CHAPTER VIII.
Important Conference of the Church in England—Kidnapping of Brown and Boyce by Missourians—Action of the Citizens of Nauvoo.
Monday, July 6, 1840.
Conference of the Church in England.
A General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held in the Carpenter's Hall, Manchester, on the 6th day of July, 1840, it being the 1st day of the 4th month of the eleventh year of the Church, when the following officers of the traveling High Council were present, viz.: Elders Brigham Young, Parley P. Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, Willard Richards, Heber C. Kimball, and George A. Smith; other officers, viz.: High Priests 5, Elders 19, Priests 15, Teachers 11, and Deacons 3.
The meeting being called to order, a little after ten o'clock, by Elder William Clayton, it was moved by Elder Brigham Young, seconded by Elder Wilford Woodruff, that Elder Parley P. Pratt be chosen President of the conference,[[1]] which was carried unanimously. Elder William Clayton was chosen clerk. The meeting was opened by singing, and prayer by the President.
Elder Brigham Young then proceeded to prefer charges against Elder T. Green, viz., first, for giving way to a false spirit; second, for abusing a young female, by accusing her, in a public meeting, of things which he could not prove; and third, for abuse to the house and congregation at Duckinfield, June 28th, 1840. The president then proceeded to ask Elder Green whether he was guilty of these charges, or not. He immediately pleaded guilty. After Elder Young had made extended remarks to the meeting, touching the conduct of Elder Green, he proposed that Elder Green go to those characters where he had abused and insulted, and make confession to them as far as the offense extended, and then to be suspended from office for a season. The President then made remarks to the same effect, and put it to the vote of the meeting, viz., that Elder Green shall make confession, as stated above, and be suspended from office for a season. Carried.
The President then asked Elder Green if he was willing to make confession, he immediately agreed to do it the first opportunity. The meeting adjourned a little after twelve o'clock.
At two o'clock business commenced by singing and prayer, when the President called upon the officers to represent the different branches of the Church, which was done in the following order, viz.—
Branches Represented, &c. Members. Elders. Priests. Teachers. Deacons. The Branch at Manchester Represented by Elder William Clayton 28 3 5 5 1 The Branch at Preston represented by Elder Joseph Fielding 354 6 8 4 2 Elders Kington and Browett presented the minutes of the conference held in Herefordshire, which were read by Elder Wilford Woodruff, representing 33 branches of the Church 534 10 52 13 Elder Alfred Cordon read the minutes of the conference held at Hanley, Staffordshire, representing 7 branches of the Church 168 4 13 6 2 The branch at Liverpool, represented by Elder John Taylor 78 1 3 2 Elder Joseph Fielding read the minutes of the Thornley, represented by Elder William Kay 30 3 2 1 1 The Branch at Ribchester, represented by Elder Francis Clark 22 2 1 The Branch at Waddington, represented by John Ellison 58 2 2 1 The Branch at Clitheroe, represented by Brother Lofthouse 35 1 3 1 The Branch at Chatburn, represented by Elder John Bond 91 2 2 2 The Branch at Downham, represented by John Spencer 25 1 The Branch at Grindleton, represented by Elder Joseph Fielding 5 1 The Branch at Whitmore, represented by J. Spencer 3 The Branch at Burnley, represented by Elder H. C. Kimball 27 1 1 1 The Branch at Blackburn, represented by Elder H. C. Kimball 17 1 Elder Reuben Hedlock read the minutes of the conference held at Paisley, Scotland, representing 5 branches of the Church 106 6 5 3 2 The Branch at Alston, represented by Elder John Sanders 36 2 2 2 The Branch at Brampton, represented by Elder John Sanders 36 1 1 The Branch at Longton, represented by Elder Bradshaw 54 2 4 2 The Branch at Penworthan, represented by Elder P. Melling 77 4 1 1 1 The Branch at Whittle, represented by Elder Richard Withnall 16 1 4 The Branch at Southport, represented by R. McBride 19 1 2 The Branch at Daubers Lane & Eccleston, Represented by Elder Richard Withnall 42 1 3 The Branch at Hunter's Hill, represented by Richard Benson 26 1 1 1 The Branch at Bolton, represented by Elder David Wilding 61 1 2 2 The Branch at Bury and Elton, represented by Elder David Wilding 12 The Branch at Ratcliff, represented by Elder Amos Fielding 11 The Branch at Benford, &c. represented by Elder Willard Richards 40 1 1 The Branch at Stockport, represented by Elder M. Littlewood 85 2 1 2 1 The Branch at Duckinfield, represented by Elder Henry Royle 41 1 1 The Branch at Macclesfield, represented by Samuel Heath 14 2 The Branch at Middlewich, represented by Samuel Heath 20 1 1 1 The Brach at Plover, represented by Samuel Heath 24 1 1 1 The Branch at Northwich, represented by William Berry 14 1 The Branch at Altrincham, represented by William Berry 4 1 The Branch at Whitfield, represented by Walker Johnson 14 1 The Branch at Pendlebury, represented by Elder William Clayton 13 1 1 The Branch at Eccles, represented by Elder William Clayton 5 The Branch at West Bromwich, represented by Elder Theodore Turley 16 1 1 After the officers had got through the representations, the President introduced the new hymn-book; and after suitable remarks had been made by him and Elders Young and Thomas Kington, the President asked the conference if they were satisfied with the labors of those who had made the selection, and if they received the book. The unanimous approbation of the meeting was immediately manifested.
