Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-12-29
JOSEPH SMITH HON0RED
MoRMoNs DEDICATE THE MoNu.
MENT At SHARON.
About One Hundred Mormon Apostles
and Disnitariss, Including President
Joseph Smith, Take Part in Exer-
cisss Saturday, Dec. 23.

The monument erected to the menu
ory of Joseph Smith. the Mormon
prophet. was dedicated In Sharon sat
urday In the presence Of three or -FOUR
hundred people including leaders OF
the Mormon church. The cottage
built on the site of the old smith
homestead is In the town of Royalton.
but the memorial is located three
miles away, in the town OF Sharon.
The prophet was born 100 years ago.
on Dec. "a. 1905.
F'ifty-three Mormons arrived IN
South Royalton Friday. Dec. ~, ana
29 came in a special car from Salt
Lake City. Utah, also "a from Boston
and New York. Among the high OFF,
cials present were President Joseph
r. Smith. Anthon H. Lund his second
councillor. F. M. Lyman. president OF
the apostles. and John Smith. patri.
arch of the church. Five OF the IL
apostles came. including John Henry
Smith and four others. Charles w.
Penrose, editor of the Deseret News.
of Salt Lake City. Utah. was present.
also Mrs. Susa Young Gates, daugn-
ter of Brigham Young, literary wo-
man and writer famous among the wo-
mans clubs. who has been prominent
at all the great meetings of the inter-
national clubs in many foreign cities
as we'll as here in America. Her
daughter, Miss Lula. is also an impor.
tant parsonage being famous musicai
artist
Elder .Junius F. Wells made all the
arrangements and developed all plans
from the first. He made the sugges-
ton last March to his church that the
land where their prophet. Joseph
Smith, was born should be purchased
and a monument erected in his honor
and a cottage built over the old cellar
Of his homestead. The church looked
favorably on it and sent Elder Wells
to Vermont to direct the undertaking.
The exercises opened with the sing
ing of America Speeches were made
bv President Smith and Elder Wells.
Apostle F. NJ. Lyman promised
hearty welcome to any Vernonters
who visited Utah. He spoke OF relig-
ious liberty and closed by saying, COO
bless Vermont and Vermonters Otn.
er speakers were DR.. E. j. Fish OF
South Royalton. John Henry S,ni.n
who eulogized Brigham Young. Elder
Hiram Smith. grandson of the
prophet. and Hon. Jesse NJ. smith
whose father was born in Royalton.
Charles Penrose. editor of The Deseret
News delivered a stirring ADDRESS.
President Smith delivered the dedica-
tory prayer, singing followed and the
benediction was pronounced by ReV.
George Smith. The monument was
then unveiled by Miss Abbie Wells
daughter of Junius F. Wells. Mr..
Wells then formally turned the monu-
ment over to the Mormon church.
Additional exercises were held In
Woodard's hall. South Royalton, sat
urday evening and a memorial service
was held at the same place Sunday,
Dec. "a, and likewise throughout the
world to commemorate the birth OF
the prophet, Joseph Smith 100 years
ago.
The monument is of dark Barre
granite, highly polished. Its total
height is 80 feet and 2 inches, and It
is said to be the largest polished gran
ite monument in the country.
All the South Royalton hotels were
full during the stay of the Mormon
visitors and many private noInes
opened their doors to accommodate
the guests. Every livery team ana
as many private teams as possible
were engaged for their use