Guide to the Presbyterian Church Utah Synod annual meeting minutes

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Synod of Utah was organized August 22, 1883. In 1908 three Utah Presbyteries were organized: Presbytery of Southern Utah (October 27, 1908), Presbytery of Ogden (November 23, 1908), and Presbytery of Salt Lake (November 27, 1908).

This collection consists of the published abbreviated minutes of the annual meetings of the Utah Synod of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. held between 1905-1950. The minutes are printed by or under the direction of the Synod in small booklet form (typically 20-23 cm. high), although some secondary publications ("Standing rules" and "Docket of the annual meeting" are smaller (19 cm and 16 cm respectively). Length of the publications vary from 12-44 pages. Titles also vary in format. Below are a few examples:

• "Abbreviated minutes of the Synod of Utah, Presbyterian Church U.S.A." (1912)
• "Minutes in abbreviated form of the 5th session of the Synod of Utah, Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A." (1913)
• "Minutes of the Sixth Annual Session of the Synod of Utah, Presbyterian Church U.S.A." (1914)

Each pamphlet provides a summarized account of the proceedings of the annual meeting. They document the same organizational process. The roll is taken and a list created of all participants including the ministers and elders (as well as churches) represented at each meeting, representatives of each Presbytery (Salt Lake, Ogden, and Southern Utah), names of those delivering the sermons, and guest speakers (if applicable).

Typically the minutes document reports given by members of the Synod, issues that are introduced, and general concerns raised. For example, violations of the standing rules are addressed by missionary Wildman Murphy in the 1915 minutes (page 4). The violations cited concerned the naming of committees and the contents of certain reports. In the same year, noted missionary William M. Paden delivered a Field Worker's Report for the year 1914. His topic was the missionary rosters: "In no field have I found reason to advise the missionary to break for the junipers crying, 'I only am left and they seek my life to take it away.'" His purpose was to encourage missionaries and display the need for more missionary fellowship.

Historically, the minutes also reflect the Presbyterians' contemporary local and world views. The minutes of 194 (Box 2, Folder 9) revealed the lack of male missionary teachers because of military service, as well as the cessation of most activity within Japanese foreign missions. The theme of that year was "Consecration, Conservation, Consideration."

Also historically important is the 1950 booklet of minutes (Box 2, Folder 17); in it, in a resolution prior to the actual beginning of the minutes, is the announcement of the creation of the independent Synod of Utah.

There are also two undated versions of the standing rules for the Utah Synod (Box 2, Folder 18). These pamphlets explain the rules that must be followed during the Synod meetings (the laws of the Synod). The book organizes the rules into four categories: meetings, officers, committees, Presbyteries, and a miscellaneous section (for general issues that are not covered in the other four specific categories). The rules are clarified within each category. For example, the rules that apply to meetings concern the location of the meeting, the presentation of a devotional sermon each morning, how and when special meetings can be called, invitations to members of other synods, and asserts that the Committee of Arrangements will control all of the popular meetings. The issues addressed in the miscellaneous category are as follows: all meetings are governed by general rules, reports are to be type-written, attendance to each meeting is mandatory, rules can be suspended by a two-thirds vote, and rules can be amended by a two-thirds vote.

Frontispiece or cover/back cover images vary, often reflecting the location of the session, a prominent Utah Presbyterian recently deceased, or the moderator leading the session. The 1905 frontispiece is of the Class of 1905, College of Idaho (4 men and 7 women). The 1912 is the dining hall building at Wasatch Academy; 1913 is of Rev. R.G. McNiece; The 1915 minutes from Brigham City include a photograph of the "New manse" and also of Rev. Samuel E. Wishard; the 1917 is of the New Jersey Academy "a home for girls away from home", Logan Utah. The images from 1922-1929 include: Westminster College student body 1922-23 and 1923-24; Sage Memorial Building, Wasatch Academy; Converse Hall and Ferry Hall, Westminster College; Rev. Josiah McClain; Westminster College Converse Hall and student body 1925; Miss Frances R. Burke, missionary in Toquerville; and the new gymnasium, Westminster College. Images from 1930-1935 include: William M. Paden; Westminster College president Herbert Ware; Elder Thomas Weir; Westminster College Professor W.O. Webber and Dean P.L. Stevenson, and student body 1930, 1931-32, 1932-33, 1933-34, 1934-35, 1935-36. From 1936-1944 there were no images in the session minutes. Images from 1945-1950 include: Ruling Elder Summerfield T. Ricketts (1876-1945), Rev. Erwin E. Bollinger, Ruling Elder John Stark, Rev. W. Malcolm Swaltney, Elder Ralph S. Gunn, and Rev. Wm. Crosby Ross, all moderators of sessions.

