The Dublin Branch and Conference comprised all members of the church in the southern part of Ireland, however most lived in or around the city of Dublin. At a general conference in Manchester, England, on 5-6 Oct 1850, Elder Edward Sutherland was appointed to preside over missionary work in the Dublin and surrounding area. He and Henry E. Bowring were the first to work in this area in 1850 and established a small branch there. In Oct 1851 there was already a branch and 30 members of the church in Dublin. At that time the missionaries in Dublin were the branch president Edward Sutherland and Richard H. Attwood.

Between 1850 and 1855, 104 baptisms were reported in the Dublin Branch. In 1852 there were 33 members of the church in the Dublin branch including 4 elders, 1 priest, 1 teacher, and 1 deacon. Between June and December 1853 twenty new members were added to the Dublin Branch, including 6 elders. On 26 Jun 1854 Patrick Lynch who was then the branch president in Dublin reported, "When I went to Dublin Conference, it was said to number 57 members, but there are now but 27 members. I have been refused the privilege of holding open-air meetings and the religious ministers use their influence against us." Membership in the branch in Dec 1854 were listed at 27 members including 6 elders, 2 priests, and 2 teachers.

In September 1855, the branch president in Dublin, Henry E. Bowring, reported, "We had our quarterly conference on Sunday the 9th [September 1855]. Pastor Ferguson was in attendance. We had a spiritual feast. Nearly all of the saints in the Dublin Branch have been re-baptized during the last quarter with good effect."

Several missionaries from England visited the Dublin Branch in the following years and some gave various reports of their impressions:

John Scott, 8 Oct 1856 (from Ireland), "On the 24th of August last I met the Dublin saints in conference. I rejoice in its present prospects. They have never been so bright as now. A spirit of inquiry is abroad among the people and the priesthood is taking advantage of it."

James McGhie, 4 Jul 1858 (from Ireland), "In the [Irish] mission there are two conferences, one at Belfast and one at Dublin. This latter can scarcely be called an entity. Sometime last summer a spirit of apostacy seized those composing it, since which time it has been in quite indifferent standing. Of late they have been visited by Elders D. Wilkin, J. Craig, J. Croston, E.L. Sloan, and myself. And I am happy to say that of late a better feeling is manifest and they seem more willing to aid in building up the Kingdom of God."

Thomas Crawley, 18 Mar 1861 (Dublin) stated that the brethren had taken a public hall in which to hold meetings and that some few strangers attended the meetings. Two had asked to be baptized and the few saints in Dublin were feeling well.

Chauncey W. West, 4 Feb 1863 (Liverpool), "Elder Young and myself started by rail for Dublin, arriving at half-past eleven AM Saturday, and after calling on Elder R. Brown, president of the branch, we spent the remainder of the day viewing the principal parts of the city. On Sunday we held meeting with the saints (about 20 being present). A good spirit was enjoyed and all felt well.

George Halliday, 30 Oct 1863 (from Ireland), "On the 21st, I went to Dublin and spent a week with the saints there. Elder Robert Brown, the branch president is a very faithful and persevering man. Both he and Brother McMeekin are doing all they can to spread the truth. The total number of saints in Ireland is about 40 and they are quite scattered. Some of them are very good."

Joseph E.S. Russel, 15 Aug 1865 (Belfast), "I started from Plymouth by steamer for Dublin on 1 Aug and after a rough voyage I arrived in the city and was met by Robert Brown, president of the branch and Brother William McMeekin. I was kindly entertained by the few saints that comprise the branch, there being but three families. We held a good meeting in a private house, and all felt well."

George Romney, 4 May 1870, "On Saturday, the 23rd, we took train for Dublin, arriving in the evening, and were very kindly received by the saints. On Sunday, the 24th, we held meetings and had a good time. We visited among the Dublin saints and found them rejoicing in the truth."

Thomas Dobson, 4 Mar 1872 (Liverpool), "In November last Elder George W. Thatcher and myself visited the Dublin Branch. We found the saints there full of the spirit of their religion."

J. Sayer, 23 Aug 1879 (Dublin), "I am glad to say I was baptized by Elder Brown into the church along with a friend of mine, James Fuler. I am sure the work will spread in the Dublin Branch."

