| 55 On April 9,1853, a revelation appointing Richard Stevens, William Marks, and Harvey Childs a locating committee, "to search out a proper location on the frontier, which may serve as a gate of entrance into the land of Ephraim," etc., was presented by Elder Thompson. Whether these men acted in this capacity or not, we have not been informed, but in some way a place was selected in Monona County, Iowa, on the Soldier River, and a city laid out called Preparation, and there this order, commonly known as Baneemyites, gathered, and for a time drew quite a following from the scattered membership of the church.
About 1855 a weekly family newspaper was published called Preparation News and Ephraim's Messenger, Charles B. Thompson proprietor, Charles B. Thompson and Andrew G. Jackson editors, Daniel W. Butts printer. We do not know just how long this continued, but the last number we have seen is September 19, 1855. Later a weekly periodical known as Western Nucleus and Democratic Echo, devoted to politics, science, arts, literature, and general intelligence, was published at Preparation; Thompson and Butts editors and proprietors, A. G. Jackson corresponding editor. The only three numbers that we have seen were issued in 1857.
Dissatisfaction became quite prevalent among them in consequence of some system of holding all property in common. Many separated from them and threats of violence were indulged in by the dissenters. This called forth an explanation from Thompson and his followers and a long communication in reply was published in the News and Messenger for June 13, 1855, from which we make the following extracts:-
"This common treasury is supplied from the surplus productions of the four patriarchal families; whatever is needed for the support and comfort of the separate families is deposited in the common treasury, as a sacred and holy oblation and sacrifice, for the purpose of purchasing additional lands and implements of husbandry, and then organize additional families from amongst the poor and desolate inhabitants of the earth, and make them in all respects as free and independent as the other families are, who produced these
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