Show THE PRATT FAMILY REUNION A highly enjoyable and incest ing occasion according to previous announcement there wits was a large gathering of tile the families of the late parley P and orson pratt to commemorate the ath anni of the batters lat birth day bayat fat the residence of sister bister marian E R pratt in the Nineteenth Ward among the invited guests were president D H wells president A M cannon and sisters E RS R snow now kimball zina D young susan snively young and miny many others the grounds were tastefully arranged aud aad decorated with ba aa lional flags etc on the spacious ions laws lawn an 11 awning was spread and seats pio vided aided tor lor the entire company adjoining the lawn a table teet leet long was spread and at 3 p in about ot t the be family aud and guests partook of a sumpta ous olis repast which had bad been provided after dinner the compa company n y repaired to the lawn and was called cal d to order hy der milando pratt and elder parley pratt opened with prayer THE FOLLOWING written by elder laron pratt was then read by elder bl milando ilando pratt brethren sisters and friends I 1 have been called upon to make the opening address on this interesting oc casion I 1 am very much pleased to see before me so large a gathering of relatives and friends friend and in the name of the family I 1 bid i ou a hearty welcome and hope peace joy thankful ness and kindly feeling will characterize this gathering it is very lwood very pleasant and profitable to have such family reunions wherein we can interchange thoughts greetings and remembrances and OLD associations and I 1 hope to see many such ings that a feeling of love and affect tion may disseminate among us and aad bring us into still closer relations of kini kin ap ip we meet today to day to celebrate an occasion which should be to us a pleasant mer memory nory and to converse of one whom we all loved and esteemed who filled the measure of bi creation and has gone hence to render an account of nis his doings here in the flesh and to continue the good work in a higher sphere our father relative and friend urson orson pratt whose seventy sixth birthday anniversary we are celebrating eb rating lived to the allotted age of man being a few days over 70 years of age when he died ile he was a man of mumble bumble mien possessed of great intelligence telli gence and many sterling qualities of heart the most conspicuous among which was his staunch icv and Yali valiant ant unflinching defense ef cf the th principles of the gospel which he advocated fifty s of his life were given to tile the promulgation of the principles of truth earthly honors and ambitions were as nothing to him the glitten pg bauble of worldly wealth had no attraction win compared to tue toe beauty and glory of hu man salvation these thirds things never made him blui swerve from the path he be had bad chosen he was a friend to all hu in the fullest beuse when the spiritual condition of mankind was concerned his constant choti lit was how bow to elevate his fellow bein beings gs and fit them for a more exalted plan of usefulness his heart was wag set upon doing the greatest amount of good to the greatest number dumber and performing er forming a grand and glorious work for for the salvation of the sons and daughters daughter of god from the tibebe time he was a bouth of nineteen Din eteen until he was taken from our midst HE LABORED AND numbly for the welfare of ma kind aind his hia mind was knolly devot devoted elto to accomplishing shing the purposes of godas god as he fat understood them and he went forth without purse curse or scrip and traveled very extensively on sea and land spreading spread ine luz the gospel of life to mani mans nations of the earth prophesying lug of the th things that were coming to pass and anc of the destruction that would overtake over tak the wicked and corrupt few men have labored so incessantly and earnestly for the accomplishment of such a grand and glorious purpose as the saving of poor fallen humanity and as his prophetic voice was raised long and loud in proclaim proclaiming n the glorious of salvation to 10 the nations of theearta the earth was here in the flesh so also will his works work sand and teachings lefton left on record speak as with the voice of thunder tu to those whom he has left behind such a work as he be has performed will leave an indel liole impre impression slon upon those who have heard him in life it needs no special exertion on our pat part to keep him in remembrance remembran ce for although he has filled his earthly lily mission and laid down an earthly form his work the people of gd will never die a and nd may it always be kept green among his family by pleasant g gathering ather ing like the present again his great mind was constantly exercised not dot only in relation to the salvation salvat iOB of the living but also the SALVATION OP OF THI THE DEAD those who had died without a knowl edge of thel Gospe Gospel so earnestly did he be wish to secure to them all eternal life lj la the presence of their heavenly nea venly father that he spent consid erable tune I 1 me in helping to compile a book ot records of the pratt famila and its branches containing over name from this record we can now trace tiace our lineage with its numerous branches blanches some years during the latter part of his lifetime he selected most of these names and then called upon his family and relations in this territory to perform certain ordin ances in the house bouse of the lord for these df deceased ceased atiCe ancestors and friends thus opening to them their prison doors in the spirit world but he was far from komg bloing all he intended he has left this unfinished w work ork for his sons and his daughters his relations and connections to continue until it is accomplished should we not be proud to labor in this noble work anich is already planned out for us we should wake up to the necessity of lie bes stirring ourselves in the matter and unite as one in such a glorious purpose we must remember that life is short alid abd we were not born to waste away ak ay our time in idle pleasures our heavenly father gave us mortal existence for a little season to see what use we e will make of it and if we do good we will be worthy of a beter bet ei life but it we throw away our opportunities then our chance of eternal life will be commensurate therewith my brothers and sisters let us be EARNEST AND VALIANT in the good work let us its be united with love and affection for one another treat one another with consideration and kindness being charitable in all things and follow the illustrious example set before us by our fat father her and friend that our minds ma may be filled with the light and intelligence Intelli intelligence genie of the spirit of god and when our earthly career i is ended we can look back over our lives with satisfaction and glorify god may the spirit of god rest upon you that your joys and pleasures may be unbounded this day in iii the name of jesus J baus amen after the reading of the adar address es a pi previously enviously evious ly arranged pro gramme of exercises was carried out remarks were made by president D H wells president A M cannon alma pratt sisters blazi R snow smith zina D youn young and prescinda Pre sinda kimball and others all of whom spoke in terms of praise pi aise of apostles parley P and orson pratt their associations with them and of their faithful labors and devotedness vot edness to the work of god and ex aborted all present to emulate their example and be faithful to their pro iestyn so they might have th the e privilege of beau being reunited re united with them songs bongs avd recitations were gives given by yung of the families at sundown the benediction was pro by elder joseph B bull u alter after which the gawu was bea beautifully and ami the younger in members embers of toe various families enjoyed the themselves P in the dance everything ing passed off harmoniously and all enjoyed themselves the gathering gath enog of yesterday will long be remembered by all who participated there were present representatives of the families of parley P orson anson and wm win D pratt A tribute to pratt written by elder george G bywater was read it was a response to an invitation to be present which the writer was prevented irom from accepting the musical poat ions of the pro gramme were nearly all rendered if aden d hv by members of the pratt showing chowins that a marked vein of musical talent runs through it |