By unanimous vote, Thomas Kington, Alfred Cordon, and Thomas Smith were ordained High Priests; John Albison, John Blezzard, William Berry, John Sanders, John Parkinson, James Worsley, and John Allen were ordained Elders; and Joseph Slinger, George Walker, John Smith, Robert Williams, William Black, John Melling, and John Swindlehurst were ordained Priests.
Elder Brigham Young then called upon those officers, whose circumstances would permit them to devote themselves entirely to the work of the ministry, and would volunteer so to do, to stand up—when the following names were taken, viz., of the traveling High Council, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards, and George A. Smith; other officers, namely, William Clayton, Reuben Hedlock, Hiram Clark, Theodore Turley, Joseph Fielding, Thomas Richardson, Amos Fielding, John Parkinson, John Wych, John Needham, Henry Royle, John Blezzard, D. Wilding, Charles Price, Joseph Knowles, Wm. Kay, Samuel Heath, Wm. Parr, R. McBride, and James Morgan.
Moved by Elder Richards, seconded by Elder Kimball, that Elder Peter Melling be appointed to preside over the following branches of the Church, namely—Preston, Longton, Penwortham, North Meols, and Southport; carried.
Moved by Elder Kimball, seconded by Elder Young, that Elder Richard Withnall be appointed to preside over the branches of the Church at Whittle, Daubers Lane, Chorley, Hunter's Hill, and Euxtonburgh; carried.
Moved by Elder Kimball, seconded by Elder Young, that Elder Thomas Smith be appointed to preside over the branches of the Church at Clitheroe, Chatburn, Downham, Chaighley, Grindleton, Whitmore, Burnley, Blackburn, Ribchester, and Thornley: carried.
Moved and seconded, that President Fielding and his counselors be set at liberty from the charge which they have sustained as a presidency, that they may have the privilege of more fully entering into the field of labor; and that their labors be accepted; carried.
Elders Young and Richards then proceeded to ordain those who had been nominated to their respective offices, after which the minutes were read and accepted.
The conference adjourned to the sixth of October next, to be held in the Carpenter's Hall, Manchester, at 10 o'clock, a. m.
| Branches Represented, &c. | Members. | Elders. | Priests. | Teachers. | Deacons. |
| The Branch at Manchester Represented by Elder William Clayton | 28 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| The Branch at Preston represented by Elder Joseph Fielding | 354 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Elders Kington and Browett presented the minutes of the conference held in Herefordshire, which were read by Elder Wilford Woodruff, representing 33 branches of the Church | 534 | 10 | 52 | 13 | |
| Elder Alfred Cordon read the minutes of the conference held at Hanley, Staffordshire, representing 7 branches of the Church | 168 | 4 | 13 | 6 | 2 |
| The branch at Liverpool, represented by Elder John Taylor | 78 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |
| Elder Joseph Fielding read the minutes of the Thornley, represented by Elder William Kay | 30 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| The Branch at Ribchester, represented by Elder Francis Clark | 22 | 2 | 1 | ||
| The Branch at Waddington, represented by John Ellison | 58 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| The Branch at Clitheroe, represented by Brother Lofthouse | 35 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
| The Branch at Chatburn, represented by Elder John Bond | 91 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| The Branch at Downham, represented by John Spencer | 25 | 1 | |||
| The Branch at Grindleton, represented by Elder Joseph Fielding | 5 | 1 | |||
| The Branch at Whitmore, represented by J. Spencer | 3 | ||||
| The Branch at Burnley, represented by Elder H. C. Kimball | 27 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| The Branch at Blackburn, represented by Elder H. C. Kimball | 17 | 1 | |||
| Elder Reuben Hedlock read the minutes of the conference held at Paisley, Scotland, representing 5 branches of the Church | 106 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| The Branch at Alston, represented by Elder John Sanders | 36 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| The Branch at Brampton, represented by Elder John Sanders | 36 | 1 | 1 | ||