Restrictions on Access:

Open to public research.

Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Twenty-four hours advance notice is encouraged.

Restrictions on Use:

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material must be obtained from the director of the Giovale Library.

Preferred Citation:

Presbyterian Church Utah Synod annual meeting minutes, 1905-1950, MSS-004, Giovale Library Archives, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Processing Note:

This series was processed by Josh Ivie in November 2004 and originally accessioned as ACC-029; it was later reassigned as MSS-004.

Language:

Collection materials are in English.

Quantity:

0.5 linear feet

Language of the Finding Aid:

English.

Author of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid written November 2004 by Josh Ivie and expanded December 2015 by Sarah Shaw.

EAD Creation Date:

2015 December 8 by Sarah Shaw

Standard:

Describing Archives : A Content Standard (DACS)

Subarea:

Related Material:

Related collections in Giovale Library Archives:

• George W. Martin papers. Series 1. Correspondence, 1885-1918 (MSS-001A)
• George W. Martin papers. Series 3. Subject files, 1884-1919 (MSS-001C)
• William Mitchell Paden papers. Series 2. First Presbyterian Home Mission records, 1881-1928 (MSS-002B)
• Presbyterian Church in Utah collection. Series 1. Utah Synod church and mission records, 1877-1978 (MSS-003A)
• Presbyterian Church in Utah collection. Series 2. Utah Synod subject files, 1871-1969 (MSS-003B)
• Presbyterian Church in Utah collection. Series 3. Missionary records, 1871-1969 (MSS-003C)
• Frederick G. Burton Presbyterian Church in Utah research collection, 1871-2006 (bulk 1871-1951) (MSS-005)
• Utah Presbyterian Church histories, 1892-1977 (MSS-007)
• Theodore and Marian Martin Utah Presbyterian Church history papers, 1944-1973 (MSS-011)

Related photographs in Giovale Library Archives:

• Photograph of Presbyterian missionary leaders
• Photograph of Presbyterian Church members at Mt. Pleasant Utah, 1906
• Photograph of the Presbyterian Church in Delta, Utah, 1912
• Photograph of the Presbyterian Church, Green River, Utah, 1922
• Photograph of Rev. William M. Paden, D.D.
• Photograph of G.W. Martin, D.D.

The Giovale Library has many additional photographs and texts on the history of Presbyterianism in Utah and the Intermountain West available to researchers. Of particular interest is the Frederick G. Burton Collection [electronic resource] : Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) history (Utah). Burton's collection is comprised of 32 pdf files, including copies he made from the "Minutes of the Synod of Utah ..." for various years from 1883-1911, held by the Presbyterian Historical Society, and example being the 1883-1889 minutes which predate the holdings in this MSS-004 collection and record minutes of the 1883 formation of the Synod of Utah.

Corporate Names:

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Presbytery of Ogden--History--Sources
Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Presbytery of Salt Lake--History--Sources
Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Presbytery of Southern Utah--History--Sources
Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Synod of Utah--History--Sources

Subject Terms:

Presbyterian Church--Idaho--History--Sources
Presbyterian Church--Utah--History--Sources
Presbyterians--Idaho
Presbyterians--Utah
Idaho--Church history--20th century
Utah--Church history--20th century

Form or Genre Terms:

Booklets
Minute books
Minutes

Personal Names:

Murphy, Wildman
Paden, William M.

Geographical Names:

Utah--History--Sources
Idaho--History--Sources