1.2.4

See images of the original document at josephsmithpapers.org.

April 14, 1842 • Thursday

Minutes of the Proceedings

of the

Fourth Meeting of the Society.

Lodge Room, April 14,^th 1842.

Meeting opened with singing “How pleasant ’tis to see” &c.¹

Prayer by Pres^t. Emma Smith— after which Councillor [Sarah] Cleveland arose and address’d the meeting, informing them that the case of Clarissa M. [Marvel] had been satisfactorily settled she having testified in her own hand writing that she had said no wrong &c.² Mrs. C. continued by cautioning the Society against speaking evil of Pres^t. J. Smith and his companion— that it would not be a light thing in the sight of God— that they had prov’d themselves; and the case of C. M. should be a warning, how we hear and how we speak— express’d her fears that the Lord would cut off those who will not take counsel &c.

Motioned by Councillor Cleveland, seconded by Councillor [Elizabeth Ann] Whitney, that the following persons be received into this Society—— passed unanimously,

Clarissa Wilcox	Lydia Anderson3
Phebe Knights [Knight]	Catharine Mellon [Malin]
[blank] Wight	Hannah Pierce
Lydia Huntington	Betsey Roundy
Phebe Miller	Phebe Chase
Phebe Angell	Nancy H. Rockwood
Drusilla Hendricks	Nancy Winchester
Polly [Knight] Stringham	Martha Peck
Asenath Sherman	Cornelia J. Fisher
Lydia Anderson	Electa E. Whiteside
Charlotte Hawes

Pres^t. E. Smith arose and address’d the meeting by saying that the disagreeable busines of searching out those that were iniquitous, seem’d to fall on her— [p. 26] said it was an unpleasant task, but her desire was to do good— wish’d all the members of this Society to assist her— said it was necessary to begin at home— to eradicate all evil from our⁴ own hearts— and warn those who wish to join, with us, to come calculating to divest themselves of every thing wrong and unite to expose iniquity, to search it out and put it away— She said the Society had other duties to attend to than seeing to the wants of the poor. Exhorted the members so to conduct as to have the honor of commencing a good work and of carrying it out— enforc’d the necessity of walking in a manner that would be approbated of God.

While the Officers of the Board were examining petitions of various persons who applied for membership Mrs. Pres^t. call’d on the Society to occupy the time; which was spent much to the edification of those present, by Mother [Lucy Mack] Smith and others, by way of exhortation, admonition, encouragement &c. &c.

After passing examination on the various petitions presented; the following names were presented to the Society, and the persons received as members, to wit.

Mercy Ann Bruce	Sarah Head
Nancy N. Tracy	Sarah Davis
Olive Farr	Sophronia Norris
Susannah Be[ckel]hymer	Mary Sloan
Julia Stone	Delia Curtis
Emily Whitmark [Whitmarsh]	Catharine Wood
Charlotte Curtis	Mary Munjar
Jane Allen	Mary C. Coray
Elizabeth Johnson	Caroline Kingsbury
Loisa [Louisa] M. Lyman	Jane Ann Green
Mary E. Lightner	Amy Clothier

[p. [27]]

Magdalene Moesser	Mary H. Felshaw
Ruth Sayers	Eliza Grant
Caroline M. Bullard	Susan Younger
Mary Ann Bullard	Asenath Sherman
Mary Smith	Cornelia J. Fisher5
Mahitable Calkins	Electa G. [Eleanor] Whiteside
Kuhamath B. Derby	Jane A. Young
Eveline Rollin	Rebecca Reed
Huldah Harmon	Sarah Ann Waitt
Eliza M. Green[e]	Amanda M. Pierce
Elizabeth Bills	Hannah Smith
Ruth Williams	Anna Partridge
Hannah Marsh	Elizabeth Fory6
Marcia Allen	Sarah Noe

Pres^t. Smith then call’d on those, if any present who knew of cases of the poor to be represented.

Mrs. [Phebe Ann] Hawkes spoke of the Drury family— still sick needing our prayers— if nothing more—⁷

Mary Smith said her husband had given her the privilege of donating weekly one bushel of corn meal for the poor— wish’d to know where it should be deposited.— also mentioned the case of a motherless child needing a home— whereupon,

It was decided that for the present it should remain in the care of Mrs. Eldridge— decided also that the meal offered by Mrs. Smith as well as all other provisions, should be put into the care of the Treas. where the needy may apply for the same——

The following donations in money were made, to wit,

Caroline Kingsbury	..	25
Sylva Lyons [Sylvia Lyon]	..	50

[p. [28]]

Athalia Robinson	..	25
Charlotte Hawes	1.	25
Vilate Kimball	..	50
Catharine Wilkie	2.	00
	4.	75

The meeting adjourn’d to thursday, the 28^th of April, at 2 o.clock, P.M.⁸

Notes

1. Hymn 251, Collection of Sacred Hymns [1841], 273.

2. Marvel’s statement was recorded later in the minutes, following the account of the September 28, 1842, meeting.

3. text: This name was knife-erased, presumably because it had already been written in the first column.

4. text: Possibly “one”.

5. text: This name was knife-erased, presumably because it had already been included in a list of new members two pages earlier.

6. text: Possibly “Foory”.

7. During the Relief Society meeting on March 24, 1842, “Mrs. Hawkes arose to represent Mrs. Drury as an object of charity, being sick and destitute of food.” (Document 1.2, entry for Mar. 24, 1842.)

8. As recorded in the minutes that follow, a “special meeting” of the Relief Society was held on April 19, 1842, before the next regularly scheduled meeting was held on April 28.