Robert Brown, who was the president of the Dublin Branch for many years, and the primary leader that seemed to hold the church together after the missionaries left wrote 8 Aug 1863 that there were but few saints in Dublin and little interest in the church but that he and the few members with him rejoiced in the work of the Lord. On 1 Jan 1868 he gave the following report about the previous nine years in the Dublin Branch, "Since I came to this country May 1859, up to the present time, very little apparent good has been done. When I came here Elder John K. Grist was president of the Dublin Branch. He with his family and two or three others formed the branch. He did all he could to forward the work. He left for Liverpool in 1860 and a few weeks later Elder John Wallace came from England and was appointed president. The branch met in his house for seven months, when he left for Zion. At this time I was appointed president. We maintained a hall in which to meet for two or three years when we were counseled to give it up, and we met in the home of John McMeekin. About two years and four months ago, Elder William Pearson returned to live in Dublin, and he was appointed president of the branch in my stead, and has done all he could for the branch and is well respected by all members of the branch."

There appears to be a gap in the history of the Dublin Branch from the late 1870s until the end of the century. After the Irish Mission was organized again in 1884 efforts were made to again build up the church in Ireland. At a conference in Belfast 19 Dec 1897 Elders Alex Faddies and W.O. Mawson were assigned to work as missionaries in Dublin. The Dublin Branch was reorganized 24 Mar 1901 with Charles H. Eardley as president, Fred Baker as counselor, Minnie S. Baker as secretary and Louie Speidel treasurer.

The missionaries were able to find new converts at this time in Dublin, not primarily among the Irish people but among a group of German pork butchers, many who had left Germany to avoid compulsory service in the German army. The branch at this time had a few young families and seemed to be very enthusiastic about potential for growth. The Youkstetters, Bakers, Kramers, Jacobs, and Horlachers all had pork shops in and near Dublin. As these German converts later emigrated, they were replaced in the branch by Irish converts.

To begin with branch meetings were sometimes held in the home of William Youkstetter. In Feb 1903 a hall was rented at 12 Westmoreland Street in Dublin for meetings. From March-December 1903 meetings were held in a rented hall at 45 Lower Sackville Street in Dublin. In March 1904, the Dublin Branch was reported as having secured a permanent place to hold their meetings (apparently the Lauder Hall located at 45 Lower Sackville Street in Dublin).

The wives of William Youkstetter and Fred Baker's wives were sisters who joined the church in England then insisted that the two men be baptized before consenting to marriage in Dublin, Ireland.

Fred Baker was appointed branch president in 1901 and served in that position for 15 years with counselors William Youkstetter and Charles Horlacher each serving for nearly that many years. In July 1903, Heber M. Burgon, a missionary who was also serving as Sunday School Superintendent, wrote that the branch in Dublin was in good order and that the saints loved the gospel and each other. He reported that the branch at that time had only 19 members. In December 1903 Minnie Baker and Marie Youkstetter were appointed as secretary and treasurer in the branch. In Jan 1904 the branch officers who were sisters were released, as those positions were to be held by men in the branch. In Apr 1904 Minnie Baker was still listed as Branch secretary, so these women apparently continued to take an active role in contributing to the functioning of the branch.

Elder Edwin Cox wrote 28 Jan 1904, "For the last six months I have labored [as a missionary] in Dublin, where there is a fine branch of honest-hearted Irish [?German] saints. They are LDS in very deed and are living their religion." Heber J. Burgon, president of the Irish Conference also wrote 11 Feb 1904 that prospects for rapid growth in the Dublin Branch were good. At that time there were four missionaries working in Dublin and the saints in the branch were good tithe payers. Although their numbers were still few, it was believed that the ground work had been laid for a large branch to be established in Dublin.

President Heber J. Grant of the European Mission attended a semi-annual conference of the Irish Conference held in the Lauder Hall at 45 Lower Sackville Street in Dublin on 4 Dec 1904. On 21 May 1905 as the members prepared for a small Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting, they were surprised to have apostle Heber J. Grant, his wife, and two little daughters, and Elder Anderson from the Liverpool Office waiting at the meeting place. Heber J. Grant could not get a train to Belfast until Sunday evening so although he was not able to attend the meetings in Belfast, the members in Dublin were happy to have him attend there.

Missionaries appointed to Dublin in Dec 1905 were Elder Edgar E. Hill, Joseph S. Fife, and Edwin B. Murphy. In Oct 1907 Elder Roy Hoagland left Dublin to work as a missionary in Belfast and elders John W. Field and Edward S. Tew arrived as missionaries in Dublin. In Sep 1908 four men in the branch were ordained to the office of elder: Christian Krout by Edward S. Tew; William Jacob by Eugene Pickett; George Retz by John Spackman, and Herman Horlacher by Victor Jackson.

