July 28, 1843 • Friday

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Fifth Meeting of Society

Meeting of the

Fourth ward

July 28 1843

Meeting commenced with singing “This Earth was once a garden place”¹

Prayer by Sister J [Sarah] Smith

Councillor [Elizabeth Ann] Whitney requested the sisters to improve the time to advantage regretted that so few were met hoped the meetings might not be discontinu[e]d Suggested the propriety of having the separate wards meet togather said she was sorry that the Prest Emma Smith was not here to preside— and cheer us Said we had her approbation that she would have the Society be active & persevering in doing good &c

Sister Billings made some verry appropriate remarks desired we might remember the poor in particular represented the case of Sister Harmons whose family is sick

Sis Joshua [Sarah] Smith said as it is a sickly time we are called to the alleviation of the poor and suffering many are suffering at this presant time said that [p. [100]] Sister Modley [Elizabeth Maudsley] and Sister [Mary] Mc Ewen were sick & distress’d in want of help

Donations		$
Sister Lyons [Sylvia Lyon]			50
Selinda Simpson	8 yds calico	2	00
Clarrissa Eastman	1 pr Shoes	1	25

Dolly Markum [Dorothy Meacham] said she would spin 2 or 3 pounds wool said she had givn all her Jewelry for the Temple was willing to do any thing she could

Sister Meecum said our Salvation depended on our Liberality to the poor &c

Mrs Whitney continued the subject refered to one of the revelations “said “by this shall ye know that ye are my deciples[”]² The Lord confirms it again & again he is delighted with our acts of charity &c

Sis Joshua Smith requested widow Meecum [Lucina Mecham] to open her heart to the society as she had been sick Sis Meecum wept

Sister Meecum said she could sustain herself if the Society could furnish her work would like Spinning

Sister Lyons donates patent Wheel head—

Sister Jones— 100 lb pounds of wool can can be procur’d on condition that half of it can be returnd in cloth to the owner

C Whitney suggested the necessity of having a committee so appointed to search out the poor and suffring— To call on the rich for aid and thus as far as possible relieve the wants of all

Accordingly appointed a Comittee (to wit)

First ward
Lydia Granger	Harriet Marcum
Sophia Packard	Elizabeth Jones
Second ward
Mrs James [Drusilla] Hendricks	Ms [Rebecca] Hodge

[p. [101]]

Miss P[hebe] M Wheeler	Mrs Orson [Catherine] Spencer
Third— ward
Selinda Simpson—	Sister Peck
Sister Winchester—	Sister Rice
Fourth ward—
Sister Allred	Siste[r] Joshua Smith
Sister Stephen Meecum [Dorothy Meacham]	Sister Billings

Councllor Whitney then rose, said when you go to those who have means tell them you are appointed to releave the needy— call on them— the Spirit of the Lord will bless you in it and stimulate the hearts of the rich— provoke them to good works— Let us try to do it

Donations		$
Sister [Mahala] Overton	a Bed Spread	1	00
Elisabeth Allred	Soap	00	50
Sister [Abigail] Forges—	Cash		12½
	2 small dresses		62½

~~Sister [illegible]~~ Widow Meecum will spin 50 lb Wool for the society and thake [take] her pay in provisions of th[e] Society

Meeting then ajournd

[p. [102]]

Cite This Page

July 28, 1843 • Friday, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society, accessed December 18, 2024 https://chpress-web.churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/part-1/1-2/1-2-24

Footnotes

[1]Hymn 250, Collection of Sacred Hymns [1841], 272.
[2]John 13:35.