--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 25 number: 11 published: 1922-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Pioneer Celebration", *Improvement Era* 25, no. 11 (September 1922): 1019–1024.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera25011unse 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: improvementera25011unse start_page: 1019 end_page: 1024 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1922-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera25011unse publication_year: 1922 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 1922, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Pioneer Celebration MONUMEMNT AT PIONEER VIEW Visited by the surviving Pioneers of 1847, on the 75th anniversary ■of the arrival of the original Pioneers into Salt Lake Valley. The boy' Scouts, after their flag exercises, gathered around the monument, at Pio* neer View, where Brigham Young stood on entering the Valley and said, "This is tlie place." Lorenzo Sobriskie Young, the only survivor of the original pioneers, in the foreground by the monument. Pioneer Celebration By LeRoi C. Snow, Treasurer of the Pioneer Committee It was seventy-five years ago, last July 24, that President Brigham Young and the first band of "Mormon" pioneers ar- rived in the Salt Lake Valley. The plan to hold a great, inter-mountain celebration, in Salt Lake City, of this Diamond Jubilee, has been postponed until next year. However, an elaborate three days' program this year was carried out with the one purpose of gladdening the hearts of the survivors of the pioneers of 1847. The program was not prepared with the intention of entertaining the general 1020 IMPROVEMENT ERA public, although several of the features were of such a character that several thousand people participated in doing honor to these worthy men and women. When the celebration committee commenced preparation for the entertainment, it was thought that there were fewer than forty survivors of the pioneers who entered Salt Lake Val- ley during the year 1847. Much publicity was given the plans of the committee, and additional information was solicited from ward, stake and county officials, as well as from relatives of pio- neers. The list of survivors grew until it was found that more than 125, pioneers of 1847 are still living. With so many to entertain, including transportation, hotel expenses, banquets, automobile rides, visits to historic points and places of amusement, pageants, musical and other programs, in and out-of-doors, and constant thought of their welfare and happiness involved the expenditures of a great deal of time, effort and money, and the asisstance of hundreds of devoted people. The Commercial Club, the Daughters of the Pioneers, the Church, Salt Lake City, and County, other organizations, and private companies, and many individuals, contributed of their time and money and otherwise assisted. Under the direc- tion of the executive committee, of which Elder George Albert Smith was chairman, there were 54 sub-committees with a per- sonnel of more than 300 men and women who worked faithfully for about a month planning the details of the elaborate program. The following is a brief account of the celebration: On Saturday evening at 7 o'clock in the Hotel Utah a re- ception was given and a banquet, the Master of Ceremonies being Bishop David A. Smith, and the Toastmaster, President Heber J. Grant. There was a greeting, community song, and a violin selection by Pioneer Harrison Sperry, ninety years old, and meetings^ by representatives of the stake, county, and city. Other exercises occupied the hour from 6 to 7. On Sunday at 10 o'clock a. m. there was ai song service in the Tabernacle, presided over by Mayor C. C. Neslen, of Salt Lake City, consisting of, invocation by President Anthony W. Ivins; community singing, W. Clive Bradford, director; grand organ, pioneer tunes and melodies, Professor John J. McClellan; "The Flag without a Stain," President Heber J. Grant; "Spirit of Heroes," by the Southwick quartette; followed by "Songs of the Trail in Pantomime", under the direction of Miss Charlotte Stewart, in which Professor E. P. Kimball, the boy scouts, choir boys of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Young Men's Mutuals of the Granite stake, and others, took part. A tribute service was held at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, El- der George Albert Smith presiding. The Tabernacle choir, 1022 IMPROVEMENT ERA under the direction of Professor A. C. Lund, sang. Invocation was offered by Rev. George S. Davies; a paper was read by [As- sistant Historian Andrew Jenson on, "Who are the Pioneers of 1847?" the leading address being delivered by Levi Edgar Young. The Salt Lake Opera Quartette sang the Recessional, "Lest We Forget;" and addresses were made by Zina Young Card, President Heber J. Grant, followed by roll call of the Pioneers of 1847 by Chairman George Albert Smith; and bene- diction by Dr. Seymour B. Young. ROSTER The following is an alphabetical roster of surviving Pioneers of 1847, as read by Chairman George Albert Smith: John S. Adams, "William C. Allen, Joseph H. Armstrong, Emily Seeley Coates Averett. Benjamin Baker, George W. Baker, Joseph Baker, Emeline Rebecca Adair Baldwin, Hyrum Bennion Margaret Oakley Best, Erastus Perry Bing- ham, Brigham H. Bingham, Perry Bingham, Jerusha L. Hambleton Bos- well, Mary E. Hunt Black, Mary Margaret Cherry Brandon, Robert Pearse Bringhurst, Mary A. Park Brockbank, Eliza Woolf Brown, Sarah Ann Garr Burton, Angeline Luddington Bush. Mary Bennion, Calder, Leone Spencer Chambers, John James Cherry, James Chipman, Washburn Chipman. Margaret E. Clement, Emly Woodard Corbett Andrew Corry, Abner B. Cox, Orville M. Cox,' Saphronia Ellen Turnbaugh Carter. Melissa Jane Lambson Davis. Fidelia Winget DeMill, Malvina Winget DeMill, Harriet Fairbanks Douglass, Lydia Shepherd Davidson. Alma Eldredge, EINathan Eldredge, Joseph U. Eldredge, Josephine Smith Harmon Evans, Schuyler Everett, Edmond Eldredge, Edmund Ells- worth. Sarah Baker Farnsworth, Martha A. Brunson Ferrin, Elijah Norman Freeman, Mary Jane Fraughton, Bushua D. Kingsbury Fryer. Emma Moesser Gardner, Neil (Nile) L. Gardner, William Gardner, Ellen Glover, Benjamin Young Greenwood, Thomas Grover, Esther El- dredge Garns. William V. Haight, Job Harker, John Taylor Harmon, Caroline Cherry Harris, Caroline Grover Heath, Joseph S. Hendricks, William James Hend- ricks, George R. Hill, Adelia M. West Hoagland, Henry Home, Joseph S. Home, Richard S. Home. Rebecca Baker Johnson, Jane Park Jones. Margaretta Lemon King. George C. Laney, Mary B. Rich Linford, John Knox Lemon, Jennette Brinkerhoff Leavitt. Abigail J. Baker Matthews, Helen Mar Callister M'cCullough, Maggie Garner Miller, Mary Gardner Miller, Sarah J. Rich Miller, Joseph Hyrum Moesser, Michael W. Molen, Gideon A. Murdock, Franceanya Rogers Miller, Margaret Turnbow Mitchell. Charles R. Oakey. Temperance Keturah Haight McFarlane Parry, Edwin Pettit, Mary A. Lemon Pickering, John P. Porter, Rebecca Ann Cherry Porter, Mary Jane Fairbanks Pace. Ann Eliza Hunter Rich, Hyrum Smith Rich, Genevieve Molen Ross. Carlos L. Sessions, Adelia Belinda Cox Sidwell, Amelia Meriah Cherry Smith, Hulda C. Thurston Smith, Hiram Theron Spencer, Angeline Ben- PIONEER CELEBRATION 1023 nion Spencer, Harrison Sperry, Young Elizabeth Steel Stapley, Mary Park Sutton, Robert Sweeten, Ezra Shoemaker, Hyrum S. Stevens. Susan Burgess Crandall Tanner, James Wylie (Wiley) Thomas, Sarah Jane Thomas, Katherine Beach Topance. Marian Park Vincent. Samuel Alonzo Whitney, George W. Whittaker, Mary Young Wilcox, Alphonzo Winget, John Woodberry, James Jackson Woodruff, Andrew Woolf, John Anthony Woolf, Mary Theodosia Savage Wilcox. John R. Young, Elizabeth Riter Young, Lorenzo Sobriskie Young. On Monday, July 24, an auto trip was taken to old land marks, the drive being under the direction of George H. Dern, M. M. Warner, Jr., Harry S. Josephs. The 67 visiting survivors were taken in automobiles to Emigrartion Canyon, where they saw the Pioneer Monument, erected in commemoration of Pres- ident Brigham Young's