| 73 "The above is sufficient to silence every one that would dare to teach the doctrine of polygamy and at the same time pretend to believe in the Book of Mormon. And I believe that there is not one of the different and conflicting parties into which the church is divided, that teach or believe the doctrine of polygamy, except that which has gone west under the guidance of Brigham Young; and yet they are accusing all of being apostates that cannot and will not follow their teaching in all things."-Olive Branch, vol. 2, p. 20.
The last we heard of James C. Brewster he was lecturing in California in advocacy of the system known as spiritualism.
AUSTIN COWLES.
The movement under Austin Cowles was an offshoot from the one under Brewster, Aldrich, and others. There was a General Assembly held by them in Kirtland, Ohio, commencing June 23,1849, presided over by Hazen Aldrich. The President decided that no one was entitled to a vote in the Assembly who did not believe in the Writings of Esdras and the revelations that had come through J. C. Brewster. Before formally organizing he called a vote on the acceptance of two revelations coming through Brewster in order to determine who had a right to vote in the organization. The Cowles party dissented from this, claiming that the Assembly should first be organized and the question of eligibility be determined by the body. This resulted in the withdrawal of the Cowles party and the formation of a separate organization with Austin Cowles chairman, I. H. Bishop secretary.
We have not learned that this dissenting organization accomplished much. At a conference held by the Brewster organization at Springfield, Illinois, September 29,1849, the following action was had in their case:-
"The following resolutions were then presented and read:-
"Whereas, Austin Cowles and I. H. Bishop, together with seven others, whose names are appended to their circular published in the first number of the second volume of the
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