June 9, 1842 • Thursday

Minutes of the Proceedings

of the

Eleventh Meeting of the Society.

Grove, June 9^th.

Prest J. Smith opened the meeting by pray’r and proceeded to address the congregation on the design of the Institution— said it is no matter how fast the Society increases if all are virtuous— that we must be as particular with regard to the character of members, as when the Society first started— that sometimes persons wish to put themselves into a Society of this kind, when they do not intend to pursue the ways of purity and righteousness, as if the Society would be a shelter to them in their iniquity.

Prest. S. said that henceforth no person shall be admitted but by presenting regular petition signed by two or three members in good standing in the Society— whoever comes in must be of good report.¹

Harriet Luce and Mary Luce were receiv’d into the Society by recommend.

Objections previously made against Mahala Overton were remov’d— after which Prest Smith continued his address— said he was going to preach mercy Supposing that Jesus Christ and angels should object to us on frivolous things, what would become of us? We must be merciful and overlook small things.

Respecting the reception of Sis. Overton, Prest. Smith It grieves me that there is no fuller fellowship— if one member suffer all feel it— by union of feeling we obtain pow’r with God. Christ said he came to call sinners to repentance and save them. Christ was condemn’d by the righteous jews because he took sinners into his society— he took them 〈up〉on the principle that they [p. [61]] repented of their sins.² It is the object of this Society to reform persons, not to take those that are corrupt, but if they repent we are bound to take them and by kindness sanctify and cleanse from all unrighteousness, by our influence in watching over them— nothing will have such influence over people, as the fear of being disfellowship’d by so goodly a Society as this. Then take Sis. O. as Jesus received sinners into his bosom.

Sis. O. In the name of the Lord I now make you free, and from this hour if any thing should be found against you

Nothing is so much calculated to lead people to forsake sin as to take them by the hand and watch over them with tenderness. When persons manifest the least kindness and love to me, O what pow’r it has over my mind, while the opposite course has a tendency to harrow up all the harsh feelings and depress the human mind.

It is one evidence that men are unacquainted with the principle of godliness, to behold the contraction of feeling and lack of charity. The pow’r and glory of Godliness is spread out on a broad principle to throw out the mantle of charity. God does not look on sin with allowance, but when men have sin’d there must be allowance made for them.³

All the religious world is boasting of righteousness— tis the doctrine of the devil to retard the human mind and retard our progress, by filling us with selfrighteousness— The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more are we dispos’d to look with compassion on perishing souls— to take them upon our shoulders and cast their sins behind our back. [blank] I am going to talk to all this Society— if you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another.⁴

Prest. S. then refer’d them to the conduct of the Savior when he was taken and crucified &c.⁵

He then made a promise in the name of the [p. [62]] Lord saying, that soul that has righteousness enough to ask God in the secret place for life, every day of their lives shall live to three score years & ten— We must walk uprightly all day long— How glorious are the principles of righteousness! We are full of selfishness— the devil flatters us that we are very righteous, while we are feeding on the faults of others— We can only live by worshipping our God— all must do it for themselves— none can do it for another. How mild the Savior dealt with Peter, saying “when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren”—⁶ at an other time he said to him “lovest thou me? “Feed my sheep”.—⁷ If the sisters love the Lord let them feed the sheep and not destroy them. How oft have wise men & women sought to dictate br. Joseph by saying “O if I were br. Joseph I would do this and that.” But if they were in br. Joseph’s shoes, they would find that men could not be compel’d into the kingdom of God, but must be dealt with in long suff’ring— and at last we shall save them. The way to keep all the saints together and keep the work rolling, is to wait with all long suff’ring till God shall bring such character to justice. There should be no license for sin, but mercy should go hand in hand with reproof.

Sisters of this Society, shall there be strife among you? I will not have it— you must repent and get the love of God. Away with selfrighteousness. The best measure or principle to bring the poor to repentance is to administer to their wants— the Society is not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls.

Prest. S. then said that he would give a lot of land to the Society by deeding it to the Treasurer, that the Society may build houses for the poor. He also said he would give a house— frame not finished— said that br. [p. [63]] [Reynolds] Cahoon will move it on to the aforesaid lot, and the Society can pay him by giving Orders on the Store— that it was a good plan to set those to work who are owing widows and thus make an offsett &c. &c.⁸

The following names were receiv’d.

Violetta Burgess	Ann Bowberry [Rowberry]
Rosanna Lyman	Mary Bowberry [Rowberry]
Sarah Fisher	Charlotte Jenkins
Elizabeth Edwards	Zilpha Jacobs
Mary Moore	Charity Bickmore
Sabra Prior	Mary R. Maxton
Marina Prior	Mary Ann Stevens
Elizabeth Crafton	Betsey Foot
Flavilla L. Leavitt	Jane Jenkins
Roxana Huntsman	Wealthy Pratt
Lucinda E. Cole	Agnes Moss
Persis Stiles	Mary Moss
Sarah W. Gibbs	Sarah Zundal
~~Sophia C♢♢t♢~~ Catharine Pope	Mary Ann Greenwell
Phebe Rannals [Reynolds]	Mary Ann Green
Rhoda A. Fulmer	Margaret Smoot
Martisha Smith	Sarah Bullard
Nancy Houghton	Elizabeth Mittwell [Withnell]
Mary I. Horne	Harriet Little
Catharine Nicolson	Lucy Seel[e]y
Eliza Canfield	Elizabeth Lemon
Anna Demill	Lydia Hadlock
Elizabeth Maudsley⁹	Martha J. Powers
Nancy Henderson	Maria Clark
Margaret Avery	Nancy Simpson
Elizabeth ~~Avery~~ Gates	Elizabeth Browett
Lydia Badger	Margaret Stow
Mary J. Melks	Maria Hodson
Betsey Bidwell	Ann Slater

