1873 RLDS General Conference Minutes - Latter Day Truthlatterdaytruth.org/pdf/100322.pdf ·...

ANNUAL . ~ONFEREN~H,

.JESuS CHRIST 0]' LATTER DAY SAINTS,

PLANO, KENDALL CO., . ILLS.,

I)LA~O:

Pcf\LISHlW BY THE REORGANIZED CHURCH OF LATTKR DAY SAINTS.

18"'3.

www.LatterDayTruth.org

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL

HELD AT PLANO, ILL., APRIL 6th, 1873.

The Annual Conference of the He-I The Sacrament was then administerorganized Church of Jesus Christ of ed, and the remainder of the session Latter Day Saints, convened at the was spent in a social way; many bearSaints' Meeting-house, Plano, Kendal~ ing strong testimony to the truth of Co., Illinois, at 10 A.M., April 6, 1873. the gospel, and the knowledge given

Conference was called to order by them by obedience to the truth. The President Joseph Smith, and Elders solemnity of the Spirit rested upon the Wm. H. Kelley, Duncan Campbell, assembly, and joy gladdened the hearts and Alexander H. Smith, were ap-I of the Saints. pointed Secretary, and Clerks of Con-l EVENING SESSION. ference. !

Meeting was opened by singing; I Elder Josiah Ells led in prayer; after which prayer was offered by Elder I after whigh Elder Jason W. Briggs E. O. Briggs. . addressed the Conference, from the

The President announced, that as text, "And the Truth shall make you this was the Sabbath, business matters free," in .connection with, "Thy word would be deferred until Monday, andlis Truth." the day be devoted to preaching the On motion, Conference adjourned word. I until Monday, April 7th, 9 A.M.

On motion, President Joseph Smith was reque.sted to address the Confer- . ---ence in the forenoon. He spoke ef-I MONDAY, APRIL 7TH. fectively from the words, "What isl Truth." I MORNING SESSION.

I Benedic(;ion, by Elder W m. H. Kel-I

On motion, President Joseph Smith ey. was appointed President of Conference.

A}'TERNOON SESSION. S· db· . S . db· . th erVlCes opene y smgmg; prayer

erVlCes commence y smgmg e b the President. 169th hymn; prayer was offered by YI b . £' h P . P 'd t J h S ·th t emg necessary lor t e resIdent

reSI en osep mI. t b b t Eld -CIT W BI . Eld W ... ..,. BI' d R H It 0 e a sen, er H. • aIr was ers .. H. aIr an .. 0 called to the chair.

were· then gIven charge of the meetmg, Th . t f th S . A I d B N th . I T' kh I e mmu es 0 e eml- nnua

aMn k rEnl·· h a

G anCle I m damS" t ra Conference of 1872 were then read by

I ac, IS a x. U ver, an 18 ers th S t d t db' AI" W·I d JOB h e ecre ary, an accep e y motIon. Ice l.son .an . .. arues, w ~ It was then

were baptIzed m the mornmg by PreSI- . dent Jos h S 'th . fi d I Resolved, That no ODe be permitted to

ep ml; were eon rI?e , speak more than once on the same subject; under the hands of Elders E. C. BrIggs until all others, who may deSire, shall and Wm. H. Kelley, ha.ve spoken.


2 GENERAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE MINUTES, 1873.

DISTRICT REPORTS WERE THEN READ. during the past year. There is but little

Th P . D' . preaching done, compared with what there e ottawattomm lstnot, reported should be withthe uumberg,f ,elders in it;

by letter, as follows;- but there is more of an acLive spirit among "Seven Branches, viz: Council Bluffs, them now than there has been hitherto. I

Crescent City, North Pigeon, Boomer, think, if some one co.n, be, sent from ~he Wheeler's Grove, Eight :Mile Grove, and Conferenoe to take charge 'of affairs and Union; Officials, 1 High Priest, 5 of the ~abor with us, that. good .will result from Seventy, 44 Elders, 8 Priests,\) Teachers, It; for members WIll receIve counsel from i Deacons, Bnd ,225 members; total 34\l. one from abroad sooner than, from those

,. Since last report 6 have been baptized, rs;is~damong, them, and, they, are mo~e 21 received by letter, 1 removed' by letter, WIllIng to help such. L. F. West, Presl-6 cut off, 6 died, 2 marriages, and \) chil- dent of District." dren blessed. Fifty are scattered' in the St. Louis Distriot reported bv let-district. Ja:mes Caffal, President: Fred· ter'- ' • erick Hansen, Secretary." , " . ,,'," . ' ", "

D D" "Eight Branches, with"-t membership of

ecatur lstnct, reported by letter: 442; including 3 High, Pi'ie§ts, 38Eldel'll, "Three Bunches, viz: Little River, i4112 Priests, 14 Teaehers,-and 6 Deac!J1l8.

members, Lamoni 55, and Leon 15; 6 have It,has 5 Sunday·Scheols, with a memb()l'been added by baptism to the Leon Branch ship of ov.er 200 scholars., The, spiritual since 1"8t report. There are in Ringgold condition is fair, nlUch ,better Mlate than Co., near Mt. Ayr, six members not orga- nshal; although there' has' been rio innixed into a branch; also six at Chariton, crease to our numbers fors-ome time pasl .. Lucas Co. About twenty members are Wm. B;. Hazzledine,Presideut of District" sc.attered over the district not id~ntifi~d South,'West Missouri and South-East WIth any branch; total members In D1S- K' t db' I, ott trict 164. ,ansas, repor e 'y e er:-'-'

"The district is in good conditiou. "Twenty-five Elders, very few of whom ::Iiore oalls for preaching t,han can'be filled i are engaged in the ministry, 7 ]:'riests, and by the few laborers in the District. Some I a total membership, as Caras knQwiD" of influential men are, t,aking a 'bold stand 1228. Added by baptism' since 1a8t report against the work, and they must be met by, 12. an able elder. A. W. Moffet; President: "The District is notinas good a condition of DisLrict." as formerly :' but prospects are better' for

Fremont District reported by, let- th.e,f?ture,' ,n. v_ Springer,President of , , " , ' DIstrICt.':

ter:- " N th Ill- - D' t . t ted "There are 13 Branches in the District, r or ern lllOlS IS nc , repor

five haying been added by the annexation, by letter:-of the Southern Nebraska District, siuce I "Twelve Branches, and a total memberlast report, with an aggregate membership ship of 522;, of, which, number, 86 ,are 0(43:.1, including 3 High Priests, 2 of the church officials ; there being 1 of the ,FiYst Seventy, 47 Elders, 15 Priests, 14'Teachers i Presidency, 1 Pre'siding Bishop, 2 Apostles, and 8 Dea:cons. The general cOl'idition of' \) High Priests, 6 oithe Quorum of Seventy, the District is tolerably good. Wm. lted- 40 Elders, 12 Priests,\} Teachers, and 6 field, President: Wm. Leeka, Clerk;" DeacoIls. Within the past year 20 have

Alabama and Florida District re- been added bybaptis!ll' and 14 by letter; . ted bItt . 'ot: a total of 34; whIle,there h,as been a

por y e er.- loss within the same time of 33 by letter "Ten branches comprising a member- of removal, '1 by expUlsion, and 5 by death,'

ship of About375. being 0. total loss of 42 .. "Some of the branches are rather in- " The District is in fair condition;, ~1-

actin; but the majorit.y of them are in a i though there is not a. general amoun~ {)f working condition, and making some pro- zeal m.anifested, nor, a. great degree of gress., About seventy have been added to warmth, 'lleither is. there, m!lch preaching n!lmbers within the past year jand the of the word outside of branches,except,by proepects are fair for others to unite with districti!l.ppointmenLTheprllsidingoffius. Sinoe 1&st report &boutfifteenhave eel' has endeavored to, be active and 'dili~ been disfellowshiped ; one of them an gent,andas constantas,other,duties,perelder; ".. , mitted, a.ud duriug the past yea:.: had

"ThIJre are eighteen elders in the Dis- traveled over two thousand miles in tli~ trio!; two of them ha.nngbeen ordained I District. Presidents ofBra.nchesa'redoing


GEN.JiJRAL .ANNUAL CONFERE1NCE )HXUTES, 1873. 3

what they can, and there is little or' no cennes. Officials, 2 High Priests, 4 of tietual trouble iJl. any portion, and a major- the Seventy, 31 Elders, 8 Priests, 9 Teach-ity of the saints seem to have a clearer 5 Deacons, and 254 members: total ooneeption of duty, a8 saints, and to desire Branch officers 28, district confer-(0 take,a firmer hold on eternal life. enccs 7, general conferences 2, tOf,al offi-

"The labors of Elders John H. Hanseu, oers 45; 13 baptized, total numerical gain of Iowa, have it ill believed, been produc- 28. Removal by Certificate 28, died"7, tive of much good. He has labored dili- disfellowshiped 1, total numerical loss 37; gently for most of the past year in the Dis- 2 ordained, official gain 5, official loss 8, tricl, and may be continued aocepUtbly if confirmations 13, marriages 2, children it be pleasing to himself and the present blessed 14. John H. Lake, President of general assembly of the church. Henry District." A. Stebbi~s, ~re~,idetit i Valentine White, The Kewanee. Illinois,Distriet, re-Clerk of Dlstnet. ! . ported by letter:~

Galland's Grove District, reported "Nine TIranches, viz : Millersburg. Ke-by letter .',. wanee, Bryant, Buffalo Prairie, Illinois;

"Membership Increase within the Butternut Grove, and Davenport, Iowa; year of about 40. Som.e of the branches Henderson Grove, Princeville, and Vichave increased in faith and good works, toria, Illinois. Officials, 2 High Priests, others are making but little progress; but 1 Seventy, 42 Elders, 13 Priests, \l Teach-the work is on a firmer footing than it. 7, Dl'acons, and 295 members; total ever has been in this part of Iowa. lVlany Baptized 17, received by vote 1, by of our young Elders have taken hold of the Certificate 9, otherwise 2, total 29. Dework inearn'est;'and much good is being crease, by Certific!tte 6, excommunicated done. Thomas Dobson, President." 2. died 2, lOBS otherwise 25, tolal decrease

E N b k d b I 35, confirmalions 17, marriages 1, children

.! astern eras a, reporte y et- blessed 12 ... Number last report 374, in-ter:- crease aggregate 403. Decrease since

"Three Branches, consisting of 1l0,last 35. Total numerical strength members, including officers. 'fhe most of' 368. and Jackson, Iowa, have not the members are trying to do their duty. reported since 1871. They then conI am sorry to say that the most of the t!lined 31 members. Canton, Illinois, has troubl~s are with the elderS'. I have not not reported since 1870. Supposed to be visited. in the District much, but i have disorganized. Wilton Branch reported in been trying to impress on the minds of the 18i2, J4 members. H. C. Bronson, PresiSaints the necessity of taking the church dent; E. Stafford, Clerk of District. publications, espeoially the Herald. Some On motion of Elder J. Ells _ now take it; others promise to send for it. . '." . . ' M. Ballinger President." Resolved. That.a commltte~ of fivo be

, . solected to examme the busmess to be The minute.s of the Central Nebraska brought before conference.

District Conference were not accepted PendinO' the consideration of this as a report of District. resolution "Conference adjourned until

Pittsfield, Illinois, District, reported 2 P.M. ' . by letter:- Benediction by the President.

"Two organized branches. the Pittsfield and New Canton;. the Pittsfield branch AFTERNOON SESSIOX.

numbering 21 members, inoluding, 3 EI- 2 'P.M.-Opened by singing 162d ders. and 1 Priest; and the N.ew Canton h P b Eld A M W'l numbering 12 members, including 1 Seven- ytnn. rayer y er.. 1 -

tyand 2 Elders; 1 died. There are Bcat- sey. tered in the District some 22 members, The resolution pending at the foremaking a total numerical strength of .55., noon adjournment was taken up, and C. Mills, President of Distriot." after being discussed, was lost.

The String Prairie and Nauvoo District, reported by letter:-

REPORT OF Dl;STRIQTS, CONTINUED.

.The Pittsfield]). istrict report, by EI-"Ten Branches, viz:· Olive, Keokuk, d· C M'll b I' . b' . d

.St l'ng P .. B I' t (A . ) er . 1 S, yetter, was 0 ~ecte to r rl11rle, ur mg on, . merlCan , . ·E· Id . I' Sh' . h· 'd h' and Burlington, (German), C,oton" Fal'm~ by , er .. '. ~en, .on t . e grolln t.at iIl~ton, .Rock Creek, Montrose, and Yin- there was nothmg m, the report show.,.



ing that it had been officially made. seems to rest upon some. He desired On motion of Elders John H. Lake to do all he could in the minist:ry, as he

and S. H. Gurley, the report was re- had done in years previous. Did not ceived.· , know but he had really done more some

the report of the South-Eastern Illi- times than was required under his cir-nois Dilitrict was read, as made by EI- eumstances. . der G. H. Hilliard, in person, from 'Elder H. .A. Stebbins reported the conference minutes of 1873, as follows: Northern Illinois District, There were

" Six Branchcs. Five Branches report good opportunities for preaching in the a membership of 125, including 23 officials. district. He had been assisted in the One ~ranch n~t r~po~~ed. G. H. Hilliard, district by Br. C. Williams, and various PreSIdent of DistrIct. • , brethren who attended the Two Days'

The report was o~Jected to by Elder ~Ieetings. There is :tprobability of or-T. P. Green on varIOUS grounds. O'anizing a branch at Savannah ,on the

On motion, it was Mississippi river. If continued in the Resolved, That a committee of three be district he will still do all he can.

~pp?inted to ~xamine the nature of the ob- Elder John Gilbert by request of the Jecttons to SaId report. .. '. d . ' PresIdent of the DIstrIct, reporte the

Amended, on motlOn of Elder Tsaac condition of the work in the ~fassachu-Sheen,- setts District. It extends over three

.That ~aid committee Mnsiat of three States, contains six Branches, viz.: the HIgh Priests. F II R' B P'd Rh d . ,a Iver, oston, ron ence, 0 e

The resolutlOn so amended was Island Dennisport and West Brewster. passed... If the;e was some one to travel and keep

. The President< apP?mted Elders Ed- up the interest in the district, much WIll Cadwell, E: RobIlls?n, and George more good might be done. DrunkenBlakeslee, as SaId commIttee. ness and fishing on the Sabbath have REPORTS OF PRESIDENTS OF DISTRICTS, been the besetting sins, of some of the

IN PERSON. brethren. Many good, live saints are Elder George H. H<7liard reported in the district. The President of the

the South-Eastern Illinois District not District desires some one sent from this in as good spiritual condition as he Conference to labor in the district. could wish; yet that there was a fair prospect for a better state of things to

MISSIONS, REPORTED IN PERSON.

be brought about in the District. That Elder Josiah Ells reported his labors the work bid fair to stand upon higher I in Utah. He volunteered to assist in ground. . This was corroborated by' the mission. Brn. D. H. Smith and

. Elder T. P. Green. A. D.Boren had been appointed before Elder H. C. Bronson, of Kewanee him. When he arrived in Utah he

District, reported an increase of one found that the work performed by Eldbranch in the district. Some difficul- ers Blair and Brand had suffered someties existed, but prospects bid fair for a what; because of the scattered condisettlement. The territory was too large tion of the members, and the want of fbr the few laborers there. an efficient laborer with them. l'heir

Elder John H. Lake reported the unity of action and strength were String Prairie and Nauvoo District. somewhat impaired, as they were orgaHe had been blessed in laboring in the nized into three branches, and he found district. Calls for preaching were very it necessary to dissolve the organizanumerous. If circumstances would per- tion and unite them all into one branch. mit he could preach eV,ery day in the There were no houses to hold meetings, week. Members of the district are not in, except those offered by outsiders. as lively as he could wish, a lethargy After the brethren began to wake up


GENERAL ANNUAL CONFEREN~E MINUTES, 1873. 5

to their duties, they rented the Insti- who have not united with the church tute for the purpose of holding meet- have expressed themselves in faith ings. They proposed building a Meet- with us. The. honorable .men of the ing-house, but little had been done world who belong to no church, have towards it as yet. Assistanee was been the first and principal ones to aid proffered them by several merchants us in our mission. People of other when the work should begin. There persuasions have called upon their are many there who would like to be ministers to stand by that Which they out of polygamy if they could get out. had formerly taught them, or they Many are dissatisfied and believe that would be necessitated to renounce their there will be a ~reak up there, at no faith. Houses are offered to preach in, very distant day. He did not accom- and lodgings tendered fi)r stopping. plish any very great results, and did The Saints are alive in the work. not expect to when he went there. Might have bapliized many more, but He did not baptize many, yet some are believe it wisest to see that people are ready to be baptized now. Many will thoroughly indoctrinated in the faith yet accept the trut.h there, and many ere they are baptized. Some of the become sceptics. There are a great ablest ministers we have had have been many good and honest people in that Priests; and he believed a Priest, by country. virtue of his calling, can be just as able

Elder D. H. Smith reported his and efficient a minister as any in the mission to Utah. He corroborated the church, and present the gospel with as report of Rr. Ells. He baptized thir- much power and telling effect as either teen while there. Some professed great Apostle, Prophet or Elder. love for the sons of Joseph, but wished In February, he attended a conferthem to adopt their peculiar platform. ence in Canada; and while there visitHe had met with much kindness while ed six branches. '1'here are many' there, and a good deal of trial. good live members there. Some diffi-

By request, Rr. George Adams re- culties have occurred, and darkness has ported the condition of affairs in Cali- obtained, and there needs an able and fornia. The general feeling of the live ministry engaged there, or we will world was indifferent so far as religion lose much prestige: was concerned. The population was made up principally of an adve'nturous and speculating class. They think as well of us as of any class of worshipers. The brethren are doing the best they can.

