| 356 by Mary W. Aldrich, of Hancock County, Illinois. She was received. Application being made by Sarah R. Belknap, of Fayette County, Iowa, it was referred to secretary of the church and he authorized to enroll her name if he found that all is correct.
The organization and boundary lines of Texas Central District were approved by the conference.
The following resolutions were adopted; the second one was presented by the Quorum of Twelve:
Resolved, That this conference discourage the use of tobacco, and of strong drinks as a beverage, by the church, and especially by the ministry. . . .
Whereas, It is desirable that the greatest possible amount of efficient ministerial labor be performed, and, Whereas, There are elders and priests who are prepared and willing to take the field, provided they have evidence that their labors will be acceptable to the church; therefore we petition your honorable body to adopt the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Twelve and Seventy, when in charge of fields, have the privilege and right to take with them elders and priests as traveling companions, or to appoint them to labor in their respective fields, provided that such elders or priests require nothing from the general church treasury to keep them in the field.
On the matter of history, the following report was presented:
Your committee on the history of Joseph Smith, report progress, the chairman having succeeded in making some compilations for that work. Prospect for publishing is good.
JOSEPH SMITH, Chairman.
The request of the Twelve to publish proceedings of joint council between that quorum and the Bishopric was adopted.
Thomas Taylor was sustained as president of the British Mission.
May 13, 1881, Elder J. W. Gillen wrote to the Herald from Sydney, Australia, as follows:
I am still striving to do what I can for the spread of the work in this mission, but the progress is slow. I held out-door meetings in Lambton, and also in Wallsend, for nearly three months, that were well attended, and good attention given.
May 26, Elder J. L. Bear wrote from Zürich, Switzerland, that he had baptized one "in the blue waters of the Rhine," but that the work moved slowly. He stated: "If Brighamism never had existed the work would be more
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