Zion high council, Minutes, , Caldwell Co., MO, 24 Mar. 1838. Featured version copied [between 1 Oct. 1842 and 14 Sept. 1843] in Minute Book 2, pp. 110–114; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 2.
Historical Introduction
On 24 March 1838, the in , Missouri, met twice to conduct business. First, the council convened to address a charge that leveled against for “unchristian-like conduct, in speaking reproachfully of youngsters.” Newberry was a twenty-year-old student at the school where Murdock served as schoolmaster. Murdock was also a member of the high council. The dispute arose after Murdock accused his students of misbehaving, and Newberry disapproved of how Murdock had dealt with him. The aggrieved parties met with a council of , and one witness later explained in the high council meeting that Newberry and Murdock had aired their grievances and come to a resolution. However, Newberry apparently remained upset and appealed his case to the high council. Because Murdock was the defendant, his council duties were fulfilled by a substitute. The council deemed this a “difficult case” and followed established procedures to appoint six counselors for the case—three counselors to represent Newberry and three to represent Murdock. After hearing testimony from several witnesses, the high council decided that Newberry had mistreated Murdock and that Murdock was not at fault. After a one-hour adjournment, the high council reconvened and decided that counselors who could not attend meetings would resign their seats to those who could attend. As the clerk for the meeting, kept the minutes, which were later copied into Minute Book 2 by .
going home with the girls also he shook his fist at the master because he thaught the master meddled with that which was none of his buisness in correcting them for going home with the girls, also, that he thinks was not in the habit of running about more than common, also, that it was rumoured about by one or two before being mentioned in school that some of the boys had hugged a girl in meeting. also, said in a the meeting of that he had not taken the regular steps with , and he was sorry that he had not.
A testimony was presented from , in writing, which was read.
testifies he was at a meeting where requested the Elders to take a seperate as he had a matter to have investigated, he made his statement to the Elders & in it he said that he had done wrong in speaking of the matter of ’s hugging the girl in meeting before going to him and laboring, with him, for which he was sorry, also, testifies that he thought the young men did not treat with that respect with which they ought.
<testifies> that he was at the meeting of the Elders before mentioned when and laid before them their agrieveances and the matter was investigated. made confession, saying that he had done wrong in mentioning about the young man’s attempting to hug the girl, before laboring with him. also, that a decision was had, and a settlement took place between the parties. also, that he did not approve of the treatment of the young men towards and reproved them for it. also that the Court of Elders was called by mutual consent as far as he knew, and both made their statements.
Sister Leonard concurs with the testimony of her and that she was at the meeting in which [p. 112]