Elder I)~ P. Young, by request, also spoke of the work in California., confirming Bro. Adams' statement, and adding that there were lllany good saints in that count.ry; and that they wish some one sent from this Conference to labor there_

Elder E. C. Briggs reported the Michigan and Canada Mission_ In Michigan there are 7 branches, 172 members, 13 Elders, 2 Priests, 2 Teachers and 1 High Priest. The people in this district are earnestly inquiring the way of life. As many as fifty or sixty

Elder W. H. Kelley reported. He received a mission from the Annual Conference of 1870 to labor in Minnesota, Michigan and Indiana. He visited Minnesota in May, of 1870, and preached in that State until December. There is a fine field of labor there, and a number of good Saints. They have written and desire an elder sent from this Conference to visit them, and they ought to ha.ve one. In 1871 he was engaged principally in Southern Indiana. There is quite an interest to hear manifest in many places, in that s,ection of country, and many praiseworthy Saints. The greater part of 1872 and until the present of 1873, he spent in Canada and Michigan, in conjunction wit.h Br. E. C. Briggl:l. There is a


6 GENERAL CONFERENCE M:tNUTES, lS'13.

g~o~ people there,and he enjoyed his good., ,In started fOl:Ken-mISSIOn. tucky, bywl'Yof Lpuis,. In' Ken-

.ElderThornas W. Smith, as Presi. tucky, somGofthepeople received him; dent of the Southern ~Iission, reported: some did not..Re had preached seventy-I left Plano, for the South, about !.line timesdistributed:.five hnndred ;~h>e ls.t of DeCe?lber, ~187,0. StQpped tracts;a~d}P.eld one,disCl;ssion: lasting m Southern IndIana t1l1 l!ebruary 1st, .four days.,.After the dIs.eusslOu, the 187~, preached a number of times and CampbeUitesC!losedtheirchurehagainst baptIzed '7 persons; ordained 1 Elder. him . but the e opened their housReached Evening Star Branch, Alaba· (;')s, 'Several ad tendered.aid to build ma,. on Feb. 4th, 1871. Have preach- a meeting. house thert),Hepromised ed In a ~umber of places in Alabama to retutn .. ,Great good will evidently and FlOrIda, and baptized 83, organized be done ther.e.. .' .~Branches, ordained 3 Elders, 2 Priests, . Elde);Joh~;H.aansen rep?r.ted .. He

i:) Teachers and,l J)eacon. Lef~dor had preached SOUle fifty or slXtytImes "['eus, January 8th, 1873; BaFtized9 during the winter,in Wisconsin. 1tIet ;at. Bandera) Bandera Co., Texas, or- some.opposition at;£rst. Held a disdllJlli.ld 1 Elder,l Teacher, 1 Deacon, cussion with l1n.Advep.tist, lalsting four and organized a branch of 22 members. nights. Good to the cause was effected Filany of these members had been fol· by it. lowers of Lyman·. Wight; but were .. El<lerJI{ Sta'llpm reported ...... He rc-baptized in 1865, by JiJlder Hugh ceived amissjon fwmJast fa1100nferLytle. I left Tex:as on the. 31'd of cnec. Had preached in Des 1\'10ioe8; March; reached' Columbus Branch, and twelve milesfrom .. thete he had Kansas, outhe 6th ofJ!Ia1'ch; preach.preachcdfi'le times tolargecongregaed there and at Cow Creek Branch, tions. Visited N owton and Pella. and at Galesburg, :.YIo. Baptized four Preached.in the house of friends in the at Galesburg. Arrived at PlanO, on the latter place, and thinks some will unite 2nd of April, after an absence of' two with the church. Was .very much years and five months. Haveprea-ched blessed in preaching three discourses in all, since I left Plano, in 1870, nearPeIla; .. Had preached in Dutch about 500 discourses; baptized 103, .and English eighty sermons, organized 4 branches, ordained 5 El-, On mo~ion, .Elder.Alexander H. ders, 2 Priests, 4 Tea!Jhers, and 2 Smith 'WliS requested .to address the Deacons. Have been greatly blessed Elf. confbrence, in the eVilning. the Spirit; Received "ome persecution, Benediction \)y the President .. and passed through some deep afllic- EVENING SESSION.

tions; but the Lord. gave grace to. en· 7 p.M.-Preaching by FJlder A. H. endure. I expect such things in all Smith, upon the Evidences manifest of places. JYly time· and weak abilities God's Power and Love. and unprofitable lite are th6Lordrs, I Benediction by Elder Henry A. am willing. to labor when anci where Stebbins; • the Lord by his Spirit may direct. I hodPe forfidacoutifnuation

b of

h, the love TUESDAY,< APRIL 8TH.

an can 'ence a . my., ret ren, espe- MORNINli'il:tssioN. eially those under whose direction I . . . have labored. ~ .J\llSSION .aEJ?ORTS, RESl)MED •

. Elder J., (J. Clapp reported. He Elder a.G .. Lanphear,· rep~rted was. appointed at the .. Semi,Annuallabor in. Indiana, and, occasionally in Conferenee, to visit' Leon' and Decatur hiabranc;h, Remained at Fox River City, Iowa; and Kentucky. Visited until ~b.e20tl;t of June.;. From that the ,two former places, and did some time he had labqred in Indiana til


GENER.ALANNU AL

September, and'thin~s that good willi On motion ·Eld~i: }"ohn L~lke, result. 13aptized but}'Yowhnethere i the reportw!l.s receiv"d, and the oombut believes .tha~ there areothji\rs .who. mit[;ee discharged. wHIbe brought into the work., Con-1: siderable pl'ejudi{le exists· anlong the. . ... people, but withala desire',tbknow tpe, " BmghamtoJ:\, 'JUU,"'!"'JU!U Co.,

trMh. He h. ad statt<ld f?f Io.wa,) lHltl: ."Brotller work2~li~;'Lord while on the way, cold weather set in, is still onwart! here. FOil? and he deemed it prud'Cnt not to I !llore were ceed. Found his .healthfailing, ,I ti~m here. would do all thlt CIrcumstances would: m,les to be

. : "The permit for the good of the work. : cludeu in somo

Elder E. O. Briggs made a brief' exc riurEelves in planation some re111arks ,made by. here llambul'S ol'.er him yesterday. and IS known the ilftille of

'rhe minutes of yesterday's of J emlf, were read by Secretary.

Correction was made in Utah MiSBion report, by Brn. Blair and Ells; Hud the minutes wel'e approved with the corrections.

"The names of the members of this branch h,l>'e never be<mrepoJ'tecl to the General Chnrch for the reason that w.e have not the Slntistioal blanks, as we

JlUSSIONS, CONTINUED. were forhl',mches to report to Elder F. Re,llnolds, reported preach. anrlbeing in :uo dIstrict we could notre-

ine: in some new places. He did not to any. ~ "We want tG IlS part of

succeed as well in some places body, amI' wou:d know what desired, on account of revival we :must do t·o be "0 recognized. Yaura in among· the sects. Had visited Christ, GnEmvr VlATSON;"

parte,White Oak, Mt.Sterling and Br. O. ::5'. wrote from Pulaski, in Iowa. Thepl'eparing of a tal IUinnJ8ota:-· place of worship, both for the opening "That they c\(leired elder sent of the gospel and assembling the Saints, this Conference into tUt,t State, as it had occupied much of his time for been some, time sin~0 an active .,lder, in some time past; He had the assurance th~ wor~, ha;~ been ti!~re; , h h' I b 'h t' f 'If IIr. Wm. H. heLoy, wou,d come

t .at . IS a ors In t a regIOn o. from the Conference, they would pay his WIll be rewarded. Recently hIS fare and if he could not they would

were changing in regard to his do same lly any other elder." locality of labor. He desired to do the Br. J. T. greatest possible amount of' good.

CO:nIMIl'l'EEREPQRTS.

The cOIDmitteeappointedto examine. "Br. oame up her~ and bap~ the nature of the objeetions against re-. theel.. they p:<'ospercd well for ceiving the report of the South-Eastern I a ~hlle, . our leaders false .. Ill ' .~ D' .. . . d . 1! 11 We aril m a bad They tned

mOIS I~trlct, reporte as.1O OWS: to lead us orr 011 Advent doctl'ine. I "We recommend that n. committee be thought it best to write to you andperhaps

appointed to go into that .District, and you could send us a man thnt could right make a full investigation of the difficulties up our ohurch." existing between Br. T. P. Green and eth- Report of Elder l!:1. H. FOl'$!cutt on llr members of the church. I ~ ,

"And your committee ask to bere- Tune Book, was read;-leased. All of which is respectfully Bub· H President and Brethren in Conference mitted, EDWIN OADWELL, .} , .. assembled: Being ona mission, I have

G. A. BLAKESLEE, (lom: not been able. to 'do buUittle towards the E. ROBINSON," ... work you aSSIgned me as olie of your Com-


8 GENERAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE l\HNUTES, 1873.

mittee on Music, but trusting that some of the other members may have made are. port, I herewith submit report of Tunes by me selected.

"Long Metre.-Hebron, Uxbridge, Hurs. ::'!~Y. Zephyr, Fordingbridge, Abbottsford, "Owcetry, JHagdelen, Evening Hymn, Stone. :'field, Duke Street, Rest, Rockingham, Luton, Widdop, Wareham, Peters, Broadway, Old Hundred, Denmark, Compassion, Execution, Ambrose, Portugal, Creation,

;'Darwen, Windham, Justification, Winches. ter, Resignation, (for hymn 145.)

"Common Metre~ - Arabia, Bedford, Cumberland, Hensbury, Elizabethtown, Prestwich, Winchester Old, Immanuel, }'ulton, Wainwright (D.), Carr's Lane, Warwick, Nativity. Arlington, Miles Lane,

"Stephens, Irish, Asaph, Royal Palace, Mark, Fulbert" JlrIl1tthers (D.), Manchester,

::Re'l'eiation, Dundee, Coronation, Hayden, 'L"few York, Belmont, Harmonia, Columbia, Sonthwell, Voyage.

"ShorL Metre.-Shirland, Sal'sh, Falcon Street, Sutt<:ln, Cranbrook. Reuben, Ephraim, Picton, Whitefield, Lonsdale, Affec· tion, WestminisLer, Harrison, Harborough, Pelham (D.)' .

"6s.-Wish, 6s D. Sympathy. "6s & 4s.-America, Bethany. " P. l\I.-(N o. 891) Indian Air, Para-

dise. .

"Hymn 848, 839, A home in heaven. " 843, 840, Joyfully.

"Not being able to attend to this,mattel' properly while on my mission, if the other members of the Committee are waite ing on my se~ection and assistance, it would be better to release me; but if I am still sustained, I 'will do what I can to for~ ward the good work."

On motion of Elder T. W. Smith and H. C. Bronson, the report was received and the committee continued.

A letter was received from Sr. Isabella _Butterworth, written at Dowville, Crawford Co., Iowa, asking the prayers of the Saints in behalf of her affiicted mother. .

A request, with reference to Elders' Quorums in England, was presented, which reads as follows:-

" The breth;eu' in England feel that they are left out in the cold with respect t() quorum orO'anization, and have inquired, whether or "not, they could either be unitecl with a quorum in America, or have a quorum organization here. I na~e their w~sh, and if you choose to grant It, I submIt a preamble and resolution for your consider. ation. MARK H. }'QRSCUTT."

"6s & 5s.-Fallowfield, :Mountain Glory. "WHEREAS, the Elders of the European "2-68 & 8s.~Departure. Mission are entitled to equal privileges "4--68 & 2-8s.-Burnham, Ascension, with the Elders in America, be it, and it is

Darwell. hereby . "7s.-Adron, Pascal, Helens, Triumph. "R l Ii Th t an Elders' Qu()rum to "6-7s.-Austin, Privilege. be kn~8;:e 0.'8 th: Fourth Elders' Quorum "7s D.-Spanish Chant, Martyn. of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ " 78 & 6s.-Barden. of Latter Day Saints, be organized in the "78 & 6s D.-Webb, Missionary, Ewing. European Mission. under the ilirection of "6-8s.-Eaton, Sovereignity, Plymouth the Presidency of that mission, ot' such

Rock. Elders as may be recommended by the Dis-H 8, 6, 8, 8, 6a.-Peace.. trict Conferences to be enrolled as mem-"3-8s & Gs.-Leeds, Satisfaction. bel'S thereof Be it also "Anthetn.-(Hymn 888) Pope's Ode. "Resolved; :I'hat when such quorum shall "P. M.-(Hymns 1099 and 960) Mir- meet for organization, and the officers

riaro. shaIl have been elected, the President of "Hymn 1094, JliIemory the Eu~opean Mission, with the aid of such

" 1117, Israel. ordained quorum officers as may be con. " 1072, Come Away. venient, shall ordain the members who " 1063, By and by. . may be elected to the offices of President _

1016, Home again. and Counselor of said fourth quorum to "981, ResurrecUon. the Presidency and Counselorship there-

963, Gather at the River. of." " 951, This is my Rest. " 946, Israel is Free. H 942, March to Zion.

,," 903, Fondly thine own. " 895, Know each other. " S66,Gone to the grave. " 854, When I am gone.

A letter asking that Alexander H. Smith be sent on a mission to California, was deferred until the subjeet of the Utah ThIission should be taken up for consideration.


GENliJRALANNUAL CONFFRENCE MINUTES, 18'73. 9

A letter from Daniel B. Rasey was ation of the matters connected with referred to Quorum. the cutting off, and subsequent read-

A letter concerning Union Pacific mission of one John Shippy by baptism, Railroad was presented. administered by direction of a District

Requests of Canada Saints respeeting Conference, held ih the Kent and Elgin, the races and Bishop for Canada, were Canada Distriet, on Oct{)ber 2nd, 1869, presented. which baptism was enquired into at

A resolutiou respecting a Publishing the April Conference of 1870; upon House. being established in England, which inquiry certain restitution was was placed on file with the miscel- required of said Shippy, his action as 11

laneous business. minister being suspended until such Resolutions presented by Elder 1. restitution was made or attempted to

Sheen, was filed with the miseellaneous be made by him; do find:-business. That about May 15th, 18'70, certain

On motion of Elders 'l'. W. Smith letters were written by said Shippy to and J.H. Lake, the President was the parties signing sueh referred Peti· authorized to make appointments for tion, :\,ttempting to make restitution, as the preaching meetings during the ses- required by said Conference of 18'70 j sion. and that said Shippy, thereupon sup-

The report of the Committee in the p08ing that such attempt to make such matter of petition in the case of the' restitution was, or should have been Princeville Saints against John Shippy accepted as satisfactory, considered 'was presented and read. himself free to act as a minister, and State of Illinois, 1 . did so [tet; that at the April Confer-Kendall County. j B.S. ence of 1871, the Quorum of Elders

In Ecclesiastical Court before: found said John Shippy guilty of a Committee eon tempt of Conference, by so acting

,Joseph Smith, Pres. of Church. as a minister, and the Conference, upon Israel L. Rogers, Bishop of Church. such report being made to it, silenced ]mijah Banta, Pres. BIders' Quorum. said John Shippy until a General Con-

ference should determine other-wise; CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST that at the Semi·Annual Conference,

·verS1iS held at Council Bluffs, Iowa, September .JOHN SHIPPY, 20th to' 24th, 1811, the matter of

In a matter of petiton, from H. C. silencing said John Sllippy being again Bronson, and others, dated April 6th, considered j and it appearing that said 18'72, referred to committee, by April John Shippy had apologized for said Conference of 1872, in session at St,. contempt, and had also respected the Louis, Mo. . act of Conference silencing him; and

W e, Joseph Smith, of the First that the brethren of the church where Presidency; Israel L. Hogen's, Bishop; saidJ ohn Shippy resides, certified to and Elijah Banta. President of the his late good conduct;· whereupon, the First Quorum of Elders, of the Re· license of said ;John Shippy was restororganized Church of Jesus Christ of ed to him. Against this action said Latter Day Saints, having been ap- H. C. Bronson, and others, petitioners, pointed by thc April Conference of protest, asking that they be permitted the Chure11, held at St. Louis, Mo" to be the judges whether or not said April 6th to 13th, 18'72, as a eom- John Shippy has made sufficient restimittee to which was referred a petition tution. from II, C. Bronson, and others, Now, therefore, we your Committee, Princeville and Victoria, Ill. Branches beg leave, and do report the following: of said church, requesting reconsider- 1st. That the acts of the Canada www.LatterDayTruth.org

10 GENERAL ANNUAL CQNFERENOEJliIINUTES, 1873 ..

Confol',enc!) by was baptized and or.4ained ~m the. church subsequcll).t, ~o ,his therefrom, were unwise ; but legal acts, . canno.t .. safcly

Court· of '. Co~nty of Peoria, of Illinois, ~gainst. said John

Shippy, which precludes the pQSsibility of his visiting .the.Northern Ininois, an~~.ewanee Districts of the<church,

aside by the church iu as- with safe,ty. from arrest to himself, and . consequent distress and annoyance to

said ,John Shippy, in the church in said districts ; .it is the of the April Oon- opinionoryollr .. Com1Dittee that .it

sembly. 2nd.

of attempt to make would beil wise and prUdent act Jl).

restitution, write certain letters said John Shippy to refrain from. all to the parties aggrieved, and who. have public ministeriallajJor until such time signed the 11etition referred to YOUl'Ias ~aid suit is dismissed, or he dischargCommittBe, he haVl:lg previously made ed therefrom j and that he be requestpublio confession by lett!,!r, to-wit; led to take early.steps to secure such August 26th, Be'rald, September, I dismisl;lalof said suit. '. 1869; that from, said '. 6th. That we recommend that. thIS Shippy tosilld though report an,d the .. aQtion oLConference not time, thereon be considered final in the mat..

oflcnce in con- tel'S set forththerei[l. an attempt in And further your Committee do not

good . to confess wrong dQing and l·eport. ask forgiveness. ," . J OSEl'ri S]\IITH," . ..

