voo.

Bennett organized the Nauvoo Legion, and was elected Major
General. Through his influence, backed by Douglass, arms were
obtained for the Legion from the government. A Free Mason's
lodge, and the privileges of Masonry, were extended to the
Legion. Judge Cleveland, of Springfield, was very friendly, and
frequently visited the Prophet. A fine Masonic lodge was built in
Nauvoo, and many were admitted as members. The Prophet Joseph and
Hyrum Smith held high positions in the brotherhood.

The institution flourished during our stay in Nauvoo, and was
frequently visited by the Grand Worshipful Master from Springfield;
lectures were given and a library established. I was librarian of
the order. I was also Wharf Master of the city, and held the
position of Major in the Nauvoo Legion; also, I commanded the
escort in the Fifth Infantry. I was made the general clerk and
reader for the Seventies, and issued the laws to that body. I
held the office of a Seventy, and was collector of the delinquent
military tax.

The same fall I was appointed on a committee, with Brigham as
counselor, to build a hall for the Seventies, the upper story to
be used for the Priesthood and the Council of Fifty. Previous to
my being appointed on the committee two committees had been
named, but accomplished nothing. We commenced without a dollar.
My plan was to build it by shares, of the value of five dollars
each.

Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch, told me that he would give the
Patriarchal Blessing to any that labored on the foundation of the
building. The Seventies numbered about four hundred and ninety
men. I was to create the material. That is, when I could get a
contract to take lumber from the river, as rafts would land at
the city, I would take common laboring men, and the portion of
the lumber that we got for our pay we piled up for the building.
In this way we got all the lumber needed. The bricks we made
ourselves, and boated the wood to burn them and our lime from the
island.

In the month of March, 1844, we had the building up on the west
side nearly two stories high. One day when the wall was built up
nine feet high and forty-five feet long, and was, of course,
green, a tornado blew the wall down, breaking columns and joists
below, doing a damage of several thousand dollars. I was inclined
to be down in the lip, but Brigham laughed at me, and said it was
the best omen in the world; it showed that the devil was mad,
knowing that the Se