Pioneer Entrance Re-enacted

PIONEER ENTRANCE RE-ENACTED 1049 leading their horse over the high ridge overlooking the valley. As they comprehended this broad expanse of table land, valley, lake and mountains, they shouted, "Hosannah! Hosannah!" and then proceeded to explore. Then came the first hundred under the leadership of Stephen Markham, impersonated by Ray E. Huffaker, headed by the yokes of oxen. They formed a semi- circle and brought the twenty-two wagons, wheel to wheel, mak- ing camp. Two messengers, Elder John Pack, impersonated by Dr. Fred J. Pack and Joseph Mathews, then went back to the second hundred who were still in Echo Canyon, to report to President Young. John Pack then rode into camp announcing, "The Presi- dent is coming," which was greeted by cheers from the group. Wilford Woodruffs carriage, driven by Ezra Woodruff, his grandson, drove into the camp. By the side of the carriage rode Heber C. Kimball, impersonated by Joseph Kimball; sitting beside the driver was Ezra T. Benson. President Young, im- personated by Ross Beatie, a grandson, stricken with mountain fever, was lying in the rear of the wagon. By his side was his devoted wife, Clara Decker Young, impersonated by Dorothy Hardy, a granddaughter. As the carriage was turned round opening to the west, the President arose from his bed and took a survey of the valley. He was enwrapped in vision for a few seconds. When the vision had passed he turned to Brother Woodruff and said, "This is the place." The carriage was then driven to camp where the President was greeted with cheers. In the camp, William Carter, impersonated by Ray Pixton, had broken ground and plowed the first furrow. Orson Pratt dedicated the land and the people to the Lord, and Dr. Willard Richards and Orson Pratt addressed the con- gregation. Then the camp was broken and the long caravan started down into the valley. Automobiles went northward toward Ft. Douglas and the wagon train followed the main canyon. The contrast in modes of transportation was very interesting. The parade followed along the old Emigration trail to the Cedar tree at Sixth East and Third South streets, and then turned south to Liberty Park. Another camp was made at Athletic Field. The pioneers were taken by automobile to Liberty Park where they were given a banquet and entertained by the Boy Scout Band. The Brigham Young University The Brigham Young University, at Provo, will open its doors Sep- tember 17, for its forty-ninth school year. During the forty-eight years that have passed since the school began, hundreds of the leaders of this and surrounding states, including three of the law-makers of the nation from this state and one of the supreme justices of the United States, received much of their college training at the great church school. Index For Vol. 26, Era may be obtained on application to the office.

^iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiB S S = - I i Two Prayers By Lafayette Hanchett [These sentiments were forwarded to President Heber J. Grant with the author's request: "Do me the favor to read this." President Grant was so impressed with Mr. Hanchett's beautiful tribute that he wired the words to President Warren G. Harding who was at that time in Tacoma on his way to Alaska. — Editors.] For five days prior to the visit of the Presidential party to Zion National Park, it seemed as if the elements had conspired with the evil one to make the visit impossible. . The wind gods drove their chariots through the air with forty-mile gales; the dirt and dust rose in vast clouds. The good "Mormon" people of Iron and Washington coun- ties raised their voices in prayer, asking that the President of the United States be permitted to see the world wonders within their borders in both comfort and safety. When the Presidential train was leaving Salt Lake City, the wind was still raging across the southern desert; but it suddenly stilled — the morning dawned, bright, beautiful and quiet. Tho President came, journeyed safely to the great canyon, and re- turned to his train. As he climbed the steps of his private car, a silent prayer of thanks went up from the gathered throng — the prayer of the day before had been answered. The President had ended his speech to the group hovering about the train — he entered his car; the door closed and the cur- tains were tightly drawn, and then the great day seemed over, when the silence was broken by a woman's voice in song — first, one or two, then ten, twenty, then a hundred or more joined. There was no officious conductor, no paid chorus, no orchestral accompaniments, just these honest country people singing. It grew upon me that this was not a song; it was a prayer welling up from the hearts of these good women, when the words, "God be with you, till we meet again" came timidly, sweetly and trem- ulously from a thousand throats. I have heard the great music of Wagner rendered by the artists of Munich, have been enraptured by the masters of song in Grand Opera at Paris, and have thrilled when the voice of Caruso lifted in majestic grandeur above a singing congregation of twenty thousand, in Madison Square Garden, as he sang "Amer- ica." But never have I been so deeply touched as I was by the voices of these good people that night as they sang, "God be with you, till we meet again," for it seemed as if he who sets the Great Stage of Life, had set this scene, and had turned streams of moonlight down through the foliage of the great old trees, and here and there, had so shot a moonbeam, that it touched a bowed and grizzled old head, from which a quavering voice joined de- voutly in the refrain. It was not a song; it was a prayer. 3iiiimiimiiimmiiiiiiiiiiin milium iiiimimmmmmiimimiiiiiiiuiiiimiiimmiiiiiiimimi iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllllllllllllllllllUiniHE