Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-04-20
WAS A COMPLETE SURPRISE.
Little Did President Parkinson Wot of
What Il Plot Was Matching
Ger His Head

ship fOr Il man who has been their &C.
clesiastical leader for 23 years. and tc
commemorate the anniv ersary of the
oldest stake president-not oldest In
| years. but in point OF service.
1t was only last March that a little
knot OF men composing the bishoprics
OF the several wards OF the stake gath
cred at one side of the stand In the
opera house at the conference which
was then being held. and the whole
scheme was cOncocted and gone over,
Bishops Geddes, Bodily and benson be-
ing selected 10 push the matter 10 a
iinal consunmatlOn-
Everyone was pledged to secrecy
| and while the other two members Of
| the presidency We're informed OF the
trouble that was brewing" President
| Parkinson went on the even tenor OF his
| way. giving no thought 10 little remarks
| that saVored of mystery, which fire.
| quently came to his attention. He was
obvious to the depth OF the plot which
| was being Matched around him, and In
his behalf. But when the battle had
been won and he had been led like a
lamb to the slaughter, as it were, he
began putting these little Incidents to-
gether and piece by piece tale was
woven which showed him how the
scheme had been commenced Then,
more than ever, did he realize the love
which the people of this section bear
to him and his wise cOunsel0rs. and his
heart as is natural under such cons.
dittons, was too full for utterance save
for naudible thanks
The opera house, where the program
was scheduled to take place. had been
taStefnlly decorated with the national
colors- while potted plants. ferns. etc,
were placed IN position around the nall
and lent charm to the beauties OF the
place AT half past mine or Whereabouts,
people began TO arrive. Nor were his
counselorS slighted on this suspicious
occasion Those composing the COM
nittee saw to IL that Presidents Hale
and Geddes and Stake Clerk GOasllnd
We're Included in the proceedings.
Precisely at 1880 the proceedings of
the suspicious day commenced, Letters
OF congTatulation We're received from
President Joseph +. Smith Apostle o.
e Whitney. President Bulge, Judge
Budge, and other prominent churchmen-
Among the special features of the pro-
gram, the singing of the song or rather
an original poem, composed for the oc-
casion by Mrs. Marinda Skidmore and
sung to the tune OF My Country Ills OF
Thee was touchingly rendered, The
little girls all In white assembling be-
fore the audience. each with a banner
suitably inscribed with single letter
done In black and gold, and each repre-
senting ward in the stake. the letters
reading when In line. "God bless our
president spoke plainly OF the
hour and the man.
The presentations were made at the
afternoon session. Every eccIesias teal
organization of the stake was repre-.
scented and each sent a present as
token of sleen and love Beautiful
Church works, handsomely framed pic
lures, silver goblets, rings, illuminated
addresses, all told of the love OF the
donors, Il love that could only be en-
gendered by common brotherhood
The singing and the speaking We're OF
the highest order. Presidents ParlSin-
son, Hale and Geddes spoke feelingIy
of the OCCASION President Parkinson
said THAI he was never more surprised
In all his life than he had been ON this
OCCASION But said the gentleman,
''if L had given the matter a moments
thought and studied on the many little
things that had come up during the
past few weeks, and had put those mat
ters together which / considered OF
little moment. could have traced the
origin of the movement" He spoke TO
the people and showed that II was only
a faithful people who could exhibit such
traits OF brotherhood as had been eS-
Istent on that occasion. 1t was only
the gospel that could bring about such
results,
The occasion will long be remembered
as a day ON which the Oneida stake can
look back with pride, day when her
citizens became united by common con-
sent.
MORNING SESSION.
For the morning program. Bishop
Geddes acted as master of ceremonies.
The numbers follow:
Music by Preston military band,
Congregation singing an original
poem composed by Mrs Marinda Skid
more.
nVOcation-President Sol. II. Hale.
Singing, 20, ye Mountains High
Address OF Welcome--President Jos
s. Gcddes.
MUSCLE rimhall orchestra.
Address in Behalf of Stake Bishops
Bishop Denmark Jensen,
Selection by "Religion Class' led by
Miss Lizzie Thomas.
Exercise by the Prmary-Preston
Third ward.
Exercise by Sunday schOoi-NIiss
Olive Hansen.
" NJ, NJ /. A.--By Asst. supt. David
g. Evans.
Exercise by Y l.. N, l. A,--Ladies'
chorus
Dramatic Reading Prof Geo. d. |
Caste,
Violin Duet-Profs Hyrum Brlmhall
and Henry Otlc
esponse-Presiden Geo q, Parkln-
son.
Congregation singing, 1--WE Thank
Thee, q God, for Prophet"
Picnic was given IN the Opera House
and the Second ward meetinghOuse and
Elder Charles ID. Gcaslind acted as