Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-02-12

s1ted to discharge this trust. / feel in
naeouate to the situation. Before me,
and upon the stand are many who could
doEfar bettey justice to the subject, I
nm friend to the family, but do not
belong to the same generation that
hronrbt forth Claudius v. Spencer. L
have known him for many years, but
no, Intimately; yct I am acquainted
Nth MANY incidents In the history or
the Spencer family; and l presume
,bis 10 one reason why l WAS Invited
10 7ereak. Another Is. that they know
me to be their friend
have always had q deep reverence
@5or thoee families that laid tho founda-
tions OF the Church OF Christ, who pdo-
neered the wilderness and built UP this
rtste and think I may feel q pardon
ohIe pride that my own family name Is
aesociated with these events. 1 have
,I,rays entertained profound respect
for, the Spencer family. l know some
hing OF their trials. their fortitude,
,heir faith and Integrity; and am In
nosition to 'synnpathiZe with them. Not
orty In this bereavement have they
had my sympathy, but upon other oc-
<aS.ons when have had the honor OF
,6rdctntsng In q similar way for their
comfort and consolation.
II WAS INV pleasure. some years ago,
IA prepnre for publication a biographi-
cal sketch of Daniel Spencer, the pio-
neer of this great family, not only in
The west-for he WAS one OF the found
ers of Utah-but also In the Church OF
Jasils Christ Of Latter-day Saints and
his story touched me: It melted my
heart / shed tears while peruS.ng IL,
when I came upon certain passages
that told how his noble heart was torn
with what admiration surveyed him
when he chose his course on ono oc-
.asIon-chose what he believed TO be
true and right
HOnce to every man and nation
Comes the moment TO decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
For the good or evil side.
Soma great cause-God's new Messiah,
Offering each the bloom or blight
Parts the goats upon the left hand
And the sheep upon the right;
And the choice goes by forever
t,rwixt that darkness and that light"
The choice came to Daniel Spencer
while a resident Of West StocNor1dgc,
RerkshIre county, Mass. He belonged
TO that heroic old Puritan stock that
founded upon north Atlantic shores the
niRhtIest nation of modern times. In
hIs'yeins ran the blood of the Revolu-
tlonary fathers; and as they gave their
lives, their fortunes. and thcIr sacreu
honor to the maintenance OF cause
that was lust, so 1t devolved upon him,
al a later day, to make sacrlicc
equally sublime
He was a merchant in his town,
mFn of prominence and repute, the
chairman. IL | remember al1ght. OF 'ho
local board OF education. One day q
moor. uncultured, unkempt, ragged
missionary arrived in town. an
nouncinG himself to be an elder OF the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-oay
Saints whose headquarters were III
Nauvoo Illinois. HIS name was
Stephen Burnham, according TO the
spencer record, though he Is remem-
bered by Brother Henry P. Richards
(then Il small boy) as James BurnnanL
He sought an opportunity TO preacils
and applied TO Daniel Spencer, among
others. for the use of the schoolhouse,
since he was shut out from tne
churches. Mr.. Spencer said yes. but
other citizens said no, and they closed
the schoolhouse and would not enter
tain the idea of this Mormon desecrat-
ing the place: When Chairman Spen-
cor was informed OF IL. he said 10
the ianitor: "Go and demand admit
tancc FOR this man: IL they don't let
YOU in, take an AK and chop the door
down: SPLIT II into kindlinS wood,
warm The house for him, and give
Mm a hearing" His determined at
tunde brought the bigots to terms
lneeting was held. and Daniel Spen-
eer- Was; one of the congregation that
assembled TO hear the elder from Nau-
sep At the close OF the meeting, lie
invited him home fed him, clothed
him and entertained him Hospitality:
but, had no thought at the time OF
embracing the faith he represented
He promised. however. to read the ht-
books having been left with him for
that purpose. be became absorbed In
the study of Mormonism- He even
closed his store, 1t is said. and gave
his whole time to prayer and the
study OF the Scriptures. so ANXIOUS
was he to know whether or not this
message was from God. His prayers
wercs answered: the conviction cayne
To him that Elder Burnham was SER
want OF Cod that Joseph Smith was
true prophet, and that Mormonism
wns what II claimed to be-the re-
stored gospel of Jesus Christ Whon
Daniel Spencer felt this conviction
sink into his soul, he exclaimed, almost
in agony. MY Godl 1t is truel out
il win cost me everything 1 have
on earth-my friends. my possessions,
my place In society. 1t VIII beggor
me My God! 1t is true! but that is
whatIit Will bring" Yet he made the
sacrifice, Tor he WAS nopies anu epuhi
to the test.
Then 10 side with truth Is noble.
When we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring famo and profit,
And it's prosperous to be just,
Then II IL the brave man chooses,
While tho coward stands aside,
Doubling IN his abJect spirit,
TN his Lord is crucined.
AID the multitude make virtue
Or tho fdith they had denied"
Daniel Spencer did not embrace the
Gospel to better his temporal condiuon.
II was the truth he was seeking: the
salvation of his soul; II was to please
God and satisfy his conscience. He
knetv-~he would have to cast Into the
othcr- scale the favors Of this world;
bun ne made tho sacrifice and became
tho pioneer. In tho Church, OF the
great Spencer family, now 80 numer-
ous; and With him came his house
hold. Including his eldest son-Claud-
ius.V. Spencer.
1t was case OF nike father. like
sons" for this man would have done
the same had he been placed In the
position of his sire. Who can doubt
IL that knows his deep sincerity. his
courageous Independence There never
was astime whom Claudius Spencer did
not dare to say and do what was In
his. heart. It might injurc him, but