3r.d; That Committee are of Fres., 0/ Ch~trch. the opinion, the church can not ISRAELI.;. ROGERS, in strict just,ice, demands for Bishop of Church. further restitution saiq John E: BANTA, Pres., First Shippy; and that the church .can not . . Quorum of Elders. demand that your said petitioners shall :Lvlarch, 31st, 1873. accept .said lett:rs. as. fully satisfa~tory, On motion of Elders E. C.Briggs and fully.forgm1 saId John ShIPPY; and J. H. Lake the report was received but that m.,mercy,a?d byreaso~.of:and committee discharged. thc uucertam. propnety of malnngl Adjourned until 2 P.M.

furt.her demands,thcy. may acco .... rd. to I Benediction bv the President. him a generall.\mnesty during his good • behavior. AFTERNOON. SESSlON.

4th.. That it is the ?pinion of YOUl;,I' . Opened by singing hymn 119; pray-Co~mlttee, that there IS. no cOllrso. or er by Elder R. Davis. ' a~tlOn. now o~en to ~he ~hurch) whw.h The Committee Report in the matter wi1l9"Ive cntbre sat~sfa.ct!on to. all the of Petiti.on of the Princeville and VicPa!ttws .to, a~d acquamred WIth. t~e toria Saints against J. Shippy was tatransaction, m Canad.a, and IllinOIS. i ken il . We, thorofore, recommend t~~t the OnP motion of EldersW. W. Blair Conference request your petltlOners, and B.F. Durfee, H. O. Bronson, and othcrs, to accept R ·z -,. t'h ·t· thO O· f th ;1' .' IX. d' ~'d J h· e80 ve", a' IS on erence approve

~ recoue, JaolOn ollele .?Y cal 0 n and adopt the report of committee in the ShIPPY; not as an act of rIght demll.nd- case of the Princeville and Victoria Saints ad by the church, but in clemency to: VQ1'3U8 J. Shippy, as submitted to ,this Oon-the individual. ference.

5th. That, whereas, there ill now . Quite a discussio.u; followed, in which and has been since 1868, a charge of Elders J. W.Briggs, J .. Ells and H. criminal conduct pending before the Garner spoke in favor of adopting re-www.LatterDayTruth.org

GENERAL ANNUA:J~ CONFERENCE :MINUTES, 1873. 11

port; and Elders C.Bronson, W. W. Blair, T. Sheen andF. Reynolds against adoption. . .

ElderE. C. Briggs was called to the chair, as Pres. Smith was also .chairman of committee.

On motion of Elders F. Reynolds and 1. Sheen, an amendment was offered, demanding of TIr. J. Shippy his license until all law governing the case, State or Church, be complied with.

The motion was then put and carried.

An amendment was offered by Elder J. Smith, that the amendment be added as a supplement to committee report.

On motion of Elder R. Warnock a vote was taken on the amendment. Approved. The Report, as amended, was then adopted.

The .. report of Committee appointed to e:J(amine the objections against receiving the South-Eastern Illinois District Report was taken up.

On motion of Elders. It. Warnock and E. Banta, the recomlIlendations of the committee were adopted, and the .President empowered to appoint said. committee.

A petition from the Josep)1, Mo., Branoh was read. ..

nfoved by BIders J. W. :Briggs an.d W. W. Biair that said. petition be entertained. Carried.

ExhiM! PiTJTIO:<1. "SL Joseph, Mo., Feb. Hl, 1873.

"We, the members of the St, Joseph Draneh, do pet.itoll;. th,o,t theS!., Jo.seph Branch as it now. shnds bl) relel;\sed from the North-West Miss.ourl District,'for t,he following "easom, ·to-wit :~Fi):8t, because we a,re 80 far yemoved· from. il;leBranch in in our District, that we luwe to go from twenty-nine to one hundred miles, being at the extreme north-west 'Corner of the district, and at tbesametime all the branches of the North Kansas District are within an average of fifteen to thirty miles. This pet.itioll wag 'presented before the Branch and voterl unanimously, with·a request that we'do. hereby req!)ost Ih-;· W,,w~ Rlair to. nS2ist us in mll.king this chll.rge.

, "ALBERT BISHOP, I'r~8ident. "W.L. A:SDERsoll, Clerk. "J. C. lilcINTYRE, Prie8t;"

Exhibit B. "Cameron, Mo., Mll.rch 1, 1873.

"Mr; C. A. Bisliop, Dear Brother,- At Conference I received the Report of the St Joseph Branch, and also your Report, and the Petition. Your report and the Branch was accepted, but the Petition oftha Branch was rejected, on the grounds that you did not ask for territory, and it would not look well for a branch to be set over the river, and at the same time be situated in another District, and the Conference concluded if you did not wish to live in the District you could move out. (Signed),

"A. J. BLODGETT."

"This is to certify that the foregoing is a verbatim copy of a letter from Dr. A, J. Blodgett to C. A. Bishop. .

"D. H. BAYS."

"PETITION. "St. Joseph, :'1<10., March 4, 1873.

"We, the members of tho St. Joseph Bm:mch, would respectfully represent that the Petition to'the North-West Missouri District, marked 'Exhibit A.' was not granted by said District, 'On the grounds that we did not ask for territo.ry.' (See letter, marked 'Exhibit B.') We, therefore do petition the GoneralAnnual Conference of the C. of J. C. of L. D. S., to be held at Plano, Kendall Co., lllinois, April Bth, 1873, to not only grant our Petition, as Bet forth in 'Exhibit A,' but that the 'territory' of Buchanan County, Mo., may be annexed to the North Kansas District, for the reasons set forth in our petitio.n to the North-West !t1issouri District. As your petitioners will ever pray."

rSigned by the Presidollt, Secretary, ~ . and thirty-two members.]

"St. Joseph, Mo..-We the undersigned members of the Sf.. Joseph Bmuoh, not be~ ing present when the Petition for an Appeal to the Annual' Conference, to be held at Plano, IlL, April 6th, 1873, to be released from the North-West IIHssouri District, and attached to the North Kansas Distriot was presented; do hereby !lsk to be released from said distriot and attached to the Kansas District."

[Signed by eight members.] "The appeal was voted for by the branch,

and the vole was unanimous. "AL1H:RT BISHOP,

President of Branch."

"Whereas, the St. Joseph Branch respectfully retitioned the. North-West Missouri District Confereuce, held at Far West, Mo., February 22d, 23d, 1873, to give the said St. Joseph Brallch the privilege of uniting with the North Kansas District, www.LatterDayTruth.org

12 GENERAL AXNTAL CONFERENCE MINUTES, 1873. - ,.

Adjourned untn 7 P.;)I. . Benediction by Elder J. W. Briggs.

and whereas, the said Conference refused to grant the petition of the aforesaid Branch; therefore, Resolved, that the St.

,Joseph Branch does hereby appeal from EVENI~G SESSIb~. the action of said Disirict Conference to the ~Iet at '7 P.M. Meeting opened by General Annual Conference, to be held at the singing of the 126th hY,mn, and Plano, Ill., Apdl 6th, 1873, the offerin2: of prayer by Elder T. P.

"ALBERT BIsnor, President. ~ , .. w. L. ANDERSON, Olerk. Green. "J. C. McINTYRE, Priest." Bro. Davis, from Canada, then. a~-

l'IIoved bv Elders E. Robinson and J. dressed the congregation on the prmcl-i,V. Briggs that the petition be grantod. pIes o~ the gospel: .

A substitute was then offered by El- AdJou~'n~d untll 9 A.il1., Apr!l 9th. ders R Warnock and F. Reynolds, i" BenedHltilon by Elder J. S. Snively,

That the Petition of the St. Joseph Bran eh i or Canada. be granted, and that TIuchanan Co~.nty b~ detached from the North-West n:~lSSOU!'l District and attached to the ;'iforih Kansas District. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9TH.

Some discussion felHowed, in which 'MORNING SESSION.

Elders W. W. lllair and Alberb Bishop Opened, by singing 136th hymn. spoke in favor, and Elders E. Banta Prayer by Elder J oaiah Ells. . :lnd C. Beebe agl1inst. j',Iotion pre- It being necessary that the PreSIdent va.iled. should be ahsent, he requested ]1Jlder

Moved by Elder H.A. Stebbins that J. W. Briggs to take the chair. applicutionsfor membership be now JTIlder J, \Y. Briggs arose and said that entertained. Carried. he would make a brief report of the con-

The name of John Camp was pre- clition of the Quorum of the Twelve; seuted, and on motion of Elders O. A. that they, as a quorum, had said but litBeebe and G. H. H~lliard ~e w~s. re- tIe, and had done but little, in compariceived into fellowshIp on hIS ongmal son to to what devolved upon them by baptism, a~ a member of the ch::,rch.. law; that they gad been reduced to less

On motIOn of Elders W. YV. BlaIr than a majority by the death of some; and H. A. Stebbi~s, Sister Sop~r~nia and the neglect of others, but that ~t NlcClary was reCeived on her ongmal the last meeting, of the Quorum III

baptism, a~ a member of the church. 1868, they attempted to fill the vacancy On mohon of Elders John H. Lake occasioned by the death of Br. James

and H. A. Stebbins, Arthur l\Iillikin Blakeslee but that the attempt was a1'was received on his original baptism rested by' act of the conference. This into the church. we acqniesced in and do still, as a

On motion of ,John I~. ~~ke and B. postponement of the same. . F. Durfee, Sr. Jluey l\lIllIh~ was re- The President presented a RevelatIOn c~ived on her original baptISm, as a which was read by the Secretary, ,as member of the chureh. follows:-

On motion of J. C. Clapp and E. Plano Illinois, April 6, 18'73. Banta, Br; J 0hhn CChamPhwas alc?ept~d. as To the Ollu;ch in Oonference assemblea, ?1 Delicon III t e urc, on lIS orIgm-. al ordination. ' greeting:-

The President then appointed Elders In answer to long continued and ear-R. Davis and Joseph S. Snively to take nest prayer to God for aid and light charge of the evening meeting. . upon the eondition of the Quorums of

Some excellent remarks were made the Church on the morning of, the by the President, but were not taken 1st of lVlareh, 1873, I received the fol-down. lowing;- www.LatterDayTruth.org

..

\

GENERAL ANNUAL CONFEREXCE n:lIXUTES, 1813. 13

Hearken t£) the voice of the Spirit, is~ry, eneouraging and directing their 0, ye Elders of my Church; the prayers brethren in their labors. It is e:ipe. of my people have prevailed with me. dient for the good of my cause that my

Behold, it is wisdom in me, and ex:· servant Jason take the active oversight pedient in my ehurch that the chief of his Quorum. Quorums should be more nearly filled, Let my servants Archibald M. Wil· and their organization more nearly com· sey, William D. Morton,. and George pleted.. Thus saith the Spirit. Rarick, be ordained High Priests; and

Let my servants William W. Blair, let my servants E. C. Brand, Charles and David H. Smith, be chosen and W. Wandell, and Duncan Campbell be ordained to be Counselors to my servant, appointed as special witnesses of the ·the Presiding Elder of my Church. Seventy in their places; and let my Let them be set apart to this office by servants Joseph Lakeman, Glaud Rod· the laying on of hands by my servants, John T. Davies, and John S. Pat· whose duty it is to ordain and set be also appointed as witnesses of in order the officers of my chureh; the Seventy before me. and let my servants, the President of Until such time as the Quorum of the High Priest.s.' Quorum and the the Twelve shall be filled the decision President of the Lesser Priesthood, of that Quorum, being a unanimous also lay their hands upon these their decision, shall be accounted final as if brethren who are to be Counselors, but such Quorum were filled, according to let my servants of the Twelve be the my law as given in the Book of Doc· spokesmen. trine and Covenants. And until such

Let my servants William H. Kelley, time as the Quorum of the Seventy Thomas W. Smith, James Caffall, John shall be filled, their decision, if unani. H. Lake, Alexander H. Smith, Zenos mous and agreeing with that of the H. Gurley, and Joseph R. Lambert, be Quorum of the Twelve, shall be conchosen as especial witnesses, even of sidered the same as if the Quorum were the Quorum of the Twelve, for they are filled. . called thereunto, that they may take It'is expedient that the Bishop of this ministry upon them. Let them my Church shall choose two Counselbe ordained and set apart to this office ors, and ,that they be ordained to their by the laying on of the hands of my office as my law directs; that there .servants J·oseph Smith, Jason W. may be henceforth no caviling among Briggs, and William W. Blair. my people. The Bishop of my Church

Verily, I say unto you, if these my may also ehoos!" and appoint Bishop's servants will henceforth magnify their agents, until it shall be wisdom in me calling in honor before me, they shall to ordain other Bishops, in the districts become men of power and excellent and large branches of my church. wisdom in the assemblies of my people. It is not expedient i)1 me that there

Let the names of my servants Daniel shall be any fltakes appointed until I B. RaSey and Reuben Newkirk be taken command my people. When it shall from the record of the Quorum of the be necessary I will command that they Twelve and placed with the records of be established. Let my commandthe names of the Elders, and let them ments to gather into the regions round labor as Elders, and their labors will be about, and the counsel of the elders of accepted by me. my church guide in this matter until it

It is my will that my servants Jason shall be otherwise given of me. W. Briggs, J 08iah Ells and Edmund Behold, if my servants and my handC. Briggs, remain and stand in their maidens, of the different organizations lot as especial witnesses before me.- for good among my people shall continue Let them diligently labor in their min· in righteousness, they shall be blessed,


14 GENERAL .ANNUAL ·CONFERFJNCE MIN{TTES, 1873 ..

even as they bless othe~s ofthehouse-Pa~? Marder, Luge&: Co;: ~n acrlonntuo;..... 4{) 25 hold of faith. . . " For It<>ller Oomposltlon..................... 76h

L t t f· d ll'· For Books and.H.rald Binders ........... 26 89 e con ·en Ions an quarre mgs .. OurnoteIn favor ofF. U. 0; of Enoch 50000

among you cease. Sustain each other "Interest on the above note.................. 16 4.0 in peace and yo shall be blessed with .. w. H. Ourweu, on his doposi ~ ............ 10 91 my Spirit, in comforting and strength- "For Fixtures, ·in Store Depn.rtm~nt .. L 27 98 ening you for my work. " For Postage Stamp ........................... , ~. o(}

I ,. d' h r d "Sr. J. Randall, on I. L. Rogers' Acc't.. ·500 t IS not expe lent t at comman .. For Recording Article. of Ohnrch As-

you further at this time; but be ye sociation ................ ~ ......... , .......... ,. 2 00 diligent, wise and faithful, doing. all .. Dr. D. Dancer, perord"r I.L. Rogers,. 30 of> things with· an eye single for the glory "J. O. Olapp, for expensest<> Kimtucky, of your God, and the good of His peo- aud charged to 1. L. Rog.11I; ....... ; .. ; 20 00 I " For Ooal ................ ".;' ... ...... ... ........... 69 62

P e. .. F. U. O. of Enoch, money ·sentto :US.... 3300 Thussaith the Lord; Amen. . ILentF.rankLun.............................................o 00

J oimPH SMITH, ." Br. Jarman, to pay hi. taxes .......... :... 4 00

President. of the . . Ohurc7".. I Paid Iucidentals, including Oll, Fr.ight M ··d b Eld r· S ' Oharges, Expressage, Drayage, TraV'-

ove .. y er. heen; seconded eling Expenses, &c ......... : ... :........... 54 11 by Elder E. C. Briggs, that the Reve- Cash on hand FObruary 15th, 187S.;, ....... ,.,. 6986

lation. be accepted. Carrie~. During the discussion of the motion,

the question was asked, "What the. ef. feet ofa vote upon the question would A~connt.Payable ...... ; ........ ; ......... ;.· ...... ;; .. $435473 b'" 'A d' .. d b h h' Due N. Kennedy. Old Account .................... 113 ~

e, n It was state, y te e :nr, Borrowed Money ..................... , ................ ~,OOO 00 that lui affirmative vote would be to ll,C- r .. L. Rogers, European Missioll Fund"'...... 139 39 know ledD'e the Revela.tion for what it Due Oglesby, Darn!t. & 00., 011 account...... 259 60

'I"Iurported to bea Revelation from God. ': Cox &' lIen~.rson ............... :................ 1203 J;' . . . " .. '.'. ..' ,. E. L, Hennmg,.forRent to Nov. 1, 1872. ·366 O(}

Moved by F.Jder E. Banta; seconded: Tithing sent to the Herald Om.e ......... :.: ... by Elder II. A. Stebbins, that furth~r action on the Revelation be deferred , '. until to-morrow morning. Carried. ... . RESOUROES. ".

Moved by Elder E. Robinson th!1t AccotlntsReceivable: ... ~ ........................ : ... $5113 00 w'e proceed·w business where v/e left ~otal Footing of Inventory .......... ; .. : .......... 1586r 41 :II t dC··d· . Poor Fund; Jane Frost for Hymn Book and

o yes er ay. ,.arne;· > ... '. Doctrine and .oove.nants ,................... "2.25 The minutes of previous day's session Europea.n :Mlssion, for H:e?,aZd$ and ihpes •.

were then read, and . with slight correp- . for the last eight months ........... :..... 154 86 tion., approved. .. Tr.ac~ Fund, for tracts i.sued .... ::~ ... , .... : ... _.; 53 30

MISSIonary Fund ............................ ;......... . W 00 REPORTS OF OFFICERS.

Financial report of Herald was read;-,-

Finanoial Report of the, Publishing House of the Reorganhed Church.oClesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, froIll November 17th, 1872, to February 15th, 1873, to the Bo>i.rd of Publication insession,assem-bled :M:arch4th, IBn. . Cashon band Nov. 17, 1870 .. ; ...... ;.: ..... ; •••• ,.

. Total receipts of ,cash for aU pnrposes ...... ..

