Salt Lake Telegram | 1941-02-14 | Page 1 | Throngs Pay Respects at Smoot Rites

THRONGS PAY RESPECTS AT SMOOT RITES Eulogies Outline Life of Civic Church Work Worle s Thousands of persons who filled t the e L D S tabernacle to near near ca capacity paid a final tribute tribute tribute trib trib- ute Friday to Reed Smoot one of the states state's most distinguished persons and long an important char character known o 0 over v e r the world I From a rostrum decked high with a profusion of flowers speakers praised highly the man who was time one-time dean of the United States senate and was an apostle in the church from 1900 until his death Long before noon thousands had gathered in the tabernacle where lay the toe steel gray-steel casket below the rostrum where Mr Smoot on numerous occasions as asa asa asa a official had admonished his people to live honest courageous courage courage- ous lives It was the theme that predominated predominated predominated pre pre- dominated th the talks of speakers in eulogizing the life of Mr Smoot Numerous slate state officials headed headed headed head head- ed by Governor Herbert B. B Maw city officials headed by Mayor Ab Jenkins and the state house of representatives gathered in a body paid their last ast respects to the man who was credited with doing much for his state and his religion In hushed reverence the thousands thousands thousands thou thou- sands heard rt ute tabernacle choir sing the opening r selection God Moves in ina a Way under under under un un- un- un der direction of J. J Cornwall Cornwall Corn Corn- wall vall director I. I Rudger Clawson president of the council of 12 12 apostles of offered offered offered of- of the invocation which was followed by the selection Oh My Father sung by Richard Condie Candle tenor and the choir President Heber J. J Grant who was unable to speak had his tribute tribute tribute trib trib- ute read by Joseph Anderson his secretary In the tribute President Grant sketched the l life e of Mr Smoot from the time he was a young man graduating from Brigham Young academy to the position of trust and esteem he held at his death He re recounted how Mr Smoots Smoot's father wanted him to be bea beS S a lawyer but that he chose in instead instead instead in- in stead a business career I could talk by the hour if my health permitted of my association with Brother Smoot of the wonderful wonder wonder- ful things he has done the message message mes nies- sage said Because of Brother Smoots Smoot's position position po po- po- po in fa Washington our people have held more important offices at the nations nation's capil capitol l during the time he vas was in office than people of any other state In conclusion the message extended extended ex ex- tended sympathy to the tle widow and andi i members of the Smoot t family antiI anti and I prayed for the blessings of the the Lord to attend them in being called upon to part from their husband and father George Albert lbert Smith another speaker k r who was in charge of the funeral funer l arrangements said the former senator would rather be a deacon in the L D S church than president of the United States The remark was made to a statement statement state slate ment that Mr Smoot at one time Continued on Page Ten Column Five