Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-08-15
Birthday Of Elder George ROmuey
Celebrated by the TWEEN.
tieth Ward.
SPECIAL EXERCISES WERE HELD
Event Came In Nature of Surprise and
Was a Most Pleasing Affair
Family Reunion Tonight

eve are prone to strew flowers over
the graves Of our dead-a pretty and
proper custom--but we are not sufIi-
ciently prone to drop blossom here
and there In the pathway OF those who
are living"
That sentiment, eloquently uttered by
President Richard ". Young Of the
Ensign stake was the keynote Of a very
largely attended and very impressive
anniversary service In the Twentieth
ward assembly rooms last night on the
occasion Of the seventy.third birthday
OF Bishop George Romney The same
splendid idea In varied form but in diff
ferent language was expressed by all Of
the speakers. The AFFAIR was I'm the ma
ture OF a spontaneous ward celebration
concerning which the Bishop knew
nothing except IN an Indirect manner.
SO when he appeared at the ward house
last evening TO attend the regular sun
day night service, he was very much
surprised and humbled man, A hur-
rled glance showed the transformation
that had been wrought I'm the way Of
artistic interior decoration. A large
American flag hung IN graceful folds on
either side OF the organ across the front
OF which was the ornamentally dis
played "lS2l-Many Happy Re-
turns of the Day--l904.' Then the pull
pit was draped i'm national Colors and
palms and other potted plants and now-
ers adorned the dias and other parts Of
the building fragrant and beautiful
blossoms being placed In all OF the win
do'ws, while before the pulpit was a life
size likeness Of the Bishop himself, who
after gazing for a moment upon what
had been done, sought the comforting
secluslon Of the vestry where he strug-
Rled 10 master the emotions that for
the time being controlled him.
THE FIRST SPEAKER.
After some beautiful singing by the
choir Elder C.. II. Savage was intro
duced as one Of the oldest members Of
the ward Elder Savage said some very
feeling things Of the honored recipient
Of the celebration and added that he
had grown to regard the Bishop as one
Of his best and dearest friends, Not
many men knew how difficult the Office
Of Bishop was TO fill. The Bishop was
the custodian OF all OF the troubles of
the people and very little good was said
OF him until after he was dead. II was
a most pleasing fact to observe that
the birthday Of the Bishop Of the Twen-
tleth ward, who had given his people
reign Of peace. In consequence the peo-
pie had learned TO love, honor and re-
we're him. He concluded by saying God
Bless Bishop Romney; may the Lord
prolong his life and make the remain.
der Of his days happy"
AUXILIARY WARD OFFICERS.
Among the speakers who followed
were President Luf Of the Relief So
cety who paid n high tribute 10 the
Bishop saying that he was a friend
OF friends to the poor and the needy.
She was glad to see that he was appre-
cated while he was yet alive
d. r., Lyon, president of the Young
Mems Mutual, said that the Bishop had
set worthy example for the young
to follow. He had made a success of
life In every way Graduated as lie
was from the School OF Hard Knocks
he knew the value OF LIES achieve
mcnts.
May Reynolds, president OF the Young
Ladies' Mutual Improvement associa-
ton said that In honorlng Bishop ROM
ney the people OF the ward were hon
oring themselves. He was the father
OF the ward and no child ever houored
it's father without honoring Itself
Mary Romney Ross, at this juncturc
sang In fine fashion a beautiful solo.
The accompanied was Prof Joseph j.
Daynes. former Tabernacle and ward
organlst
Joshua Midgley was the only speaker
outside OF the ward and he was invited
to make few remarks on account of
his long friendship with the Bishop
whom he had known almost since his
boyhood From that day until this he
said Bishop Romney had been an hon
est man. lie was always true TO his
employer, to his people and his God.
There had been many changes In Salt
Lake and In the Church since h be-
came Identified with them. As a pa
triarch he felt constrained to pronounce
a special blessing upon the Bishop and
his posterity
FROM THE LITTLE FOLKS.
Counselor Burrows OF the Sunday
school superintendency and Mrs. Alice
Wright OF the Primary association
each told Of the esteem and love IN
which the Bishop was held In these
departments or branches of the ward
activities. They, too, wanted 10 add
their mead Of praise as they knew OF
the deep interest the Bishop had in
their welfare
PRESIDENT YOUNG TALKS.
It was here that President Young de-