-- Dec 20, 1899
Presidents Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith were at the office.
Bishop William B. Preston and Architect Richard Kletting waited upon President Snow in relation to the proposed Deseret News building. The question has arisen as to whether the building should have a half story basement, or the first floor be even with the street. Certain business men advise that the first floor be made level with the street, and expressed a hope that the whole of the floor might be rented for a first class dry goods establishment, as a means of holding trade at the upper end of Main Street, and as a counter move against parties whoa re endeavoring to pull trade southward. Nothing was decided. ... Visited with Presidency at meeting of Committee to devise a way of establishing Insurance Company; proposed that Pres[ident]. as individuals engaged, not use name of church Bro[ther] Jos[eph]. F. Smith objected, perhaps he is right. [December 21, 1899; Journal History; Abraham Owen Woodruff, Diary; Benjamin Cluff Jr., Diary, December 24, 1899]
Presidents Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith were at the office.
President Cannon informed President Snow that he desired to pay a certain amount on account of tithing, but he did not have the money, and therefore proposed to pay it in Grand Central Mining stock at six dollars a share.
President Snow hesitated, for the reason that he did not know the value of such stock.
President Cannon remarked that he did not have to pay it, perhaps, but in order to satisfy his feelings he felt that he ought to do so.
President Snow answered that he did not see why President Cannon should pay tithing unless it was a tenth of his income.
President Cannon explained that his practice had been, whenever he was in a tight place, to overpay his tithing, and he had found that in doing this he had been prospered.
President Snow: "Then, President Cannon, you make the Lord your debtor, and obligated to you".
President Cannon: "No, not in that light."
After further talk on the subject President Snow said that he should leave such matters to President Cannon himself, as he knew what to do, and did not need any counsel from him.
President Smith, however, saw no reason why the Church should not receive President Cannon's tithing in this stock.
Salt Lake Temple, 11 A.M. Present: Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, Brigham Young [Jr.], Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Anthon H. Lund, Matthias F. Cowley, and Rudger Clawson. ...
A letter was read from the Presidency of the European Mission, dated at Glasgow, Scotland, on the 5th inst., containing the information that among the missionaries who recently arrived at Liverpool [England], was one Harold Eldredge, a son of the late Horace S. Eldredge, holding a missionary certificate with an appointment to the German Mission. The brethren who crossed the sea in company with this young man reported that his conduct was disgraceful; that he indulged in smoking and drinking to excess, was guilty of profanity and obscenity, and openly admitted associating with lewd women in New York City. The letter went on to say that the German Mission had suffered almost irreparable injury of late, through the presence of such corrupt men.
President Platte D. Lyman asked for instruction, as to what should be done in these cases. He said that he had instructed the Presidency of the German Mission to take up Brother Eldredge's credentials, and to inform the Saints there that he is not in fellowship with the Church.
President Smith explained that this young man was given a missionary certificate while he (President Smith) was in Canada, and that it was given upon the recommendation of Bishop Nelson A. Empey and the young man's brother, Ben B. Eldredge; the understanding being that Harold was going to Germany to study music. President Smith moved that the action taken by President Lyman be approved.
President Cannon suggested that the Presidency of the European Mission take further action in the case, to the extent of excommunication, if the evidence warranted.
The motion was then seconded and carried. ...
A part of the letter from President Platte D. Lyman conveyed the information that in consequence of the strong anti-Mormon feeling in Bristol [England], the Elders could not rent a building there. There was for sale, however, in a respectable part of the town, a building in good condition, well furnished and fitted up with stand, seats, light and water, also a font for baptism, with a seating capacity for one hundred and seventy-five persons, and this property could be purchased, with a perpetual title, so long as the ground rent of five pounds a year was paid, for the sum of three hundred pounds. The brethren and the saints in Bristol asked that the Church advance the money, with the understanding that the title go to the Church, while they pay for it at the rate of twenty-five pounds a year, keep it in good repair, and also pay the ground rent.
Brother Lund suggested that they be helped in the amount of fifty pounds, leaving them to raise the balance, which could be borrowed at a low rate of interest.
Brother John Henry Smith favored this, and also suggested that steps be taken to establish meeting houses in all the large towns of the British Mission, thereby uplifting the character of our people in the estimation of religious people generally.
On motion of Brother Clawson it was decided that the Presidency of the European Mission should be written to, in order to ascertain further facts in relation to the building at Bristol, the material of which it is composed, the number of recent baptisms there, and the prospects for future increase. ...
Brother Abraham O[wen]. Woodruff reported his visit to the Mexican colonies. At Dublan John S. Robinson was ordained Bishop, to preside at that place. At Oaxaca he found some young people who wished to be sealed in marriage, and as it would cost them $1,000 in Mexican money to take each couple to the nearest Temple, he had sealed them. He now asked for authority to perform sealings in that country.
President Cannon expressed himself in favor of authorizing the Apostles to perform sealings in that country, and he stated that this had been done in the life time of President Woodruff.
