von FREILETSCH, The Secretary-General . von SCHLERETH, Ministerial councilor to the Royal Government of Middle Franconia to inclosure 1), July 11, 1883

Translation of a decree of the royal Bavarian department of the interior for church and school affairs of July 11, 1883 (in answer to inclosure 1).

Royal Bavaria ministry of the interior, concerning the formation of a Mormon community at Nuremberg and vicinity.

With respect to the report of April 14 last made to the royal ministry of state of the interior for church and school affairs, and transmitted by them to the royal ministry of state of the interior for their consideration, we express ourselves as follows:

Johann Georg Hafen, born in 1838, and of Santa Clara, Utah, North America, made and, according to his own confession, makes it his business to labor for the development and extension of the views held by the Mormon sect. These views do not appear to harmonize with the existing state and social order, wherefore the activity in promoting the same of the said Hafen must, from consideration for the public welfare, be opposed and made impossible.

He is therefore, in accordance with article 50, subdivision 2, of the law of 16 April, 1868/23 Feb., 1872 concerning residence, marriage, and domicile, expelled from the Kingdom of Bavaria.

The following is also decreed:

The inclosures of the first report herein named, as well as of the report made under date of July 7 of last year to the royal state ministry of the interior for church and school affairs, are to be herewith returned.

It is remarked in this connection that the royal state ministry of the interior for church and school matters does not propose to further occupy itself with the consideration of a request made by Anton Ilg, in the name of the “Community and Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints,” for recognition as a private church association, Ilg having, under date of the 11th of March of last year, formally declared that he withdrew this request. The request being subscribed by him alone, and no documentary evidence of his authorization by individual members of the community, therefore at present no formal representative of the request is in existence.