I would suggest the propriety of your saying that no money should ever be sent by any man except it be some one whom you have appointed as agent, and stop every other man from receiving moneys. it has been customary for any to receive moneys for the when he is travell[in]g, but this system of things system of things that has existed, opens a wide field for every kind of imposition, as any man can assume the name of a Mormon elder, and gather his pockets full of money, and go to . Many complaints have come to me of money being sent that I have never received. I will mention one case. He is a good man; his name is , from Akron, N. Y. <​T​>his brother had been east on business for him. & <​there​> received $20 or $25— as a donation to the , which he put in ’s bag with his money, <​& forgot to take it out before he returned the bag​> two or 3 days after his return his <​he​> called on his for the money belonging to the , but thought his brother had paid out too much <​of his​> money, & he would keep the church’s money to make good his own. I called to see about the mony; & he treated me <​very​> to politely I concluded he never meant to pay it <​but did not give me to undestand he ever ment to pay it​>. <​X​>

-[The brother who brought the money from the East stated to the , that he did not think it was because his was short of funds that he kept it, for <​for he had mony enough.​> he had told him that he should not be out of funds again,— his <​that​> his had $20 of the church funds, & some dried fruit for the president.]-

President Joseph resumed I give this as a sample of a thousand instances, We cannot give an account to satisfy the people on the church books, unless something is done, I p[r]opose that you send your money’s for the by the , some one, or all; or some agent of your own choosing, & if you send by others & the money is lost tis lost to yourselves. I cannot be responsible for it. Every thing that falls into my hand shall be app[r]opriated to the very thing it was designd for

Next it is wrong for the church to make a bridge of my nose in appropriating church funds. The incorporation required of me securities, which were Lodged in the p[r]oper hands as the law directs, and I am responsible for all that comes into my hands. [p. 4]