Oash on· hand,lFob. 15th, 1873.::."".:;\ .... ,; ... · 6986

1,ost princlpa)ly from repudiation of old ac~ . count during the last nille months .....

Recolved DonatIons to Hvp. ROll· ofllonor.' H Press Furi.d.~'~ ... ....... .

50381> 6656

100 97

. ' Total. ........ $272·o3 EXPENDITURES. . , . =

Paid all englXged lu the omcs In fun ....... · .. $1150251 Net~.setaofPul;liBhlng·HoUB.,Jun.17, '72..13,079 Q3· '." On Account:for printing' Paper; &0.,...... 332\91, U ,H H " H ,Feb_.,16~ 'r~.~ 14,q61,-.84,

:~ il1el!Sr~S~ider & Holmes, In full ofac.. 31321; Net Gainsinco June 17th, 1872." ............... -$9BI91:

. For BIDdmg Book, ........................... 86 62 --www.LatterDayTruth.org

GENERAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE MINUTES, 1873. 15

Moved byEIder t She~n, sec~nded Moved by Elder J. W. Briggs that by Bishop Rogers, that the report be Elder George Blakeslee be one of said accepted. ... comniittee. Carried.

Report was cOl\FectedbyElder War- . Moved Ey Elder W. W. Blair that a nock, vote. taken, and the motion. was committee of'three be appointed to excarried. amine the General Church Iteeorder's

The General Church Recorder read report. Carried .. his report, which was as foll()ws: . :Moved by Elder W. W. Blair that

"Report of the General Ch)lrch Recorder Elder· H. A. Stebbins be one of said of the Reorganized Church of J. C. of L. committe. Carried. n. S., to the Annual Conference of said Moved by Elder R. Warnock that Church,appointed to be held April 6th, Elder T. W. Smith be one of said com-1873.

"Brethren andsislers.-The last Annu- mittee. Carried. al Conference, and. the last Semi-Annual lYloved by Eldel' E. Robinson that Conference resolved th8,t they wOtlld sus- Elder Wm. Hazzledine be one of said 'tain me in roy office; but from June 15, committee. Carried. . 1872 to this time, I have received from the On motion of Elder R.. W.·a.r.nock, church no temporal or pecuniary susten-ance. Resolved, that the two Quarterly Reports

"The last Annual Conference also r.e- of the Bishop, made between the General solved that an appropriation of not more Conferences, be considered his Semi-Anthan $15, be authorized for the purchase nual Report to said Conference, and that oia new Record for the General Church all resolutions or parts of resolutions conRecorder, the· amount to be paid out. offlicting with this resolution, be and .are funds that may be in the hands of the hereby repealed. Carried. Bi~~op. ..e. ,~l'. Wm. Aldrich tendere~ his resi~-

Anew R cord has not been presented natIOn as Counselor to the BIsho . H to me, therefore as.lh.ave not. been sus- ..... .. P IS tained by tempoml sustenance, nor by the reSIl'lnatIOn was accepted. presentation of a new Record, no record- . BIlls from Herald Office were preing 'has been done since June 15th, 1872; sented and read; Having labored nearly thirteen years in the service of the church, part of the time "English Mission in .Account Herald without any temporal support, and another Office. part of the time with a very inadequate "To· Hera .. l.ds and postage.sent to} $154 86

I . h h . . f England snpport, am now Wlt out t e means 0 "TractJ!und: procuring a livelihood in· my old age, ex-cept from the little that remains of my sub- "To remainder due.. on TractS} $53 30 stanee, which would soon be exhausted. I furnished for distribution am willing to resume my labors, if the "General Mis8ion.:. .' . Conference shall decide that I shall be sus- "To. JI..erald8sent to Elders in} $37 12 iained therein. Your brother, the field."

"ISAAC SnEEN." On motion of Elders J, H. Hansen Report received. and F. Reynolds, they were referred to Israel L. Rogers, Bishop of. the a' committee kJ be appointed by the

Church, requested thata committee be President. . appointed to audit his books. ..The .President appointed Elders J.

~Ioved by Eldel's B. F. Durfee and R Hansen, James lVlcKiernan, and A. White that a committee of three be John Gilbert as'said committee. . appointed to audit the Bishop's books. . H~e also. appointed as committeeJo 'Carried. . . .. . examine difficulties existing in Squ.th-

Moved by Elder W. W. Blair that ]]Q-stern Illinois District, Elders W. W ~ Elder E.Robinson be one of said com- Blair and Wm. Hitzzledine. mittee. Carried. Motion to adjourn until 2 P.M. pre·

Moved by Elder F. Reynolds that 1 vailed. Elder Wm. Anderson be one of said Sung the Doxology. Benedietion by (Jommittee. CaTried. the l>resident.


16 GENERAL ANNUAL. CONFERENCE MINUTES,·1873.

AFTER~OO~ SESSION. son, D. H. Smith, J.C. Clapp, A. IVL Sung: the 70th Hymn. Prayer by Wilsey, .T. Hunter, J. R. Lambert, T.

Elder W. W. Blair. W. Smith, E. C. Briggs; A. White and Elder H. A. Stebbins asked to be and T. P. Green in file negative.

released from acting on the committee Moved by Elder E. C. Briggs, secto examine the report of the General onded by Elder J. W. ~Iather, that Church Recorder. Elder Robt. Warnock be permitted to

On motion of :lliIders 1. L. Rogers speak a second time, and that his speech and J. S. Snively, the request was close the discussion. Carried.

t ·d . Br. Watnock spoke to th. e question, grane . On motion of Elder E. Robinson EI- after which it was put to vote, resulting

der Edwin Cadwell was appointed in in the affirmation of the resolution, by the place of Elder H. A. Stebbins on a vote of forty-seven, to twenty-three. committee. A motion to adjourn until 7 P.~I. was

A letter from TIr. H. Olmstead, of amended, that we adjourn until seven Minnesota requesting admittance into o'clock, and that we have a fellowship· the Church was presented and read. mee~inl?' Carried. . .

On motion of Elders W. H. Kelley Smgmg and BenedICtIOn. and W. W. Blair, it was resolved that EVENING SESSION;

his request be granted. . _ The saints met in a fellowship meet· A preamble and resolutIOn was then ing, presided over by Elder Wm. Haz

offered by Elder R. Warnoek, as fol~ zledine, of St. Louis, in which many of lows:- the older brethren bore strong testimo-

WHEREAS, the String Prairie and Nn.uvoo ny to the coming forth of the work and Pistriot Conference has at its last session, its ultimate triumph, as revealed by as published in the Herald; adopted a reso- .. d d h' d h lntion expressive of their opinion, to the VISIOns, reams an ot erwIse; an t e effect, that none had a legal right to vote younger ones expressed their determin. on the business before the body except the ation to do all in their power to help Elders, or Melchisedec Priesthood; and in the Redeemer's cause. . whereas, the General Conference of 1868, On motioD) adjourned until 9 A.ll-I. resolved, and decided affirmatively. "That to-morrow. &11 private members, male and female, have a right to vote upon all questions that may .Olosed by Benediction, be brgught before the General Confer-ence j it is hereby .

Re<lolved, that this Conference considers the action of the String Prairie I1nd Nauvoo THURSDAY, APRIL 10TH. District Co:t;lference, on the suffrage "lues- llWRNING SESlSION. tien, premature, and disrespectful to the enUre body,and that said Conference is Sung hymn 613. Prayer by Elder hereby respectfully requested to reconsid· J. VIf. Briggs. er and rescind said resolution at their nc)(t Yesterday's minutes were read, cor-Quarterly Conference session. rected and approved.

A lengthy and spirited discussioD Moved by Elders J. Ens and E. C. eusued, n?t exaetly upon ~he merits of Briggs: the q,uestIOn, but more directl! as to "That this Conference accept the Revethe right of members to vote lD Con- lation of March . 1st, 1873, presented and ference. read on yesterday, and that we do now

The following named brethren spoke proceed to act upon the same." to the question: Elders R. Warnock, The question arising to the effect I: Sheen, H. A. Stebbins, Joseph S. that the Revelation had been accepted, Snively, E. Robinson and C. G. Lan- by the body, the day previous, and phear in the affirmative; and Elders.A .• thnt this would be a repetition; an H. Smith, W. W. Blair; Wm. Ander-' amendment was offered by Elders R.



Warnock, W. H. Hart and 1. Sheen: I nel's . in the .Quorum of the Twelve. That we endorse the Revelation as one Carned unammously.

sent from God, and proceed to comply with Movl(ld by Elders E. C. Briggs and the provisions thereof. J. Ells, that Elder John H. Lake be

On motion of Elders J. H. Hansen chosen and ordained an especial witness and I. Shcen, the vote of the house in the Quorum of the Twelve. Carried was taken on the amendment and car- unanimously. . ried. ~Ioved by Elders H. A. Stebbins

J;'irst provision of Revelation was and F. Reynolds, that Elder Alexander . then read, which is as follows:- H. Smith be chosen and ordained an

" Let my servants William W. Blair, and especial witness in the Quorum of the David H. Smith, be chosen and ordained Twelve. Carried unanimously. to be Counselors to my servant, the Pre- Moved by Elder W. W. Blair and siding Elder Of my Church. Let. them be O. P. Dunham that Elder Joseph R. set apart to thIS office by the laymg on of ' . ' hands by my sernnts, whose duty it is to Lam~ert ,?e ch~sen and ordamed an ordain and set in order the officers of my espeCIal WItness m the Quorum of the church; and let my servants, the Presi-, Twelve. Carried unanimously. dent of the High Priests' .Quorum and the Moved by Elders J. C. Clapp and T. Pre.sident of the Lesser Prl~sthood also lay ·W. Smith that Elder James Caffall be Iheir hands upon these thelr brethren who '. .. are te be Counselors but let my servants chosen and ordmned an espeClal WItness of the Twelve be the 'spokesmen." in the Quorum of the Twelve. Carried

Moved by Elder J. W. Briggs and unanimously. . seconded by Elder E. C. Briggs, that yIoved b,y EI~ers E. C. Bnggs and Elder W. W. Blair be chosen and or- E. Banta, tnat Elder .Zenos H. Gurl~y dained Oounselor to the Presiding El- b~ chos~n and ordamed an espeClal der of the Church. Oarried unani. wItn~ss 1D th~ Quorum of the Twelve. mously.' Car~lCd unanImously.

Moved by Elders Josiah Ells and I. lUo:ve.d by Elder~ I. Sheen and Geo. L. Rogers, that Elder David H. Smith H. Htlhard, that Elders James. Caffall be chosen and ordained counselor to and Zenos II. Gurley be ordaIned, at the Presiding BIder of, the church. the . next. Semi-Annual Conference. Carried unanimonsly. "" Mohon WIthdrawn. .

The seeond provision of the Revela- The Secr~tary rea~ that p~,rtl()n of tion was then read as follows:- the RevelatIOn relatmg to . Elder D.

I '11' H TT 'I B. Rasey and Reuben NewkIrk, as fol-" ,et my servants WI lam . ",-et ey, I . Thomas W. Smith, James CatTail, John H.! ow~.-Lake, Alexander n. Smith, Zenos H. Gur-' "Let the names of my seryants Daniel ley, and Joseph It. Lambert, be chosen as/no Rasey and Reuben ~e\Vklrk be taken especial witnesses even of the Quorum of from tbe renord of the Quorum of the the Twelve, for th~y are called thereu!lto; I Twelve find pl~(led with the record of the that they may ·take tbis ministry upon' !lames of.the EJ.ders. and le~ them labol as them. Let them be ordained and set apart Elders, and theIr labors WIll be accepted to this office ,by the laying en of' tha hands, by me." . ' of .my servan!s .Joseph S~it~. Jlllron W. II' ~Ioved by Elders I. Sheen and Geo. Brlggs, and WIlham W. BlaIr. H. Hilliard, that the names of Daniel

Moved by Elder E. C. Briggs, that B. Rasey and R. Newkirk be taken Elder W m. H. Kelley be chosen and from the Quorum of Twelve and added ordained an especial witness in the to the Elders' Quorum. Quorum of the Twelve. Carried unani- Elder J. W: Briggs made some re-mously. marks touching the labors assigned EI-

lVloved by Elders E. O. Briggs and ders R. Newkirk andDaniel B. Rasey, J. Ells, that Elder T. W. Smith ,be and that it was evident that the Lord chosen and ordained an especial. wit- approved them a~men, from the fact


18 GENERAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE .!rII,NUTES, ,1873. . '" ,-', ",,- ",'.-', - -.", --', -. ,', .-_.' \

tb~th~' h~dproIUi;e~. to~c~~ptWeir .i.W:;B~igg~th~tEld~r·WiWi;inJ). labors as elders.' > .'.' .. ' Morton heord.ained aH,igh Priest.

A sUQstitute waspi::esented by El!iers Ca:rrie~unaniIll~:lUsly. ...... .. " .• RWarnock and J.~;Sniyely,---, . Moved by Elders 1 .. L.Eogers.and . 'Tha£ the names of )'llders:O. U.Rasey J.r,anders that:m.lder ,Gew'g~Rarick and Reuben Newkirk be ~hopped from the be ordained a High Priest ... Oarried~ Quorum of t.he Twelve, and that they be Moved by Eldel'f\ W. W. Blair and sustained as Elders. Motion withdrawn, J. Landers that' Elder E. C. Braridbe

l'Ioved by J. H. Hansen and A. ordained a Seventy in the place of White, that the names be presented Elder A. :rtf. Wilsey. . Carried unani-singly: Carried. mously. . . .

On motion,- •. Moved by EldersE. C" ::Briggs and Resolved that the name of Elder Daniel Geo. H. Hilliard that ElderChas.W.

B. Rasey be taken from t,he record of the Wandell. be ordained a Sevent" in the Quorum of the Twelve, and placed with J

the recordeof' the names of the Eld.ers. place of Elder Wm. D. Morton. Car-Carried. .. .. . . ried.

On motion,-:--, lVIovedby Elders R J!'.Dllrfee. and ResQlvedthat the name of Reuben New- E. C. Briggs that Elder·])uncan Camp

kirk be taken from the' record of the bell be ordained a Seventy in the place Quorum of the Twelve, and placed with the of Elder Geo.Rarick. Carriedunanrecord of the names of thl1Elders. Car-riecl. imously. .' ........ , ....... '. . .. .,

F h d' 1\foved byElders H. C. Bronson and . urt er rea mg of Revelation oon- H. A. Stebbins that ElderJ. S. Patter

iJerning High Priests aJ?d Seventies, as follows:---' son be ordained . a Seventy. Carried

unanhnously; "Let my servants,Arehibald M. Wilsey, .r d b Eld W W BI d

William. D.Morton, and. George l1ariek, be Jh.ove· y eTs, ; air' an ordained High Priests; ,andlet my servants J. ,~: Briggs that Elder Glaud Rodger E, C. Urand, Qharles W. Wandell, and be ordained a Seventy. D~ncan Campbell, beappo!nted ~s especial Remarks I1y Elders E. C. andJ. W, WItnesses of the Seventy In then' placeB; Briggs and Geo. Adams to the effect and' 'let my 'servrunts Joseph Lakeman; h h' n" d'b '.' 'd' d' h ffi Glaud Rodger, Jol;tn T. Davies, and John t at e a een or alI~eto.t . e 0 ce S .. pa .. H.e. rS.,o ... n,. be. als,. 0 .... appo. in ... te.d as wi.tnes,. of a S. even.!y,w .. ,ut .t .. h. at .ltsvahdlty .had ses of the Seventy before me." .' been questlOu"gd. MotIOn was put and

·1\lotion of Elders R., Warnock:. and carried unanimously; .. '. . ... Geo., H. HiUiard, that Elder J!\{3on W. Moved by Elders W; W. Blair arid Briggs be sustained in his lot as. a I. L. Rogers that Elder John T. Davies member of..th~ .Quorum,. ofth~ Twelve. be ordained '\1' Seventy. Carried unani. Carried unaj1imousLy... '),' '. mOllsly. . ." .' .. . , ..... ,., .•

Motion of Elder H. .A.Stebbins that . Ueading of Revelation. relating. t(} Elder Josiah Ells be sustained in his the Bishop ohoosing his Counselors, as

sa member of the QuorUl1tofthe. folIows:--lv~.O~rriedlinanimou8Iy. . ". ,"It is exped(imttb'atthe Bishop ofmy

MotIon of Elders J. Hansen and. R. Chm:qp shall ehoos()t:\Vo Couns()lora,and Davisr that Elder E. C. Briggs be sus~ that t?ey be ordained to their offioe a~my tained in his 19t as a member of the law dl:~cts; that there may be hencef~l'th Quorum of'the Twel eC' . d' _ nooavlhng among my people. The BISh-• ' .. " .' ," v. ar~le unan op 'of my Churoh may also ohoose and ap, Imously. . • ,'. . '. point Bishop's Agents, until it shall be

Moved by Elders I~ Sheen and E. wisdom inme to ordain other Bishops! in Robinson that Elder Archibald 1\1. the distriots and large branches of my Wilsey he' ordained a High Priest. church." Carried unanimouslY: .' ,.' ',' . . The Bishop made <)hoiceof E. Bant'! '. Moved hy ElderI' W. W. Blair and and David Dancer ..


. :Moved by Elders J. ~Ell~, a~dJ. incase ofW.Il.Kelley aI\d .tosephR Landers, that Elder K Banta be or- Lambert; J. W.'Briggs in caseofT. dained a Counselor to the Bishop. W. Smith and A. H. Smith; and W.

