Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1887 — THE NEW MORMON PRESIDENT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE NEW MORMON PRESIDENT.

He Issues a Circular from His Nest in the Bushes. The question of successorship to the Presidency of the Mormon Church has been settled temporarily by the appearance of an address signed by Wilford Woodruff, President of the Apostles, which says: “As upon two former occasions in our history, the duty and responsibility of presiding over and directing the affairs of the Church of Jesus Christ in all the world devolves upon the twelve Apostles. With the blessing of the Lord, and

the faith and prayers of His people, we hope to do our duty until we, too, shall be laid to rest.” It has been thought that either George Q. Cannon or Joseph Smith, nephew of the original Joseph, would assume the leadership, but Woodruff is in the regular line of succession and his address assuming control would indieate that there is to be no departure from the orders. Wilford Woodruff was born on March 1, 1807, in Hartford, Conn. He assisted his father in the mills in that city until he was about 20 years of age. In 1833, in Oswego County, he first heard of the Mormonistic creed, and about its ancient revelations, which clung to him at the first hearing. He hastened at once to consult the prophet, became enthused, ordained as an elder and sent out to convert. In 1837 he was ordained to a higher position and subsequently was ordained an apostle, going on a mission to England, shortly thereafter. For the last few years he has been in hiding and is still out of sight to all save the faithful of the church.