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Show Church Edition THE DESERET NEWS, SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1942 Founder Of Sunday Schools Birthday Services Are Held Is Honored . Tribute Paid At Ballantyne Grave A SMALL, group of people gathered at a graveside this week in the Ogden City Cemetery and paid humble, though beautiful tribute to the man who founded the Latter-daSaint Sunday Schools It was the 125th biithday anniver sary of Richard Ballantyne pioneer leader and missionary whose loe for the truths of the Gospel inspired him to found the first Sunday School of the Church in the Rocky Mountains on Dec 0, S 10 in a smalt adobe home on the comer of First West and Thiid Souih Streets in Salt. Lake Assembled theie were General Superintendent George' D 'fhper of the Deseret Sunday School Union, his first assistant, Supt Milton Bennion, Genet al Seeietaiy Wendell J Ashton, a few officials of the Weber Stake Sundav Schools and a handful of other people, mostly descendants of Richard Ballnntjne and their friends. A small chorus of Sundav School children was on hand to paitieipate in the set v ices V y 1 , Pai ticipating in the piogiam were a son of the foundtr, James E Ballan-tjne- , who welcomed the isitors and epiessed gratitude for the tribute paid his father, Stake Sunday School Superintendent R H Stnngham of the Weber Stake over which Richard Ballantjne was piesiding at the time of his death, and Milton Bennion. The childlerTs chorus directed by Katherine Miller sang tw7o Sunday School at the qraveside of Richard Ballantyne, founder of L D.S. Sunday Schools, in the Oqdcn City Assemble Deseret Sunday School Union ; Cemetery are' left to right; General Superintendent George D. Pyper, of the son of the founder; R II Stnnq- oldest E. James living Ballantyne, Wendell J. Ashton, general secretary; General Assistant Schools and First Stake Superintendent Milton Weber of Sunday ham, Sifpefmtement A s'5 songs composed by Joseph Ballantyne, another son of the founder. They were , Shine On and Summertime.' Superintendent Pyper paid the following tribute to Richard Ballantyne: War has its heroes; men, who have conquered states and nations; noted sculptors have chisled monuments tend beautiful foibis out of rough marble; scientists have captured and controlled the fiery elements of nature; pio Bennion, neers have brought into subjection the barren wastes and have made the desert blossom as the rose. The piaises of the woild have been theirs. . tomb of one we meet at the Today who was lowly and pure of heart, who won a great victory in organizing the first Sunday School in theRocky Mountains with the objective of saving the souls of men; one whose praises have not been sung around the world, but whose name is enshrined in the Saint for his heait of every Latter-dawoik In behalf of the vouth of Zion. I speak of Richard Ballantyne I read the brief hope most of jou of his life ihhshed story in last Satp h-- ve urdays Deseret News Weekly Church It wfs written by our secretary, Elder Wendell J. Ashton I want you to know him, fop it was he who fir-suggested this Section new-gener- al lovely recognition At the 50th annnersaiy of the organization of that first Sunday School, I w7as a member of a committee appointed to intervmvv Brother Ballantyne and find out hi, motive in stait-in- g that school The-- e aie his own w oi -- These children from the Weber Stake Sunday Schools joined in the services honoring Richard Ballantyne, singing two songs written by ond of his sons, Joseph Ballantyne. The boys and girls being directed by Kathenne Miller include; Fred Ketcham, Leo II. Parkin, John Pincock, Glen Holley, Robert De Boer, Kent Van Kampen, Mehin Eschler, Brent Iloggan, Delores Murray, Rose Eschler, Ada Strinqham, Beverly Wright, Shirley Francis, Lois Mattson, Annette Andclin, Lois Limburg and Barbara Vernue V cL- - I that the Gospel was too to precious myself to be withheld from: children. the , They ought to have the privilege of Gospel teaching and that was the main purpose to teach them the Gospel . . And it ws my duty to do that. "And Richard Ballantyne faithfully performed that duty to the end of his days How his soul must rejoice, if he is able to know it, that his little Sunday School of 29 members has now grown to 400,000 members, more than an average of 4,500 inciease in each year oPiis life And now, without further multipljing words, in behalf of the General Superintendency of the Deseret Sunday School Union and its 400,000 members I place this wreath upon the grave of this good man on this 125th anniversary of his birth, in appreciation of his lifes work in behalf of the children of the Latter-da- y Saints, and ask Gods blessings upon and approval of vlhat we have done this day In the name of our great Superintendent, the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen." V |