Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-03-01
70 HONOR PRIEST. WOODRUFF
A Feeling OF LOVa aud Good Follow
ship manifest.
SISTER wo0DRUFps BIRTHDAY.
thousands of People Shake Hands
with tho Worthy Couple
-rhc Exercises.

According to the arranged program
President WoodIuff's ninetieth birth
day was celebrated in the large Taoer-
nacle today, commencing ut the hour
OF ten a. m. Before that time arrived
the body OF the Tabernacle was filed
with people and nearly all the seats In
the gallery were occupied.
The two center rows OF seats for
some distance back were reeer veu for
the family and friends OF President
Woodruff, the members Of the Legisla.
lure and others, until 1923, at which
time the public were allowed TO fill up
tho remaining unoccupied seats.
The Tabernacle choir occupied i,s
usual position, while Hslu's Band was
stationed In the east emu of the gallery
and discourssd sweet music ut inter.
walls during the proceedings.
When President Woodruff appeared
on the stand at l0:07 O'Clock, he
received perfect ovation. The
entire congregation arose in body,
and waving their handkerchief
sour God We raise to Thee, Thanke
for Thy blessings free, We here
enioy.' The scene presented
during the singing was very
beautiful Indeed. While the crowd
was not 60 large ae at yesterdays
session, yet all the seats were taken
ma many people were standing IN
the aisles and on the stairways lead
Ing 10 the gallery.
Tsbernacls choir singing Noble Chief,
after which prayer was offered by
President Joseph Il. Smith. Choir
then sang Hall, Prophet, Brother,
Friend.
An address of welcome was then
made By President Woodruff. He
spoke as followh:
feel highly nonored this morning
In meeting with sU many OF my friends
upon this important occasion. Yester.
Jay those who were present might
have observed cay condition. l was
perfectly overwhelmed IN consequence
VI the sceus before me. II was not
what was said particularly, but It
brought to my mind 10 ovetw helming
power my boyhood and early
manhood and my desires that
might Two upon the earth TO find
people who would receive the Cos
pei OF Jesus Christ as taught by Christ
and the Apostles. In meeting with
thousands OF the children OF the
Latter-dsy Saints, 1t Brought to my
mind those scenes ana the fulfillment
OF my prayers and desires before the
Lord.
hope this morning 1 may be able
to make u few remarks. l will cay
this, 1t has been n desire OF my life,
from my boyhood up, never TO ad.
uress any assembly OF people whom l
could not make hear what had to soy.
/ feel the same this morning; DO not
know whether can make this as
sembly hear me or moi; but 1 will do
the beet 1 eau.
AS l can hardly expect TO ever
have the opportunity of addressing
the people Of this State ana my
friends in days to come,
have few reflections upon
my mind that l wish 10 lay before you.
And Will say they are different from
any OF my public speeches that l have
been In the habit OF presenting to the
people. L have consulted no man with
regard to the course should pursue in
my remarks here this NOR ming, and |
do not know that | shall satisfy my
iriends In the remarks that L may
make.
First, / want to say few words
upon politics. L hope that will not
astoniah you. have not been IN the
habit OF this heretofore. But fee
dsairous to say few things that are
upon my mind. In the frat place,
there 10 not one Item, not one sentence
In the Constitution Of the United
states, nor In the laws OF the United
States, or OF the State Of Utah, that de-
phves any citizen, OF any name,
nature, religion or polltics in the land,
from joining any political party he
wishee or voting for whomsoever he
wishes. This is tho right Of every
man without hindrance. We
have been accused ut tlmes
OF using Church Influence TO
guide aud direct the State. This is
occasionally presented to tho public as
cur action. l feel 1t my right and duty
10 say here tousy that 4 WAS acquainted
with Joseph Smith and associated
with HIM from 1888 until his martyr
Iom. hsve been acquainted with
Brigham Young and associated with
him for ior,y years Of my life, at home
nnu abroad, under mapy oircum.
stances. l nave also bsen acquainted
with John Taylor and laborvd with
MN IN every capacity In Wnluh ne WAS
called to act. I have also been MEM
Der OF the quorum OF theT welve ApOs-
Ties for upwards OF hfty-slx years Of
my lie. And l have been presiding
over the Church Itself for lew yearp.
have been associated with my coun.
tel0rs and with the present Twelve
Apostles. Ana want TO say upon this
occasion, before Goo, angels ana all
men that are before me, that never 10
one Instance have ever known any
Leader Of this Church ever attempt