Letter from Franklin Dewey Richards, 4 September 1896
Salt Lake City, .
President Wilford Woodruff and Counselors Geo. Q. Cannon and Joseph
F. Smith.
Dear Brethren:
About the time that Elder Alonzo E. Hyde departed for Europe,
he called at my office, informed me of his intended departure, and
stated that it had been his habit while previously in London to attend
meetings and speak, and had administered baptism, and he desired to
do what good he could while away. He said it had been suggested that
he call at the President's Office, and get a letter of appointment as
an Elder, and so get missionary rates in traveling; that he had been
over to the President's Office, but they had all left for the night,
and that he must go that night, or by the early morning train, and
wanted to get the letter now; said he had been recommended by Brother
Smith to do so. (I understood him to mean President Jos. F. Smith).
I then asked him for his recommend from his Bishop. He replied, "I
am a Bishop's Counselor, and have a right to sign recommends in the
absence of the Bishop, myself." I thereupon issued a regular letter
of appointment to him as a missionary, bearing date of that day.
As ever,
Your fellow laborer in Zion,
F. D. Richards.
