| 365 five or six persons who had, and from their testimony, concluded it was very much like the Mormon Bible.
4th. Never succeeded in finding out anything more than was detailed in my book of exposure published about fifty years ago.
5th. The manuscript that came into my possession I suspect was destroyed by fire forty years ago.
I think there has been much mist thrown around the whole subject of the origin of the Mormon Bible and "Manuscript Found," by the several statements that have been made by those who have been endeavoring to solve the problem after sleeping quietly for half a century. Every effort was made to unravel the mystery at the time, when nearly all the parties were on earth, and the result published at the time, and I think it all folly to try to dig out anything more. Yours, etc.,
E. D. HOWE.
-The Saints' Herald, vol. 28, p. 269.
Elder David Brown wrote from Tiona, Tahiti, Society Islands, August 12, 1881: "We are having good times and a good many are being added by baptism. There are also some deaths. We are making preparation now for some of the elders to go to some of the other islands, where there are not any of our people as yet; but we have had several invitations, and now are going to work to fill them."
On August 27, 1881, Elder George Hatt, of the Quorum of Seventy, and formerly a missionary to England, died at Omaha, Nebraska. (See Church History, volume 3, pages 303, 324, 332, 410, 430, 432, 463, 478, and 518.)
About this time a branch was organized in the Indian Territory, by Elder J. O. Stewart, called Delaware Branch, composed of whites, Indians, and those of mixed blood. The members of this branch resided near Grand River, some miles east of Vinita, in Cherokee Nation. When Elders Joseph Luff, George Montague, and Heman C. Smith visited this branch, a few months after its organization, some of the Indians were among the most faithful and exemplary of the members.
The semiannual conference for 1881 was held at Parks Mill, near Council Bluffs, Iowa, commencing September 1 and closing on the 11th. Joseph Smith presided, and R. M. Elvin acted as secretary.
The Board of Publication reported cash receipts, including
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