Br. Banta wished it underst.oodthat W. :Blair incase Of John H.Litke. hebe released in one year, if he should Brn. A. M. Wilsey and Geo. Rarick so desire. .. . were ordained under the hands of Josiah

1Yloved by Elders J. Ells and E. C. Ells and E.C.Briggs. ]HdelE. C. Briggs, that Br. D. Dancer be ordained Briggs was spokesman in the ordination a Counselor to Bishop 1. L. Rogers. of Br. Rarick, and Elder J. Ells in

An amendment was made by Elders that of Br. Wilsey. H. A. Stebbins and J. Landers, that Elder Duncan Campbell was ordainD. Dancer be ordained a High Priest in ed under ,the hands of Elders E. C. connection with being ordained Coun- Briggs (spokesman)i\lldJ~siah Ells., selor. " . Moved by Elder .E.Robinson, that

Br.Dancer inaqe some objection to Elder H. A. Stebbins be added to the being ordained to the o$.ce of either auditing committee to audit the Bishop's Elder or High Priest. . books. Carried. ,

Moved by EldersE. Robinson and Moved by E. Banta, that we adjourn George A. Blakeslee, that this question until 2:30 P.l\I. Carried. be deferred until ,afternoon. Carried. -Sung hymn 1079. Benediction by

The President stated. tliatthe ordi- the President. nations would now be attended to, pre- AFTERNOON SESSION.

paratory to which hymn 601. was sung, Sung hymn 1024. Prayer by Br. and a fervent prayer was offered by the Edwin Cadwell. President, invoking the blessing of the Report of committee on Herald bills, Almighty upon His·, people" and the read,~ Spirit's power to attend, thll; setting f h II d . . "To the Church in Conference alIsembled:-apart 0 t ose ca etomml&l'J.' in "We, yollr. Commit.tee, appointed by word anddoctril)e. The Holy GI.,!'~t ''''Rf\~n'l]\"iable body to exil.min~ 't~e biils like a .mantle r\l.s~d upon ,the assembly, presentedby the Board of Pubhclttlon for

. and every heart was moved with joy settlement,' do hereby report that we have and gladness, in that the'day spring exltmined them .il.lid . found them correct, f ' ... , . ·h· li h a" . 't d· 'th· ".. . d and we T.eeommend·. that they be allowed, rom on 19 .. ,a"YISle ' ...• em, an &ndthat the Biphopbeauthorizedtopay

the Lord had agaiu"ilianifested himself Utero, , JOliN H, HANSEN, ,}. '

to his people. ,The hardest,Ii7art was .lDRN GILBERT, ' '. Com. melted to tenderness. and all were made JAs.llcKIERNAN. " '

to feel that this was indeed the honse Moved by Elders GeorgeH. Hilliard of God, the very giteoflreaven .. , and H, C. Bronson, ~hat the report he

Brn., W.W.BlairandD;H. Stnith received and, committee discharg{)d. were then ordainedurider the hands of Carried. Elders.J. W. Briggs;>KC.Briggs,JYIoved by Elders Qed.II. Hilliard Josiah ]~Ils, Isaac Sheen, and T. L. and H. C. Bronson ,that the; recomRogers. . ' . . '. ..• mendation of the cQmmittee beap.

Elder KG.Briggs was sJlokesmim proved, and the bills ordered to ,be in case of 'W. W~ Blair, anilJ.W. paid by the Bishop. Carried. Briggs in that of D~ H. Smith. Request of Sr. Sarah Jane Learfol'

Elders W.lL Kelley, T;W. Srhith, admissioninto thechurch,havingbe~n J. H. Lake,A. H. Smith\ and J.lt paptiliedbyElderSi1n,l1l.el Powers, was Lambert were ordained under tHe react. hands of Eldets Joseph Smith, W. 'Y. Moved by Elders B. F. Durfee and Blair and J.W. Briggs. . . ,.' P. S; Wixom, that she be admitted and

Elder Joseph Smith was spokesman referred to Plano Branch. Carried. www.LatterDayTruth.org


Heport of P. n. Henseimar on Utah Chapel Fund, was presented as fol· lows:-

1864, I wrote to Br. Atwood to sell I.he house, and gave him Power of Attorney which cost me $12. He sold the house fol' $1,300. I advised him to pay the $100

"List of moneys paid to P. H. Ren. of borrowed money, and send $1,000 to seimar. C. J. Anderson $10, Isador Mol" Br. Stiles who had moved to the States. ris $10, George Greenwood $10, Mr. The $100 being interest on the $900. Waters $5, J. K. Trumbo $5, David Mor- Also to use the rest for missionary purgan $5, John Lewis $5, C. ·Alberfson $5 poses. I afterwards learned that it was ret.urned, John Mahon $2, Erade Elliasson, so used. The Churoh had nothing to do $2, Emyris Davis $2, Lucy Wheeler 50 ets. with the transaction. The mules I had Total $61.50. which belonged to the Church, were not

"Salt Lake City, Utah, August 30, 1871. the kind to BeU in that country. They -Received of Elder E. C. Brand the above were a considerable bother to me. I sum of $61.50, subscriptions, or donations traded them for a house. Br. Atwood received by him, for the purpose of erect. afterwards traded the house for another ing a church building in the Utah District. team. I wrote to him that he should give for the Reorganized.Church of Jesns Christ the man I bought the house from $50. of Latter Da-y Saints. This tea-m was brought to the States and

.' P. F •. RE:NBEElfAR, delivered over to Bishop Gamet, which " Treasurer oj Oommittee." was afterwards Bold, and the money sent

Moved by Elders W. W. Blair and to Bishop I. L. Rogers." R. Warnock, that the report of P. II. :Elder l\iatthews confirmed this state. Renseimar on U~ah Chapel !und be: ment, so far as he had 'any knowledge referred to the BIshop. Carned. lof it· he being the man who let Br.

A statement concerning the purehase Brig~s have the $100. of a mission house in Utah, by Elder On motion of Elders R. Warnock E. C. Briggs, in 1863, and sale of sar.l1o, and H. C. Bronson :-

was made., ... II esolved, That this Conference considers Someml!!Understandlllg havmg arIsen Elder E. e. Briggs entirely free from all

with referenoe to it, Elder E. C. Briggs censure.illl' financial affairs in his mission was oalled upon to give a history of the to UtJrl': Carried.

transaotion, whieh was as f6il';'~~:ro~il,(u'f1Report of .. Committee on Bishop's "When I first arrived at. Utan I trle'dl books waS read as follows:-

three weeks to obtain a houso for public •.. . i"!

preaching, and could find none. Brother Plano, IllIllOlS, AprIl 10, 18t 3. Stiles having united with the Reorganiza· To the General Conference assembled: ti.on, and desiring to l~ave ~ tah, offered We, your Committee, appointed to hIS house for sale. B. Young B agent carne audit the books of Br. 1. L. Rogers, to bu:y it, an~ ?ffered hi.m $1,000 for it. tl:i B'sho of the Church do m~ke the Br. StIles deslrlllg< that It should be used e ~. p , for the benefit of church if sold asked me followmg report: if I could not buy it. He said 'if I would i That we have investigated the said give him $100 down and my note for $900, books and so far as we may find by I could have it:. I asked the brethren them' and' by the means we have for where I could get $100. A few days after·..' 'd h b ward a brother brought me that amount of Judgmg, we conSl er t em to e cor· money. I gave it to Br. Stiles and my reot, and we find that. the balances note for $900, and told him that if the therein are the same m amount as Bis?op would not honor the note, I\s. I shown in the Bishop's published report deSired the house for a place of worshIp, oontained in the Herald of April 1st that I would be responsible for its pay·... . , ment; that I would sell the house and pay 18t 3. . .. . him. I thought I would get the deed in • In addltIOn, we, your Comml~tee the Bishop's name, but was counselled oth· would respectfully suggest, and recom· el'wise. I did ~ot buy it in the name of mend, for the safety of the Bishop, and th? church, but III my own. name. I refor the general good of the Church. celved a bon!Jfide deed, made to me for the d' , f th f t d' d' house. I received no word from the an m VIeW 0 • e u ure ~ee s ~n Bishop, but went on to California. In demands respectmg the BIshoprlCk


GENERAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE l\II~UTES, 1873. 21

and the Church, that he be fu. rnished I Hart, that the .nan.les of. all elders in with books of receipt, and that he be foreign lands should be enrolled in requested to give or send a receipt to: Quorums in the land of Zion. Carried. every individual giving any sum .. into II· Bishop L L. Rogers presented the his hands for Church purposes; and narite of D. Dancer to be chosen as one that he take receipts for all moneys of his Counselors. paid out, specifying the fund from Moved by Elders .Tohn H. Lake and which such sums are paid out. E. C. Briggs, that Br. David Dancer

We would also recommend that he be chosen and ordained to the office of be released from the obligation he is an Elder and a Counselor to the now under of making quarterly reports· Bishop. , through the Herald, and that he be I Moved by Elders I. Sheen and R. instructed to report but twice a year, 'Varnock, that TIl'. David Dancer be namely: In the Herald next preceding, referred to the Plano Branch .. the sittings of the Annual and Semi-\ On inquiry it was ascertained that Annuitl Conferences. . Hr. Dancer did not belong to the Plano

Respectfully submitted, Branch. E. ROBINSON, } The original motion was then put G. A. BLAKESLEE, (} and carried. \VfiL ANDERSON, -GIn... Ern. E. Banta and David Dancer HENRY A. STEBBINS.. were then ordaihed under the hands of

On motion of Elders J. H. Lake and Elder~ J os~ph Smith and 'IV. W; Bl~ir. A. White, the report was received and Josep SmIth ~pokes~an ~m Or?I~atlOn committee discharged. . o~ Br; Dancer, and W. W. BlaIr In or-

1\foved by Elders J. Hansen and A. dmatlOD of Br. Bant~. .. ,., White, that the course recommended Moved th.at we adJo~rn untIl i P.M. by the committee in their report be The P!esldent appomted Elders J. adopted and acted upon. Withdrawn I C. Clapp a;nd H. C. ~ronson to occupy by consent. . I the stan~ l~ the eveDlllg. . .

l\Ioved by Elders T. W. Smith and BenediCtIOn by the PreSIdent. J. W. Briggs,- EVENING SESSION.

That we endorse the recommend&tion in Sung hymn 79. Prayer by Elder J. the report of Committee, except that part C. Clapp. SURg hymn 1005. concerning the quarterly reports of the Elder H. C. Bronson addressed the Bishop. Carried. congregation, followed by Elder J. C .

. Request for the organization of' Clapp. . Elder's Quorum in I~ngland was taken I Adjourned until nine o'clock to-mor~ up and acted upon. . row morning. .

Several spoke on the question. And Benediction by Pres .. J. Smith. a motion was presented showing the impractibility of' authQrizing the orga-nization of such a quorum. Also one ]fRIDAY, APRIL 11TH. to strike out the word" quorum" and , , , insert the .word" enroll."· . I .. . MORNING SES~IO.N.

On motIon of Elders J. W. BrIggs I l\I.eetlllg opened by smglllg,.and the and Geo. A. Blakeslee _ . loffermg of prayer by the PreSIdent.

R . l rl T r• " ,,-' •• f thO Heading of yesterday's minutes by eso ve, un, m LUO OpInlOn {) 18 . h S .

Conference, the organization ofa Quorum t e .ecrctary. of Elders in foreign lands is impraoticable, l\Illlutes approved as corrected. impolitio and unwarranted in the law of Report of the Committee on the ReGoel. Carried. port of the General Church Hecorder"

l'rIoved by Elders C. Beebe and H. presented as follows:-www.LatterDayTruth.org

22 GENERAL ANNUAL CQNFERENCE .l\1J}{UTES, 18'73.

Plano, Illinois, Apd110/ 1873; '. discharg~~. .' Carried.. '" .'. ' JJfr.Presient, and Brethren in Conference M(jvedby ]jlders J. W. Bnggs and

assembled:' K C. Briggs . . '. . . .... . We, the undersigned, your committ,ee, That the report of said committee be

to whom was referred the Report of Eflier adopted, aiidthe recommendations therein 1. Sheen, ItS Church Recorder, do hereby be complied with ,. . report that we have examined the General R k b . E: Id' .' 'E "n '. d J Church Record Bnd find that while the emar s y. ers . anta an. . style or manner'in which it has been kept; W. Briggs. '. . might have been improved, yet it doubtless Moved by J; W; Briggs and H. C. will be found correct, as a record; and as Bronson as au ameiidment it is now full, and has been for some time, That thaipart"of the i'eport referring to and a considerable amount of matter is in the Recorder's hands, as well as an index, collection"beingtakim up for the purpo'se

of purchrisinga book be stricken out, and which is not only useful, but necessary. the Bishop of the,. Church be instructed t9 Therefore, be it

Resolved, Th~t I'L book be purchased by comply with the resolution passed by pre-a committeo of two, to bo appoil3.ted.by the ~i:r:~et0'nference I'especting said book. President of the Conference, which .shall be at least one-third thicker, and consider- A second amendment was offered by ably longer and wider, to contain the in· Elders E. Robinson ahd J. Doin dex referred to, as well as the ordinary That the report of committee be further items recorded. And be it further amended .by striking out the words "not

Resolved, That in vi~w of the past labors less than one dollar nor niore than two dol~ in, and s3cri'fice made for the cause of the lars," and inserting tho words one dollar Reorganized Church, the present .Gener~l and seventy-five cents. Carried. Church Recorder should be 'contmued m " ., .. ,.<:"C " " his position, not only as an evidence of our. The report, as am,e l1ded, was.adopted appreciatio~ of his past ~ervices, ~ut be- by vote. " .,' .... " .' .. . cause of hiS long acquamtance WIth: the' Elder Sheen WIshed ,the dutIes of duties of the office. . ',.,: the <Gener~l 'Church. Recorderdesig-

And whereas no labor has been perform-. t 'd' . ";d' 'th't h "0 'ht' I ed since a settlement between' the said na e . In; or er a.e mIg , comp y General Church Recorder and the Board of with them.' ' .•. Publication,-ma,de June, 1872,-and no' The president stated that with his claims have been ;uade by said ~ecorderpresent: imderstanding he·,'.'woula not for any remuneration for labor smce that like to define what those auties were. date; therefore, we recommend that as soon Eld" J WEi. 0- the 'ht: his as a new book is purchased, which sbould. .. er .. ,' .. ' ,~\,g~. OUg;. be done at once, tbe present Recorder shall dutIes r:elated to.x~cQrdmg the namel; resume his duties, and thadhe sum of not of those uniting with theChu'rch. more tban two. dolI~rsrior less than one . The President ap.pointed E14ers I.IJ. dollar per day be pmd fO.r e~ch day of la-Rogers and.R.A. St"bbins to purchase

.bor performed. And be It further. b k l>"G 'l"Ch' h 'R' d Resolved, tbat as this labor of recording a 00 lor a enera", urc .. eicor .

names of parties joining }he Church Elder r.~.aac Sheen request~,(that throughout the world~as well as those Conference. make known Its W'I~n re-di~fellowsbiped, and as ~~ll as other it~msspectingthe Liprary. . '... .: -It becom~s " matter of mterest and Im- Moved by Elders K C. BrierD'S and portance to all the Church, we rocommend ' .'.. .' b,? '. that contributious fo'r the purchase of the J. H. L~ke, thatwe,P!oeeed tf,> IfPporbook referred to; be made by the members tant bUSIness. Not,.put •..• " ,,:," ' .. of thisConference during itsmeeting. President J Qseph . Smith requested

You: committee respect~ull:r sub!l\i t , the that Missio.ns be the special order this foregomg, and ask to be dls,cbarged, afterno.on. '

EDWIN CADWELL,} 'R 1 .. ,. f' , ' h" Q" ., f w. H. HAZZLEDINE, Com. . ... ,eso. ut,I.ons. roc ~: .. t ,e. ,.uor~In 0. THOS. W. SoUTH, Seventy were readas.follows:-

:Moved by Elders E. Bartta and Jo.s~ ephS. Snively that the. report o.fsaid committee be received and' committee

Resolved, That we. recommend to tbe Conference the name of Br .. George. W. Brooks, who was a member in the,Quol'um Of Seventy in old organization, to' be re-


GENERAL 1\;r.;r~UAl;..,OON'FERENOE :rYlINUTES, 1873. 23

eeived a :member of the Firet, Quorulll of be chosen and ordained a member of Seventys, in theReergaIli~'1t~(lt1. .Were - tp.~Quorum ~f Seventy. • , co:m:mel}d L?en:-:me ofBr.l·hchplas j3,talllill Elder R F. Durfee objected, to the for ordmatlOn m th.e. Quoru:m9t §~venty, . . , ': Also the names, of, Joseph S. SnIvely, of bwther on account ~f hisdeafne~s. Canada.; John Gilbar.t, of, Massachuset.ts; Elder J .• W. BrIggs asked If the L. F. West, of Florida;J ohn~. Hanse!), brother was willing to undertake the of 10;wa; John C. Foss, of Mam.e, Jll.m~8 duties of the office. MC~lernan, of Iowa; J; C .. Clapp, of Call-Elder Sta' m rep' lied that he was forma, and Robert DaVIS, of Canada. '. '. .... . m, ." ., .'

