A Story Dr. Maeser Told

A Story Dr. Maeser Told ;\ IDA STEWART PEAY During the closing years of his life, I heard my beloved teacher, Dr. Karl G. Maeser, relate a touching little incident about himself, which I shall never forget. It often recurs to my mind and helps me over the "rough places." The story concerned that week of blessed memory, in the fall of 1875, which witnessed the founding of the now far-famed Brigham Young University. President Young had set apart, with proper solemnity, this retiring yet wholly praiseworthy and intelligent foreigner, Dr. Karl G.1 Maeser, to introduce and carry to successful achievement an entirely new and difficult system of education. The weighty scheme being to promulgate the principles of true religion and maintain a standard of good moral conduct, as well as to give general scholastic training. Paramount to everything else, faith in a supreme Being was to be inculcated ; as the great founder and prophet put it — even arithmetic was not to be taught without the Spirit of God. To the accomplishment of this splendid triple purpose, Dr. Maeser had set his hand and heart. At the end of the first week's work, the young principal, just coming into a realization of the enormity of his undertaking, received a disquieting message from his employer and spiritual leader. It was to the effect that Brother Young would be down in three days to examine the written plans prepared for the carrying out of this fine project. In telling the story the grand old man confessed that he had evolved no plans. Moreover, eager, enthusiastic, determined though he was, he had not been able to think out just how it was all to be done. It was Friday afternoon when the President's despatch arrived and our dear old master assured us he went to his home with a heavy heart. All night long he sat at his desk trying to think out the way, endeavoring to get the heaven-born ideas that flitted, spirit-like, through his consciousness, into an intelligible draft of his intended procedure. But his arduous labor was to no purpose; the dawn crept in to find his task not yet begun. The following day. Saturday, he spent in pursuit of the elusive plans. He paced the floor, he hung over his desk, he racked his brains, but the twilight fell and he was not prepared. Saturday night proved a repetition of the night before, and all through the long- Sabbath he engaged his mind in the same fruitless attempt. When

A STORY DR. MAESER TOLD. 195 night descended upon that memorable Sunday, he grew heartsick. His superior would be there in the morning. How could he look into the keen eyes of that great general and own to failure ? Almost overcome with despair, he dropped upon his knees and appealed to his God: "O Father," he pleaded, in the sweet humility that characterized him, "show me the way, help me to make the plans for this great work. I cannot do it of myself." All at once the burden was lifted from his heart, it seemed almost as if a voice said to him, "Brother Maeser, why did you not think to ask before?" He assured us that in direct answer to his prayer the "plans" came to him. He sprang to his desk and wrote. In an hour or two his work was ready to present to his loved chief. And those who benefited, at least according to their capacity or desire, by those precious plans, know how well they were laid ; those who have tried to follow know God showed him the way. In memory I recall the charm and simplicity with which our dear Brother Maeser told this little story, and I hear once more the yearning in his voice as he begged us to "always ask Father first." PROVO, UTAH Elder N. A. Smith writes from Dublin, Ireland: "Dublin, an almost exclusively Catholic city, is 'very much opposed to the true gospel of Christ preached by the 'Mormons.' In tracting, Catholics politely ignore us and our tracts, and in street meetings they with other people are warned against us by the prejudicial preaching of the most bitter anti-'Mormons' known, — the Irish Church Mission. We find that the attitude of the people toward us makes it very unpleasant fo'r the elders and the Saints, and a hindrance to the work in this city, while in Belfast our numbers are rapidly increasing. However, the few members that we have here bear strong testimony to the gospel, making it very encouraging to meet with them in service. Elders left to right, top row: J. A. Empey, Idaho Falls, Idaho; D. H. Stewart, Wellsville; N. A. Smith, Lewiston; front row, sitting: G. A. Clark, Garland; J. L. Madsen, Honeyville, Utah.