[Rudger Clawson]
The clerk read a letter from Mr. G. Edmonds, attorney, Carthage, Ill., in which he stated that Mrs. [Eliza M.] Browning, the owner of the Carthage jail, in which the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred, contemplated going to California to reside and would dispose of the property for $4,000. He now addressed this letter of inquiry to the Presidency, thinking that perhaps the church would like to make the purchase. ... The question was pretty thoroughly discussed and, in view of the fact that the Carthage jail was a building of great historic interest to the Latter-day Saints and in fact to the world, it became the sense of the council that the Presidency take such steps as might be necessary looking to the purchase of the property to the best advantage and that a bureau of information and depot for our church works he established in it. ...
Elder Smoot, speaking of the German missionary persecutions, said that this present persecution was brought on, or at least encouraged, by Mr. [Charlemagne] Tower, the United States ambassador to Germany, and he felt that some steps should be taken to reach the ambassador, and thereby bring about a modification of the situation. ...
Pres. Lund, referring to the German missionary situation, said that the matter had gone beyond Mr. Tower. Felt that it would be good policy to remain quiet for the present. If the German government look upon our people as being obnoxious and act accordingly, the United States government could do nothing. ...
Pres. Smith at this point made some very interesting remarks, in brief, as follows. We are not in a position legally, or in a popular sense, to assert our rights. We can pray to the Lord and petition governments for our rights, but cannot force our way. The whole world is against us; hence, our best policy is meekness and humility. ...
Pres. Winder endorsed the remarks of Pres. Smith, as also did Elder Jno. H. Smith. Elder Clawson moved that, as a council, we endorse the wise and prudent sentiments expressed by Pres. Smith and adopt them as the sense of the meeting. Carried by unanimous vote.
Pres. Smith suggested to Elder Smoot that he be very wise and politic in his attitude to congressmen and also endeavor to maintain good feelings with his colleague, Senator [Thomas] Kearns.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
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