1843 08 01 Times and Seasons-Conference Minutes
From the Times and Seasons 1 August 1843, pg 286-287
CONFERENCE MINUTES.
A conference of Elders and other official members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was held in Columbian Hall, No. 263 Grand Street, New york, on the 16th, 17th, and 18th days of May, 1843.
Elder Richard Birdge was unanimously elected Chairman, and L. R. Foster Clerk.
After prayer by the chairman, reports were heard from the different branches represented, and then each member of the conference reported his doings since last conference.
The Branch at New York, represented by elder Foster, consists of four high priests, fourteen elders, four priests, four teachers, two deacons, and one hundred and thirty-five members, all in fellowship, and most of them in good standing. Since last conference, in October, fifteen have been added by baptism, and eighteen from other branches. Thirteen have been excommunicated, and many have moved to Nauvoo and other places.
The branch at Newark, New Jersey, represented by elder Ross, consists of one elder, one priest, one teacher, and fifteen members--all grounded in the truth as they first received it.
The branch at Little Falls and Mead's Basin, New Jersey, represented by elder John Leach, consists of twelve members, including two elders, one priest, and two deacons. Since last conference, three have been added by baptism, one by certificate, four have moved away, and one cut off.
The branch at Norwalk, Connecticut, represented by teacher Gregory, consists of fifty members, including two elders, three priests, and two teachers. Since last conference, seventeen have been added by baptism, six have been excluded, and two have removed to New York.
The branch at Paterson, New Jersey, represented by elder Young, consists of ten members, including one elder and one teacher.
The branch at Hudson, N. York, represented by elder John Leach, consists of seven members, including two priests and one deacon.
At New Germantown and Mechanicsville, New Jersey, there are six members not organized. Reported by elder Leach, who had baptised three there.
The branch at Setunket, Long Island, represented by elder Lewis Hulse, consists of two elders, two priests, two teachers, one deacon, and sixteen members. Since last conference, two have been added by baptism, two have removed to Nauvoo, and one cut off.
The branch at Stanhope, New Jersey, represented by elder Braley, consists of twenty-one members, including one elder, one teacher and one deacon. Six have been cut off, five are not in very good standing, and two have removed to Nauvoo.
Elder curtis E. Balton represented four members not organized, residing at Woodbury, L. Island.
Elder B. S. Wilber stated that the West Stockbridge and Richmond Union Branch, consists of twenty-one members, including one high priest, two elders, and one priest; all in good standing.
The Cummington branch, represented by elder Wilber, consists of one elder, one priest, and nine members, chiefly raised up the past winter by himself and elder Wm. Hyde. There are also four members and one elder at Woodstock, Windson county, Vermont.
The branch at Northfield, Washington county, Vermont, consists of two elders, and eight members; built up principally by elder Brown.
The branch at Canaan, Litchfield county, Connecticut, represented by elder Wilbur, consists of three elders, and eight members--in a deplorable state. Have not had any meetings, nor partaken of sacrament for several months. he hopes the conference would send some one there to regulate matters.
Elder Woolf represented the branch at New Rochelle, New York. There are at present one high priest, two elders, two priests, two teachers, and twenty-five members--all in good standing, except two. Seven have been added since last conference, two removed to New York, and one cut off.
Elder Dougherty stated that in Sussex county, New Jersey, and in Pike county, Pennsylvania, there were fourteen scattered members, not organized--not before represented.
Elder E. W. Pell represented the branch at New Haven, Connecticut. The number is twenty-one, including one elder and one priest. The prospect there is favorable--nothing having been done to cut off the ears of the people. Two have been added since last conference.
Elder Quartus S. Sparks represented, by letter, the branch at Westfield, Massachusetts. It consists of eighteen members, including one elder, one priest, and one teacher.
At Russell, there is a branch, consisting of twelve members.
There were present at the conference five high priests, one of the quorum of seventy--twenty-three elders, six priests, eight teachers and three deacons.
Elder Samuel J. Ringmond, Robert Windley, Stephen F. Qua, Charles Polin, Richard Polin, Peter Snyder, Selah Lane, Bernhart Smith, Jacob W. Jenks, John M. Baker, Alexander Clough Elijah Fuller, Francis Benedict, Joshua Benedict, John Alexander, Gibson, Smith, Phineas Richards, Doctor Hinman, James Miller, and Warren Walling were absent, and made no report. They were thought to be within the bounds of this conference, and they are hereby requested to report at the next conference, on the first Wednesday of September next, either personally or by letter.
Voted that elder B. S. Wilbur, J. G. Willey and C. W. Wandell, go to Canaan, Connecticut, to investigate the affairs of the branch there, and make report of their doings to the clerk of this conference.
A difficulty between elder John Leach and elder E. R. Young, was, after a tedious examination, finally and amicably settled.
The letter which elder Divine wrote to elder Sidney Rigdon, concerning J. W. Latson, was, by unanimous vote of the conference, burned.
Albert Merrill, Albert Gregory, Cyrus A. Mead and Joseph Bouton, Jr., all of Norwalk, Connecticut, were ordained elders; and James Jerman, of New York, was ordained a priest.
Voted by all the members of the conference who were present when the vote was taken, except two, that we keep the Word of Wisdom.
Voted that any elder that teaches doctrine contrary to the gathering, is in transgression, and ought to be cut off, unless he repents.
Voted that our next conference be held on the first Wednesday of September next, at ten o'clock in the morning, at Columbian Hall, No. 263 Grand Street, New York; and that the minutes of this conference be published.
- RICHARD BIRDGE, President.
- L. R. FOSTER, Clerk.
