[William Clayton Journal] This morning there was an immense crowd at the reception room waiting for admission into the washing and anointing rooms. The brethren as they came along bearing Baskets, Pails and other vessels filled with all kinds of provisions, for the use of those who are attending on the ordinances of the Lord's House. The supply is much greater than the consumption . . .
A letter was received this morning from Mr. Tucker, the Catholic Priest, informing us that the Bishop could not raise money enough to purchase our property, but would either purchase or rent one of our public buildings but would not insure it against fire or mobs. A council was held in President Young's room, and the letter was taken into consideration. The result of the deliberations was that they would not answer the letter, and that the Catholics might go to hell their own way.
President B. Young, H. C. Kimball, P. P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, William Clayton and Peter Haws, were present at the council . . .
The High Council met at 6 o clock in room No. 10...Prayed as usual for President B. Young and his Council, for the defeat of our enemies, the continuation of the endowment, and for the general welfare of all the Saints.
The High Priests held three different meetings in Rooms No. 8 and 10 . . .
The three meetings were conducted by persons chosen in each one to preside and all the individuals in them were clothed in priestly apparel, and the greatest unanimity of feeling prevailed. The most prominent things prayed for were, the preservation of President B. Young and all the Twelve, and that the ordinances of the endowment might continue, until all the elders had received their washings and anointings and that the Saints might all be able to procure means by which they could remove from Nauvoo to the West in comfortable manner, and for the sick, that they may be healed and that God would disappoint our enemies in all their plans.
Mrs. Ann Maria Foster, wife of L. R. Foster, left the Temple about 6 o clock, and went home with her little boy, Lucian R. Foster Junr, having been in the Temple all the time since yesterday noon. Her little boy was quite sick when he came, but went away quite well. On Sunday last she brought him to the Temple also, and at the request of his Father, Elders H. C. Kimball, Brigham Young, and P. P. Pratt laid their hands upon him and asked the Lord to restore him to health, and pronounced upon him the blessings of life and health.
About 9 o clock this evening, Elders Heber C. Kimball, and his wife, Bishop Whitney and his wife, left the Temple and went to Joseph Kingsbury's, to remain until William Kimball should carry a load of persons, viz; L. R. Foster, Horace Whitney, and Mary Ellen Harris, to their respective homes, after which he returned and carried home his Father and Mother in the carriage, with the grey horses. Bishop Whitney and his wife went home also in the same carriage.
President Brigham Young left the Temple about 10 o clock, and went home, for the night.
This afternoon and evening the new altar was used, for the first time, and four individuals and their wives were sealed. The altar is about 2 1/2 feet high, and 2 1/2 feet long, and about one foot wide, rising from a platform about 8 or 9 inches high and extending out on all sides about a foot, forming a convenient place to kneel upon. The top of the altar and the kneeling place are covered with cusions of scarlet damask cloth. The sides of the upright part, or body of the altar are covered with white linen.
The Twelve and the Bishops with their wives, were present at the dedication this afternoon . . .
[source: George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
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