The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-05-30
THE YOUNG REUNION.


On Tuesday next, June LIST. tn
Young tamily-descendents of Johl
Young and their relatives-will assem-
bic and hold memorial reInion. Tn,
day will be tb anniversary Of the birth
of the most ~-Jtinguished member o.
TIE family, tia late Brigham Younf
having come into this world eighty
i've years ago. The people of Utah
generally could appropriately and
might consistently join in celebration
Of the birthday anniversary of Brigham
Young, and We believe the time viii
come when June LIST will be observed
throughout the Territory in more or
less of public manner. Comparatively
few people in this world agreed with
Brigham Young in his peculiar
ideas regarding religion and m rriage;
but tits not too much to say that the
world recognized him as a great man
and conspicuous figure IN the social.
political and industrial affairs of The
century. There have been very few
men in any century who stood forth in
such bold relief as he, the position
which he occupied commanding the at
tention and arousing the thought and
discussion of the prominent and wise
men of nations.
BUTT is not what mankind thought
OF Brigham Young which should or
does excite the admiration, the respect,
the almost reverence Of the people of
Utah. We now refer to the people Of
Utah, not as Mormons or Gentiles. as
Hebrews or Christians, but as the in
habitants of this political division of
the republic. It is true that as the
religious head of the Mormon Church
he was best known to the world. and in
that capacity will his name be carried
down through the generations; but in
matters outside of religion, in the
practical rather than in the spiritual
field, win impartial history make him
remarkable and great. He was
essentially pioneer; a leader of
men, an organizer and a ruler.
The Hormons. of course, claim that it
was divine inspiration which enabled |
him TO lead the way into this. the viii
derness. to found here and foster a
vast, progressive and powerful com
munity; the non-Mormons will attri-
butte il to the force Of character OF = |
igbBained man who was designed by
nature for just such an undertaking as
was presented to him at the opportune
moment. Whatever il was that inn
PEELED him, whether it was the divine
influence operating through him. or
the activity of an intelligent, far
seeing mind, he was certainly
the founder of Utah in the material
sense, and as such AL can afford to give
him the credit and praise which are due
70 pioneers and the founders. organizers
and successful rulers OF common
wealths.
q The spirit which has melted the
calling together of the family of the
dead IN memorial reunion is commend
able and the gathering should become
fixed custom inIthat family. But the
interest in Brigham Young went
far beyond his. own Immediate
relatives, reaching out to all the
people Of Utah, and beyond to those of
TIE adjoining States and Territories. all
Of which were more or less coloniEed
through his influence al dby his direct
efforts and protection. All who are
living in Utah to-day owe something to
Brigham Young, for let individuals
and he vorld-say what they will of him
and the religious system with which he
was associated, he planted and did
much 70 hold together and rear 10
greatness the community which makes
Utah admired, strong and prosperous
. brave, progressive ard vigorous COM
HOnvealth. The split of hero-vorship
lie not very largely developed in the
hardy people Of this Territory, and we
are glad that it is so. yet we hope the
time Is not distant when the recozn;.
ton Of Brigham Young's birthday will
net be confined 10 his own family.