Martin Harris Monument

Photo by John Ravsten Above: President Heber J. Grant at the dedication services of the Martin Harris monument, Clarkston, Utah, July 10, 1925. Below: Russel, John and Lehi Harris, grandsons of Martin Harris. Russel who is sitting, and is the oldest living grandson, unveiled the monument at the dedication services, July 10, 1925. About one thousand people were in attendance.

. . . . Photo by John Ravsten Left: Martin Harris monument before it was unveiled. Right: Martin Harris monument as it appeared after unveiling, July 10, 1925, the 50th anniversary of his death. The inscription on the monument reads: "Martin Harris, one of the Three Witnesses to the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon. Born Easttown, Saratoga County, New York, May 18, 1783; died Clarkston, Utah, July 10, 18 75." The monument stands 15 feet high and the shaft is of "Rock of Ages" polished granite. It is twelve feet high and is set on a four-foot-one-inch block of Utah granite which rests on a cement base set six feet into the ground. Martin Harris left the Church in early days, but came to Utah, August 29, 18 70, and rejoined the Church shortly afterward, then removed to Smithfield, and later to Clarkston, Utah, where he died. President Heber J. Grant, Bishop Sylvester Q. Cannon and other Church of- ficials were in attendance at the exercises. The program conducted by the stake presidency consisted of songs and speeches and a hrief life-sketch of Martin Harris. President Grant, who some years ago consecrated the Oliver Cowdery memorial in Richmond, Mo., dedicated the Clarkston monument in a short and eloquent prayer, preceded by happy remarks upon the life and character of Martin Harris, showing that he never faltered in his testimony as it appears in the Book of Mormon. Aft.'r the services the Church officials and family numbering about 200, were served with a banquet in the stake tabernacle.

The Pioneers The ranks of the peers are thinning, The tread of the march goes slow. As the feet that have pressed to the inning, Turn into the twilight glow. Mid heraldic pomp and vesture, The cavalcade austere, Moves on to its last adventure In the file of the Pioneer. The nations stand at attention, The cities cordon their streets, In proud acclaim and convention, An empire honors and greets. And the hands of the empire builders Clasp hands with the old compeers, Mid a structure that bewilders The width of the hemispheres. They have builded their Rock of Ages High into the firmament, And their script on history's pages Spans over a continent. Theirs the art and science of merit. If they failed they faught again, And the bonus their children inherit, Falls clean from the hands of men. Fling out the holiday streamers, Let pageantry gird the plain, As the feet of the soil redeemers March on to their last campaign. A prayer goes up from the nation, As the slow file disappears, And the souls of a generation Pledge deep to the Pioneers. Mesa, Arizona BERTHA A. KLEINMAN