--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Anderson, George Ed. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 17 number: 2 published: 1913-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Anderson, George Ed., "The Last Celebration of the 24th at the Birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith," *Improvement Era* 17, no. 2 (December 1913): 122–127.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1702unse 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: improvementera1702unse start_page: 122 end_page: 127 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1913-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1702unse publication_year: 1913 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 1913, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Last Celebration of the 24th at the Birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith The Last Celebration of the 24th At the Birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith, by Prest. Ben E. Rich BY GEORGE ED. ANDERSON A number of elders have expected something in the Era about the celebration at the Joseph Smith Monument, on the 24th of July last. President Ben E. Rich was there at the time with the ciders, and his recent death again reminds us of the often-expressed desire of the elders. I send you a number of views which were taken on Pioneer Day, 1913. President Rich took such an interest in the occasion, and did so much to make all happy at that time, that it would appear now to be very ap- propriate that the Era should have a report of the principal in- cidents. Elder Frank L. Brown, who is in charge of the Joseph Smith Memorial Farm, at Sharon, Vermont, invited the elders and Saints in the New England states to observe Pioneer day at the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph. There was, accordingly, a gathering of the elders and Saints at the home at that time. Soon after sunrise the Stars and Stripes floated on Patriarch Hill, (some distance from the monument) raised by the elders and sis- ters. President Rich felt unable to make the climb, but asked the brethren and sisters to sing, after they had raised Old Glory, SINGING "MY COUNTRY" AND "HIGH ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP. Patriarch Hill, Joseph Smith Memorial Farm, July 24, 1913. LAST CELEBRATION OF BEN E. RICH 123 the old familiar hymn of the Latter-day Saints, "High on the Mountain Top," and "The Star-spangled Banner." During this performance he sat on the broad piazza and heard and enjoyed the songs. Elder W. D. Robertson offered prayer, and Elder Joseph Price led in the singing. "High on the Mountain Top," "My County, 'tis of Thee," "The Star-spangled Banner," "O Ye Mountains High," and "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" were on the program. During the stay on the hill a pic- ture was made of the company. On the way down a patch of wild raspberries were found, just above the north reservoir, the taste of which sharpened our appetite for a delicious breakfast which Sister Edwin Clifford had prepared at the farm home. At 10 o'clock a meeting was held in the large tent, at which President Rich spoke. He remarked that it was very appropriate that we celebrate the entrance of the Pioneers into the valley of the Great Salt Lake, at this, the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith, who had predicted that the Latter-day Sains would go to the Rocky Mountains and become a mighty people. He was the crottp of missionaries on patriarch hill. Looking toward the cottage. White River valley and "Kent's Lodge." jnst above South Royalton, outlined in the hazy distance. mainspring of that movement, and Brigham Young, who stood at the head, knew that God had spoken to the Prophet Joseph. The humblest man and woman who were faithful knew also that these men were guided by inspiration. The gospel has done much for the young people. It is the labor of the Pioneers, and 124 IMPROVEMENT ERA their abiding faith in the misison of Joseph Smith that have given us the blessings we enjoy, and the privileges of declaring the gospel message which was restored to him from on high. He invited all who were present to speak and to say of what generation they were, for it had been said that "Mormonism" would die with the third or fourth generation. He asked what answer they had to give to that prediction. Most of those present bore their testimony and stated how the gospel had brought their parents and grandparents together, and the joy and the satisfaction they themselves had in coming to this sacred spot and enjoying the spirit of peace that here prevailed. Sister Laura Rich told of the experiences of her parents in the handcart company. President Rich introduced Sister Georgia Snow Thatcher, the daughter of Erastus Snow. Her father, and Orson Pratt, were in the valley of Salt Lake a day or two before the Pioneers, and selected the site for their camp. She expressed herself as happy to be at the birthplace of the Prophet, and in the land where here parents were born. Elder Frank L. Brown expressed himself as pleased to have so many visit him at this sacred spot, where, he believed, we had all tried to have our spirits attuned to the spirit of the place. His father, as a young man seventeen years of age, was a member of the "Mormon" Battalion. As he