| The Branch at Longton, represented by Elder Bradshaw | 54 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| The Branch at Penworthan, represented by Elder P. Melling | 77 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| The Branch at Whittle, represented by Elder Richard Withnall | 16 | 1 | 4 | ||
| The Branch at Southport, represented by R. McBride | 19 | 1 | 2 | ||
| The Branch at Daubers Lane & Eccleston, Represented by Elder Richard Withnall | 42 | 1 | 3 | ||
| The Branch at Hunter's Hill, represented by Richard Benson | 26 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| The Branch at Bolton, represented by Elder David Wilding | 61 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| The Branch at Bury and Elton, represented by Elder David Wilding | 12 | ||||
| The Branch at Ratcliff, represented by Elder Amos Fielding | 11 | ||||
| The Branch at Benford, &c. represented by Elder Willard Richards | 40 | 1 | 1 | ||
| The Branch at Stockport, represented by Elder M. Littlewood | 85 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| The Branch at Duckinfield, represented by Elder Henry Royle | 41 | 1 | 1 | ||
| The Branch at Macclesfield, represented by Samuel Heath | 14 | 2 | |||
| The Branch at Middlewich, represented by Samuel Heath | 20 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| The Brach at Plover, represented by Samuel Heath | 24 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| The Branch at Northwich, represented by William Berry | 14 | 1 | |||
| The Branch at Altrincham, represented by William Berry | 4 | 1 | |||
| The Branch at Whitfield, represented by Walker Johnson | 14 | 1 | |||
| The Branch at Pendlebury, represented by Elder William Clayton | 13 | 1 | 1 | ||
| The Branch at Eccles, represented by Elder William Clayton | 5 | ||||
| The Branch at West Bromwich, represented by Elder Theodore Turley | 16 | 1 | 1 |
Tuesday, 7.
A council of Church Officers, held at Manchester, England.
Pursuant to previous notice, a general council of the Church officers was held in the council room at the Star office, Manchester, on the 7th day of July, 1840. The meeting being opened by prayer by Elder Kimball, Elder Young began to speak concerning those officers who had volunteered to devote themselves wholly to the ministry; when it was moved and seconded that Brothers William Kay and Thomas Richardson go to Herefordshire, to labor in that region with Elder Kington; carried.
Moved by Elder Kimball, seconded by Elder Young, that Brothers Hiram Clark and Joseph Knowles go with Elder Hedlock to Scotland: carried.
Moved by Elder Kimball, seconded by Elder Young, that Brother Joseph Fielding go to Bedford: carried.
Moved by Elder Richards, seconded by Elder Kimball, that Brothers Amos Fielding and John Wych go to Newcastle-upon-Tyne: carried.
Moved by Elder Kimball, seconded by Elder Woodruff, that Brother David Wilding go to Garway, Herefordshire: carried.
Moved by Elder Young, seconded by Elder Woodruff, that Brothers William Clayton and John Needham go to Birmingham: carried.
Moved by Elder Richards, seconded by Elder Young, that Brother Henry Royle go to Sheffield: carried.
Moved by Elder Clayton, seconded by Elder Young, that Brother John Albiston take charge of the following Branches of the Church, namely—Duckinfield, Hyde, Woolley Hill, Ashton, and Staley Bridge: carried.
Moved by Elder Pratt, seconded by Elder Woodruff, that Brother William Parr go to Sandbach and Congleton: carried.
Moved by Elder Richards, seconded by Elder Pratt, that Brother Heath continue his labors in Macclesfield: carried.
Moved by Elder Richards, seconded by Elder Woodruff, that Brother John Blezzard go to Cornshaw: carried.
Moved by Elder Kimball, seconded by Elder Richards, that Brother Robert McBride go to Lancaster: carried.
Moved by Elder Richards, seconded by Elder Woodruff, that Brother James Morgan abide in his own neighborhood to labor with Elder David Wilding: carried.
Moved by Elder Pratt, seconded by Elder Woodruff, that Brother Price give up his business, and labor under the advice of Elder Kington as the way opens: carried.
Moved by Elder Richards, seconded by Elder Kimball, that Brother William Black go to Lisburn, Ireland, as the way opens: carried.
Moved by Elder Richards, seconded by Elder Smith, that Brother John Parkinson have a roving commission, so long as he keeps busy, and doing good: carried.
After Elder Young had addressed the meeting upon several important items, the meeting dismissed by blessing from Elder Young.
Parley P. Pratt, President.
William Clayton, Clerk.
At this time Elders Orson Hyde and John E. Page were laboring in Ohio.
Thursday, 9.