LOCAL HISTORIANS The following are the names and addresses of brethren and sisters appointed by the Historian as local historians. We solicit those having matters of interest to place them in the hands of these historians for transmission to this office. We also authorize these historians to act as agents for the JOURNAL OF HISTORY and request them to make special effort to increase the circulation and otherwise to arouse an interest in the JOURNAL. Name of District Alabama Australia British Isles Central Michigan Central Nebraska Central Oklahoma Clinton Chatham Colorado and New Mexico Eastern Iowa Eastern Maine Eastern Montana Florida Gallands Grove Idaho Independence Stake Kentucky and Tennessee Kirtland Minnesota Mobile Nauvoo Nevada New York Name of Historian and Address .E. C. Shelley, McKenzie, Alabama, care G. O. Walter J. Haworth, 629 Darling Street, Roz- William R. Armstrong, 12 Daisy Avenue, Levi Gamet, Inman, Nebraska. Charles L. Liggett, Colorado City, Colorado. .Mrs. Ralph E. Motejl, 1215 South 1st Street, Homer A. Doty, 116 Monroe Street, Traverse Mrs. C. D. Freeman, Andes, Montana. Hubert Case, Lamoni, Iowa. Minnie E. Scott, 307 North Sixteenth Street, W. A. West, Berrydale, Florida. Charles W. Forney, Thurman, Iowa. F. R. Schafer, Denison, Iowa. Gilbert J. Waller, Honolulu, Hawaii. Silas D. Condit, Bliss, Idaho. Arthur E. McKim, Independence, Missouri. .W. S. Brown, 1447 South Thirty-fifth Street, Mary E. Gillin, 1410 North Elizabeth Street, Earnest A. Webbe, Collinwood, Ohio. J. A. Gunsolley, Lamoni, Iowa. .W. A. Sinclair, 166 Pearl Street, Winter Hill, Edna Jean Cochran, Escatawpa, Mississippi. New York and Philadelphia ....N. Edward Milligan, 414 Cottman Street, Chel tenham, Pennsylvania. (Continued on third page of cover.) "Obtain a knowledge of history, and of countries, and of kingdoms, of laws of God and man, and all this for the salvation of Zion." Statementsonf Joseph Smith-Local Historians-Biography of John Smith-Distinad, shed Women-History of Philadelphia Branch-Cur- OFFICIAL STATEMENTS OF SIDENT JOSEPH SMITH BY HEMAN C. S (Continued from volume 1e 397.) On October 25, 1861, the Quorunhe Twelve Apostles issued their first epistle to the churc which an appendix was added by President Smith. To Fly understand the appendix a perusal of the epistle is Lary. It reads as follows: To All the Saints Scattered Abroad, Gree Brethren: Since it has pleased God to call forth the true successo e Presidency of the church, in the person of Joseph, the son of Jo the Martyr, in fulfillment of the promises made to his people, w,bedience to the injunctions of the Holy Spirit, call upon you to ear to the voice of the Good Shepherd, and return to the whole lav to the covenants, as that form of doctrine which being obeyed fro1 heart maketh you free from sin and servants of righteousness. Tible, Book of Mormon, and Book of Doctrine and Covenants, conta at law, and those covenants or form of doctrine, to which we poin1, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it and find rest to your soullark all who corrupt or pervert it, and avoid them. The perilouses, shown to the ancient apostle, are upon us, and our refuge is in lord, who, thanks be to his name, "holds the rein in his own hands," to the obedient alone are the promises. We beseech you, thereforethren, give no heed to the subtle influences of those seducing sp which were to characterize the departing from the faith in the latimes, but prov ing them by the plain word of God, resist them, all those new, fanciful, and strange doctrines, convenient, truly, such as have turned the grace of God into lasciviousness. But ye not so learned Christ; having begun in the Spirit, are ye to be perfd through the flesh? Be it known unto all Saints that in this the reoization of the latter-day work, we point only to the old paths fromich so many have turned aside in the dark and cloudy day. To further this object, faithful elders will be sent as edily as possible to all quarters, including California, Utah, End, Scotland, and Wales; and to enable us to do this, and to carry he work of building up the kingdom of God, and to redeem the scatterSaints from thraldom through false guides, we appeal to all Saints vn the Lord hath made stewards, to aid the same by tithing themselveccording to the law of God, and place it in the hands of the Bishop the church for these purposes. The most convenient method for ng this at present appears to us to be as follows: Let all presidents of branches act as agents of the Bishop, and receive all means set apart under the law of tithing, keeping a faithful record of all receipts and from whom received, holding the same subject to the order of the Bishop. If paid over in person, a receipt should be taken. All orders from the Bishop, and such receipts should be preserved, and an exhibit thereof, and all means on hand made to each General Conference, that no ground of suspicion as to the application of such means may exist. We are aware that this law has been appealed to as a warrant for acts manifestly oppressive, and that the means obtained by such oppression have been and are as a weapon of power to still further oppress the zealous and devoted. But the perversion, not the law, have been the instruments of this wrong. 'My ways are equal and your ways are unequal,' applies to the execution of this law. Obeying it in its spirit, is equal; submitting to its perversion, is unequal and oppressive. To such as are willing to live by every word of God, and inquire, what is required by this law? we point to the law itself. Firstly, your surplus is required. Secondly, after this, one tenth of your interest or gains from time to time. You are all stewards of the great Master, and what is needed to prosecute your own stewardship is not required, but above this is your surplus; that is required, and of this you, and each of you, are to judge, and be your own exactors, and Israel's exactors are to be all righteous. It is for all that have surnamed themselves Israel, to see that they deal righteously in this matter, as between themselves and Him that seeth the hearts as well as the acts of men. It is but a systematic freewill offering, gathered where it is not needed and placed where it is, for the general weal. Finally, brethren, be of good cheer, for the light of truth shines with renewed brilliancy upon the pathway that Saints are called to walk. Zion, the pure in heart, must be redeemed by righteousness, but the land of Zion by power. The first we may, by the grace of God, work out; the second, we leave in the hands of him that hath power and that doeth all things well. Commending all Saints to the mercy of God, and fellowship of his Spirit, through our Lord Jesus Christ. By order of the quorum. JASON W. BRIGGS, President. October 25, 1861.—Church History, vol. 3, pp. 298-300. The Appendix was as follows: APPENDIX TO THE EPISTLE OF THE TWELVE In order to place the church in a position to carry on the promulgation of the gospel, and as a means of fulfilling the law, the Twelve will take measures in connection with the Bishop, to execute the law of tithing; and let them before God see to it, that the temporal means so obtained is truly used for the purposes of the church, and not as a weapon |