famous statement, when viewing for the first time Salt Lake Valley: "This is the place." Here the boy scouts gave a flag raising ceremony; and at Fort Douglas the United States troops maneuvered and the military band furnished music. The company were then taken to the old "Chase" mill in Liberty Park, and a program was carried out by a company of young. people, descendants of the Pioneers, dressed in costumes of well-known leaders, as represented in the photograph herewith. There were musical numbers, "Upper California," "Two Prophets," "On the 24th Day of July," "Stand- ard of Zion;" and dances were given, Plain Quadrille, Varsou- vienne and Scotch Reel; while Hawkins' band played some old familiar airs. Lemonade was served by the daughters and grand-daughters of Utah pioneers. The auto trip was continued to the old land mark of Emi- gration Street or Third South where they viewed the old cedar tree, which, in early days, directed them to the Pioneer camp ground. The M. I. A. of the Ensign stake, at the Park, pre- sented an episode, "The Pioneers and the Flag," under the direction of the 18th ward Mutual, Joseph J. Cannon in charge. At the Pioneer Park, "The First School" under the direction of Mary Jane Dilworth Hammond, was represented, the stu- dents being great grand-children of some of the leading pio- neers. From here the pioneers were taken for a three-mile ride through the city, thence through the Eagle Gate to the Utah State Capitol for lunch, where they had a restful visit in the relic hall of the Utah Daughters of the Pioneers. After luncheon they were taken to Saltair, where Professor R. Owen Sweeten and his band delivered a concert, consisting of melodies which led the pioneers back over the old trail and recalled a thousand vivid memories. Under the direction of Joel Richards, manager, a banquet was given at 7 o'clock, toastmaster, Dr. Richard R. 1024 IMPROVEMENT ERA Lyman; program consisting of musical selections, including, "All are Talking of Utah," by the University of Utah Glee Club, followed by other musical selections and by addresses from President Heber J. Grant, Rev. J. E. Carver and President Flora B. Home. A radio concert was also provided during the ban- quet. There were fire works on the lake by T. F. Thomas, as- sisted by United States troops. From the Lake, the pioneers entrained at 10:15 for Salt Lake, and were soon at rest. The entire program was carried out without the slightest accident. One of the pioneers said: "Well, it has been worth living all these 82 long years just for the happiness of the last three days." Another remarked: "I have never before in all my life been so honored. I do not deserve half of it." They all said it was the finest time they had ever had in their lives. They were all returned to their homes happy and well, two of them came from Mesa, in southern Arizona, the remainder being from Utah and the surrounding states, and one from California. Stuck, and Nothing to Unload By Henry H. Stokes, Western States Mission When I am called upon to speak to an audience, my feelings remind me of a story of an apple peddler. He was driving along with a one-horse delivery wagon loaded with apples; he came to a deep creek over which there was no bridge. He drove into the creek, and as the wagon began to ascend the bank on the opposite side^ the horse stubbornly refused to continue. The driver, upon looking back, noticed that the endgate of his wagon had dropped, letting his apples roll into the creek. In great bewilderment, he exclaimed: "Well! Stuck and nothing to unload." The incident illustrates my condition and, I think, that of most missionaries in many respects. Our feelings of incompetence are well characterized by the term "one horse wagon," and as we enter a pulpit or step upon a platform to face an audience our "apples" actually seem to "wash down the creek." Yes, the comparison is still noticeable; we really have the "load;" not a load in the sense of being burdensome; not all loads are oppressive. Christ said: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in