| 719 The following account of a short trip by President Smith furnishes some interesting items of history:-
"On the 9th of December, just past, we left the sanctum and the cares of copy and proof for a short tour in Hancock and McDonough counties, to speak a word in behalf of the doctrine of the church. In company of Bro. J. C. Clapp, of Oregon and California fame as a preacher of the 'One Faith,' we went to Lacrosse. . . .
"Arriving at the 'Shakerag' schoolhouse a little after seven p. m. we found Bro. Joseph R. Lambert, of the Rock Creek branch, addressing a packed house. Waiting till he closed we made our way to the stand, and spoke for a few moments, indicating what course we proposed to take during the meetings we should hold there in the neighborhood. The next morning Bro. Clapp, finding that we had good help in Bro. Lambert, left for St. Louis and Kentucky. Bro. Lambert and myself held two meetings in the Cottage schoolhouse, on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, when we went on to Colchester; Bro. Lambert remained and spoke on Friday and Saturday evenings, as he informed us by letter, received since our return home.
"Proceeding to Colchester, McDonough County, by wagon through the kindness of a cousin, Don C. Salisbury, we found that Uncle Arthur Millikin had asked for and received
and further state now, as I always have done from the time of the great apostasy in 1844 and 1845, that the legal presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, belongs of right, to the oldest son of the martyred prophet, Joseph Smith, who was the first prophet of the church, and the called of God.
I hope that this may answer the inquiries of many of my friends, who continue to write to me on the subject of the right of presidency and the legitimacy of the church over which my nephew, Joseph Smith, presides. I hope that this declaration of my faith and belief may find a favorable place in the columns of the Herald.
Go on then, ye swift messengers of peace. "Let Zion in her beauty rise," while the errors of the past shall be forgotten; charity and love fill every heart, is the prayer of your brother in Christ. Where love is there is the spirit of forgiveness; and long may this good spirit, which is the spirit of the gospel, abide with those who have named the name of Christ.
With much love and esteem I subscribe to all saints to whom these lines may come greeting, with charity for all and hatred to none.-The Saints' Herald, vol. 19, p. 723.
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