The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-01-10
VERMONT PARTY" CELEBRATES
Pilgrimage From Utah and First
Prophets Greatness Recalled


mons six years ago made a pilgrim
age from Utah to the Green Noun
tain state and dedicated a monument
there. Since then the survivors of
the party have gathered annually to
celebrate the prophets birthday. The
Desert Evening News of Salt Lake
City gives an account of the celebra-
ton Saturday. December %. Four
of the company of 30 pilgrims have
died-Elders John Mcdonald, Lorin
Farr, President John Henry Smith
and Patriarch John Smith. The ma
jority of the original party gathered,
with invited guests, at the invitation
of President Joseph F. Smith, in the
Lion house at O'Clock Saturday eve
ming. The members of the original
party who were present were. Pres
ident Joseph r. Smith, Elders Hyrum
NJ. Smith and wife, Ida B Smith, Ell
der Joseph F. Smith, Jr., Mrs. Ina
Smith Perry, Miss Edith A. Smith,
Judge Elias Smith, Jesse NJ. Smith,
with Elder George A. Smith, who had
so much to do with the smooth run
ming of the whole train and party;
Elder George G. Richards, wife and
son Oliver; President Seymour b.
Young, President l.. w. Shurtleff Ell
der Frank Y Taylor, President An
gus NJ. Cannon, Mrs Susa Young
Gates, Bishop George Romney, Ed
ers Benjamin Goddard, B. f. Grant
and Ashby Snow. Elder Junius F.
Wells was also present. His great
labors in connection with this matter
have already become a most inter-
esting part of the church history. His
wife and daughter were with him as
before.
Those of the original party who
were not present, because Of illness
or other cause, were: President An
thon II. Lund, President, Francis M.
Lyman, absent on missionary trip;
President c. w. Penrose, Elders Ru-
lon s. Wells and Arthur Winters.
Miss Ellen II. Thomas of Ogden was
present She accompanied r. c,
Eaton and wife, Janet, Miss Emma
Lucy Gates and brother, b. Cecil
Gates as the musicians who went UP
from New York City to Vermont for
the original services.
The party and invited guests mum
bered up to 100, being, of course, the
wives and husbands of members OF
the party, with the council of the Il
and wives, members of the first coun
ell of 10. the presiding bishopric and
those who were on the program as
musicians and entertainers.
The merry party assembled in the
parlors of the historic old Lion house
about 5 o'clock They were greeted
by members OF the reception commit
tee and at once were initiated into
one of the games of the evening. A
6 supper was served in the upper hall:
The delicious old fashioned CHECKER
pies, thanked bymashed potatoes, pick
les. celery, olives, fruit salad. bread
and butter mince pies, squash pies
apples. nuts. raisins and candy
made the occasion a bright reminis
cence to those who were privileged
to be of that party.
An original place card was at ever!
plate, bearing a portrait o, the Proph
ct Joseph Smith on one side and th'
following lines on the reverse side
The Prophet Joseph Smith
Opened his eyes to this world OF
the windswept hills of Vermont OF
the 23rd of December, 1905.
At IA years of age he gave to thu
world. through his vision, new con
ception OF God and of his Son Jesus
| Christ.
He translated-by divine gift-th'
Book of Mormon.
He restored the ancient priest
hoods.
He baptized, by authorityAth'
first man in modern times.
He organized the church OF jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He pioneered homes and cities II
the wilderness.
He founded great commonwealth
in the virgin heart OF the western
prairie.
He established schools and founde,
universities without sex limitations.
lie purified and encouraged recre
alton and amusements.
He loved and promoted the arts
painting. music and the drama.
He gave to women the religion
and civil franchise.
He taught the Word OF Wisdom.
He revealed the eternity of tn
marriage covenant.
He built temples to the name @
jehovah
He revealed the principle Of salvf
ton for the dead.
He was either loved most loyalty o
hated most venomously by all men.
He laid down his life for hi
friends June %, 1874. Greater Low
hath no man."
What have you done? What ar
you doing-to discharge the debt
gratitude you owe to the ProphC
Joseph Smith?
December %. 1911.
There was also a small square
maple sugar from the memorial fari
brought to Utah by a sister-in-law
Elder Brown who now has charg
OF the Memorial cottage. The suga
was tied up with dainty ribbons an
holly. The rooms and tables wer
profusely decorated with smilax, no
ly and ported plants. The tables WEI
a picture OF old.fashioned homel
beauty with their viands, all set o
at once for personal service.
The program was n merry one. Al