_Elder B_. Laying on of hands is the ordinance appointed of God for the imparting of the Holy Ghost.--Acts viii. 17-20., xix. 6. Heb. vi. 2. _Mr. W_. Did not Cornelius receive it without the laying on of hands, and even before he was baptized? _Elder B_. Cornelius was a Gentile. The Holy Ghost was poured out upon him and his household previous to baptism and the laying on of hands, to convince the Jews that the Gentiles were entitled to the blessings of the Gospel. Cornelius and his household were then baptized. Doubtless the gift of tongues was only imparted to them for the time being, as has been the case with persons in our day, before baptism and the laying on of hands. It is reasonable to believe that, after Cornelius and his household were baptized, Peter laid his hands upon them, as he did upon other disciples. Such a course would be pursued by the Latter-day Saints now in similar cases. _Mr. W_. But do the Latter-day Saints actually obtain these gifts? _Elder B_. Yes, some have the gift of tongues, some of interpretation of tongues, others have dreams, visions, and revelations, whilst many have been miraculously healed by the power of God. _Mr. W_. Well, really my bosom burns to hear it. [_Looking at his watch_.] But I am sorry to say that my time has expired. I have some particular business to attend to just now. Would you wait and take dinner with us. I can spare a little more time after dinner. _Elder B_. I am obliged to you, but I have several places to call at this morning, and it will be inconvenient for me to stay with you to-day. However, I will call upon you this day week, and give you any further information you may wish. _Mr. W_. Well, call when you can stay and have dinner. But I wish to ask you whether you admit persons into your Church immediately on application, or do you keep candidates a certain time on probation. _Elder B_. In ancient times candidates were not required to {50} submit to any probation, previous to entering the Church, at least I cannot read so in the Bible, neither do the Latter-day Saints require such a thing. We like men to come up boldly and say they repent of their sins, and wish to be baptized. When men do this, we do not presume to question their sincerity, unless we have very substantial reasons for doing so. We wish to encourage confidence between men, and we do not treat them as suspicious characters, until we have evidence for it. When a man turns from his sins, then is the time that he should be received with open arms by the Church, the blessings of full fellowship should not be withheld, for he is but weak in the faith, and he needs all possible encouragement. _Mr. W_. I have no fault to find with your sentiments on that head. I am sure it is very good of you to spend your time in enlightening the minds of the people, by your tracts and conversation. Of course you have a salary from your society to support you.