Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-25
Anniversary Of His Birth CsIe.
brated In the Sixteenth Ward.
PLEASING "REMINISCENCES.
Associates OF tho Prophet speak OF
Ills Great aud Good Character
Thirteen Relatives Present.

A very interesting meeting was held
In the Sixteenth ward assembly rooms
Saturday night. In honor Of the birth OF
the Prophet Joseph Smith. The walls
were adorned with numerous portraits
Of various members OF the Smith fam
Ivy, and others who were associated
with the Prophet through the stormy
days of Missouri ana Illinois
Among others. there We're ON tho
stand. President Josoph +. Smith. Pa
tfiarch John Smith. Bcthshcbu W.
Smith. Mrs. Lucy W. Smith. Iorln FAIR.
Bishop Emery and Counsclors G.. W.
Spencer and Hop Pender.
The meeting was opened by bishop
Emery. who raid that these meetings
were IN honor OF the birth OF the Prophet
Joseph. and had been established By
hln predecessor. Bishop kesler and he
felt that they should continue. He adj
viacd all the young ana old to read the
life OF the prophet. for In that they
would learn many valuable Lessons.
Bishop Emery was followed by quar-
tetto composed Of George ID. Pypcr. II.
$. Ensign. Willard Christopherson ana
James Dunbar.
Elder Lofln FAIR OF ogden then
spoke briefly, his remarks being culo.
Cystic OF the prophet. whom he had
known while a child. lie related many
Incidents In his youth while living In
the Smith family. that illustrated the
noble spirit that presided In that fam
lily Joseph Smith he regarded as tho
nohlcst and greatest man he had ever
known.
Bishop George Ilomney followed.
speaking very Enthusiastically OF his
acquaintance with the prophet. Al.
though he was u boy, the great man had
more influence over him than any man
he NlA Nsa..N hITnFA
he was old enough TO realize that ne
was u prophet of God. Bishop Romney
said he had heard Joseph Smith
speak by Inspiration, and the
encet II had upon him. he was
unable to describe. The speaker
the prophet was killed. When the Lat
ter-day Saints We're wrought up to
pitch OF excitement which had never
been manifested by them before or
since. and II 0od had not restrained
them they would have done something
desperate. Bishop Romncy testified
that he knew that Joseph Smith was
Prophet OF God. and that his mantle
fell upon Brigham Young. The people
may be driven and bounded. but they
could endure it. because they know
they have tho truth.
Miss Beasie Edmunds then sang
solo. with much sweetness, and was
followed by the reading Of q chapter on
ihc early life OF the Prophet. by Incz
Smith.
Lucy Walker Smith. wife OF the
Prophet. was then introduced. She
bore testimony to the fine moral char
acter of Joseph Smith. whom she knew
10 have been a man OF purity and honor.
She also spoke OF the Prophetic FIRST
wife. Emma. aud told how that good wo-
man wns tried beyond conception when
the law OF poiygamy was introduced by
49,. Atsa l.af a h.. L.I MI 90 I.aa A
true and faithful wife. rendering her
husband great aid. because she was
very Intelligent. and possessed OF ster-
ling qualities. but the law OF plural
marriage was the trial OF her life. The
speaker also looked upon the System
with great aversion until after the
Prophet had explained II TO her. that
It was not for voluptuous love, but be-
cause God had commanded II, and
promising her that the Lord would set
her mind nj rest concerning the mat
ter. she was satisfied. And subsequent
~, while praying earnestly In her room
she was visited by n great light and re-
ceiyed testimony that the principle was
true. After the death OF Joseph Smith,
she became the wife OF Hcber g. KIM
ball. She spoke In high terms Of En-
ma Smith. the wife OF the Prophet,
whom she said was a woman of grand
heart and brain. but she had made her
mistakes
The speaker alluded to the violent
manner In which many OF the early per
socutors OF the Saints had come TO their
death. some OF these deaths being the
most horrible, as had been predicted
many times.
George d. Piper sang "Hosannah" In
a atyle and voice that he seldom eciips-
81.
Mrs. Elizabeth T. Roundy spoke
short time. She had known the Prophet.
and the Influence OF his noble charac-
ter had never left her. She believed
him to he the nobiost and best man
that had ever lived since the Savior.
a duet was sung by Evan Stephens
and Willard Christopherson,
There were thirteen relatives OF the
Prophet present. and sixteen who had
known him.
The Lone Grave" composed by the
Prophets youngest son, was rendered
by Mrs. II. NJ. Dlnwoodey, and Joseph
+. Smith said that the sentiment that
was expressed In II. was because the
composer did not know where his father
was burned.
After resolving 10 hold similar meet
Ing next year. the meeting was dis
missed by Patriarch John Smith. who