| 930 driven from that county, after building their houses, and carting their winter's store of provision, grain, &c., forty or fifty miles. Several families are already fleeing from thence. The contaminating influence of the Jackson county mob, is predominant in this new county of Van Buren, the whole population of which is estimated at about thirty or forty families. The destruction of crops, household furniture and clothing is very great, and much of their stock is lost. The main body of the church, is now in Clay county, where the people are as kind and accommodating as could reasonably be expected. The continued threats of death to individuals of the church, if they make their appearance in Jackson county, prevents the most of them, even at this day, from returning to that county, to secure personal property, which they were obliged to leave in their flight.
CONFERENCE MINUTES.
From the Millennial Star (England.)
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
SUNDAY MORNING.
This annual and most interesting meeting was held on the 6th of April, in the Hall of Science, Manchester. The day being favorable, a very large assembly congregated from the neighboring branches, who, together with the numerous delegates from different parts of the country, filled the commodious hall, and presented a very pleasing appearance.
The meeting being called to order at half past ten o'clock by Elder Milton Holmes, it was carried unanimously that Elder Wilford Woodruff preside, and that Elder William Walker, and Elder J. B. Meynell act as clerks of the conference.
The sixteenth hymn being sung, Elder Woodruff offered up prayer, when the first hymn was sung, after which the number of officers present was called for, when it appeared, of the presidency, Elder W. Woodruff, one of the Quorum of the Twelve, Counsellors [Counselors] Reuben Hedlock and Thomas Ward-high priests, eight-of the Quorum of the Seventies, five-elders, seventy-seven-priests, sixty-six-teachers, thirty-seven-deacons, seven.
Elder Woodruff having made some remarks to the delegates as to the order of representation, the delegates were called upon to make their respective statements.
Two hundred and forty-four branches, containing about ten thousand Saints, were represented: among whom were ten high priests, three hundred and ninety elders, six hundred and fifteen priests, three hundred and eleven teachers, and one hundred and sixty-four deacons: one thousand nine hundred and ten had been baptized since the October conference.
The meeting being closed by singing and prayer, adjourned until the afternoon.
AFTERNOON SERVICE.
Meeting opened by singing the 142nd hymn, after which Elder Ward engaged in prayer.-The sacrament was then administered by Elder J. D. Ross.
Elder Ward made a few remarks upon the necessity of attending upon the ordinance of the Lord's supper
Elder Hedlock then spoke on the purpose of a general conference, and the necessity of unity of feeling and action, and of order in the conferences, remarking that branches raised up since last conference cannot form themselves into conferences without the decision of a general conference, and persons seeking to render themselves independent of those who were appointed by the last general conference are out of order, and violating the laws of the kingdom of God. He remarked that the presiding elders of branches should be associated with the officers of those branches in doing all things in righteousness for rolling onward the kingdom of God; and also, that the presidents of conferences should be united with the presiding officers of branches in the same great cause. Thus should all be united in the great purpose in which they were engaged, viz., the salvation of the human family. The occasional offences [offenses] that arise from individuals whose minds are too contracted to grasp the sublimity of the subject of salvation, we should learn to endure, and exercise forgiveness rather than raise an obstacle against the progress of the work. He exhorted the audience to exert themselves to live as saints to day, and if such was their continued purpose, they would not err very far from the path of rectitude.
The president then called for the delegates to represent the condition and standing of the conferences.
Elder Milton Holmes stated the Manchester conference to be in a very good condition; the prospects, indeed, were very cheering, perhaps more so than at any other period, and every thing seemed to foretell the reaping of a rich harvest. He exhorted the saints to listen to the counsel given, and bore a strong testimony to the truth of the work.
Elder Leonard Hardy stated that he had not long been connected with the Preston conference, but the prospects to the best of his knowledge were much improved. The officers in council were united, and there was a probability
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