Resolved, That We recommend tbaiEr. . ,Elder LSh,een. a13ked whether or not Duncan Campbell be set apart andordain-he, was ill a, position, domestically, to ad to the office of a President of Ute fulfill the duties of the office. It .was Quorum, of Seventy, as signified in the, an~wered that he was a sillgle man. Revelation. C. G.LM1PREAl1, Prcs'B ,She" 180 st~ted th t if P l'~ F. REY1!9LDS, Sec'y. C" r ." "u a, . ", ,a . au ~

• lHo ed b . Eld W W. Blaiandthorn i.nth!! flesh, thou!'?ht to be so;,e v.. y ers. . reyes, dId not prevent hIm, from dIS-

E. l\obll1son, that the resol~tloll of the charging the duties of'his office, neith~eventy'sQuorum be received. Oar- er should Elder Stamm's deafn~~8 pre-ned. . ,vent,him from discharging his. '

M~ov~d by Elders B.]. Durfee andElderW. W. Blair stated as his H. C. ] ronson,--:. '. . ,.. t" opinion, that the Quorum of the Twelve T~a~ the, reS?lutlOns be .adopt.cd,he were the proper ones to attend to fillin'" prOVlBlOns therem be complIed WIth, and ' . . .. ', .,., ' ,1:)

the names mentioned acted uponsep3.rate- the Quorum of. Seventy. 1y. {)arried~ . . ' Elder F. Reynolds read the law on

The nam!! of ,ElderG. W. Brooks the point. was presented. ;:.':i~' " , ... Moved by Elders J. S. SniTOly and

E~derE. Banta wlIlhedtoknow who R O.Bronson, that -the vote on the said G. W., Brooks.wiiS l' question be now called, Oa.rried:

ElderF. Reynolds complied with the: The motipn was then put and lost. request aud stated what he knew <;lfBr: Moved by Elders Banta, and Bron-Brooks. .,'. '...... '... . •..... ' son, that, we now adjourn till 2 P.M.

Elder Br~oks alsqista~ahis~pastex- ',~ung "Praise God from whom all perience. blessings flow." Benediction by the

Elder W. H.Kel1ey inquired into fresident., the legality of thei'present proceeding. . AFTERNOON SESSION;

Moved. by l'JlderiJcihn I'L Hansen . Sung hymn 973. Prayer by Elder andG.T. Ohilte, 'that. we J:e~,onsider D.CampbelL motion,to adopt the resolutions of the.L~ction on resolution .of the Seventy Seventy. ]j1otiollo fnot in order .. _ continued.

1l<Ioved by Eld'lrE.Banta,and W. Moved by Elders RF. Durfee and R. Oalhoun, that the name 6fElder G. R. Davis, that Elder Joseph S.Snively W. Brooks be enrolled as a'member of be ordained a member of the Quorum the Quorum of Severity. '" .' of Seventy.

Elders Isaao Sheen, J ohnGilbert, Elder E. Banta spoke i:n favor of his J.W. Briggs, John·H, Lake,andG: ordination. Br. Snively deelined the W. Brooks, spokeiin affirmative. nomination. The motion was with

Elders' E. Banta, J. S. SnivelYiW, drawn. W .. Blail',J. O. Clapp, spoke in the The, name of John' Gilbert was prenegative. ,,' ." '.! . sented, and it was moved by, Elders

The motiopwasthenput.and IQstby Josiah Ells and P. S. Wixom} that he a vote of twenty to fourteen. be ordained a member of the Quorum

:MoyedbyJ. S: Snively and J. of Seventy: On his declining toae, McKiernan,that Elder Nicholas StalUm. cept, the motion was withdrawn, '



The name of L. F. West, of Florida, is your responsibility as a LegisllJ.tive Body, was presented, and, on being objected acting for the entire Church of the living

. d God upon the earth, and weighty your de-to, was WIth rawn. cisions for weal or for woe. May the gra-

Moved by Elders H. C. Bronson and cious Spirit of an All-wise Father endow N. Dutton, that Elder John H. Hansen you with the requisite power to legislate be chosen and ordained a member of wisely in behalf of much-loved Zion. the Quorum of Seventy. Carried. At the sam.e time while you are asse~-

11'- d b Eld J C CI d bled to consIder measures for the entzre m?ve y ers.. app an Church, we in foreign lands are also assem-.

J. Landers, that Elder J. C. Foss, of bled to consider how we may best assist Maine, be chosen and ordained a mem- your efforts by extending the influence of ber of the Quorum of Seventy, subject God's gra~ious truth through~ut Europe; to his consent. Carried. and as we III 0l!r C?nforence wll} ea~nes.tly

M . £' d pray that the rICh lllfluences of lllsplrahon

oved by Elders B. F. Duriee an may rest upon you, and the wisdom of t~e O. P. Dunham, that Elder James Eternal guide you, permit me to ask that McKiern;m be chosen and ordained a you will also remember in your solmn asmember of the Quorum of Seventy. se~b.ly the Conf~rence of the European

Br. McKiernan raised some objec- i\-hs~lOn, and <!od.s feeble though earnest . . . servants labormg m Europe.

tlOns, bu.t afterwards WIthdrew th~m. I can not present to you so encouraging The motIOn was then put and carned a Report of this Mission, nor of my labors, unanimously. as my heart desires; yet I am very thank-

Moved by Elders E. Banta and O. ~ul to say, the ,Mission is neit~er dead, dyP. Dunham that Elder Joseph C. mg, nor barre~ of. good f';Ult, nor am I

I ' • weary of labormg m the vmeyard as one

C app be chosen and ordallled a mem- of God's husbandmen. ber of the Quorum of Seventy. Car- I have much to thank God for that he ried. sent such nobly-qualified laborers into this

Moved by Elders ,James McKiernan part of His vineyard as some of my predeand P. S. Wixom that Elder Robert cessors have been; not less too would I Davis be chosen and ordained a member praise Him that ~o~ one of thos~ who have

come here on MlssIOns from ZIOn's land, of the Quorum .of Se:,enty. . .. with the exception of Geo. M. Rush, has

After some dISCUSSIOn as to dIsabIlIty left the stain of immorality behind him. on account of age, the motion was C!1r- Some excelled in wisdom, some in ability, ried unanimously. Borne in prudence, but with the one excep-

l\:[oved by Elders John H. !Lake and ~ion refe,ired to, none stand ch.a\-ged with,

J h S S· I th t Eld' , D ImmoralIty. Ther sowed plentlfully; they

osep " mve y a er .uncan reaped but sparingly. Campbe,J be set apart and ordallled a Not less too do I thank God for the exPreSIdent of the Quorum of Seventy, cellent men who are now my coadjutors as specified in the Revelation. Carried. here,Elders Patterson, Davis, and ~\.von-

MISSIONS. del. I have not a word to say of them but . . what is commendatory. God bless them

Pres. SmIth presented the name of for their willing and anxious labors in bel';lder Mark H. Forscutt to be sustain- half of Zion. I have written to them to ed as President of European l\Iission. report themselves to Gener:al Conference

Reports from Brn. Mark H. Forscutt b3,' letter~ and trust you WIll be favore(l WIth theIr reports, Brother Avondet's

and Jolin S. Patterson were read. Misssion is a very hard one, I ask for him [These reports should have appeared your prayful sympathies.

with the reports of missions but were ,The European Mission is It difficult one, miElaid and overlooked till the Herald ~ore ~ifficult than a~y ot~pr I have been

III durIng my connectIOn WIth the Reorganpages were made up.J-En. ized Church. There is not the dElnger to Esteemed President and Brethren in General person there is in the Utah Mission; but

Conference Assembled:- there is not one-tenth the 8ympathy for our Absent'from you in body, I am present cause among "outsiders" here tllat there

with you in spirit, praying for you, and is there. ,There are not the same physical the success of our Master's cause. Great obstacles to meet that our faithful brother www.LatterDayTruth.org


T. W. Smith met with in the Southern been organized, one at Clay Cross in DerStates, but we· have neither school-houses b;rshire. and one at Walsall in Worcesternor private houses to preach the word.in shire. There are good prospects:of 0. Branch here as he had there; nor have we the ad- in Stafford also, but none yet organized vantage of tracts to distribute to the peo- there. . pie. To visit the people with nothing but Unless we can get the printed word here, the sacred word, to have nothing. to leave the European Mission will oontinue to be with them to read when we part from them, a dull :Mission. There is not more than to go sometimes ten or twenty miles to visit one plaoe where an elder can stay in any them and talk with them, and .then not be town, and a sensitive man is continually asked to either sleep or eat, is part of the made the subject of his own fears lest he experience of the Missionaries here. Br. should be imposing on good nature by rePatterson found it so diffioult in Scot- maining at one place all the time of his land and the north of England, that his tarrying there, with the exception of his· health was fast giving way under it, and I accepting. an invitation to an oooasional advised his going to London to labor, meal or two at another house. If we can where his healLh, thank the Lord, has been obtain the printed word, the l!llders oan 'l.'eoruited, and where his labors have not find employment, and with them many of been altogether in vain. Brother Avond",t the saints too; but if we oan not, unless in Switzerland and Italy has found the there be a change, it seem~ almost like imsame difficulty, and could not obtain food posing on the few saints there are to mainwithout working for it. He has therefore tain two Missionaries in England. I hope been working at manual labor for his bread, that Conference will·· pass a Resolution. and employing his evenings and Sundays providing for the honorable release of to preaching or- teaching the gospel of either Bro. Patterson or myself in case we Christ.-His freinds gave him employment. should not be able to establish a Publish-

Bro. Davies in Wales has had better suc- ing Department here, or in the events of cess. Out of ~he sixteen branches having more effective openings not arising for the a name in this Mission when he oame, ten ministration of the word. I hope I shall fell to his lot, and covering a smaller ter- not be misunderstood in this. Neither of ritory, his Missionhas been more favora- us wish to be released on any other grounds ble. The Welsh saints are a liberal heart- than that of {lUI' inability to do sufficient edpeople 100, and I am pleased to say have good to justify our remaining. We do not supplied his want~. Of the remaining six wish to burden th.e Church at home with branches one was in Sootland which had the care of our families, nor the Saints here become so nearly dead that the only hope wHh the burden of our support, unless of its revival consisted in Reorganizing it, there be suffioient employment to keep us which Elder Patterson did. Sinoe Bro. active for the Master. I will not say any Patterson left, it has to say the best of it, thing about the plan on which we think a been very quiet. There are some good Pnblishing Department could be made selfpeople there; but they need the personal in- sustaining and effective, as the views held fiuence of a live elder to keep them active. by the Saints here are fully expressed in the Of the remaining five branches. two are Minutes of our last General Conference dead, though not officially disorganized. which are on sale at H~rald O.tJice; but I am Bro. James, the President {)f that District, fully satisfied that unless such an institution reports that he can not even get .any of be established, our hope of any great good is them to attend a meeting. I can only almost a forlorn one. With that a number learn of three practical saints in the two of Elders could soon take the field, withbranches; one of the three is in a work- out it, we are already too many. ' house, unable to do any thing for t.he work Since I -reoeived the appointment to this more than to pray for it; but he is a noble- Mission, I have tried to be active for the hearted old man, Another of the three is Master whom I love; yet my labors have eighty;two years of age, an excellent man, been too divided to admit of success in any but incapable of aiding the work. The one given ,direction, save t.hat of placing third is Bro. James, the President of the on a better and higher pIane of thought and District, all alive, but alone. These two action the efforts of the Churohes under branches are the Plymouth and Portsmouth my care. and I think I may give God glory Branohes. Thero are really but three that in this my efforts have not been in branchesln all England of these that were I vaiI1. named when I arrived, the Birmingham, Where I could notvisit,Ihave writt~n. London and Hanley Branches. Thanks be and. sought to disseminate truth and ,build to God, however, two others. have· since, up.the saints.in the spirit of ullio~ and love.


26 GENERAL ANNUALdO~FERlTI~,~:ElMINUTESJ 1873.

In fact,writing has been one ofthem.eansuI:Hief t,lien,'existingoireumstll.nces .. , This by which. I . have informed inanyof~t~e I l'egret" ~ry,'much, indeed, ,as. IMt tho Chur.cb who aren6w en'quiring in rellition homeofmy.~doption, high in 'li6.plHhat I to it, and bywhi<lh 1 have reached many woritdMll,ble;. by the help of God, to do of the scattered ones whom it has beenim-somethiJlg. ;for the n:dvanoement., of t110 possible to visit.; , cause of' Christ in my native land, that

That I may 'not take up too much"ofwould be'j:Hlrmanent in its character; and your 'time, I submit herewith a summary T did riilt:gi'l'e up theb.ope, nor the effort, of my labors sinoe my appointmeIl't. lill stern necessity compelled'; 'and alTravelled 8,908 miles, of which I, have though I had felt bound in spirit, 3,11 the rode7,942mnes,:1valked~ 1,019 Diiles, time Irep1ained .th·ere:rit was withex~ written 583 letters,attended;219 meetings, treme'relucbince," that I, by advice from preached 110.sermon&, baptilled.9persons, brother Fdrscutt and oth:ars, turned my confirmed 6 persons, ordained 1 Tel\cher, fa,ee southward; and my back .oil my'native blessed 10 children, administered>to14 country. Since that time I have held fresiok persons. . • quent (l'orresl1oiJ.:dence with the veI\y few

In dischltrging the.dutios attendantupon 'faithful there; and :learnthattneprospects the above labors, 'and ,in visiting, r have for th:cspre!l.doftl:"uth:iireinno'wI1Y better, been very happily sustained by the good than' whentleft there.

-Spirit, the.Spirit of promise,'andalthough /. .', I have not done near 80 much as I'eould. I. aruve\'l: III L.ondon, thjdatter p.tlrt of have wished to do, I amyetthankfuLto IB;stp?cem,ber, outofhea1th,; an!'! shgh~ly the L.ord for ha'l'ing .enabled me to do the d\spmted;w~el'e_ l;met a ,kllld.r.f;lceptlOn little I have done. . f~.o1Jl th,e" .SI1.I1;1tsof theLon~onllranc~.

The work is the, Lord's; .brethron,SlllCQWhlCh ,tltl;leI.hav~ contlIlue? !let t~la He is carrying. it on; but as' we. are the pla,ce. .Ihava hl.bored lIT connee.tlOn WIth servants, we must expect He will carryM the J:>ranch office~s and, lo.cal Elders,! for on by UB, or if. He finds we will not work, ~he adv.an()emen,t of the cau.se here ... I nave discharge us andemplQy:others .. J wisbJust fihisheda course of Lectures, that h.ave to be one of the Lord's workmen; if as been well attende? . Se:eral old Salllts such you sustain me in this Mission, I.wili have favored us }'nth theIr presence, and try to work effectively and earnestly; . if some app~ar qUIte favorable. Am:.ongst you release me, r will.come home and.work others I mIght make honorable mentIOn. of there. I 10.ve the Master, J love His '\York, Rr. Jo~n Hyde, Senr., f?rm.erly an achve and I love. His people, and my highest Elder ln~he .old organIzation; but who ambition is to be His, and their co_worker,le!tthe~ III dISgust many years ago: He iYlanyof your pleasant faces come before 8~IH testIfies to. the trutb of the wo~k, ~nd me as I. write this .. May God bless you; VIews the clall?,s oJ the Reorg;!llllzahon ont' and all, and dirictalL your measures favorably;; but IS extremely cautIOUS,. .Ho to His glory, is the prayer of your fellow- hol~s aloof from all other worshlplllg laborer, .. MARK. H.FollSCUTT, . ~odles. ,We have also been favored several

Birmingham England . i tunes WIth the presence of brother George !farch 15th .1873 . . . 'J. Adams, also a prominent man in the , .' ".' 'I' Church, in Missou1'i and, Illinois, in the

To th.e.Bre.· .. th. el'.ni.n .. ' A .. ·'I!nu .. ,a,z., ,0. .. °11. ie .. l'ence .. asse. m . .... - .. daYs.of th. e firS .. t J o. s .. e.Ph, ... II ... e has, itwou. Id . bled, I hereby .~end, greet,ng ,- . . . appear, for some time past, been viewing Dear llrethern.-Having been appointed the Reorganization favorably; and laet

by your honorable body, in your, seSSion,. Sunday, :(\'Iarch 2nd, he came of his own on;> yeart\go,ll.t St.Loui~, Mo., tot!ike a !free will, and aft~r asking the privilege, Mission to Europe, in eompany with, . and i which 'was freely.granted; gave a . brief uuder ~he presidencY. ·of. our .. beloved I synopsis ofhisconneotion with the Church, bro. ther'.M. ark. II, .. F. 0 .. 1', .B.O. UU;.I.'.h. ereb. y. s .. en.d te.sti.iyin. g stron.glyto the truth of t.h.e L.atfor your information, Il. report of PIyindi- te·r Day Work, stating what he knew con-vidual labors, present prospects, and the: cerning the appointment, . !l:nointing, and general condition of the.l\lission with i blessing, of the <fJresent Joseph, by his which I .. m. connected,ao far as my per-' father, he h:avhlg been'present on that

son. at kn.o .. Wledge ... 0£ .. it ... w. ill. jUS.tifY. m.e ... i .. n 10. e.c.asion. ~.' H.e. a .. 1. SO .. 8ta.ted t.h .. M he. m .. eant writing ... ' ., '. '. . .. ' •. to follow the, example of Williain Smith, As reg4l>rds my OWl!. labors, per:h~p8 whose testimony he had'read in the 'Her

little more need be.liAid b~yondwh.at haB'ald~ Should he keep his promiSe, you appes.r&il. &lre&dy . 'J"rommy }len, '. III the I may ell.peet ere hmg to receive from him a Herald. . As . you are a.ware,·· I. found it sttlitement of whli.the·. knows Mneerning impracticable to remain longer in Scotll!.nd,the Church, 'fo'rpublic\J.ti6nin the Hdald.


