This evening a Mr. John Hollister, of Portage County, Ohio, called to see me on the subject of religion, and I spent the evening conversing with him. He tarried over night with me, and acknowledged in the morning that, although he had thought he knew something about religion, he was now sensible that he knew but little; which was the greatest trait of wisdom I could discover in him.
A Matter of Postage.
Saturday, 5.—Weather cold and freezing, with a moderate fall of snow. In the forenoon studying Hebrew with Dr. Frederick G. Williams and President Cowdery. I am laboring under some indisposition of health. Slept awhile, and arose feeling tolerably well, through the mercy of God. I received a letter from Reuben McBride, Vilanovia, New York; also another from Parley P. Pratt's mother-in-law, Herkimer County, New York, of no consequence as to what it contained, but it cost me twenty-five cents for postage. I mention this, as it is a common occurrence, and I am subjected to a great deal of expense by those whom I know nothing about, only that they are destitute of good manners; for if people wish to be benefitted with information from me, common respect and good breeding would dictate them to pay the postage on their letters.
I addressed the following letter to the editor of the Messenger and Advocate:
Dear Brother—I wish to inform my friends and all others abroad, that whenever they wish to address me through the postoffice, they will be kind enough to pay the postage on the same. My friends will excuse me in this matter, as I am willing to pay postage on letters to hear from them; but I am unwilling to pay for insults and menaces; consequently must refuse all unpaid.
Yours in the Gospel,
Joseph Smith, Jun.
An Unruly Member.
Sunday, 6.—Went to meeting at the usual hour. Gideon Carter preached a splendid discourse.
In the afternoon we had an exhortation and communion service. Some two or three weeks since, Brother Draper insisted on leaving the meeting before communion, and could not be prevailed on to tarry a few moments, although we invited him to do so, as we did not wish to have the house thrown into confusion. He observed that he "would not," if we excluded him from the Church. Today he attempted to make a confession, but it was not satisfactory to me, and I was constrained by the Spirit to deliver him over to the buffetings of Satan, until he should humble himself and repent of his sins, and make satisfactory confession before the Church.
Monday, 7.—Received a letter from Milton Holmes, and was much rejoiced to hear from him, and of his success in proclaiming the Gospel. Wrote him a letter requesting him to return to Kirtland. Spent the day in reading Hebrew. Mr. John Hollister called to take the parting hand with me, and remarked that he had been in darkness all his days, but had now found the truth and intended to obey it.