Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-06

keep and for his household and general
farm expenses. On Sunday evening
most Of the party reassembled at Dea-
con Hall, and held a most excellent
meeting, conducted by President John
q. McQuarrie. Elder c. w. Penrose de-
livered a Gospel discourse, and spirited
remarks We're made by President An
th0n II. Lund and Elders Ashby Snow,
b. +. Grant. Frank Y. Taylor, Angus
Nj. Cannon, Benjamin F. Goddard and
Seymour Il. Young. A number Of stran-
gers. as well as local Saints were pres
ent, and fine spirit pervaded the as
sembly. Emma Lucy Gates favored
the congregation with two fine selec-
lions,
Christmas day dawned in Boston with
clear sky, a shining sun and warm
atmosphere. except In the early morn
ing when the breeze was bracing. A
number of the party went to Topsdeld,
To Visit the home of ancestors OF the
Smith family. There they found the
graves Of Robert Smith the original am
cestor of the Smiths In this country, Of
his son Samuel, and of the latter's son
Samuel. Others Of the party went to
Harvard university to Boston Com
mon, Bunker Hill. Faneuel hail. where
in the middle of the day the sect called
THE Holiness People" were holding
forth IN their peculiar style, the preach
er shouting and jumping and gesticulat-
ing and his associates making all kinds
of explanatory responses. The Old
South Church was also visited, where
numerous interesting relics of early
times In the history of the Nation are
stored, and were as thoroughly inspect
ed as time would permit Various points
Of attraction were visited by different
groups OF the party VINO. after partak-
Ing Of a Christmas dinner. repaired to
their car and were all safely ensconced
in good time to leave the quaint old city
with Its "tea-party' harbor and other
notable pecullarites A surprise await
ed the company in the shape of gaily
adorned Christmas tree which the Ia
dies had prepared and which bore
present for each member of the party
and made great deal of fun, as most
Of the gifts were suitable for small ju-
veniles, A very pleasant evening was
passed as the train moved on to Pal
nyra, " Y, where II arrived on Tues
day morning. Vehicles were in readl-
ness TO convey them to Manchester
Township. where Father Joseph Smith
and his family resided, after leaving
their farm in Vermont. They We're very
heartily welcomed by Mr.. William
Avery Chapman and his wife. who own
and occupy the old Smith farm, with
the grove In which the boy Joseph
Smith received his first divine manlfes-
tation.
THE SACRED GROVE
The party went to the grove, where n
hymn was sung and the grand event
was recalled which opened the dispen-
sation Of the fullness of times, by the
appearance In unspeakable glory OF the
Father and the Son TO young Joseph, in
answer to his fervent prayer OF faith.
On the way to and from the grove a
small creek flowed by, where a dam had
been constructed at some time, so as
to raise the water for the baptism OF
converts to the faith, according to the
legend in circulation IN those parts. The
room In which the Prophet Joseph
worked on TIE translation. An upper
chamber was also visited where 1t was
stated that Joseph received the minis
tration of the Angel Moroni. But this
was viewed as q mistake, the compile
tion Of tho house having been made at
n date subsequent to that manifesto
tion. 1t occurred, no doubt. in the
old log house. not standing ow, but
Smith family moved into the new habit
tation as soon az II was finished. There
were several antique relies In the house
occupied by Mr.. Chapman, among
which was settee made by Brigham
Young, and the place with its surround
ings were OF intense interest to all pres
ent. The kindness OF the occupants OF
the dwelling, which stands ON a farm
Of hundred and forty acres. we'll cul-
tvated and producing much fruit as
well as cereal crops, captivated all who
partook OF the hospitality.
CUMORAH.
The party then proceeded to
the Hin Cum0rah, known in the
neighborhood as Mormon Hin"
A cottage at its base IS oc-
cupied by Mr.. Sampson and family. "a
brother OF the late Admiral Sampson,
whore some interesting relies were %
tanned In the shape OF arrowheads,
plowed up, II Is said, by the bushel IN
that vicinity. The party all climbed to
the top OF the hill. inspected the spot
on It's side where a depression was not
ed "a the probable place where the
stone box containing the plates project
ed from the ground. as described In the
history of the Prophet. \ splendid view
of the surrounding country is had from
the summit of the hill. and the mind re-
yerted back for many centuries TO the