History - Conferences, 1845
of meeting them on Sunday, , at Mr. Heyward's large and commo-
dious room, in Bridge-street, Manchester. The day was exceedingly fine, which
caused a vast number of Saints to come in from the various districts until the room
was crowded to excess.
The house was called to order at half-past ten o'clock, A.M., there being present
one of the Twelve, five high priests, thirty elders, thirty-one priests, twenty-two
teachers, and four deacons.
Elder Woodruff was called to the chair, accompanied by his counsellors, elders
Hedlock and Ward. Conference opened by singing and prayer.
The president informed the assembly, that the forepart of the day would be
devoted to teaching and setting forth principles: the afternoon to business: and
the evening to preaching, and then called upon elder Hedlock to address the meet-
ing, and he did so, much to the edification of the Saints. He spoke of the death of
the Prophet and Patriarch, and the additional responsibility and care that was
now resting upon the presidency of the churches, in the enlargement and ad-
vancement of the church and kingdom of God. He spoke of the persecution
and the order of the priesthood, and that the object of the Conference was to
make some changes in the Manchester Conference for the advancement of the
work in that region. He was followed by elder Ward, who spoke of the great-
ness and magnitude of the work, the purity of the principles, and he exhorted the
officers and members to faithfulness. The President closed by bearing his testi-
mony to the work, and gave such teaching and advice as was given by the
Spirit of God, all of which was received by the Saints with a hearty Amen.
The Saints again assembled at two o'clock, P.M. Remarks were made by the
President and his Counsellors, concerning the importance of the meeting, and the
changes they would recommend in the Manchester Conference. It was then
moved by elder Charles Miller, "that elder Milton Holmes be appointed presiding
elder over the Manchester Conference; it was seconded and carried without a dis-
senting voice.
Elder M. Holmes then proposed elder Charles Miller, as his counsellor to assist
him in the conference; it was also seconded and carried unanimously.
It was then moved, seconded, and carried unanimously, that elder James D.
Ross, from Edinburgh, who was present, should be chosen to preside over the
Manchester branch; there was not a dissenting voice in any resolution presented
to the conference, but peace, union, and love apparently prevailed with every
heart. At the close of the afternoon service, we had the privilege of communing,
by partaking of the sacrament with that vast body of the Saints who have from
the beginning manifested much of a Zion's spirit, and brought forth the fruits of
the gospel.
