| 293 December 4, Elder William Clayton, of the church in Utah, once quite prominent in the church, and whose name was associated with the introduction of polygamy (see volume 3, page 348), died at Salt Lake City.
On December 20 the Bishop issued a notice concerning church property and reports, which was published in the Herald. 6
President Hayes, in his message to the Forty-sixth Congress, had the following to say on the subject of polygamy in Utah:
enter upon our labor of love, humbly asking such aid and encouragement as all lovers of truth and right can give.
If agreeable to you, we would be pleased to have an interview with you at your earliest convenience, that we may have a free and full interchange of views and sentiments in respect to all matters of difference, or otherwise, relating to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
In conclusion, dear sir, accept my unfeigned well wishes and earnest prayers for the welfare of yourself and the people over whom you preside. Very truly,
W. W. BLAIR.
6 Those concerned will please take notice that the General conference of April, 1878, adopted a recommendation of its committee, whereby it is required that all those "having charge of church property" should "value the same and forward to the Bishop the report of such valuation, and that all property not yet deeded to the church . . . be alike valued and proper deeds made, as provided in the church articles."
No Such reports were made to me prior to the April conference of 1879, consequently I could not present them when called upon there, nor have I received any since. Therefore, I now urge upon the attention of the brethren concerned, the necessity and importance of complying with the above requirement of the General Conference, and I request them to send in their reports by the lst of March, 1880, without fail.
TO BISHOPS AGENTS.
At the April conference of 1878 it was made requisite that Bishop's agent's should render annual itemized accounts to me, for presentation to the General Conference, and yet but a few agents complied with this law. Then, in April, 1879, the General Conference further required that the agents should not only make out itemized reports, but that these reports should be published as are the itemized reports of the Bishop, these to be published annually. The resolution reads as follows: "Resolved, That we require of the Bishop of the church a report through the "Herald," or in a supplement sheet, an itemized report of the means received and paid out by the agents, with the names of the donors and to whom paid, and that this report be made annually."
I therefore call the attention of the agents to this matter, and urge that they pay heed to it, all of them. From the first of March, 1879, to the first of March, 1880, every item of receipt and of expenditure should be given in their reports to me, giving names of persons or branches (if by branch collection) giving, and the names of those to whom anything has been paid. Where an agent has resigned and another has succeeded him the books of the former will show the facts, and the report should embrace them the same from the date named. Be prompt and accurate, brethren, and send in your reports immediately after March 1, 1880, so that they can be arranged, copied, and prepared for presentation to the conference, and for publication.
ISRAEL L. ROGERS, Presiding Bishop
SANDWICH, Illinois, December 20, 1879.
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