Brother John Henry Smith remarked that he had sealed a great many couples in that region, and he thought this authority ought to be delegated each time to the Apostle or Apostles who might visit those parts, they to report the same for record purposes in the Temple.
President Snow remarked that it was perfectly clear to his mind that the Apostles should have this authority, and if there was no objection, this understanding would prevail.
Brother Clawson moved that the action of Brother Woodruff be approved, and that the Apostles visiting that country hereafter be authorized to perform such sealings.
Whereupon President Cannon observed, addressing himself to Brother Clawson, that he did not believe in such motions in this Council, that is, motions whereby the members of the Council gave the President authority to do things for which he already had the authority. This disposed of the motion. ... Attended our regular meeting in the Temple and made my report. I brought up the matter of sealing and Pres[iden]t. [Lorenzo] Snow after approving my actions in Mexico said he would authorize the Apostles at any time to do that work. An endowment house in the South was talked of. Last Thursday [i.e., December 21, 1899] I went to Salt Lake and had the pleasure of laying before President [Lorenzo] Snow my ideas regarding a trip to South America. ... appointed another meeting with me at 3 p.m. At this second meeting there were present Presidents Snow, [George Q.] Cannon and [Joseph F.] Smith, and Apostles [Francis M.] Lyman Brigham Young [Jr.] and John Henry Smith. After fully explaining matters and answering the many questions put to me, I was authorized by vote to organize my party. (1)
-- Thursday, Dec 21, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] Salt Lake City. Clear and cold. 11 a.m. Meeting of the brethren at the temple. Present: the First Presidency, Apostles B. Young, Jr., F. M. Lyman, J. H. Smith, H. J. Grant, J. W. Taylor, A. H. Lund, M. F. Cowley, R. Clawson, A. O. Woodruff, G. F. Gibbs, clerk. Song, "Redeemer of Israel." The brethren robed, and Apostle Lyman was mouth in prayer, and Pres. Geo. Q. Cannon mouth in the circle.
A letter from Elders Platte D. Lyman and Jas. L. McMurrin of the European Mission was read. They reported that some 5 or 6 elders were laboring in Bristol, but found difficulty in securing a house in which to hold regular service. The elders were, therefore, somewhat discouraged. An opportunity now offers to purchase a chapel situated in a respectable part of the city. It cannot be leased or rented, they said, but can be purchased for £300 or $1500.00. The proposition is this: that the church make the purchase and the saints pay £25 a year until the church is reimbursed. They also reported that with the last company of Elders going to Europe there was a young man by the name of Harold Eldredge, an elder, who behaved in a scandalous manner, drinking, smoking, and boasting of his lewd conduct in New York City. An effort is being made, they said, to secure the return of his license.
Pres. J. F. Smith stated that a letter had already been sent to Elder Platte D. Lyman, instructing him to take up the young man's license. It was moved and carried that the action of Pres. Lyman be approved and that he be instructed to take steps to have the young man cut off from the church, if the evidence warrants it. There was some discussion on the proposition to purchase the Bristol chapel. It was moved and carried that further information be obtained in relation to the matter before final action.
A letter from Pres. [Franklin S.] Bramwell of the Montana Mission was read. He acknowledged receipt of a letter from the First Presidency, instructing him to move elders from fields where no good was being accomplished. In answer, said that elders had been moved from two conferences. The mission would be improved, he said, if a better class of elders intellectually were sent there. A higher percent of baptisms was reached last year than ever before in the Montana Mission. Said he expected to organize a branch of the church in Portland, Oregon, next week.
Stake conferences: Fremont, Apostle J. H. Smith; Bingham, H. J. Grant. It was moved and carried that the Manitoba Mission be changed from the jurisdiction of Pres. Bramwell to that of Pres. [Louis A.] Kelsch of the Northern States Mission. It was moved and carried that Elder Geo. H. Islaub be sustained as president of the Australian Mission.
Apostle A. O. Woodruff reported his recent visit to Mexico. Said the people were prospering. He made a new bishopric, he said, at Dublan, putting in Jno. S. Robinson as bishop. Reported that Pres. [Anthony W.] Ivins had been very active in taking steps to protect the title of our people in Mexico. Government very friendly to our people. The saints have made more progress there in the past few years than many of the Mexicans, in the past 100 years. Said he had sealed two couples in Mexico, as it would have been a hardship for them to come to the St. George Temple.
There was some talk as to the propriety of the brethren of the Twelve being authorized to marry our people by the sealing ordinance in Mexico. It was the mind of the President, and the sense of the meeting that it be done. It seemed to be the mind of President Snow that an endowment house be provided for Mexico and points in the south.
Apostle Woodruff made some remarks concerning the Big Horn country. Read a letter from the governor [DeForest Richards] of Wyoming in which he said he favored the settling of the "Mormon" people in that part of the state--and would do all he could to assist them. Benediction by A. H. Lund. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - Journal History; Brigham Young Jr., Diary
2 - 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
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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