| 700 On May 22, 1872, President William Marks, counselor to the President of the Church, died. Of him President Joseph Smith wrote as follows:
"With feelings of no ordinary moment called forth by an event of more than common interest to the church, we chronicle the departure of William Marks, Senior, from this earthly life. Bro. Marks was one of the noblest of men. He has lived a life of most singular usefulness to his fellow men. Kind and upright in thought, it was known of him that his acts were founded in his consciousness of right; and what was wrong to him he would not do.
every description, may be paid into the hands of the bishop, to be used or sold for the benefit of the church finances, and to be credited as tithing.
12. The method of ascertaining the amount which any member may pay as tithing into the bishop's hands, is by an agreement between the person tithed and the bishop or his agent, based upon a statement of the condition of such person's temporal affairs made to the bishop in writing. If no agreement shall be made between the person to be tithed and the bishop, nor the council upon appeal, then no further action shall be attempted by the bishop.
13. Members desiring to be tithed may make a statement of their temporal condition to the bishop at any time, and may ask that an agreement as to amount may be had.
14. That lands, properties, or moneys that may accumulate in the treasury and storehouse of the Lord, in the church, may be legitimately used in the establishing industries of every kind for the employment of members of the church, and their capital,-these industries, including agriculture, merchandise, and mechanics, having for their object the direct benefit of the church.
15. That tithing means a tenth, and applies to all persons who have made a consecration of whatever they may have deemed a surplus;-surplus being construed to signify, in this case, that portion of property and money which a member of the church may feel that he can and will spare as a first consecration out of his or her possessions; this tenth required being but the one tenth of the yearly increase after such surplus has been given.
16. The present emergency in the spiritual affairs of the church requires that the members of the church everywhere take the things here suggested into immediate and active consideration.
17. That President Joseph Smith and Bishop I. L. Rogers be a committee to write to all the branches in America and Canada, soliciting means to aid in prosecuting the missions appointed by the last Annual Conference, and other church purposes.
18. That we consider it to be wrong, and tending to heresy, to teach, preach, or write against the avowed doctrines and order of the church,-the general conferences and high councils being the proper places in which to discuss and determine those matters. . .
I. L. ROGERS, President.
W. W. BLAIR, Clerk.
-The Saints' Herald, vol. 19, pp. 316, 317.
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