Joseph A. Benton Collection

I am now so well that I think I am not presuming on Providence – but rather trusting to the Divine Goodness in looking forward to days of health & serious undertakings, & some accomplishings [accomplishments]. I have requested my brother to order for me several additional periodicals and newspapers. It is not improb-able that erelong I may try to start a paper of some sort at Sac^to City [Sacramento City] – but it is so far in future – & so indefinite as to admit of no statement of par-ticulars. Brother Willey here favors the project & will help it on. Bro. Hunt & the rest – I presume will do the same. I shall be trammeled by nobody, it I undertake anything of the kind. More of this hereafter.

If it has not already gone along, I trust the next Steamer will bring – at least – a small box for me, as I requested of your goodness. As to buildings &c. [etc.] about which I wrote last month – I care comparatively little about the house proper – – but the smaller one – the office – I should be very glad to see. If the house comes alone – of course – I do not regret it in the least – it will be all the better – though the small building might do – and would be very much cheaper. They say that lumber – by the cargo – has become quite cheap up our way – but here it is still 400 Dollars per M. feet – with Santa Cruz, a lumber-region, only 60 miles off.

Very exciting news is just now coming down from the Southern mines. It may all be true – but is probably one of the early spring cards – not the "last cards" by any means – of the traders in that vicinity, who would no doubt be happy to see new customers.

My letters being all above – for the last two months – I can not reply to any-thing they may contain. I hope to see them erelong. You will hear from me by the first mail after I get home – I think it will be semi-monthly henceforth. I find no letters in the last arrival of Evangelists. Mr. B. should have received at least two – one by the Steamer leaving here Nov. 1^st – one by that of Dec. 1^st 1^st both were regularly sent.

March 1^st 4 P. M. I suppose the Steamer is on her way. She will be here in the morning early. To-night [Tonight] the office closes. I expect to leave early in the week for San F. [San Francisco] and home. I get stronger every day. I am sorry to say that Bro. Willey's wife is quite sick. I am more alarmed about her symptoms than the rest seem to be. Will you please forward this line to my brother if he is not in your city, & will not be soon. The people here are about to order 7 or 800 volumes of books for a public library. They have collected 1200 Dollars for the purpose. Mr. Willey & others also send for a Chapel 30 x 56 feet – they forward 500 Dollars toward it now. Mr. T. O. Larkin – 17 years in the country – a millionaire – is going home to Boston this month. He will be lionized awhile, I presume. My best love to your family & friends. I hope to hear often.

Faithfully Yours – J. A. Benton.

Laying of Corner-Stone Sac^to [Sacramento] Sept. 1850,

1 "O Thou, whose own vast temple stands." "Built over earth and over sea," Accept the work that human hands Have here now begun to rear for thee.

2 In vain Divinest Architect The builders [builder's] strength & beauty gives bring Unless thy mighty arm thou build; & thou protect, Beneath the shelter spreading of thy wing.

3 Oh here to thee may let temples stand rise And here reveal thy mercies sure be heard sweet mercys [mercy's] voice, While peaceful heaving seas shall gird the land stars shall gem the mid night [midnight] skies And rivers flow vallies [valleys] bloom – & hills endure rejoice.

5 Precious, Elect, great Corner Stone, Grant us thy temple here to be, While we by faith, & one by one, As lively Stones are built on thee!

4 All sure foundations, Glorious God. Rest firm on thee; and aye endure, Though devious paths of life While Rivers flow & vales are trod And evil hearts thoughts to ruin lure. While pleasant paths to heav'n [heaven] are trod By men devout, with conscience pure;

Style of building one of our sources of kn. [knowledge] of climate, cond-ition &c. [etc.] of a country & people People of Siam – Arabia – Switzerland, England, &c. [etc.]

— [centered]

Religious structures – or t. [the] want of them esp. [especially] speak volumes. No temples = Fetichists [Fetishists], Indians, Britons, &c. [etc.]

Grotesque ones = Most pagans, Budhists [Buddhists].

Splendid ones = Mohammedans, & Greeks &c [etc.] – Catholics &c. [etc.] — [centered] The more cultivated, refined, & Spiritual men become – they think less of pomp & noise & dis-play in worship.

[written lightly in pencil] Earliest worship in Bible &c. [etc.] — [centered] We have worshiped out of doors – under trees – in tabernacles – amid all changes – & to-day [today] are here &c. [etc.] ~

[top right of page] Sacramento City Feby [February] 3^rd 1851

Rev^nd J. A. Benton

Dear Brother

The undersigned ap= pointed [appointed] a Committee by the first Ecclesiastical Church and Eccl. [Ecclesiastical] Society of Sacramento City, to Confer with You, in relation to Your permanent location as Pastor of Sensi Church and Society, take pleasure in inviting You to become the Pastor of the Church over whose interests You have watched with so much Solicitude, and we unanimously and earnestly request Your acceptance of that im=portant [important] trust, which we assure You will be a Source of great gratification to the Society.

Should You accept the invitation hereby tendered we propose in behalf of the Society to Secure to You the payment of Thirty Six [Thirty-six] hundred Dollars per Annum, of which Sum the use of the parsonage shall be estimated at Six hundred Dollars.

Your affectionate Brethren,

{A. D. Carpenter A. C. Sweetser [Albion C. Sweetser] J. W. Hinks} Comm [Committee] of the Church -------------------------------------------------------------------- {W. C. Waters [W. C. Walters] James C. Zabriskie} Comm [Committee] of the Society

Rev. J. A. Benton Present.