On Thursday, May 16, Presidents Lyman, Rich, and Cannon convened a meeting of the Saints on board the Monarch of the Sea, in the River Mersey, Liverpool, and organized the company, consisting of 949 Saints, with Elder Jabez Woodard as President, and Elders H. O. Hansen and Niels Wilhelmsen as his counselors.

A priesthood meeting of the English Saints was held the same afternoon. Present--Elders Woodard, Harrison, W. H. Kelsey, S. Reid, Horace Pegg, Heber Pegg, John J. Wallis, William Carnie, and others. Elder Woodard proposed E. L. T. Harrison as secretary of the ship's company, W. H. Kelsey as president of the English portion of the Saints, and Thomas Morrell as Marshal. Elder Woodard explained the duties of the Marshal--That he would have to see to the getting up of a nightly guard at the hatchways, see that no lights were left burning at night, and, in fine, preserve order and cleanliness throughout the ship: also that all found articles were to be placed in his possession till the owner was found. President Woodard then exhorted the English Saints to patience and kindness to the Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish Saints. He also gave some instruction as to the best food to be used at present.

Resolved- "That no smoking be allowed between decks." Meeting adjourned till ten o'clock next day.

Married during the day, by Elder Niels Wilhelmsen, Lars Peter Christensen and Anne Marie Christiansen, Carl Wilhelm Julius Heker and Karen Marie Madsen, Johannes Hansen and Hansin Andrea Ibsen, Poul Christian Petersen and Marie Caroline Elizabetha Dorthea Nielsen; all of Denmark.

Tuesday 15.- (Before organization of company.) Married by President J. Van Cott, in Liverpool, Carl Erick Lindholm and Johanne Nielson, Niels Oluf Vahlstrom and Eva Magdalene Nordblad, all of Sweden; Anders Frantzen and Maren Martenson, of Denmark; Samuel Gudmundsen and Ellen Marie Morck, of Norway. A meeting was held this evening of the English priesthood, which was addressed by President Woodard.

Friday, 17. A priesthood meeting of the English division was held at ten o'clock.

The following division into wards was made in the ship, and the following men appointed presidents--lst Ward, S. [Samuel] Gudmundsen; 2nd, Edward Reid; 3rd, P. Nielsen; 4th, John J. Wallis; 5th, G. Ohlson; 6th, G. A. Omonn; 7th, L. C. Giertsen; 8th, J. Fagerberg; 9th, Horace Pegg; 10th, R. Nielsen; 11th, Jynaz Willie.

Married, this day, by Elder Niels Wilhelmsen, Soren Peter Rasmussen and Anne Mikkelsen, Poul Michael Poulsen and Cecilie Jorgensen. President Woodard preached in the evening to a general meeting of the English wards. Born, Christian Madsen, son of Christian Jacobsen.

Died, Emma, daughter of Peter Petersen, of Sweden, 3-1/2 years old.

Saturday, 18.- Elders Woodard and Harrison lectured on geography.

Sunday, 19.- A general meeting of all the Saints, English, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German, Welsh, &c., was held on deck, addressed by President Woodard and his Counselors.

Monday, 20.- Robert Murdoch, Peter Hansen, and F. Lynberg called to be Assistant-Marshals [p.475].

Married, by Elder N. Wilhelmsen, Rasmus Jorgensen and Jacobine Kirstine Morgensen, of Denmark.

Tuesday, 21.- Died, Jane H. Montgomery, of England, aged 60: buried in latitude 52.26 north, longitude 23 west.

Friday, 24. Died, Caroline, daughter of Isaak Looser, of Switzerland, aged 9 weeks.

Saturday, 25. Memorandum. Much stormy weather during the last few days, and good deal of seasickness. Today weather fine, and general time of restoration among the sick.

Council meeting of all the priesthood held this evening. Resolved--"That the English have one fire at the cooking-galley to themselves, and the remaining three fires be kept for the Danes, Norwegians, Swedes, and Germans.

President Woodard then addressed the meeting on the nature and extent of the priesthood. Interpreted by Elder Wilhelmsen.

Sunday, 26. General meeting was held in the morning, addressed by Presidents Woodard and Wilhelmsen. Afternoon, a German meeting was held, addressed by President Woodard & others.

Memorandum.- Regular prayer meetings every morning and evening in each ward.

Thursday, 30.- A general meeting of the English division held in the evening. Elder Woodard preached.

Saturday, June 1.- Born, daughter of James and Alice Unsworth, of England: named Betsy.

Sunday, 2.- General meeting held on deck, addressed by Elder S. Francis. In the afternoon a meeting was held on the lower deck, addressed by Elder Harrison; after which President Woodard preached an "ox-team discourse."

Monday, 3.- A sacramental meeting was held in Elder Reid's ward: a very good feeling prevailed. Resolved into a testimony meeting. Several Danish brethren spoke.

Tuesday, 4. Sacramental meeting in Danish wards numbers 3 and 5, addressed by Elders Wilhelmsen, W. H. Kelsey, E. Reid, Thomas Morrell, and E. L. T. Harrison; interpreted by Elder Wilhelmsen. A very strong feeling of union between the English and other divisions was manifested.

Died, Karen Marie, daughter of Rasmus Peter Christensen, aged 6 months.

Wednesday, 5.- A sacramental meeting of two other (numbers 3 and 7) Danish divisions was held. Addressed by President Woodard.

Thursday, 6.- A sacramental meeting was held in Elder Wallis's ward.

Friday, 7.- A Welsh testimony meeting was held.

Saturday, 8.- Born, a daughter of Charlotte Kirby, late of England.

Sunday, 9.- Being very rough weather, no general meetings were held. In the afternoon, a sacramental meeting was held in the Young Men's Ward, addressed by Elders Woodard and Hansen.

Tuesday, 11.- Died, Amelia, daughter of brother Rokenbouch, of Switzerland, aged 14 months.

Thursday, 13.- Born to Hennaig Oline Ungermann, a daughter, named Marie Josephine Atalanta.

Friday, 14.- Died, Petrine, daughter of Christen Christensen, 2-1/2 years old.

Saturday, 15.- Died, the daughter of Charlotte Kirby, born on the voyage.

Sunday, 16.- As the weather was not very good, no general meeting was held; but, in the afternoon, an English meeting was held on the deck, addressed by Presidents Woodard and Wilhelmsen, E. L. T. Harrison, and W. H. Kelsey; after which a Danish meeting was held, addressed by President Wilhelmsen.

Monday, 17.- The pilot came on board, and much delight was manifested by the Saints. In the evening Elder Woodard preached on the news brought from America by the pilot, the fulfilment of Joseph's prophecies, &c. Resolved--"That a double guard be set as we are approaching New York, to be continued night and day, until we are landed."

Died, William Cunningham, son of Robert Cunningham, of Scotland; also, Jens Christian Carl, daughter of Niels Jacobson, aged 6 months.

Wednesday, 19. Arrived at New York, after a prosperous voyage of 34 days, during which harmony and peace prevailed.

E. L. T. Harrison, Secretary [p.476]

BIB: Harrison, E. L.T., "Minutes of the Monarch of the Sea Conference," [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 23:30 (July 27, 1861) pp. 475-76. (CHL)
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