesville, to live with Newel Knight, but most of his time, as well as that of Newel Knight, was spent in the surrounding villages, preaching the Gospel wherever they could find any who would listen to them either in public or private. A few believed and were baptized, among whom was Emer Harris, a brother of Martin Harris, who subsequently proved to be a useful laborer in the vineyard.

By December following, the members of the Church in Western New York had increased to about seventy souls, who lived in a scattered condition for a distance of about eighty miles, extending from Colesville to Canandaigua, New York.

The year 1831 dawned upon the Colesville branch with bright prospects, although the persecutions continued to rage against the Saints there as well as in other places. On the second of January 1831, the Church held its third conference at Fayette, on which occasion the Saints were first instructed as a people to begin the gathering of Israel, accord ing to a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph at that same time, in which the Lord says (Doc. & Cov. xxxviii, 17-20):

"I have made the earth rich; and be hold it is my footstool; wherefore, again, I will stand upon it. And I hold forth,

and deign to give unto you greater riches, even a land of promise, a land flowing with milk and honey, upon which there shall be no curse when the Lord cometh; and I will give it, unto you for the land of your inheritance, if you seek it with all your hearts; and this shall be my covenant with you: Ye shall have it for the land of your inheritance, and for the inheritance of your children forever, while the earth shall stand, and ye shall possess it again in eternity, no more to pass away."

Newel Knight, after returning home from the conference, together with the other members of the Colesville branch, in obedience to the revelation just given, now began to make preparations to emigrate to Ohio, where a large branch of the Church had been raised up by Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, and their missionary companions the previous fall. Joseph Smith, with his family, started for Kirtland, Ohio, in the latter part of January, 1829, and the Colesville Saints soon followed, and afterwards continued their journey to Missouri. The following account of their travels is from the pen of Newel Knight, the leader of the company, as previously published in "Scraps of History:"

"As might be expected, we were obliged to make great sacrifices of our property. The most of my time was occupied in visiting the brethren, and helping to arrange their affairs, so that we might travel together in one company. Having made the best arrange. ments we could for the journey, we bade adieu to all we held dear on this earth, and in the early part of April started for our destination.

"We had proceeded but a few days on our journey when I was subpoenaed as a witness, and had to go to Colesville. On arriving there it was very evident that this plan had been adopted by our enemies to add a little more to the persecutions already heaped upon us. The whole company declined traveling until I should return.

"Soon after I left, my aunt, Electa Peck, fell and broke her shoulder in a most shocking manner; a surgeon was

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called to relieve her sufferings, which were very great. My aunt dreamed that I had returned and laid my hands upon her, prayed for her, and she was made whole and pursued her journey with the company. She related this dream to the surgeon who replied, 'If you are able to travel in many weeks, it will be a miracle, and I will be a Mormon too.'

"I arrived at the place where the company had stopped, late in the evening; but on learning of the accident, I went to see my aunt, and immediately on my entering the room she said: 'Oh, Brother Newel, if you will lay your hands upon me, I shall be well and able to go on the journey with you.' I stepped up to the bed, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, rebuked the pain with which she was suffering, and commanded her to be made whole; and it was done; for the next morning she arose, dressed herself, and pursued the journey with us.

"We arrived at Buffalo without any further trouble, where we were to take passage on board a sloop for Fairport, Ohio. But the wind blew from the lake and filled the harbor with ice, so that we were detained nearly two weeks. When we set sail on the lake, the wind continued boisterous, and the vessel was tossed about in such a manner that nearly all the company were sea-sick, which made it rather a disagreeable voyage. We arrived safely, however, at our destination.

"On our arrival it was advised that the Colesville branch remain together, and go to a neighboring town called Thompson, as a man by the name of Copley had a considerable tract of land there which he offered to let the Saints occupy, Consequently a contract was agreed upon, and we commenced work in good faith. But in a short time Copley broke the engagement, and I went to Kirtland to see Brother Joseph, and to attend conference, which had been appointed to be held on the 6th of June, 1831.

"Conference convened. The elders from various parts of the country where they had been laboring came in, and the power of the Lord was displayed in our

midst. A number were ordained to the Melchisedek Priesthood, and the hearts of the Saints rejoiced in the rich blessings bestowed upon them.

"We now understood that this was not the land of our inheritance-the land of promise, for it was made known in a revelation that Missouri was the place chosen for the gathering of the Church, and several were called to lead the way to that state.

