Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-16


Woodruff. They rose above money,
above speculation. Their whole heart
and soul was with the Gospel Brother
Richards was baptized In 1855. lie has
preached the Gospel Of Jesus Christ for
over sixty years. He has now passed
through the final ordeal-the only road
By which you OF can reach the eternal
kingdom OF God. ] say above all the
men | have ever known, save less than
half dozen, his heart was near TO
God, and Of all the men | have ever
known he has done more work. Almost
TO the very last he would go back and
forth daily to Salt Lake city. ] warned
him. and told him II was too much; but
his heart was with H. As he would go
down, somebody would advise with him,
and when he would come back they
would come 10 him 10 ask questions,
until sometimes he was nearly frozen.
Why II he will not get into the oeles-
tlal kingdom, If he VIII not pass by the
angels and the Gods, and have eternal
glory, ] do not know who VIII. This Is
my opinion. lie cho. c he better part,
as Mary did, When Christ was there,
instead Of being out cooking and fuss
ing around, Mary wanted 10 hear Him
talk. A man that could not say any
thing IN behalf OF Brother Franklin ID.
Richards has not a tongue, has not a
spirit. When | went on mission TO
Texas In 1915. and when / went to Vir-
ginia-in fact, ! never went on mis-
sion without asking Brother Richards
TO bless me, and / felt when he was
blessing me that ii came from a man
of God and that II would be verified
and il was.
/ could stand here and talk OF Bro-
Their Richards for hours and hours, with
all my heart. Now he has passed
through the final ordeal. We will hear
that warning voice no more. His eyes
are closed in death. The bonds that
bound him to this earth are loosed,
and henceforth and forever he will get
the reward. even the hlghst that God
gives to any man. In my opinion f. ID.
Richads' name is known all over this
world. heard his name before | ever
Joined the Mormon" Church. and |
have never heard a man speak 10 his
prejudice. Almost every man, you
know, gets criticised, and people are
ready to tear him TO pieces; but Bro
Their Richards chose the better part He
was not with politics; he was not with
speculation, which he felt and knew
TO be the curse Of this earth-specula-
tion on borrowed capital.
pray God that his children may take
after him; that the blood which ran In
his veins may be In every one of his
children and grandchildren, l say that
this county Is far ahead of what II
would have been II Franklin ID. Rich
ards had never lived here. We have
been blessed nearly above all the
Stakes Of Zion. with having such a
man in our midst. But We never showed
him any favors, scarcely. Is 1t not
strange that the hardness Of mans
heart Is such that he cannot give any
praise TIL the man dies? and then the
whole world turns out. / have lived
here for thirty years and more, and |
never saw such a crowd as this al any
of our conferences here. ! will say
that, In my opinion, no other man
could have done II. | believe II these
services had been he'd in Salt Lake
the Tabernacle would have been filled
to overlooking.
God chose him for a great and mighty
purpose, and his works Will go down
through the ages. His name will go
higher and higher. higher and higher
and his children will be blessed because
they sprang from such source. | pray
God to bless his wives, his children and
his grandchildren, each and every one
OF them Where in all Utah Will you
find children that surpass his? IL we
would pick out any TO go and defend our
cause in Washington city, before the
Supreme Court, or before the Parlla-
ment OF England, ] say where would
We find any better? He has left Off
spring second TO none. May God bless
them. and may they grow In peace,
knowledge and understanding unto the
perfect day. Is my prayer. Amen.
quartet composed Of Miss Wens-
guard, Miss Mary Driver, Edwin F. Tout
and Albert Anderson, accompanied on
the violin by moses Chrlstopherson,
rendered selection entitled THE pass
ing q the sweetest soul
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG
This is truly a solemn occasion.
Usually | have felt that II was more
than could do to speak on an occasion
OF this kind, but ! am thankful for an
opportunity TO say few words today,
that my voice may be heard in connecs
ton with my brethren In speaking OF
him who has died. II seemed 10 me
that We needed President Franklin ID.
Richards; that he was necessary TO the
welbelng Of his brethren and OF the
work Of Christ; but God knows and we
must yield our own feelings that His
purpose may be accomplished. II re-
minds me much OF the funeral OF my
father my own feelings are something
similar. have known President Rich
ards all the days that can remember
upon the earth. | have known him to
be the man whose character has been
described this morning by his brethren.
He seemed 70 me TO be a part and por-
ton Of the society that | looked upon
in connection with my father, as Of men
who could never die, men who were
sent forth In this dispensation TO bring
the people along, 10 buoy them up. to
counsel, TO console, 10 direct, and In
times of trial and danger 20 stand firm
and point the way by which the Lat
ter-day Saints were able To escape all
the snares that were laid for them.
have known President Richards as a
good man. great man, a humble man,
a father, a brother, and a friend.
have known him intimately all the
years that | can remember, and ! have
never In my heart found fault with that
man.
! mourn with his family. | rejoice
with the people that he has accom-
plished this work; but mourn his loss
The great object OF the life that God
! gave him is accomplished. He has won
the fight, he has gained the race, and
he is with the brethren that have gone
| before. God bless his family and COM
, fort their hearts; for ! know that they
! have great reason TO be thankful for
the leader, the husband, the father, the
! Apostle, whom He gave unto them 70
stand al their head In the last dis
! pensalon. We have reason TO rejoice
/ that We have known him ] look upon
] him now as being In the presence OF
/ my father-with my father, and my
mother, and loved ones. He has gone
! 10 them, and our feet are treading fast
in the same direction. Years are COM
ing upon us and the dearest wish Of
! my heart is that when | get through II
can be said Of me that ! was faithful
! in all my life, as We can all say OF
/ President Franklin ID. Richards. He