'R\lalso .. ' ~onteri;pi~t~8 '. g6i1:g 'i~,Aci~,~i~am9;iIlg.i.n~t~;,1~~;~6tthai~~()th~I'For8-floon, withth'e)nfel;ltIon, (as 1 understand()~ttwmnotice t~em,atter more fully in it), of reuniting withVhc Church.' . Others .hif report, I will leave the matter, to his <lfleas note, pernaps,' but.equally precious !puoh abler ~im. '. ...' " in the, sight of God;havl) ittU;jnded.opr 'I have great pleasure in stilting tothe meetIngs,I;nd ,~ave p ee!dre,q1l en tlY, , vJsit· brethren the most perfect ullanimity of cd by us, and are also . looking 'favorably, feelingsaud brot,herly love, and good un'but cautiously, o.t theReo!ga~iz~tron. . derstanding, have prevailed between Elder

In company of ,Elders Bradshaw'and I!',Qrseutt, .andmyself; . and also all the Norton, of London, I have.madefrequent br,ethren, that I have. been called to labor visits to the houses of .s,evera!:pld,Saint,s, with, while'o~ this Mission, so as our duand we believe that our.l!J.b,orswilleveut- tiirsh!1veoslled us to labor together; and ually resultin good. I have a1soivritten 1 have faith that such feelings will canto quite a number'orthe oldSaints;'thatI tinue throughout the Mission,b.e it short or had not the pi'ivilege,o:f''Veaching other- long. I feel.g;ra~efulfor the hearty nl!1nwise,. hoping to open Up, a correspondence n,cr iu .~hich yousustitined the British Miswiththe~; andth~rebypring them tO,the sion, by your votes !\t "the Bluffs," last light; .but illslmost ,ev;orycaseof t.his fall; and should you now deem it wisdom, kind, I have been doomed to disappoint- under 'existing eircumst!1nces, to call me meut, , home, I shall cheerfully, acquiesce, in the

Touching.the condition of tlio'British deoisi~n:au~ re~urnto assist in w?l'k, of Mission, 80 far asIampersonally ac- theMlu}stry,. WIth our. brethren, IU ,. the quainted with it, I think that H m.aybe ,Ne,,: World, ;,b~,t ~hould you ?o~clude()thconsidered improved spiritually, and ill er~tBc;Ial)l Wlnll)g, by God S nelp, to do regard: t61aw and, ()l'der,ahditllpractical what Ican.,the,commg sumIller, for the fur-appli~ation, the Sainlsappear to be. ob- the~ spread oft:rnth. . taining ,better light" and are. less disposed 'We .expect t,? b~ assembled m Oonfere?ce to serve their old traditionS'; . capacity at Blrmmgham, at, tl;le Barne time,

Financially, with the privilege granted you are. OUfpraye118 in your behalf&hall it by the AmericanPl,lblishtngBoard. it be th2t!. God may dil-ect your deliberations • 'd d I h h by the Spirit of Wisdom, that future good 18 not eonsl erc '!Japab, c,by ~. osc. w 0 for' Zion's weal may' be the result·, and ought to know bl)st,~fsustaning. more than oue Elder ill the field, (thishM re~ trusting that we m!1iyhave the benefit of ference to England,and Scotland,only), your united prayers, fOF the ultimate triand should our contemplated Publishing umph of I. he eauseentFustedtousinthis Department faIlthrough,I understand part of God's vin,cyard, and with sentih . h b d bh P • menlsof respect and brotherly love, I sub.

t at It as' een suggeste, y t e, reSl- scribe .myself your fellow,;.]aborer in the dent of the Mission to President Joseph SmHh, that ,it would be advisable to' re- cause of Truth, . JOHN S.PATTERSON. lease one of us, at yoIir present sitting; London, Engll,1nd" ., that one of course must be, me, a8,myfi~ld March 5th, 1878. of labor has failed me. Elder J. W.13riggs requested a .}Jast-

I sineerly hope that .the Publishing. ponementof the (lolli!iderati,o):l of Euromovement may \lea 'stl.c!les8,wh'leverIll~y penn }Iission untiIto-molrOWillOrnil\g. be the brethren, that mp.y carryon the , It was 8\9 ordered. work of the ministry, in tllese lands •. For The Secretary read a reeoluti.on from without it', or some movement of alike na· ture, the work in this 'Country will, in my the Quorum ,of the Twelve, as. follows: judgment, have to ().ragthroughlQng we!\ry Plljlno, IlL. Aprilllth, 1873. yell;rS of difficJl.1ties anddi~~p~oi.ntments" Ata,meeting of the Quoru!p oCtheTwelve, Whlph othenVlse ,may be aVOIded. The held a.t the house of By. E., C. Briggs, the success of 8uchamovement.(theprimary following resoluiion,presentedby Bros. object of which is the spread of Truth, the Josiah EllsandJ ohn H; Lake, ,'w9.suIianisecondary object gaiu, to the ext'ent ofmak,. mously adopted ;-ccR;esollltd, ,th"t we inform iug the Mission self-su~taiI\ing),;could not .• theFirst Presid~ncythat, BSII Qlloru,m.we fail·!.o soon make itself felt for good. I arenow pl'epared.to a~8ume the resppnsi-h?pe,; t~~refor~, thnt~J:touldthec br,~thren bility of our calling. . . ;" ' VH):W.lt~n. the. hghtthatw() on, thIS slae the ". T. W. SMITH, Cle~:kof Quorum; A~lanFcdil, th~y'Wil1give.~t their~upp~\t" .. :Moved b'y" Elders R. Warn] and and titus make Itasuecess, If the movement, . . .... . '.' ." ". ,oc C .'

bll'a"rightohe,as.ah:nost.alradpiit,th(lnt~eSheen1; .,".. .'. ; .', . Quly 'Way for ns to .rig~t 0.180,i8. iQ. keepit Resolved, that the QriO'llll;l of, the Twelve


28 GENERAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE 1\UNUTES, 1873.

Apostles travel and lab orin the ministry Elder J. H. Hansen was ordained a of the gospel, severall?".as.directed by t.nat Seventy under the hands of J asoIi. W. Quoru.m, under the directIon of the Flrst B . 'J'S' h E~ C B . d J Presidency, according to the Revelations rlggs, .. mlt , .' . nggs, an . of God. Carried. Ells; the latter bemg spokeman.

The President mentioned .the reasons Elder James }leKiernan was ordain-why Br: A. H. Smith did not undertake ed ~ Seventy un~el' the hands of Joseph the Mission assigned him to California. Sm.lth, J.W. Bnggs, iI· Ells, and E. C. A letter from brethren Hervey Green, Bnggs; the latter bemg spo.kesman. Glaud Rodger and others requesting Elder J. C. Clapp was ordamed a Sevthis Conferenc~ to send Br. A. H. Smith enty under the hands of E. C. Briggs, to California was read. J. Ells, tT, W. Briggs,. and J. Smith;

Request of Br. J.?C. Foss, and others, the latter being spokesman. . that Elder Thos. W. Smith be sent to Moved by J;~lders E. Robmson and Maine, placed on file. . Noah ~utton th~t EI~~r G. W. Bl:ooks

Resolution from Minutes' of Canada be ordamed a Hlgh I rlest. Carrled. Conference read as follows:- Brother Brook~ was ordaine~ under

Resolved, that we refer to the ensuing An- the hands of J. EllS, J: W. Brlggs, J. nual General Conference the nature of the H. Lake, and I. Sheen; the latter beCanada Mission, and the necessity of a ing spokesman. Conference and President for the same. .

1\Ioved by Elders W. H. Kelley and ::lHSCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.

James }IcKiernan. that we entertain ]foved by Elders J. C. Clapp and E. the resolution. Carried.. Banta, that we proceed to the regular

Bro. W. H. Kelley made some re- order of business. Carried. marks explanatory of the situation of On motion of Elders J. g. Snively affairs in Canada, stating that some and E. Banta,the following r.esolutions were satisfied with the condition of were presented and laid on the table: matters there. -Resolved That w'e believe the Holv

Moved by Elders F. Reynolds and J. Scriptures'which have heen published by Landers that the matter be referred to the Reorganized Church of J eBUS Ch::oisL of a committee of three to be appointed L~t~er Day. Sa..ints, were translated by b h h ··' DIVllle InsplratiOn. y t e C all'. CarrIed. Resolve4 That we believe that the Book Elders John H. Lake, E. C. Briggs, of Doetrin~ and Covenants, from the com

and,R, Davis, entered into some explan- mencement ~f the preface to the end of the ation respecting the Canada Mission; appendix, is a Divinely Inspired Record .. after which, the President named Bros. Letter from C., F. Burrows handed Noah Dutton, Robert Holt and Daniel to the President of the Twelve. D. Babcock as eommittee to examine Moved by Elders F. Reynolds and the matter. J.C. Clapp, that the letter of Gilbert

Moved by Elders F. Reynolds and Watson .be referred to the laborer in C. G. Lanphear that those chosen mem- Wisconsin. . Carried. bel'S of the Quorum of Seventy be now ]}Ioved"byEldersJ.W. Briggs and ordained. Carried. . J. C. Clapp, that the following letter

Elder Duncan Campbell was ordained from Br. James McDiffitt, of Iowa, be a President of the Quorum of Seventy, referred to those who may have charge under the hands of Elders J. Smith, E. of that distriet. C. Briggs, J. Ells, and J., W. Briggs; "Chariton, Iowa., MarchIO, 1873. the latter being spokesman. '·B~. J oBeph,-O~ Satu~daYt the 8th, we

Elder Robert Davis was ordained a orgall1zed temporarIly, Wlth SIX members" Seventy ud . th h d f J. Wand will be known as the Chariton Branch,

. n,er e an s.o ason . James McDiffit, President. We all united Brl~gs, J. Ells, E. q. BrIggs, and J os. under Br. 'Bla.ir's preaching in Wheeling, SmIth; the latter bemg spoke'lman. West Virginia. 'We live four miles north ,


GENERAL ANNUAL' CONFERENCE MINUTES, 1873. 29

of Chariton, on New Braen road. We would like a good Elder to come and stay with us awhile. The Lord is manifesting himself in power with. us in healing the sick and preaching the word.

"JAMES MoD.IFFIT."

On motion of Elders T. W. Smith and C. G. Lanphear, the following 1>reamble and resolution was adopted:

WHEREAS, there are but, three States in the Sout.hern Mission that 'are occupied by branches of the Church; viz; Alabama, Florida, and Texas; and Texas being separated from Alabama and Florida by two whole States, making a larger field than a traveling Elder can occupy. Therefore, be it

Resolved; that the Mission which now includes all the Southern States, be divided in to at least two departments, one to be known as the South·Eastern Mission, bounded on the North by the Ohio river and West Virginia and Pennsylvania; South by Gulf of Mexico; East by the AtlanticOcean, and West by Mississippi river. The other, bounded North by Missouri and Kansas; South by the Gulf of ;.lIexico; East by the Mississippi river; West by Mexico and Colorado :J.'erritory, to be called the South-Western Mission.

Pending the consideration of this resolution it was

Moved by Elders E. Banta and H. C. Bronson, that we now adjourn to meet at 7 P.M. Carried.

Elder D. H. Smith was appointed to occupy the stand in the evening.

Sung hymn 1083. Benediction by the President.

EYENING SESSION,

Opened the meeting by singing; prayer by Elder I Sheen.

Elder David II. Smith addressed the congregation.

Sung the March to Zion. Adjourned until 9 A,lI1., Saturday.

Benediction by Elder 1. Sheen.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12TH.

MORNING SESSION.

9 A.~L Sung hymn 31. Prayer by Bishop I. L. Rogers.

Minutes of previous day read, correeted and 'approved.

A request f:om. the String Prair.ie :tYIoved by Elders E. Banta and if. and N/tuvoo DIstnct was presented 1D Ells, that the resolution pending ad. the following form:- journment, day previous, be laid on the

Resolved, that we petition the General table. :flfotion to table was lost. Confe~ence to. anne:, Clark an~ Scotl~D:d A vote on the resolution wa,'l then Counties of )I!ssourl to the SprlDg Pra.lrle k C' and Nauvoo Districts. :A.I~o that a Bishop ta en. .arried. be appointed for that place. On motIon of Elders if. Hansen and

On motion of Elders if. lfcKiernan W. W. Blair,-and if. H, Lake, the latter part of the Resolved, That when this Conference

, , 1) d h B' h adjourns, it does 80 to meet at or neal' petItIon was relerre to t e IS op. Council Bluffs, on September 3rd, 18i3, Carried.

C C k The President presented requests A petition fr()m. the Don ree from Farm Creek and Galland's Grove

Branch, of Missouri, requesting to be annexed to the St. Louis District was t£hor the IConferenee to be held at one of

t d d ti f Eld W ose paces. presen

l ~ , and onRmo °ln

d 0 hers . The resolution was put to vote and

W. B aIr an F. eyao s, t e request 'I d was granted, and it was so ordered. pre val e ,

MISSIONS. On motion of Elders E. Robinson and Noah Dutton,

R'esolved, that the General Church Re· corder be required to present a. monthly

The Quorum of the Twelve reported concerning the European Mission, as follows:- .

Mcount of the time employed on the re- "The Quorum of the Twelve, after full cord, to the Bishop, who is hereby author- consideration, have unanimously disapized to audit the same, and pay such amount proved of the European publishing scheme, as he may find due the Recorder out of proposed in the Minutes of the Octobel' Church funds not otherwise appropriated. General Conference of said Mission. Also


30 G]j)NERALA~N,UAL CONF.ER]J)NCE MINUTES, 1873~

tht iJlvlewo{ ali .'. the cireullIstau'ces,:lveiory, kUowlla~'C~lladI\Missi()n/lJe henceunanimously recommend. th,e rel!\a;seof forth kIio'\ttasC~~ada' District, . and,. as Br. ForscutL from that MIssion ;'and that such has'no neceSSIty fo.r any Conference Br; J, S, ~aUerson be appointed and sits· save District C'onferen.ce.. . . tlJined as PreSident.o.f said. Missio:n~. · ..... N ... OA.H.·. DUTTON,. '. }.

"J. W. 'BaIGGS, Pres. oJ Q.ua1'um." .. "RdBErtTHoLT;" Com. . .' . : . ... "DANIEL D. BABCOCK."

On mQtIOn ()f Elders J. W: BrIggs 0:" t" f E·!·d ·H·C B and J. H.Lake,-c' . . .n mo 10,'10. . ers . . ronson

, Th' . . f h b bl and A. Whlte,-Re.8o.ved, . at III VIew 0 t e pro a e . . ..... ., ... failur'e of establishing the proposetl Pub' .Th.at therepor~ of Committee o? Cana~a. lishing Department in England, and the MISSIOIl be re~elred and CommIttee dlsrepresentations and r.equests of Brethren charged. C.arrled. M. ~. Fo:scutt. and John ~.~atterson, as On motion of Elders C. G. I,anphear specified III theIr r:el!0rts, It;s hereby de- and RReynolds Elder Duncan Camp-elared to be the opInIon of thiS Conference b 11' '1' d' £ . h'·P 'd that Br. ]II. H. Forscutt should be honor- e was re ease .. r~m t e reSl eney ably released from said Mission, and he of the Can'~da ~IJSslOn. .. ..• be appointed to labor under the ·direciion A request from Canada concernmg of the First Presidency .of the Church and the races was presented, and on motion the Quorumof the Twelve. . ) . of Elder E: C, Briggs and J. Ells, it

Moved by Elders L Sheen and E. was referred' to the First Presidency. Robinson, th:}t we strike out all but :Moved by Eld.ers E .. C .. Briggsand that p?,rt relating to Publishing Depart. J. H. Han~.en, that t.hii report of Comment. Carried. mittee on Canada :Mission be!dopted.

nloved by Elder 1. Sheen and E. Carried.· .. ' ') . Robinson, that we reconsider the mo- On motion of Elders IVarnock a.nd tion to strike out. Carried. Wixom,-:-,

Moved by EldersE. Robinson and 1. ResoLved, That the Quorum of' Seventy Sheen, that we amend the resolution travel in the ministry and labor under the by striking out the words, "the Quorum direction of the traveling. High' Council, of the Twelve." Carried. according to the law of God. Adopted.

The original resolution was then Moved by Elders B. F. Durfee and adopted, as amen.ded. . . '. C. Bronson.' .that Elder J. S.

On motion of Elders J. W. Briggs Smvely be ordamed a member of the and J. II. IJaKe - QuorutnofSeventy. Withdrawn.'

Resolved, . That ~h.en Br. 1\1. .II. Forscutt . On: mo.tion of Elders Josiah Ells and retur.ns to 1~m<Jric[t, pursuant to resolution E. C. Bng~,- .,' . of thI8~onferencc, that B:-. J: S. Patterson. Resolved,. That' the Quorum of' High beappomted to succeed him III the charge Priests are subjec~ to the Quorum of the of the Eur'opeanMission, until otherwise Twelve. provided. Carried. '. ~ff d b li'ld T Sh ~ d H . .' . . . . lhove y.L< ers ",. een an . OnmotlO~ of Elders D. D. Babcock C. Bronson, asa substitute, the 5th

and J. H. Lake,- '. .... i paragraph of section 104, Book ofCov~ Resolved, That Schuyler Co., l\hssourl, eliant8which reads:-

be added with Clark and Scotland Counties ' to the String Prairie and Nauvoo District. "High Priests after the order of the Carried. . Melchisedec Priesthood have flo right to

officiate in: their own E!tanding, under the Report of Committee on Canada direc.Uon of the Pre.sidency, in administ-

JIlIission was read as follows:- ering spiritual things. Adopted. "Upon elCamining the Herald reports of On rrlOtion of EldersE. C::Brigg~

Conferences, we find that Canada forms and J'osiah En~.~ .. . p!trt of the l\ns9io~ assigned to Elder E. C. .' . . . Briggs (and thM misunderstandings have Resolved,That High Priests, when travel. arisen from the manner' in which the ingin the ministry ... are subjeilt t(} the words, "Callaua'Missinn' have' been used. direction of.thetrav.eling High OounciL Tlie:refore, be it Resolved,that said terri~ Eld~l' E. C.Briggs readfrolhB~ok


of Covena.nts; S\ldt~olll 671 Pllragraph ..l\ftlved' by II. A. Stebbins and 42:-.... .. ..... . '. O.P.])unham,th'at ElderJ.S.Shivec

,., Anu'ligain 'I/iive' unto you Don C. ly be.c~nti~ued iii ~is ~issioninCan.a.. Smith to be II: president over a Quorum of da, 8~bJeet t.o ~he dlrectIOn of those m High Priests, whiohordinanoei13 instituted charge of 1\:11s81On. Adopted. for the purpose of qualifying those who l\Ioved by EldersT. W. Smith and shallbeappointe.d standing presidents or R. Davis that Elder G. T .. Chute labor servants over dIfferent stakes, scattered. E·" ':1\'" b' . .' abroad, and theymaytravel if they choose, l,n " a~ter? l'tlIs~lOn, su ~ectto Elder but ra.ther be ordained fO.r st(tnding presi- charge. Adop£ed. dents; this is. the ·offioe of your calling, On motion. of Elders R. Warnock Baith the Lord your God." and J. S. Snively, PresidentJ. Smith

Elder 1. Sheen spoke in the nega- was requested to preacli in the evening. tive and read par. 13,80c.99, Book of . Adjourned. u~til2 P.l\I. Sun.g hymn Covenants ; also 'pars. 30 and 12, sec- 182. BenedwtlOu by the PreSldent. tion 104.

