The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-24

Yesterday was the elSuly-Illllll Ttliili-
versary of the birth of Joseph Smith,
the founder of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the
occasion was very happily commemor-
ated at the Sixteenth ward meeting
house last evening. At least 600 per-
sons assembled in the sacred edifice to
listen to personal "reminiscences of the
deceased religious leader from the lips
of those who knew him in life.
The stand was beautifully draped in
white, with green vines and ported
plants, forming a, beautiful picture. On
the wall. over the speakers heads, were
, paintings representing Lieutenant-Gen-
Neal Joseph Smith as he appeared when
commander of the Nauvoo Legion.
Prophet Smith at the hill Cumorah re-
ceiving the new gospel from the angel
HIofoni, the death scene at the Carthage
Sjan, and others of historical interest.
! Those who occupied the stand were
not young men and women in the flush
and bloom of youth. by any means
Nearly all were those whose heads are
white with the frosts of many winters;
whose eyes are dimmed with the trials
OF many years and who will in a brief
period of the futures coming pass
away TO join those who have gone on
before to the land of everlasting peace
and rest.
The venerable Bishop Kessler. whose
form is bent with the weight of the 70
years he has plodded along the path
way of life, presided. Occupy
ing the stand with him were
Joseph c. Kingsbury, aged 50;
Angus NJ. Cannon, so; President
Joseph +. Smith, Sc; Patriarch John
Smith, 81; Edwin Stephens, rs: S. II. Y.
Smith 90; George Romney, 81; w. S.
Muir, "A: Homer Duncan, so; o. G..
Workman, 81; Edwin Rushton, II;
Amanda Kimball, II; Mrs. Daza w.
Smith, a cousin of the founder, -;
Mrs. Rachel Grant, 73; A. IL Raleigh.
76; Walter Wilcox, "A; c. V. Spencer,
II; General R. T. Burton, %; James
Phippin, Is; Mrs. Maria Burton. Mrs.
- Smith, Mrs. Bishop Kessler. ell of
whom had talked with Joseph Smith in
his lifetime.
Besides these there were two of his
wives, Mrs. Zina d. II. Smith, aged "A,
and Mrs. Lucy Walker Smith, aged eS.
Mrs. Z. Maria Smith, Mrs. Elizabeth
Jeffs, Mrs. RoXana S. Tripp and Mr..
John 7. REEVE had seen him bus had
had no conversations.
o. q. Workman and Mrs. Eoxana
Trip responded to an invitation from
the stand for all those baptized by the
prophet to stand up.
Joseph C. Kingsbury was the only
elder present ordained under Joseph s
hands
In introducing Elder Kingshury, Pres
sdent Joseph L. Smith said he was or
dained in Kirkland, Ohio, and is the
man who made the first copy Of the
revelation on celestial marriage. Will
lam Clayton wrote the revelation as il
came from the mouth Of Gosepl. and
Elder Kingsbury made. the frs copy.
President Smith said Elder F-ingsbIry
was man in whom the prophet had
absolute confidence; was "a man who
had never betrayed a trust reposed IN
him; the kind of man who viii stand
the test and win in the end obtain
eternal life.
Besides these, sitting on the stand
were Apostles Heber j. Grant. John
Henry Smith. Elder c. w Penrose,
Elder Joseph b. Taylor and many 9TH
ers.
After the opening hymn and prayer,
the sacrament was partaken of and
Bishop Kessler opened the meeting. lie
eaid the observance of the prophet :
--ff SAA~4s was a usual event III luG
Sixteenth ward. Sister Romney had
6een giving these birthday gatherings
Tor the past twenty years Sometimes
they We're held at her house: at other
times in the old school house. This
meeting was only repetition and wa,
held in the Westinghouse on account OF
the large -congrega ton. II was pro-
posed to call upon all those who were
acquainted with the prophet to relate
al
the young men and women, and even
the elder ones. might become familiar
with his characteristics, both physical
and mental, and hear the testimony OF
chose who knew him to be, in truth, d
drophet of the living God.
Bashop heSsleq' first knew him short
iy after the removal to Nauvoo, in 1885.
Nauvoo was first called Venus; but af-
1erward acquired the name Nauvoo,
although at one time it was designated
the City of Joseph. Bishop Kessler de-
clared that when he first saw him, he
was convinced that he was standing in
the presence of a prophet. AS he grew
no know the prophet better. he learned
no love and revere him better day by
tias.
Physically Joseph was the perfection
of manly beauty. In the uniform of
lientensnt- general of the Nauvoo le-
g5on, he was the finest looking officer
he ever saw. He was good and kind
and in every way calculated to make
all who knew him love him.
At this point Bishop Kessler called
the congregation attention to the fact
that TWO Of the prophets wives We're
Beated upon tie stand.
Bishop Kessler being quite feeble.