Saturday, March 24, 1855.
To the Emigrating Saints.-- There is a subject of the gravest importance, pertaining to emigration, to which we wish to call the attention of the Saints, and that is, to let no consideration, no matter how important it may appear, ever induce them to embark on a ship themselves, or permit any of their families to do so, if they have been recently exposed to, and are thereby liable to be brought down by, the small pox, measles, or any other contagious disease, for in doing so they will not only greatly lessen the chances of living to those who have every reason to expect to be sick, but also be liable to be the means of spreading disease and death among all on board the ship. This is a great responsibility for anyone to incur, and we presume that no Latter-day Saint is so reckless in feeling as ever knowingly to run any risks in a matter involving such fearful consequences.
The Clara Wheeler was cleared as usual by a government officer, her passengers were examined by the doctor, and she put to sea apparently in a healthy condition. After being at sea some three days she was driven back, she lay in the Mersey a week, passed a second examination by the government doctor, and put to sea again in good condition, and yet 22 persons, mostly children, died of measles during the voyage, a mortality very unusual among a shipload of the Saints. This shows that no human sagacity can always foresee and prevent those evils.
We feel to urge upon the Saints the necessity of using the greatest diligence and caution in this matter, and expect the pastors and presidents of conferences to make it from time to time a portion of their instruction to the Saints pertaining to emigration. [p.184]
BIB: To the Emigrating Saints [Announcement], "Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 17:12 (March 24, 1855), p. 184.
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