"DEPARTURE OF THE FIRST COMPANY OF THE SEASON. -- The first installment of this season's emigration left Liverpool, on the Guion S. S. Wyoming, on Saturday, April 19th, for the land of Zion. Early on the afternoon of that day, a meeting of the elders on board was called by President Budge, and held in one of the saloons of the vessel. Besides the missionaries released to return home with the company, there were present, President Budge and Elders John Nicholson, Francis Cope, James L. Buinting, George H. Taylor and Henry Rolapp.
The proceedings were opened with prayer, the president made a few preliminary observations and an organization of the company was effected by the election of the following officers, each nomination being sustained by a unanimous vote: for president, Charles W. Nibley; first and second counselors, Warren B. Smith and Royal B. Young; chaplain, Erastus W. McIntire; clerk, Walter J. Beatie.
President Budge gave some very timely and appropriate instructions, profitable to be acted upon by the brethren on the homeward journey, and expressed his good feelings toward the elders. He was followed briefly in remarks, by Elders Nicholson and Nibley. A good spirit, a brotherly and affectionate feeling, pervaded the little assemblage, which was dismissed by prayer from Elder Warren B. Smith.
Besides the officers, already named, the following returning elders are with the company: W. S. Burton, Daniel Jacobs, M. B. Wheelwright, John E. Metcalf, John R. Twelves, Joseph O. Young, Willard E. Weihe, W. D. Major. The company, besides the elders, numbers 157 persons, 132 of whom are English; 16 Welsh and 9 Scotch, making a total, including returning missionaries, of 170 souls.
Mr. Guion's agent, Mr. Ramsden, was indefatigable in his efforts to make all necessary arrangements for the comfort of the Saints, and in this he was highly successful. The portion of the vessel assigned to the company was fitted up in a manner highly commendable to his ability to render the situation as pleasant as possible, under the circumstances, for the people, while crossing the ocean in the good ship Wyoming, which is a very fine vessel. All the preliminaries preparatory to the company setting sail were arranged agreeably without obstacle.
The visitors to the vessel bid adieu to their friends who were about leaving and the ship steamed out of the Mersey within a couple of hours afterwards.
The Saints everywhere will unite with us in prayers to the God of Heaven that this detachment of his people may be preserved upon the sea and land, on their journey to the present gathering place of the Church of Christ."
MS 41:16 (April 21, 1879), pp.250-51
"Sat. 19 [Apr. 1879] -- The steamship Wyoming sailed from Liverpool, England, with 170 Saints, in charge of Charles W. Nibley. The company arrived at New York April 30th, and at Salt Lake City May 8th."
CC, p.103
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