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Show CHURCH LEADER GALLEDBY DEATH CHAS. W. PENROSE ENDS ACTIVE CAREER AT AGE OF 93; END COMES PEACEFULLY Active Member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; Members Mem-bers of Family Present When End Overtakes Veteran filt Lake City. Charles W. Penrose, Pen-rose, first counselor in the first presidency pres-idency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at his home here Saturday, May 10th, 1925. He was 93 years of age. The church leader's condition which was critical for several months, became alarming Friday morning when he lapsed into unconsciousness. Advised by attending attend-ing physicians that the end was near, members of the family were summoned summon-ed to the bedside. Saturday morning President Penrose Pen-rose became weaker. With a natural tenacity he clung to life for fourteen four-teen hours, finally succumbing Saturday Sat-urday evening. Physicians announced announc-ed that death was due to the infirmities infirm-ities of old age. President Penrose was confined to his bed in September, 1924. Despite his weakness, he arose on election day, November 4, and went to the polls to vote. It was his last trip out-of-doors. After that he was confined con-fined at his home where he remained until his death. President Grant expressed regret when informed of the death of President Pres-ident Penrose. "I regarded him as one of the greatest great-est men the Latter-day Saint church has yet produced," he said. Charles W. Penrose was chosen second counselor to President Joseph F. Smith, to succeed the late John Henry Smith, who died October 13, 1911, at a meeting of the first presidency pres-idency and apostles held December 7, 1911. He was also chosen to act in the same capacity when Heber J. Grant became president of the church. In March, 1921, President Penrose became be-came first counselor on the death of Anton H. Lund. Apostle Anthony W. Ivins was chosen as second counselor counsel-or and the vacancy in the quorum of the twelve apostles was filled with the appointment of John A. Didtsoe, then president of the University of Utah. Mr. Penrose was born February 4, 1S32, at Camberwell, London, England. Eng-land. Being of a naturally studious and inquiring turn of mind, with quick perception and remarkable memory, he speedily mastered at school the common rudiments of education. edu-cation. He read the scriptures when only 4 years old and early was well versed in the doctrines of the Bible. This paved the way for his acquaintance with the subsequent acceptance of Mormonism. He joined the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in London, May 14, 1850, and was the only member of his father's family to embrace the faith. His scriptural attainments and spiritual spir-itual inclinations soon brought him to the notice of the presiding authorities of the London conference and in January, Jan-uary, 1851, when not 19 years of age, he was ordained an elder. Two months later he was sent on a mission to Maldon, in Essex, to preach the gospel, "break new ground" and build up branches of the church. This he did in opposition to the wishes of his friends, and at the sacrifice sac-rifice of a life position in a government govern-ment office. Starting out without a penny, he reached Maldon, after having hav-ing had to sleep out at night for the first time in his life. Here he met considerable opposition, but succeeded succeed-ed in building up branches of the church in Maldon, Danbury, Chelmsford, Chelms-ford, Colchester and other places. He ba.ptised many of both sexes, many of whom afterwards came to Utah. t ' It was during this period, on January Jan-uary 21. 1S55, that he married Miss Lucetta Stratford of Maldon, sister of the late Bishop Edward Stratford of Ogden. who was brought into the church with his family. |
