| 1022 up by way of remembrance in our behalf. I hope she will be steadfast in the faith, and learn our children so to be, till we shall meet again. I wish to be remembered to them with a husband's and father's affections, also to Bro. P. B. Lewis: tell him I hope he has not bestowed his money on us in vain; and this I say to all that put forth the helping hand toward us, may the Lord add his blessings to them all.-I wish to be remembered with brotherly affection to all that inquire after me.
As I have written a long letter to Brother Jonathan Crosby, which I shall send in company with this, I need not go into farther particulars, and if he and his wife should be to the east when the letter arrives, tell my wife she may have the privilege of taking it out of the Post office, if she wishes. I have written three letters from this place to her, and one each to Brothers W. Richards and W. W. Phelps.
There is a whale ship here from New Zealand, bound to Tahiti; she leaves to-morrow-I shall send my letters there, and they will be forwarded from there to America. So no more at present-As ever, I remain your friend and brother in Christ,
ADDISON PRATT.
HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH.
CONTINUED.
This day, also, the brethren in Clay county, Missouri, wrote as follows:
"Liberty, Feb. 19th, 1834.
To the Hon. John F. Ryland, judge of the fifth circuit, Missouri.
SIR: -Learning that a court of enquiry [inquiry] is to be held in Jackson county, at the next regular term of the circuit court for that county, or term of the circuit court for that county, or that some kind of legal proceedings, is to be commenced for the purpose of obtaining the facts, as far as can be, or bringing to punishment the guilty in that county:
We, therefore, pray your honor to avail yourself of every means in your power to execute the law and make it honorable; and believing that the testimony of some of the members of our church will be important, and deeming it unsafe to risk our persons in that county without a guard, we request that the order from the Executive, already transmitted, may be put in force.
Respectfully, &c.
EDWARD PARTRIDGE, W. W. PHELPS,
A. S. GILBERT, JOHN CORRILL,
JOHN WHITMER.
Another request similar to the above was sent, same date, to Amos Reese, Circuit Attorney.
They also wrote the Judge Advocate, as follows:
Liberty, Feb. 19th, 1834.
George Woodward, Judge Advocate, in the case of the State of Missouri, vs. Col. Thomas Pitcher.
SIR:-The undersigned request of you, if it be consistent with custom and law, an official copy of the proceedings recorded by you, in the above stated case, for the purpose of preservation, as an important link in the history of our unfortunate society.
Respectfully,
W. W. PHELPS, EDWARD PARTRIDGE
ALGERNON S. GILBERT.
Kirtland, February 20th, 1834.
The high council met this evening to determine concerning the elders going out to preach, &c. The president opened the council by prayer.
At a church meeting held in Pennsylvania, Erie county, and Springfield township, by Orson Pratt and Lyman Johnson, high priests: some of the members of that church refused to partake of the sacrament, because the elder administering it did not observe the words of wisdom to obey them. Elder Johnson argued that they were justified in so doing, because the elder was in transgression. Elder Pratt argued that the church was bound to receive the supper under the administration of an elder, so long as he retained his office or license. Voted that six counsellors [counselors] should speak upon the subject.
The council then proceeded to try the question, whether disobedience to the word of wisdom was a transgression sufficient to deprive an official member from holding an office in the church, after having it sufficiently taught him?
Counsellors [Counselors], Samuel H. Smith, Luke Johnson, John S. Carter, Sylvester Smith, John Johnson, and Orson Hyde, were called to speak upon the case then before the council. After the counsellors [counselors] had spoken, the president proceeded to give a decision:
That no official member in this church is worthy to hold an office, after having the words of wisdom properly taught to him, and he the official member neglecting to comply with or obey them; which decision the council confirmed by vote.
The president then asked if there were any elders present, who would go to Canada, and preach the gospel to that people; for they have written a number of letters for help. And the whole council felt as though the spirit required the elders to go there. It was, therefore, decided by the council that Lyman Johnson
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