Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

field, gate, hill, meadow or stream, etc. The names of the rivers and towns of England are Anglo-Saxon names, and these were incorporated in the names of the AngloSaxons themselves.

The surname, however, did not really become such until it was used by several generations. Surnames were adopted very slowly and by a natural evolutionary social process. Not till 1828 were the Scandinavian people compelled by law to adopt surnames.

Thus gradually yet surely came the custom of surnames in modern life. All European nations have followed the same path of surnaming, with varying times and adjustments suited to their national life and history.

The brief outline of this subject here presented should be supplemented by the individual student and by our class leaders from established books dealing with this important study.

The only American book on surnames is our Utah publication, "Surnames and Racial History." It is recommended to our classes as a supplementary study course, and can be developed into a year's course of lessons.

CHAPTER 16

SURNAME AND FAMILY ORGANIZATIONS

If the Saints are to fulfil the mission of redeeming the dead, laid upon the Church by our Heavenly Father through the Prophet Joseph Smith, they must take steps to unify and centralize their efforts.

Individual effort is good. All group labor begins with the individual. Yet working alone, the individual becomes disheartened; especially in such a vast field as genealogical and temple work, when he realizes his own limitations and human weakness.

Unity and organization is the strength of this Church. This people is practically more talked-about, hated and watched than any other body of religious worshipers. Then how necessary to apply that unifying principle of strength and solidarity to the redemption of our dead

ancestors.

Assembling of Genealogical Information.

To accomplish the work of the salvation for the dead it is necessary to overcome the limitations of inadequate historical data and the lack of interest on the part of some members of the Church by making it possible for families to organize in surname capacity that the strength of their combined effort and means may be directed to unitedly accomplish the discharge of the duty laid upon the Latter-day Saints to "seek after our dead." A unity of family effort in temple and genealogical work will bring to pass the desired results with a minimum expenditure of time, effort and money.

Families bearing the same surname, although perhaps, not united in known blood ties, will nevertheless find it greatly to their advantage and profit, to join in a surname association.

Family Organization.

A family organization is a genealogical organization

1

made up of all members of a family who have a common ancestor. The present membership of such an organization is confined to those who are now living; but the genealogical records should include every person who has ever descended from or who has married a descendant of, the said remote ancestor.

Purpose.

The purpose of the family organization is to unify individual effort, avoid duplication of genealogical and temple work, harmonize family interests and to promote good fellowship and kindly thought. More than all, such an organization should stimulate interest in genealogical and temple work so that individually and collectively they may appear blameless in the day of Divine reckoning.

Surname Organization.

A surname organization is a genealogical organization which may be composed of all persons who bear the same surname, regardless of relationship, nationality, religion, or of how, when or why this surname was adopted, and should embrace all family organizations bearing the same surname. These family units should function separately in family organization capacity by maintaining their family and social relationships, their family heirship, and their special interest in their direct family line, but should merge their genealogical activities into the surname organization so that all genealogical data may be brought together under one head and carefully compiled and compared.

Where there are so few persons of a family that a family organization is not practical they may join the surname organization as individuals and thus cooperate in the work of gathering, tabulating and indexing the surname genealogical information.

While there is no set rule to guide in the initiation of a surname organization, it would be well for the first family organized to begin the movement by sending a call to all persons, wherever found, who bear the same surname to meet together and effect the organization.

This may be done by inserting a notice in the Deseret News through the Genealogical Society of Utah, sending out notices by letter, making personal visits, or using any other means which may be deemed advisable.

If there is no family organization, and if the heads of families do not initiate the move, then any person may do so, but in this event he should be careful to first invite heads of families to begin the movement, thus giving them opportunity to take their place. If they fail to respond, then he may proceed to issue official call and effect the organization.

As soon as the organization of either family or surname is completed, full report of the name, date of organization, list of names and addresses of officers and any other data that would be of general interest should be immediately reported to the Genealogical Society of Utah.

It is thus the duty of each family in the Church to organize for this purpose; and it is the privilege of the head of the family (the oldest living person in the family) to initiate the organization, but if he is inactive or does not take this step, then any person who is interested in making temple work effective, no matter whether that person is a man or a woman, rich or poor, humble or mighty, a first or a last child, is the very one to begin the work.

Purpose and Aim of Surname Organization.

The purpose of a Surname Organization is to prevent duplication of temple work, and to combine, at stated periods, social and historic features in one general surname gathering.

This first object is best attained by having a common Card Index file, of every name in every record, of every family, of that surname in the Church.

How to Begin Family and Surname Organization.

The following is a suggestive outline of procedure: 1. Issue a call to all interested persons as suggested above, by using every agency at your command to see that they are notified.

2. Choose central location for organization and annual meetings.

3. Procedure of the meeting:

(a) Reading the call. (By person who calls the meeting, who also should act as temporary chairman.)

(b) Explain purpose of gathering.

(c) Ask all present to signify their approval of such an organization.

4. Temporary chairman calls for nominations for permanent chairman or president. A live, active man (one interested in genealogy) should be chosen for this position. (a) Proceed with organization.

5. President is elected, and assumes the chair.

6. President makes a brief speech of acceptance, then calls for separate nominations for:

(a) Two or more vice-presidents.

(b) Secretary and treasurer.

(c) Genealogical committee.
(d) Temple committee.
(e) Historic committee.

(f) Social committee.

Note: Voting is continued until complete organization is effected.

7. Appoint organization committee to draw up constitution and by-laws for next meeting, and choose time and place for same.

8. Remarks.

9. Dismissal.

Points to be emphasized: Choose active workers for president, secretary and for genealogical and temple committees.

Details of Procedure.

The details of carrying out this plan for a family organization are simple:

Officers.

The officers usually elected for these organizations are: President, two or more vice-presidents, secretary and

« ÎnapoiContinuă »