[p. [64]]

Lydia Edwards	Mary H. Hoyg
Eleanor Edwards	Mary Winterbotton
Phebe M^cNall	Mary Ann Allen
Araminta Vorth [North]	Eda Sweat
Eunice Cone	Mary Henderson
Sarah Rawlins	Naomi C. Price
Julia Owens	Mary Wilson
Nancy Stewart	Amanda Wilson
Agnes Wilson	Elizabeth Scott
Philinda Stanley	Lydia M. Luce
Elizabeth Hendricks	Esther Wood
Mahala Dudley	Sarah Meeks
Mary Ann Maxton	Susanna Adams
Catharina Wilson	Mary Thompson
Nancy Karr [Kerr]	Elizabeth Wilson
Tirzah Chase	Emily Wilson
Eliza Chase	Mary Wilson
Nancy Chase	Margaret Wilkinson
Diana Chase	[Nancy] Ann Smithies
Sarah Buthrick [Bathrick]	Sarah A. Murply [Murphy]
Polly Leach	Mary Owins
Diana Camp	Chara Owens [Owen]
Elizabeth Merrills	Mary Mitchell
Abigail Bradley	Abigail Burbank
Mary Hustin [Houston]	Susanna Wakefield
Lydia F. [Ann] Gibbs	Huldah Judd
Candace Evans	Susanna C. Boyce
Jane Judd	Elizabeth C. Allen
Mary Ives	Nancy M. Murphy
Mary Jane Morris	Talitha C. Garlick
Mahala Morris	Sarah K. Taylor
Mary Blake	Catharine Minnerly
Lodemia Barnet	Catharine Mulliner
Elizabeth Helm	Margaret Myers

[p. [65]]

Mary M^cIlwrick	Martha H. [Kelley] Wilson
Clarissa Smith	Sarah I. [Jane] Weeks
Mary Smith	Margaret Willis
Caroline Smith	Lavina Boren
Louisa Camfield [Canfield]	Alice El[l]ison
Charity Shepherd	Hannah A. Che[e]sebrough
Lucinda Kinyun	Alice Martin
Jane Jones	Eliza Jenkins
Mary Carter	Mary Richardson
Mary Tytle¹⁰ [Lytle]	Ann Vowles
Mary Owen	Mary Davis
Mrs. Gay	Ruth Stoddard
Mrs. [Sarah] Winter	Malinda Chipman
Sarah Marsden	Charlotte Chase
Ann Delany	Esther Gleason
Mrs. Worthington	Ann E. Hoskinson
Mary Stilly	Abigail Woolsey
Mrs. Williams	Polly Woolsey
Mrs. Richards	Elmira Meacham
Jane Gandolf	Polly Meacham [Mecham]
Jane Roberts	Mary Jane Butterfield
Mary Evans	Betey A. [Elizabeth Ann] Burkett
Susan Wallace	Sarah J. Burkett
Margaret Butterfield	Catharine Skinner
Harriet Roberts	Eleanor Taylor
Elizabeth Frampton	Mary Burkett
Sarah Cox	Jane Burkett
Margaret Empey	Mary Ann Bracken
Jane A. Foot	Elsey Ann Curtiss [Curtis]
Mary Allred	Lydia M. Luce
Nancy W. Allred	Hannah M. Swasey
Orissa A. Allred	Louis Judd
Sarah L. Taylor	Charity Sharp
Mary C. Egbert	Mavy [Mary] Roles

[p. [66]]

Eliza Ann Dusette	Abigail D. Hovey
Abi Salina Burk	Sarah Rockwell
Jane Tidwell	Sarah Remington
Susan Strong	Katharine [Catherine] Walker
Mary Mayberry	Cyntha Yeamans
Sophia Anderson	Deborah Leithead
Sarah H. Head [Sarah Head Bracken]	Eliza J. Wilber
Mary Head
Mary Wall
Elizabeth Wilson

The following donations were then receiv’d, to wit—

	$
Lucinda E. Cole	..	50
Mrs. Chase	..	75
Elizabeth Romley [Romney]	..	75
Mary Rollins	1,	00
Roxana Repsher	2,	25
Mrs. Curtis	1,	.50
Maria C. Perry	..	50
Maria Scholes	1,	87
Cyrena Merrills [Merrill]	..	31
Albina Merrills [Merrill]	..	25
Rhoda Bentley	..	50
Lodemia Barnet	..	25
Mary Ann Peck	..	25
Mary Greenwell	..	25
Amanda Rogers	1,	00
Diantha Billings	..	25
Sophronia Drake	..	37
Hannah Smith	..	50
Sarah Head	..	75
Loisa Pratt	..	50
Hannah Pierce	1,	00
Mary Woolley	..	50

[p. [67]]

	$
Elmira Miller	1,	25
Unknown—	..	25
do [ditto]	..	50
Philena Stanley	1,	50
Jemima Newcomb	4,	00
Julius Guinand	2.	00
Mrs. [Mary] Felshaw	1,	00
Hannah Ells	1,	00
Mary Smith	1,	87
Ann Bosley	1,	50