---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Goff, Harold
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 12
number: 5
published: 1909-03
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Goff, Harold, "Nearing the Goal," *Improvement Era* 12, no. 5 (March 1909): 337.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1205unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera1205unse
start_page: 337
end_page: 337
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-03)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1205unse
  publication_year: 1909
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Nearing the Goal

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LINCOLN AND THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 337
A day of mourning was set apart for the people of the United
States; a day to praise the virtues of the departed president. Nowhere was it better observed than in the city of the Saints. I copy
again from Bancroft. "On the 19th of April, the day set apart
for the funeral solemnities at Washington, business was suspended
at Salt Lake City; the flags on the public buildings were hung at
half mast and covered with crape; many of the stores and residences were dressed in mourning, and long before the appointed
hour more than three thousand persons, among them being many
gentiles, were assembled at the Tabernacle. The platform was
occupied by the civil and military functionaries and a number of
prominent citizens, the stand and organ being draped in black.
The exercises commenced by an anthem by the choir, followed by
a prayer from Franklin D. Richards. Then came an eloquent address from Amasa Lyman, and an impressive eulogy on the life,
character and services of Lincoln, byNormanMcLeod,the Chaplain
at Camp Douglas . The funeral rites concluded by a benediction
from Wilford Woodruff."
Thus ended the relations of Abraham Lincoln with the Latterday Saints.
Chicago, 111.
NEAR1NG THE GOAL
(For the Improvement Era.)
Press on ye weary, looking for the light,
Think not the journey is too hard and long;
Do not forget that God is with the right ;
Fresh courage take and join in happy song.
The rocky hill is steepest near the crest,
So don't give way to darkening despond;
This hardest climb is our supremest test,
The vale of sweet content is just beyond.
Harold Goff.
New York, N. Y.