On 3 Nov 1910, Elder D.M. Powelson wrote about their missionary work while holding open-air meetings in Dublin, "Elder A.H. Powell delivered an address on authority and I followed him in an address on the restoration of the Priesthood to the Prophet Joseph Smith. The audience were with us and refused to hear anything from our opponent. We were well supported by members of the Dublin Branch, who are rejoicing in the power of truth." In April 1910 Fred Baker, the branch president, reported that the various branch organizations were in good working order and the saints were united.

On 24 Oct 1911 the Dublin Branch honored Elder P.H. McGuire who was leaving for Utah and gave him an Irish rug and purse as a token of their esteem. Likewise a social and gift were given when C. Jordon emigrated in Oct 1913.

On 19 May 1912 a new hall for the Dublin Branch was opened (? 15a Wicklow Street in Dublin). A well-prepared program was enjoyed by all those present. The local brethren had donated 34 pounds to furnish the new hall at a local priesthood meeting. On 6 Oct 1912 a Bible class was organized with William C. Davidson as president. The Doctrine and Covenants was chosen as the subject of study.

On 1 Mar 1914 it was decided to hold a testimony meeting in the branch the first Sunday evening of every month.

Relief Society

On 26 Feb 1907 Charles W. Penrose and his wife Romania B. Penrose, along with Elders Jesse Brough, Arthur G. Berrett, Roy Hoagland, and George LeCheminant attneded a meeting in Dublin for the purpose of organizing a women's Relief Socity. Wilhelmine Baker was appointed president, Marie Youkstetter 1st counselor, Maggie Horlacher 2nd counselor, Babett Retz secretary, and Rosina Jordan treasurer.

A Relief Society meeting was held in the branch 9 Aug 1916 at the meeting hall 15a Wicklow Street in Dublin. Sister Marie Youkstetter was still acting as president at that time.

Sunday School

The Sunday School was an important part of the Dublin Branch at the beginning of the 20th century. Superintendents of the Sunday School in the Dublin Branch were generally the missionaries assigned there, which meant from time to time they had to be released and new elders appointed. As the missionaries iwere transferred and new missionaries appointed, changes were not generally made among the other local officers (assistants, secretary, and treasurer) who continued to serve in those positions.

The Dublin Branch Sunday School was organized 25 Jan 1903 with Elder Heber J. Burgon (later appointed president of the Irish mission) as superintendent, Minnie S. Baker assistant, and Elizabeth Bury secretary.

Superintendents of the Sunday School (mostly missionaries serving in the branch) included the following:

In December 1907 when Arthur G. Berrett was released to return home from his mission, Harry Heinle was released to emigrate, and Minnie Baker was released as secretary because of circumstances which prevented her from attending meetings regularly, Elder John W. Field was appointed superintendent with Christian Jordan assistant and Christian Krout secretary. From 30 Oct-4 Dec 1910, no Sunday School was held because of no place to meet.

Below: Picture of Dublin Branch taken prior to 1924.

Back Row: Charles Horlacher, George Price, Desmond Price, Christian Steele, Christian Steele Jr., Fred Beulah, Sam Hislop, George Retz, William Youkstetter, Fred Cramer, Herman Horlacher, Henry Mogerley, and William Horlacher.

4th Row: ? Beulah, Bertha Price, Louisa Steele, Babbette Retz, Louisa Steele's mother, Mary Youkstetter (mother), Lena Cramer, Lena Horlacher, Margaret Horlacher.

3rd Row: Maureen Mogerley (Lynn), Mary Mogerley, missionary, missionary, missionary, mission president's wife (London), Mission President (London), Benjamin R. Birchall, missionary, missionary, missionary, missionary, missionary.

2nd Row: Freda Horlacher, Gertrude Horlacher, Mini Cramer (Peacock), Lena Youkstetter, Mary Youkstetter (daughter), Lizette Beulah, Mini Youkstetter, Davis Youkstetter, Maude Ritz (McCabe), Gladys Horlacher, Bertha Beulah, Nellie Youkstetter, Emily Horlacher, Ena Birchall, Laura Steele.

1st Row: Fred Mogerley, Fred Horlacher, George Mogerley, Harold Mogerley (laying down in front), Charles Heterich, Fred Herterich, Kathleen Horlacher, Pearl Youkstetter, George Herterich, Eileen Herterich, Charlie Horlacher, Fred Youkstetter, Frank Youkstetter, Gilbert Retz, and Ernest Herterich.

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