Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-30
Special Correspondence

Special Correspondence.
Chattanooga, Tenn. June 2O.-The
18th day Of June, 1909, VIII be one
that President Ben f. Rich Of the
Southern States mission win never for
set: and 1t will be one too that those
who were with him on that memorable
occasion at the mission home at Chat
tanooga. Tennessee. Elll remember as
one OF the most joyful events Of their
lives There Is no calling or position
In life outside Of the kindred ties Of
the home, thar brings the hearts OF
men nearer together than does the
association Of competitions 10 the mis-
sionary field. and there Is no man who
enjoys more Of the confidence and
love Of his brethren which comes from
1 that ASSOCIATION. than does President
I Rich
on the day above dientioned. q was
just eight years since Elder Rich en-
tered upon his labors as president OF
the Southern States mission. During
this time there have been nearly l,6c0
elders labor under MIN. al OF whom
have given him their hearty and united
support IN the work II can be said,
and that truthfulN too, that Elder
Rich has enjoyed the fullest conii-
dence the trucst Friendship and deep
est love OF an ~ his brethren; Tor his
personalities, and tho way he has acted
towards those under him. both IN Civ
Ing counsel and In directing their Ia
bors. together with the sincere devo-
ton he has shown for the work ~ the
Lord. have united The hearts OF both
president and elders 90 the truest and
tenderest ties that could possibly be
established between The souls Of men.
About three weeks ago. the associ-
ates OF President Rich m the mission
headquarters. organized themselves IN
to a committee with the object IN view
Of surprising The president on the an
niyersary spoken or Accordingly they
decided 10 issue an Invitation 10 every
elder who had laborod I'm the south
during the past eight years. asking
them 10 contribute an amount not 10
exceed % cents, towards a fund 10 be
used en- purchasing an office desk ana
chair. and also suggesting that each
one send q sentiment OF expression of
good will with his offering tO be past
ed IN a scrap book which should be
presented along with the desk and
chair on the evening 90 The 18Th. Those
letters Of invitation we're addressed
according 10 the addresses which APP
pear on the mission record. and the
fact that several hundred Of them
were retained unclalhed shows that
a great number Of me elders have
changed their resideNce in the last
eight years II was regretted very
much. that this is the case, for the rea-
son that those elderS who failed 10
receive notice will De greatly Gisap-
pointed, and this exploitation Is made
that those who failed 10 get word. will
know the reason Outside OF those |
whose letters we're returned. every one |
Of the elders responded most heartily |
to the call, and the result was that the |
committee was able 10 purchase a solid |
mahogany low roll bahker's desk with |
a specially designed chair, both made |
by the Globe-Wernicke Co. and fur,
nished by the l.. b. Graham company |
OF this city on the rounding edge II |
the top Of the desk. was placed a solid |
silver plate containing The engraving, |
Ben +. Rich, on the eighth ami
versary Of his presidency over the |
Southern States Mission, from his COM
panlons The scrap hook, which was
specially made for the expressions |
from the elders, contained about 200 |
pages. 10xl3 inches. With limp covers |
the front one Of which was lettered In |
gold. Expressions ot love ana friend
ship, from your COMPANIONS and IN |
the lower right hand corner the words, |
Ben +. Rich. Chattanooga, Tenn,
June 10, 1906"
Every page Of this large volume was |
filled With the sentiments received from |
the elders Several Of the mission
aries have died since leaving the field, !
and In response 20 the letters sent TO /
them, came replies from their sisters,
fathers, mothers. or wives, which con-
veyed the highest respect and the
tenderest feelings OF friendship to-
ward Brother Rich, Indicative Of the
good words that must have been
spoken IN their homes Of the labors OF /
their mission president.
on the second page Of the first leaf
appears preface, signed by all Of the
members OF the office force. the last
paragraph u which reads as follows:
In behalf Of all Of the elders who /
have labored under him 10 whom these
honors are shown. we desire 10 say. /
Brother Rich, that those sentiments
expressed and the gifts presented are |
intended 20 be but the index 20 our /
souls; therefore, Whenever you read |
what We have herein said Of YOU. and |
when you look upon our tokens Of re-
spect and friendship, remember that
these are indicative of the facts that |
your labors have not been overlooked |
or unappreciated by your companions, |
and that your administration has been
such that It has led every elder who
has filled a mission under you, 70 re-
gard you az his friend and brother.
and 10 look upon you az man OF God.
II we can indelibly impress these
sentiments upon your heart and make
you realize that we are indeed your
friends and your companions, then
shall We feel that our labors have
been rewarded with al the compen-
satlon anticipated"
The desk and chair we're brought 10
the house on the Afternoon Of the day
on which the presentation was "a be
made and put In a room adjoining
the parlors hebInd the portleres which
hid the folding doors After paying
an expenses there was sufficient money !
left with which 10 deliberately deco
rate the front Of the desk with one,
two. five and ten-dollar bills These
were suspended from every pigeon hole
and drawer In the desk and presented
a most imposing and testful scene 10
the eyes At $50 IN the evening.
President Rich was invited 10 Join the
Office force IN the parlOts In a social
pastime and when all were present.
IL was announced that a little program |
had been prepared and that the rest
~ the evening would be spent IN ex-
ercises commemorative u the eighth |