Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-01
LATTER DAY SAINTS GATHER
Officers and Committees at Independence
Arranging for Conference.
PRESIDENT SMITH IN FEEBLE HEALTH
Speculation Rife as 90 who is Likely
TO BE His Successor when Present
Venerable Head of Church
Passes Away.

INDEPENDENCE Mo-, March Sl.-Cspe-
cial)-The delegates TO and officers Of the
general annual conference Of the Reorgan-
ized Church of Jesus Crist of Latter Day
Saints which begins its session here on
April 6, are already beginning to arrive in
such numbers, as to justify the belief that
the attendance will exceed that of all
previous years. This occasions some con-
Germ on the part of the local Latter Day
Saint authorities OF Independence, as the
church buildings here are already taxed
20 their capacity by the congregations at
their regular Sunday services, and fears are
entertained by many that the stone church
building in which the conference will be
held will be inadequate TO accommodate the
delegates and ex-oficio members of the
coming conference, as they shall assemble
in their annual gathering TO transact bust
ness for the church The leading men of
the church have been in Independence for
some days making preparation for the com
ing conference. Much OF the business Of
the general conference is done in quorum
meetings Of the priesthood, and comes to
the conference in the way OF reports. These
"auorums" are thus standing committees"
70 which classified matters are referred for
investigation and report. The first presi-
dency of the church, the leading quorum,
has established temporary office quarters
in Independence and has been for some
days busy in the preparations for the COM
ing gathering. The quorum of twelve
apostles, the second quorum In authority,
has been holding two sessions daily since
March 20 and many matters pertaining to
the missionary work of the church for the
coming year have been before this Quorum
,.rtlT hafn
the conference in the reports from these
Quorums.
President Smith Feeble.
A matter which has caused great con-
Germ among the people of the church re-
Gently is the condition of the health of
their aged president, Joseph Smith of La
mont Ia The venerable churchman is
nearly "a years Of age and for nearly half
a century has guided the destinies of the
church. The love and esteem in which the
aged president is held by his devoted fol-
lowers is remarkable, and hence there Is
much concern among the members, as they
for some months have known their presi-
dent was weakened under the attacks of
disease. For many years he has suffered
from neuralgia in it's severest form, and
during the last winter the venerable presi-
dent has been confined to his home, being
unable except at rare intervals, to get
to his Office, in which he has done regular
ONCE work for many, many years. Great
disappointment would have ensued among
the people of the church II their president.
who has served them so long, should have
been unable to be present at and take his
place as president of the coming confer
ence. President Smith put in his appear
ance in Independence late on Thursday
I0,,N cd md an
feebled from his long illness.
speculation About Successor.
The apparently failing health and
strength of President Smith has given rise
to renewed speculation among the mem
bership as to who his successor win be.
Whether or not this question will be set
tied at this coming conference remains to
a large extent with President Smith him
self. According to the prerogatives ac-
corded to him as prophet" Of the church
by his followers, it lies within his prov
ince to designate his successor, according
TO the mind and will of the Lord" Some
three years ago President Smith, at one
of the sessions at this annual conference,
told the people that his successor was
with the body" but II he intended at
that time to indicate who that successor
was there was such ambiguity in the in
timation as to leave many I'm doubt, and
this has of itself, given rise TO much spec
ulation on the subject, which speculation
has been augmented by the presidents re-
cent protracted illness and failing strength.
The question OF feeding the large number
of conference delegates and visitors has
been an important one in recent years
The Saints have always made It a practice
to entertain the conference visitors at the
homes of local Saints and friends: but the
constantly growing attendance has made
the problem one which is constantly more
difficult of solution. The task Of furnishing
sleeping quarters is not so hard. but to
feed the vast attendance has thrown work
upon the families Of the local Saints to
such an extent that many of them are
prevented from attending the daily sessions
of conference. The Latter Day Saints Of
the branch located at Independence think
they have solved the problem OF feeding the
multitude; and. sanctioned by vote of
the branch at a recent business meeting,
and under the direction of the local bishop.
Roderiek May, and the state presidency,
John d. White and William H. Garrett, all
OF Independence, there has been erected
in the rear OF the stone church in which
the conference viii assemble. a large din
ing hall, 100 fet long by 40 feet wide.
The entire space In this building win be
devoted to the arrangement OF cooking
apparatus and the tables at which the
multitude will eat. Hence the dining hall,
70 ali intents and purposes. becomes a
community dining hall. The experiment
OF thus feeding the large numbers OF con-
ference visitors will be watched with a
great deal OF interest, although II is. not
entirely a new one, for at the conference
held here three years ago large per cent
OF the visitors were fed in the big tent
which stood on the ground now occupied
by the permanent building.
Future Use for Building.
The Independence Saints have calculated
that the building will not be a loss to
them even after the conference adjourns.
for they expect TO make It an adjunct Of
Nhalr aIldiinr M n IL Will ha hnl