Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

PERSONAL

It will be noticed in this issue of the Review, in the columns devoted to the proceedings of the General Conference, that the writer is no longer President of the General Conference or officially connected with it. The members of that body mercifully released me from the cares of office, at my earnest request, in view of my condition of health; and for this I am exceedingly, grateful. The coming year I expect to make special efforts to regain my health and strength, which have become seriously impaired by the cares and business perplexities connected with official work. I shall drop a largo portion of the mental labor of he past ten or fifteen years, take physical exercise, and rest, and seek to recuperate, that I may have more strength hereafter,-preaching perhaps occasionally, and perhaps writing some for the Review. MMM 411.15

I have held the office of President of the General Conference some thirteen terms, much of the time carrying heavy burdens and a weary brain. It is high time, for some of our younger brethren to relieve me, and give me a chance for needed rest. There is one point concerning which I wish especially to speak. Having held the office of President of the Conference so long, many of our brethren from all parts of the cause have learned to address me on official business, and, in short, upon all manner of subjects concerning which they desired advice and counsel. I have been in the habit of receiving from forty to sixty letters per week, not short business letters of a few lines, but many of them lengthy communications, concerning most perplexing matters, often requiring long letters in reply. These were doubtless sent me, not from personal considerations, but simply because I happened to be the officer placed, nth others, in charge of important interests in the cause. MMM 411.16

Now these circumstances are entirely changed. I lave no official connection with General Conference matters, and it would not be proper for me to attend to them. Should these communications continue to be sent to me, it would necessitate, on my part, the expenditure of time, expense, and labor in transferring them to the proper officers. It would also cause delay. Let all these correspondents remember that the writer is no longer connected in any way with the official management of General Conference affairs. Doubtless he Committee recently elected will soon designate to whom these communications should be addressed, while Eld. O. A. Olsen, the President elect, is absent from this country. MMM 411.17

In closing my long period of official work in this cause, to return to the ranks of the ordinary laborers, I wish, in brief, to express my great gratitude to God for his goodness and mercy to me during the many years of official perplexity, my regrets for many failures, and. that I have been no more useful, also my grateful appreciation of the uniform kindness and respect with which our people generally have treated me and my poor labors. It is my earnest desire that ay successor in office may receive as generous treatment and hearty support. My love for the cause of God, and interest in its prosperity and success, and my confidence in the present truth as we have accepted it for all these ‘past years, was never greater than of late. I trust God will yet give me strength to labor earnestly for its final triumph. MMM 411.18

Geo. I. Butler. MMM 411.19