Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-04-09
Utah Society Names Five Com
mittees to Systematically
Garry on the Work.
MEETING AT SOCIAL HALL.
Gathering Wednesday and Addresses
by President Anthem II. Lund and
Others Arouse Enthusiasm.

genealogical and historical subjects II
the last few years the historical stud,
OF families through their names has
grown In Importance. Societies have
been organized throughout the world
90 trace family lines ANA many Of then
cooperate. gathering and publishing
records
As It's object the Genealogical soci-
ETY. Of Utah has the salvation Of thu
souls OF the dead, which Is one Of the
greatest works carried on by the
Church OF Jesus Christ Of Latter-day
Saints. "rhe Hearts Of the children
Shall be Turned 10 the Fathers" is tho
inscription on the pin adopted by the
society. which signifies the belief in the
salvation of the human family.
As a result Of the manifest interest
taken In the subject Of gonealogies. the
board OF directors held meeting re-
Gently AZ which time five committees
were named 10 take up the work more
extensively Benjamin Goddard was
chosen chairman Of the committee 10
Increase the membership and the mag
azine subscriptions. This work viii be
carried out throughout the intermOun-
tain region. The Utah Genealogical
and Historical Magazine is published
quarterly by the society
G.. S. Martin was named as the
chairman Of the committee TO arrange
for entertainments and social gather
ings Quarterly meetings will be held
ana papers viii be heard and lectures
given on historical and scientific sub
jccts
a committee. with Prof Osborne J. p.
Widtsoc aa chairman. was appointed TO
prepare papers and lectures on hist0r-
ical and genealogical subjects.
BIG UNDERTAKING.
For the collection Of epltaphs. inscrip-
tons and memorials Of the dead. a
fourth committee was appointed JOS
cph s. Peery was named as chairman
The work of this committee is 10 pre-
serve family history and town history
before records are lost. The matter will
be collected from family Bibles. tomb
stones and from the members Of fam
lilies.
Bishop Thomas A. Clawson was
chosen chairman OF the committee 10
collect published records and relics.
This work Is to be carried on extensive
~ not only In Utah but Idaho and other
states
As this mass Of information IS coll
lected IL VIII be placed on file In the Of
fee Of the society in the Historians Of
fee The committees consist OF a num-
Der Of persons. both men and women.
who are ready 10 make an extensive re-
search into the various fields mapped
out by the board OF directors
An executive committee was appoint
ed to preside over the other various
committees and outline the work as
needed. This committee consists OF
Heber ] Grant chairman: Joseph +
Smith. Jr. and Joseph Christensen.
Any person Of good moral character Is
eligible 10 join the society A small
membership fee Is charged and access
Is given 10 an the information at the
disposal of the society
Elder Joseph r. Smith, Jr., secretary
treasurer and Librarian Of the society
showed from his report that the soci-
city Is making rapid strides. During the
year ending March 81. 1910. there were
100 life certificates issued. and 2GO an
nual certificates, many Of them re-
ncwals The campaign for new MEM
bers win be carried on throughout the
Rocky Mountain country
The society purchased 2i4 books dur
ing the year which were added to the
library and 20 books were presented.
There are now 10000 volumes in the H.
brary which is double the number the
society had in -9OS Twenty-oue for
eigh searches were made by the society
for members and as local searches. Ev-
cry day "a score or more OF Inquiries are
made by members and friends vino are
looking up family history.
The quarters now occupied by the
society u the Historians Office are In
adequate In the near future the 500
ciety win probably have new build
ms.
At SOCIAL HALL.
Al the meeting held this week Presi-
dent Anthem n. Lund. who made the
address ~ welcome. urged the CO.
operation OF the Church workers to
assist In this work and explained the
needs OF the society. The work OF or
most important activities In the Church
in that it provides for the salvation
OF tie dead as well as the living The
Justice of God President Lund said.
would not permit those who did not
hear The message OF salvation In the
body to be eternally lost The work OF
family records, he said was
a basis for temple work and was one
OF the main objects Of the society.
Joseph p. Smith, Jr, addressed the
meeting in the afternoon I'm which he
declared THAI the dead soul Is as pre-
cious as that Of the living IN the sight
OF God In speaking OF the organiza-
ton he said MANY become interested
IA the salvation OF the human family
through the work Of the dead. The
society which was organized NOV. IL,
1894 by Franklin ID. Richards number
cd la the first 10 years only 800 mem
beers but II has now grown to 500 and
should Increase until every family In
the Church De- represented, The work
of the society ls 10 prepare records OF
the dead which may be used BY their
descendants in performing the ordi-
nunCcs necessary Tor their salvation.
THE records Of the eastern genealogical
societies are purchased az far as
our means viii allow and the Utah
Genealogical and Historical magazine
is published to secure publications In
exchange To further the work OF the
Church"
SUPPORT Is URGED
Elder A. W. Wins urged the audience
Co support the society by becoming
and subscribing 20 the mag
l2ine. In closing he said that the dead
were made 10 rejoice by the work OF
the members OF the society because OF
he iullress Of the gospel OF Christ
which Is being extended everywhere.
Mrs Susa Young Gates gave an in
.ercstlng account OF visiting friend
who went 70 the libaTy and there
found an account OF her family. The
woman was so pleased that since that
time she has done considerable re-
search work
Bishop Joseph Christensen, who at
tended the last annual meeting OF the
New England Genealogical society.
spoke OF the difference between the
motives Of that society and the work
carried on by the Mormon Church In
Utah The eastern Oreanizatfop he