Blackburn Ward History--1890-1900-Pick and Flower of England

A Corner of the Vineyard,
by Denise Johannsen

 Pick and Flower of England

The age of the motor car has arrived.  Little did mankind realise at this time the great impact this invention would have on the world.  The Boar War was raging in South Africa.  The face of Britain was changing.  The Victorians are at their peak of creativity, with hundred of inventors rushing to the patent office to register their latest contribution to society, hoping this particular invention would make them wealthy.

The inhabitants of Blackburn were still deprived of the basic amenities, sanitation being one of the biggest problems.  Scarlet fever, consumption, diphtheria, etc. were still prevalent.  For the poor, medical treatment was virtually none existent.

The saints were still emigrating in large numbers.  Blackburn saints were not exception.  In 1862, the author, Charles Dickens, had boarded on of the emigrant ships, full of Latter-day Saints, called the Amazon, which was bound for New York.   He watched men and women engage in industrious activity.  Whilst waiting to set sail, they were engaged in writing letters, making shoes, sewing, cleaning the tools of their trade and so forth.  He realized these were not the usual emigrants he was used to seeing.  They were special people.  Dickens was so moved by what he saw, as it was not what he had expected.  [He was] Intrigued by the stories in the press about the British Mormons going to America to strengthen their young Church.  They were so organized, clean, and obedient to their elected president, he was utterly amazed.  He wrote later, "I went on board their ship, to bare testimony against them if they deserved it, as I fully believed they would; to my great astonishment they did not deserve it.  I I had not known they were Mormons, I would have called them in their degree, "The Pick and Flower of England."

 The members of Blackburn, like members in other areas suffered persecution.  With abuse being hurled at them as they walked by.  Windows in their homes were smashed, beatings and many acts of hostility towards the saints was prevalent at this time.

Again they endured, standing firm in the faith, keeping the branch open, serving Heavenly Father and the Lord with all their might, mind and strength--just a few gardeners in the Lord's vineyard at this time, but the young olive tree was lovingly cared for as the buds that had recently formed began to open, and the fresh green leaves had begun to come forth.

Vineyard photo from FreeFoto.com