[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] ...The tables were then set for the sacrament, and Pres. B. Young, Jr, was mouth in blessing the bread and wine, after which the brethren partook freely of the same. Before the brethren withdrew from the table, Pres. Cannon by request made brief remarks. ... (1)
-- Sunday, Jan 28, 1900
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary] Washington, D.C.
I was at the Hotel most of the day. I called up B. H. Roberts at the Metropolitan Hotel and found Senator Jos. L. Rawlins there. I had a short visit [with] them.
In the evening I gave a supper. The guests were Senator Joseph L. Rawlins, Genl. J. S. Clarkson, Judge G. W. Bartch, B. H. Roberts and H. B. Clawson. It cost $2.50 a plate, $5.00 room, and dollar each for three servants. We had a nice supper of some 12 courses.
All refused wine. (2)
-- Thursday, Mar 29, 1900
[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] Salt Lake City. Clear and cold. 11 a.m. Meeting at the temple. Present: the First Presidency, Apostles B. Young, Jr., F. M. Lyman, J. H. Smith, Geo. Teasdale, H. J. Grant, J. W. Taylor, A. H. Lund, A. O. Woodruff, R. Clawson, and G. F. Gibbs, clerk. Song. Apostle B. Young, Jr., mouth in prayer, and H. J. Grant mouth in the circle. Song.
A letter from Chas. U. Locander of Juarez, Mexico, was read. He complained of not receiving a reply to certain letters he had written to the First Presidency in which he had made some complaints of certain wrongs he had suffered. The letter was threatening in tone. The matter was referred to Apostle J. H. Smith and Pres. A. W. Ivins of the Juarez Stake.
A letter from the Presiding Bishopric was read. They complained of the manner in which the tithes of the Eagar Ward, St. Johns Stake, had been handled by Bp. [George H.] Crosby. Brother Crosby had moved away from that ward, and he had been talked of for bishop in another stake. The matter was referred to Apostle F. M. Lyman.
A suggestion was made by Apostle H. J. Grant that the assembly hall, with some changes, be occupied by the Latter-day Saints College. The matter was deferred for the present.
Apostle J. H. Smith reported his visit to the Fremont Stake. Said the high council of the Fremont Stake was released and reorganized. The change was made necessary owing to the status of some of its members. A number of the council was in the habit of getting drunk; others neglected the law of tithing. Two of the old council were brought in again.
I called attention to the fact that the free-will offerings at the Salt Lake Temple for the year 1898 amounted to $5807.25, and for the year 1899, $6856.83; that the total membership of the church in the stakes of the temple district was 78,915. The amount contributed per capita was, therefore, between 8c and 9c per year. I thought this a poor showing and suggested that there were a great many who would contribute if the matter was properly brought to their attention. It seemed to be the mind of the brethren that it would be better to preach up tithing rather than to make an effort in the direction of the free-will offerings to the temple. Pres. Snow stated that there were 10,000 non-tithe-payers in 1899. The apostles should take up this matter in the stakes. It was reported that there were 30,000 non-tithe-payers in 1898. The number of tithe-payers in 1899 were 62,000.
Apostle J. W. Taylor reported that the Cache Stake was in bad shape through the incapacity of a number of the bishops. A committee of three apostles, namely, Apostles F. M. Lyman, Jno. W. Taylor, and M. W. Merrill (who is also president of the Cache Stake) were appointed to investigate the matter, and report to the Presidency such changes in the bishopric of that stake as might seem desirable. Benediction by Apostle J. W. Taylor. (1)
Footnotes:
1 - Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson
2 - Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith
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