Elder J. Ell~ called for the re~ding AFTERNOON SESSION.

of par. 7, sec. 104. 2 P.M. Sung hymn 109. Prayer It was read a,;; requested,. •. by Elder J. C. Olapp. Moved by E!dersH. C. Bronson and Elder W. W. Blair in the chair.

1'. Reynolds, thQt the vote on the ques- lYIoved by Elders J. H. Lake and .• J. tion be taken. Adopted. Ells, that Elder . Nicholas Stamm be

The resolution was then put to vote continued in his Mission t~ Pella,Io'Wa, and was carried. and vicinity. Carried. .

APPOINT",fENT OF MISSIONS BY THE

FIRST PRESIDENOY.

J. W Briggs--Michigan, Indiana,

The appoi~ltments by the Quorum.

the Twelve arILl .~~(,8tained by theCo1l. ference, were as follows:-

Ohio, Canada, Minnesota, Iowa. l\loved by Elders J. W.Briggsand J. Ells-Pennsylvania, Virginia, J. Ells, that Elder J.W. Gillen labor

Eastern Ohio. under the direction of Elder A. II A. H. Smith-Pacific i\:Iission and Smith.

Utah. Moved by Elders E. C. Briggs E. C. Briggs--Miehigan, Indiana, J. H. JJake, that Elder GlaudRodger

Western Ohio, Canada and Wisconsin. labor under the direction of A. H. J. H. Lake-Missouri, Iowa, West- Smith.

ern Illinois. 1Yloved by Elders J. Ells andJ. T. W. Smith .... Eastern lmssion, New Briggs, that :Elder J. C. Clapp labor

England States, N ew Jersey, New York, as President of South-Eastern ~Iission, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. and preach in Southren Illinois,under

W. H. Kelley-:Minnesota, Wiscon- direction of J. R. Lambert. . . sin, Michigan, Indiana, and Western On motion of Elders J. Ells and Ohio. Lake, Elder J. n. Hansen, was

J. R. Lambert--Il1inois, Iowa, and appointed to labor in Northern Illinois Missouri. and Wisconsin .

. Moved by Elders Wm. H. Kelley On motion of EldersE. C. Briggs and 1. Sheen, that the appointments be and I. L. Rogers; Elder R. DaviswRa sustained by the Conference. Adopted. appointed to labor under the direction . :Moved by Elders E. O. Briggs and ofE. C. Briggs.. ., .... ..

P. S. Wixom; that Elder N .. Dutton la- On motion of Elders J.El1s and E. bor in Michigan and Indiana,under the C. Briggs, Elder J. C. Foss, wasapdirection of presiding officer. Adopted. pointed to labor in Eastern lVCissicin,



under direction the Presiding Officer. ferenc<: to reconsi~er and resci~d the On motion of Elders J. Ells and T. :esoluhon passed thiS day upon thIS sub·

W. ~mith, Elder J ~seph Lakema~ 'Yas Je1u of which is respectfully submitted. appomted to labor III Eastern ~fISlillon ISAAC SHEEN President. under the direction of the Presiding E. ROBINSON: Asst., Sec. Officer. Note:-The above passed the Quorum

On motion of Elders E. C. Briggs by an unanimous vote. ISAAC SIIEEN,

Plano, IlL, April 12, 1873. and J. Ells, B. V. Springcr was appoin, ted to labor in South-Eastern Indiana and Kentucky.

On motion of Elders T. W. Smith and J. Ells, Davis H. Bays was appointed a l\iission to Texas and New Mexico, and Lewis :Middleton to labor with him.

Moved by Elders J. Ells and J. l\fcKiernan that Elder F. Reynolds labor under the direction of Elder J. H. Lake.

On motion of Elders K C. Briggs and J. Ells, that Elder K O. Brand labor in Kansas, Eastern Nebraska, Western Iowa, and Northern Missouri.

. The following request was also presented by the High Priests' Quorum. To the President and GeneraL Conference:

We would respectfully represent that at 11 meeting of the High Priests' Quorum held this P. M., the following resolution passed unamin~lUBly.

Resolved, that Br. Blair be requested to state to the Conference whether Br. Lorin Babbitt was exonerated from censure at the investigation of his case at St. Joseph Mo., in January, 1873.

All of whioh is respectfully submitted. • IsAAC Sll.ElFlN, Pre8ident.

E. ROIlINBON, Asst., Sec. Plano, Ill., April 12th, 1873.

On motion, of Elders J. Ells and E. In answer to the foregoing request C.Briggs, that Elder Duncan Camp- Br. Blair stated that Br. Babbitt was bell labor: under the direction of Elder exollerated in full; no grounds what-E. C. BrI§?gs. • ever being found for the charges made

On motIOn of Elders J. SmIth and ao-ainst him. T. W. Smith that L. l!~. IN est labor in '" Motion of Elders I. Sheen and A. South-Eastern Mission, under Elder J. H. Smith, that Br. Blair's statement C. Clapp. • . T' be placed on record. Adopted.

On mohon of Elders J. "'. BrIggs On motion of Elders J. H. Hansen and O. P. Dunham, Elder S. H. Gurley and T. W. Smith. was appointed to labor in Wisconsin, and Northern Illinois. Adopted.

Elder J. H. Hansen asked which party a JjIission was responl!ible to in a field of labor) the President of District, or the one who has the Mission in charge.

Elder J.W. Briggs suggested that it be referred to the evening lecture, to be given by the President. Adopted

Resolution of High Priests' Quorum read as follows :-

Resolved that we, the Quorum of High Priests, afler a consideration of the mat.ter, respectfully represent that we cannot understand the law of God as placing the

, High Priests token abroad under the direction of the Twelve, but always under the direction of Presidency of· theChuroh. We, therefore, respectfully ask the Con-

Resol ved, that the resolution respecting tbe High priests when traveling in the ministry, offered' by .the High Priests' Quorum,be laid on the table. Adopted.

On motion of Elde.t;j Thomas Revel and P. S. Wixom,-:-

Resolvea, That Elder James McKiernan McompallY Elder A. H. Smith, on bis Mission, if practicable. Adopted.

On motion of Elders J. Ells and J. H. Lake, Resolved that Elder C. G. Lanphear labor in N ew York and Pennsylvania. Adopted. .

On motion of Elders J. Ells and E. C. Briggs, Resolved that Elder Gilbert Watson labor in Wisconsin, under direction of Elder in charge. Adopted.

On motion of Elders J. W. Briggs and E. C~ Briggs, that Elder Daniel B.


GENERAL ANNUAl .. CONFERENCE 1fIINUTES, 1873. 33

Ras~y labor in Outagamie Co., Wis- On motion of Elders W. W. Blair COllSlll. Adopted. and J. McKiernan, resolved that Br.

On motion of J~lders J. W. Briggs 1. L. Rogers be sustained as Presiding and B. O. Briggs, that Elder l{,euben Bishop of the Church. Adopted. Newkirk labor in Northern Illinois and On motion of Elders John II. J~ake Wisconsin. Adopted. and D. H. Smith, resolved that Elder·

'Elder J. W. Briggs made inquiry Phineas Cadwell be sustained as Counrespect.ing Br. Hiram .P. Brown. selor of the President of the Second Answered from the chair. Quorum of Elders. Adopted.

On motion ofilllders J. }JIls and P. On motion of Elders B. F. Durfee Wixom,- and James McKiernan, resolved that

Re.~olved, Thnt brethren who have re- Elder Henry Goodcell, Junior, be suscaived appointments and Missions from tained as Church Secretary. Adopted. Uti." Oonference, fire, by virtue of such ap· Elders }.J.BaI,lta and L Sheen moved, pointmer)t, rele,.sed from all former Mis- that L. D. Rogers be sustained as sions. Adopted. P'd f D ' Q L . ,res! ent 0 eacons uorUll. ost ..

On motIOn of 'Elders r. Sheen and On motion of' Elders J. S. Snively Will. AJdri<;h, resolved that .Elder D. and J II. J~ake-P. Young be ordained a High Priest. ' Ad d Resolved, That we hereby tender It vote

opte . of thanks to the oitizens of Plano, and of . l~lder J. O. Clapp spoke in favor Sandwich, for their hospitality extended

this ordination. to the brethren during this session of Con-On motion of Elders J. I~1l8 and L feren.)e. Adopted.

Sheen,- On motion of Elders W. W. Blair Resulved, That this Conference a.ccep! and D. H. Smith. it w~s resolved that

rmd sustain Elder .Jesepb Smith as Pl'csi, Elder Oharles De~ry be hereby request-dent of the High Priesthood of the Church d t 1 b . N b k d 'lIT' t of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, by e 0 '!l. 0; m . .1. e ras a an n es e:;n virtue of which office he is Prophet, Seer, Iowa, as hIS Cll'cumstances may permit. and HevelaLor to the Church. Carried Adopted .. unanimously. On motion of Elders J. IV. Briggs

On motion of Elders K Banta and and J. it was resolved that John J. C. Clapp, reso1ved that we sustaini 1'. Davies sustained in his mission .l~lder Isaac Sheen as President of the to IV ales. Adopted. High Priests' Quorulll. Adopted un ani- On _motion of Elders J. 'V. Brif!gs mously. and J. Ells, it was resolved that Br.

On motion of I. L. Rogers and E. A vondet be sustained as Missionary to Robinson, resolved that Joseph Par· Switzerland. Adopted. sons be sustained as Oounselor of t.he On lllotion of'Elders W. W. Blair President of High Priests' Quorum. and T. W. Smith, it was resolved that Adopted. Hr. Ursen bach be sustained in his Mis-

On motion of' .J. H. Hansen and E. sinn to Switzerland. Adopted. C .. Bliggs, resolved that we sustain On motion of Brn. 1. l,. Rogers and Elder O. G. Lanphear as President of J. Snively, it was resolved that Br. I. the Quorum of'Seventy. Carried. L. Bear be sustained in his Mission to

On motion,resql 'led that Elder ]1~. Switzerland. Ad Banta be sustained as President of the On motion of I, J. H. Lake and First Quorum of Elders. Carried. J. McKiernan, it was resolved that we

On motion ofEldel's J. :YlcKiernan sustain Ii], Banta, I. L. Rogers, D. and E. C. Briggs, resolved that Elder. Dancer, J. Scott, and Joseph Smith, as John 8. Patterson be sustained as i the Board of Publication. Adopted. Counselor of'the President of tbeE'irst I On motion of lmders J. 11:118 and J. Quorum of'mders. Adopted. Iw. it was resolved that ali www.LatterDayTruth.org

34 GE]NERAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE i\IlNUTES, 1873.

continued and sustained. Adopted. Elder J. R. Lambert. Missions not otherwise provided for, bel Sung hymn 179. Benediction by

On motion of Elders J. C. Clapp and __ D. D; Ba~cock, it was resolved that we SUNDAY APRIL 131'H. 8ustam :blder I. Sheen, as Church ' Lib'l.rian. Adopted. MOR.NING SESSION.

Br. D. P. Young was ordaincd a Opened meeting by singing the sec-High Priest under the hands of Elders ond hymn. Prayer by Elder J. LanI. Sheen and E. C. Briggs; L Sheen del'S. A chapter was read by Jmdcr being spokesman. W. W. Blair. After which the 47tb

On motion of Elders J. Ells and T. hymn was sung. W. Smith, resolved that the minutes Preaching by Elder Wm. H. Kelley. of this Confercncc be published in Bro. W. W. Blair announced that pamphlet form for distribution and baptisms -would by attended to at one sale. 0' clock.

As a substitute, it was moved by E. On motion of' Elder E. Banta, ad· Banta and I. Ii. Rogers, that the journed until 2:30. P.M. minutes of this COllferellce be printed Sung 21:-lth hymn. Benediction by as a supplement to the Herald and sent Elder W. W. Blair. . to the subscribers free: Adopted. A~'TERNOON SESSION.

The President appGinted Elders W. 2 :30 p.Thf.-Elders I. Sheen and B. W. Blair and W. H. Kelley to occupy Robinson t{)ok charge of meeting. the stand on Sunday morning. Elders Opened by singing and prayer. TIre I. Sheen and .E. Robinson .,to have Saints were blessed in bearing testimocbarge of the fellowship meeting in oJ to the work. The gift of prophecy the afternoon; and Elders J. W. was manifest. and the brethren were Briggs and Duncan Campbell to take built up and ~ncouraged. charge in the evening.

. Moved by Elders 1. Sheen and D. H. Smith, that wi have a social meeting in the afternoon of Sunday. Cal" ried.

On motion of Elder J. Ells and C. G. Lanphear, adjourned until 7 P.M.

Sung hymn 108. Benedicti.on by the President..

l<,VENING SESSION.

Sung hymn 1114. Prayer by BIder J'. R Lambert. Hymn 473 was sung.

President J. Smith addressed the Conference on the subject of' Church Government. The house was crowded aud good attention paid. The audience was edified and instructed ..

The name of Samuel ~I. Howe was presented for membership on original bap.tism.

. ~:foved by Elders J. S. Snively and J. Ells, that he be accepted. Carried.

Motion to adjourn until 10 A.M. tomorrow. Adopted.

EVENING SESSION •

7 p.M.-Meeting opened by singing the 141st hymn. Prayer by Elder J. H. Lake. Hymn 116 was sung.

Elder J. W. Briggs spoke to a large audience, on the subject of the two mysteries,-that of Godliness, and that of iniquity,;

Moved that we adjourn. Carried. Sung the hymn, commencing:

"When shall we all meet again 1"

Benediction by Elder W. W. Blair, JOSEI'H S~IITH,PRl<ls.

W. H. KELI.EY, Secretary. ALEX; H. SJl>II'rH, } Clles. DUNOAN CAJl>IPBELL

[We are quite lonesome since the brethren who attended Conference left for their fields of labQr. They left. us in peaoe, and they cany with them our warmest aspirations for their success. A nobler company of co-workers never assembled together; a8 one of the brethren remarked, "I never saw such 0. company, earnest Bnd able, but so humble, H]_En.


INDEX 1873

Apostles t oho!ilsn.. 8 .. B." ........................... 13 n' retired, * 6 ........................ 15 " travel i .... ".~.. • • ... .. •• ••• 27

Audi tins', C * ~ appoih:ted~ .".po ... H .. 15 Audi ting n rept " JI .................. ..,

Babbitt,. L. W .. t ,exonerated,,, ...... , .. l' .... .

Bills, presented, ~.~~ .............. 16,19 Bish!lP IS agts. t to be. a~po1nted'i' ..... 13

» oounselors to be'ohosen,' ...... 13 n' Tf}pt ,*" ~-~ " " ~ .•• ~ .• ~ ...... -. 8 • • • • • • .. •• 15

Camp, Jn9o, reoei!ed t • "' ..... : ............ 12 Canada missio:;J.t ':Canada iD;st .. JI" .... 28.30Commu COmnl1;lllioation li Burr9WSj C .. ,F", ......... '1

" ShielQ.B J.. T .. t ~.......... ? M Watson~ G" t ••••••• & 7,28

Conference min.. be pub., •••••••• 34 tl next t Counoil Bluffs t ....... 29

a ":)unselors t ohoe en t .. t ........... ,* 13 Distriot t Pres.. repts... ............... ........ 4

n reports... .......................... 2,,¥-4 Elders QUo .. tor Eng .. , .................... 8 ,1 21 Herald Office rapt., ••••••••. ~ ....... 14 High Pries under Pres., " .......... .32 'n " ohosen... .......... " .. • .. • .. .... 13

Rowa! .. M., reod", " ................. 34 Lear. Sarah J ". tf ........... " ...... " ..

McClary t Sophronia II ...................... 12 Mil11k1n,Arthur, n ............... 4' .. 10 ...... 12

n Lucy, H ............... 12 !:,!iss1onary appointments t .... (0 .... " .... 31.,33 Mission orta, t24~29 Norethen " Diet .. , bound., ........... .. Northwest 1[0.." n ..... " " " ... ObJection to s .. E ~ Ill. Diet .. , rept .. t 4 Off'1oerS8ustained, ................ " .... " ....... 33 Olmstead H .. , reod., ............................ 16 Ordinat t ......................... 19,21,28 Organization, ........................ ,. ..... 1 Pub. Eng., proposed, ••••• 9 t


Raeordel's rept",.,,, ...... ' .......... ' ....... ~\15 Ree order 9 rep t. on, * '" .. to. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • .. .. .... 2.2 ReQordat!J salary t .... e' ............................ 29 Ravelation't' ..... ' ..................... '. '. .. ... .. .... .... 12

• endorsed~· ................ . Right to Tote 11>' ...... '" .... " .... ' ....... '" .. .. .. .. .... 16 st .. , Joseph bra prt. t , ............................ 11 seventtes. chosen, .................................... 13

~. First, D Campbell Pres... • 23 Shippy, \tTohn, case t " ............................. " '9 Southeastern .. rept., obj. to, •• 4, '1 Southern SiOD t divided" ........ ~ •• 29 Tune book, Gem. rept., ...................... 7 Utah 1 fund, ....................... 20


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