Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1889-11-29
DEATH OF ELDER JOHN LYON
A Faithful Veteran Passes 10 HIS
Resi-

IL Is rare that Death lays hish and
upon one who, without special
official position in the Church, was
so widely known personally or by
reputation as Father John Lyon,
who departed this life soon after =
am. yesterday Thanksgiving Day.,
November 18th, at his residence in
the Twentieth Ward, OF this city.
John Lyon was born ia -Glasgow,
Scotland, on the 4th of March, 1903,
so that his age at death was Sc years
and nearly nine months. He was
the son Of Thomas and Janet Nc
Arthur Lyon, Of somewhat Gull
tured yet hardy stock, sucb a. gen.
orally belongs to the race ''ayOnt the
Tweed"
The early history of his pro-
geaitOrs is somewhat involved
in Obscurity, Notwithstanding
the Scottish methods OF CON
tinuOus REGISTRATION. In the
tolls and Struggles OF early semi or
complete Orphanage he exhibit
ted that drift towards intellectu-
al pursuits, which was evidently
hereditary, although 1t found none Of
those opportunities which come
from schools; and disposition alone
IN the midst Of grinding poverty
enabled the little fellow TO
acquire from such resources as he
| could reach, the thirst for learning
and advancement. The routine Of
self-education enabled the untiring
worker 10 achieve quite a literary
reputation in early life, the local
pres publishing many Of his original
efforts, until finally an engagement
upon . Local paper gave him that
settled literary taste which cOntin-
ued almost up to the close of a long
and well-marked life. Like most Of
his cOuntrymen, young Lyon was
early imbued with Presbyterianism;
in fact, it was Gin the blood,'' but
the discipline and training Of
newspaper life, then as now.
not infreQuently led 70 indifier-
ence if not to actual scepticism, in
regard to many things deemed reli- |
giOus. This final issue was pre-
sented in this case by the preaching |
Of then famous and Jealous Elder |
Of the "MOrmon'' Church, VIM. Gill |
son. John Lyon had at that time |
been married TO Janet Thomson sew
erai years. AMI 4 little family was |
the result, when his acceptance of |
the Gospel transpired. His baptism |
took place on the 3lst Of March, |
1919, At kilmarnock, Ayrshire, and |
in April following lac was or
dained an Elder and appointed to
preside over the local branch. |
Subsequently he was called out rs n
travelling Elder. After labOring in |
that CAPACITY for some time /
lie was appointed President 4
Of the Worcestershire Eng l
land) Conference. This mission |
was trying one for himself and
family, for no regular salary fell 10
them as preventive against pow
erty and aflliction. This labor con-
tinued for three years, during which
time OfabSence three OF his children /
died, and consequent release was
was followed by appointment to
preside over the Glasgow conference
in 1852, where he continued one
year, and then was released to gath
er to Utah,
As an interesting fact Of the trip.
Capt. David Brown and nearIyall the
crew Of the ship International were
baptized. Brother Lyon and his
family left Glasgow February 9Th.
1888, and reached salt Lake City
September 9Th of the same year.
One Of his last acts prior to leaving
his native land was the donation Of
his ''POems'' to be- published for
the benefit Of the Perpetual Emigra-
ton Fund. The book was published
in Liverpool in 1858, and thousands
Of copies are TO he found scat
tered through the homes of Utah.
Several hymns in that collection are
in continuous use in the congrega-
tons Of the Saints, being part Of the
general hymn book Of the Church.
Three years after his arrival ia the
valley he married Caroline Holland.
Elder Lyon was the father of u
children by his first wife. Five Of
these survive him; and by his
second wife he had seven children
and these are all living TO lament
the death Of their prOgenitOr, whose
death is the first one in the family
for near thirty years. His grand
children number 50 and his great
grandchildren living and dead are
81. So that Father Lyon was n
practical patriarch, and was indeed
ordained 10 that position and office
on the eth Of May, 1872. President
Woodruff being voice on that occa-
sion.
Mother Lyon, TO whom the de.
ceased was married siXty-four years
ago, still survives. although very
feeble and partially blind. She is
the special charge q her daughter.
Mrs. Lillian Staines, whose devo-
ton to her father and mother is a
fitting, if not the best possible,
Of that fidelity and care 1
for parents that is so fully enioined
in that sacred relationship as incuI- I
Gated in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Father Lyon was a trusted man,
in all respects, honest, brave. intel {
ligcnt aud full of testimony TO the h
truth; If opportunities outside Of, or
early poverty and struggle in the
could have moved him he
might have stumbled. but he
was steadfast and everywhere
reliable For over thirty years {
he had charge Of the Endow- I
ment House; enjoyed his religion
and attended his meetings near to
The day of his death. Strength, de-
cision and devotion We're his char 5
and his honor and hon
esty were Of almost phenomenal ype.
His departure, full of years, invokes !
more satisfaction than regret, for he
fought the good fight, he kept the
faith, he has finished his course,
and he is entitled TO his crown.
In the leaving ofhis aged partners,
here seems a suggestion in one OF
his fugitive verses, unpublished
heretofore:
The ship l. SAILING DER the sea,
The water seeks the strand,
While an far removed from thee
fthc unseen spirit lard
Wen meet together yet,
Where the sun shall never set,
With = welcome OF your hand
And love without regret,
The funeral service will be con- :
lueted atll a. m. on Sunday, in the Z
twentieth Ward Meeting House. !
-hitteRHiat Star please copy.
From Prison. .
Today Jesse B. Martin, Of Scipio.
Willard County, emerged from the