spoke of his mother and the trials she had endured as a Pioneer, tears dimmed his eyes, all who heard him were melted, and their hearts were softened lis- PREST. BEX E. RICH, ELDER? AND SAINTS, EVENING OF JULY 24, 1913 LAST CELEBRATION OF BEN E. RICH 125 tening to the experiences he related of faithful fathers and moth- ers who had made it possible for the desert to blossom as the rose. President Rich said that the elders who were laboring on the Joseph Smith Memorial Farm were doing just as great a work as those who were in the service distributing gospel literature. He wished them to strengthen the hands of Brother and Sister Brown, and invited them to give the place their best efforts. The meet- ing was dismissed by Kenneth Brown, one of the fifth generation of Latter-day Saints. At 2 o'clock a bounteous dinner was served by Sister Brown and her sisters Mary and Jessie Tibbs, a gentle rain cooling the atmosphere and making the surroundings and the situation very pleasing indeed. ! ' ELDERS PLAYING BASEBALL ON SLOPE OF MISSIONARY HILL, Joseph Smith Memorial Farm, July 24, 1913. In the evening the living room of the Memorial Cottage was crowded with neighbors and friends who had come at the invita- tion of Brother and Sister Brown to meet President Rich and the elders and Saints and listen to a program of the songs of Zion, readings, instrumental music, etc. Elder Brown welcomed his neighbors and introduced President Rich, who said it was very litting that around the hearthstone where the Prophet Joseph Smith was born, we should commemorate the entrance of the Pioneers into the valley of the Great Salt Lake, for it was his prophetic vision which had seen the Latter-day Saints driven and plundered, that many should lose their lives, and that they would go to the Rocky Mountains and become a mighty people. The 12o IMPROVEMENT ERA presence of these elders at this place is a testimony of the fulfil- ment of that prophecy. "No Vermonter need be ashamed of the Prophet Joseph Smith. No other man born in Vermont is so widely known the world over as this same Prophet of the latter days. His name has been had for good and evil, just as the angel Moroni predicted that it would be. We are here to speak good of him, for we knew he was sent of God, and has revealed the gospel of Jesus Christ in its purity to the world to prepare the nations and the people thereof for the second coming of the Savior. You are invited to look into his life, and you shall find that he was a man of God, and worthy of your respect and con- fidence." Elder Joseph Price sang, "Joseph the Seer." Elder N. B. West gave a violin solo. Sister Brown and Ada Stark gave readings, and Sister Mary Tibbs sang an original song. Sister Eliza O. Borgsson also sang a song. Many others, called to take part extemporaneously, responded as they were invited by Brother Brown. President Rich, not feeling well, retired before the program was finished. The exercises in the cottage were closed with prayer, and on the piazza afterwards, all who desired refreshed themselves with watermelons and engaged themselves in interesting conversation. On the evening of the 24th, the company had a portrait taken on the lawn, sloping south toward the lily pond, with the cottage and the monument in the background. President Rich PRF.ST. BEN E. RTCH, JULY 24, 1913 LAST CELEBRATION OE BEN E. RICH 127 left for New York on the 25th, not feeling very well. It was hisjast visit. Most of the elders and Saints remained until after the 28th, and before returning to their fields of labor, a testimony meeting was held in the Memorial Cottage, on Sunday, the 27th, in which all expressed themselves as having been greatly blessed by their visit and experience at the Prophet's birthplace. On the 28th, before separating, the visitors gathered around the old well, where they sang "The Old Oaken Bucket." They also visited Sophronia Glen, where Sister Mary Tibbs sang an original song composed for Elders C. E. Monson and William D. Robertson, who had been laboring on the farm and were now transferred to another part of the mission. Prayer was offered by Elder Frank L. Brown, who petitioned the Lord to bless the elders who had labored with him on the farm, as well as all who had been present at this gathering, that they might carry with them the spirit of the place into their various fields of labor, that they mighty more acceptably work for the glory of God and his cause restored to earth. Around the automobile as they were gathered to part, they sang the song, "God be with you till we meet again." And thus closed the happy time experienced at the Joseph Smith Memorial Farm, at the celebration of Pioneer day, 1913. SHARON, VERMONT Forgiveness My heart was heavy, for its trust had been Abused, its kindness answered with foul wrong; So, turning gloomily from my fellow-men, One summer Sabbath day I strolled among The green mounds of the village burial-place; Where, pondering how all human love and hate, Find one sad level; and how, soon or late, Wronged and wrongdoer, each with meekened face. And cold hands folded over a still heart, Pass the green threshold of our common grave, Whither all footsteps tend, whence none depart; Awed for myself, and pitying my race, Our common sorrow, like a mighty wave, Swept all my pride away, and, trembling, I forgave^ John Greenleaf Whittier.