"A revelation was also given concerning the gathering, on the receipt of which we, who constituted the Colesville branch, immediately set to preparing for our journey, and on the third day of June I took passage with the Colesville company at Wellsville, Ohio, and arrived at St. Louis, Missouri, on the 13th. On the 18th we took passage on the steamer Chieftain for Independence.

"My mother's health was very poor, and had been for a considerable time, yet she would not consent to stop traveling; her only, or her greatest desire, was to set her feet upon the land of Zion, and to have her body interred in that land. I went on shore and bought lumber to make a coffin in case she should die before we arrived at our place of destination-so fast did she fail. But the Lord gave her the desire of her heart, and she lived to stand upon that land, where we arrived on the twenty-fifth of June.

"This was the first branch of the Church which had emigrated to the land

of Zion. I found it required all the wisdom I possessed to lead the company through so long a journey in the midst of their enemies, yet so great were the mercies and blessings of God to us, that not one of us was harmed.

"Brothers Joseph Smith, jun., Sidney Rigdon, Martin Harris, Edward Partridge, Wm. W. Phelps, Joseph Coe, and A. S. Gilbert and wife, had started for Missouri on the nineteenth of June, 1831, and arrived at Independence about the middle of July. We were glad to find these brethren in good health and spirits, and it was indeed a joy to meet them once more.

"But our feelings can be better imag ined than described, when we found ourselves upon the western frontiers. The country itself presented a pleasant aspect, with its rich forests bordering its beautiful streams, and its deep, rolling prairies spreading far and wide, inviting the hand of industry to establish for itself homes upon its broad bosom. And this was the place where the Lord had promised to reveal unto us where Zion should be established-where the New Jerusalem should be built up; and our hearts went forth unto the Lord desiring the fulfilment, that we might know where to bestow our labors profitably. We had not long to wait, for during the month the Lord gave a revelation to Brother Joseph designating the spot."

Andrew Jenson.

Gone now the glory of day, Earths shadows deeper grow;

Yet ever beyond, above,

The stars more brightly glow.

I am drawing near the brink,

Trembling I grope my way; And in mortal dread oft shrink, With scarcely voice to pray.

While before my fading eyes,
A land I can discern,
Far beyond the river's rise,

For which my soul doth yearn.

Precious thought, most doubly sweet
To comfort, solace, cheer;
To stay our tottering feet,
While yet we linger here.
Ah, what can fathom this!

To pass unconscious o'er
Into pure heavenly bliss,

From death's dark troubled shore. And to know in whom we trust, As on the brink we stand, And thro' faith o'er gloomy dust, Behold the Promised Land. L. M. Hewlings.

game; and the good sportsman can mark the year by a calendar of his hunts. I invite a few of my friends to accompany me on a day's quest for butterflies, which are now at their best. Ah, some of you show little pleasure or approval; is the game too small, think you? or do you foresee nothing exciting in the chase,

Fig. 1.

or satisfying in the capture? Well, trust me and come; if this be your first "out" of the kind, the air of novelty will be refreshing to you; and there will be found ample opportunity for the exhibition of skill. I have hunted butterflies in company with good riflemen, and crack shots with the smooth-bore arms, men who

and gracefully floated beyond range. But we hope to be successful today; let us prepare our hunting outfit and make an early start. First see that the nets are in order. This one (figure 1) is fastened to a ring of brass wire, and provided with a handle. The ring should be about twelve inches in diameter; the handle of light material, and about thirty inches long. It is well to fasten the ring to a ferrule which can be affixed to the handle or removed therefrom at pleasure; thus we can carry the net on our way to and from the hunting ground without attracting such marked attention. The net itself may be made of mosquito netting; this I find to be cheaper and

Fig. 2.

feel sure of their game if once wellsighted; hunters, at whose word of command stop short the bounding buck, and the swirring quail, and such as these have I seen rushing madly over brush and stone, beating the air and lashing the ground with their nets, while the insect

Fig. 3.

better than any of the higher grade gauzes or muslins. As this netting is now made of so many colors, an expression of choice of tint is in order; white is best; next to that comes pale green; for other colors we have no use in our present purpose. The net should be in length, about twice the diameter of the ring. It should be sewn to a stout band of calico, and this then be affixed to ring: a net so made is far more durable than if sewn directly about the metal. If the netting be new, let it be softened by a thorough washing

There are many other kinds of insectnets; a very serviceable net-frame may be made as follows. Procure a piece of unsplit cane, such as is used by upholsterers; a piece about seven feet in length, and in thickness equal to your little finger will be best suited: soak the cane for a space of two feet near the middle, till it becomes very flexible; this soaking is best done by tying the ends of the