A Sketch and Sayings of Bishop Edward Hunter

A SKETCH AND SAYINGS OF BISHOP EDWARD HUNTER. BY ELDER JOHN NICHOLSON.

Bishop Edward Hunter was a larpje, portly man, of pleasing appearance. His forehead was expansive in both directions, be- ing broad and high. His face was full and well proportioned, the nose acquiline, eyes bright, and expressive of mental penetration. His hair, which was plentiful, was fluffed up from the forehead. He wore a full beard. The aspect of his countenance was strik- ingly benevolent. Everybody who knew the Bishop will remember one of his characteristic expressions, a sermon in itself, often uttered in the assemblies of the Saints: "Pay your tithes and offerings, and be blest." One of his prominent traits was the ability to discern the characteristics and tendencies of men. An instance: A young man, with whom he was unacquainted, called upon him with re- gard to some business matter. He evidently k)ok his measure, because he after yards enquired of another person as to who the young man was. The individual interrogated, purposely withheld the name of the object of the enquiry for a while, in order to get a description of him from the Bishop. He got it: "Active young fellow; all sail and no ballast." The aptness of the re- mark was so strikingly correct, in the judgment of the listener, that he could not hide his amusement. He seldom permitted himself to get ruffled when matters were not going to suit him. One such instance, however, is re- membered by one of his friends He had just driven up to the :

gate of his residence, when he suddenly dropped the lines from

his hand and said, with some degree of energy: "Father: jostle things about and get them into shape, as soon as you can, if you will." Then, as if it occurred to him that he was somewhat over- urgent, he said, in a softer tone: "But I can wait." He had the unusual faculty of being able to think on more than one subject at the same time, and only speak regarding one of them. In early times, in Utah, a man called upon him to as- certain if he could, by some means, obtain a couple of wagons. The Bishop turned the conversation to a subject entirely different from the object of the caller, but he evidently had been thinking it over, as he exclaimed suddenly: "No wagons, no wagons," at the same time making it clear that, so far as he was concerned, the interview was ended. This worthy man was above pretense or hypocrisy. He was so much the other way that occasionally his statements were somewhat embarrassing. A sample: A gentleman visiting Utah from the East, had an interview with him. In the course of con- versation the Bishop explained some of the principles of his faith. His explanations were received with credence and respect, the listener being probably impressed. The same gentleman accom- panied by a companion, met him again. The visitor said: "Now, Bishop Hunter, I would like you to tell my friend what you told me." The reply came without hesitation: "No, no, you're honest. I like to talk to you. I don't wish to talk to him." The mental construction of the Bishop was such that he would, by a rapid process, notice and be impressed by an object or condition associated with something else of much more import- ance, and permanently retain it in his memory. He was, for in- stance, relating to the writer some of his early experience, in times of trouble, previous to the exodus from Nauvoo. He and others, mounted on horseback, were on some expedition. On their way, they were unexpectedly intercepted by a mounted group of anti-"Mormon'" mobocrats. The two parties were separated by a creek, on the banks of which they halted and confronted each other. The leader of the mob at once attracted Bishop Hunter's attention, principally because, as he said, "He had a cast in his eye, and a hole in his hat." In the course of the relation of the story, the Bishop would occasionally repeat the statement about