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Show Page 14 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume III, Issue V January 1, 2001 Huntsville’s New Meeting House Erected 1881 By Stanley F. Wangsgaard Ogden Valley Historian Note: This article is a continuation of the story that appeared with the same title in The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS, November 1, 2000, page 27. It would be well if the reader refers to the past article to tie them both together, since this one enhances with more detail that which was told in the first. On Monday, July 9, 1883, The Ogden Daily Herald reported on the “Dedication of the New Meeting House in Huntsville in presence of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and many other leading Elders, amid a large concourse of people. “A gala day for the good people of Ogden Valley.” The following was related: Early on Sunday morning, July 8, 1883, the streets of Huntsville were lively with people getting ready to attend the dedicatory services of the new meeting house of that place. A large number of visitors were present from all parts of the County, and the place presented a scene of rural beauty and life seldom witnessed in our mountain settlements. President John Taylor and party arrived at 6:30 on Saturday evening. They were saluted by the brass band and met by the Bishop, quorums, associations, the latter of which marched from the meeting house, counter marching in front of Bishop F. A. Hammond’s residence, where President Taylor and party held a reception, greeting heartily the old and young. At the services on Sunday morning, the meeting was called to order at 10 o’clock a.m. by Bishop F. A. Hammond. The choir sang the hymn beginning: “This house we dedicate to thee, Our God, our fathers’ God.” The sacrament was administered. During the administration of the sacrament, the choir sang, “0, my father thou that dwellest,” and “The towers of Zion soon shall rise.” Bishop F. A. Hammond read the following short sketch of the history of the building of the house: “On Dec. 16, 1878, at a Priesthood meeting held at the school house it was decided that a meeting house be built and on motion of Angus McKay, Bishop F. A. Hammond and his counselors were unanimously sustained as a building committee. On February 17, 1879 about $2,000 was donated, and on Sunday, March 2, 1879, $1,500 more was subscribed. Early in the spring, work was commenced and the corner stone was laid, April 27, 1879 at 12:15. The prayer was offered by Counselor C. F. Middleton. Remarks were made by Bishop F. A. Hammond, and the stone was laid by Elder C. F. Middleton, Bishops Robert McQuarrie, F. A. Hammond and Counselor N. C. Mortensen. Since that time, the work has progressed through the liberality of the Saints, 126 persons and associations aiding with their means to the amount of $11,800. The donations range from 25 [cents] to $1,025.00 (Bishop Hammond) and $1,633 by the Church through the Trustee-in-trust; also the Relief Society gave $353.04 “What has been done in building this and the Y.L.M.I.A $125.64. Though house, shows what can be done by not all paid up, the building committee union. The house is large enough to have collateral and sufficient assurance hold you all, but it will probably not to justify them in dedicating the house always be so. We are his people fulfillto the Lord for the use of the Saints.” ing his prophecy given by Isaiah Bishop Hammond made a few wherein he sees our travels over the remarks thanking the Presidency of the plains, and our building cities and Church for their presence, and also towns in the mountains. There is no expressing his gratitude to those who power that can overthrow this people, had so liberally contributed to the God has guided their destiny and will building of the house. ever do so until the Saints have done President John Taylor was pleased their labors. . .” to meet with the Saints on this occaElder Jacob Gates next addressed sion, “and was glad that the Saints had, the audience, bearing his testimony to by their energy in building this house, the words that had been spoken and to shown that they have respect for the the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He spoke L o r d , powerfulthat they ly, for a honored length of Him first t i m e , and last, showing which is the firmas it ness of the should gospel be. The foundaLord is tions, and always the ultim o r e mate triready to umph of meet his t h e obligaKingdom tions to of God. us than T h e we are to choir sang m e e t an anthem, ours to and folHim. It lowing the is proper benedict h a t tion by nothing Apostle F. should D . be dediRichards, cated to the meetGod by i n g us until adjourned that is Huntsville’s new Meeting House shown right after the ‘till 1:30 dedication on July 9, 1883. ours and p.m. free from All the all encumbrances.” This was the case visitors repaired to the old (Rock with this house. He felt pleased with Meeting House) and partook of dinner. the building; it was amply large to Three large tables were arranged up accommodate all the people at the pres- and down the hall, filled with all the ent time, and was a credit to them who delicacies of the season. One hundred built it. He invoked the blessing of the and thirty-five persons partook of the Lord on the people. meal. The dinner was arranged by the President Joseph F. Smith, coun- ladies of the Relief Society and selor in the First Presidency, then Improvement Associations who did an offered the dedicatory prayer. excellent work in that line. One beef President George Q. Cannon, coun- weighing 600 pounds was furnished by selor in the First Presidency, addressed Bishop F. A. Hammond, and sixty the audience. “The occasion which pounds of fine trout were furnished by calls us together is one of pleasure.” He the young men of the Improvement did not know when he had taken as Association. The house was nicely much pleasure as he had enjoyed since decorated and the whole reflected great his arrival to this beautiful valley. credit upon the committee and upon “This house shows what can be done those who had the matter in charge, as by the united effort of the people. All much as it gave comfort and pleasure to who contributed to the house will be those who were entertained. richer for what they have done. He Committee on invitation: Bishop F. looks at the valley and thinks there is A. Hammond, William Halls, and N. C. no reason why this little valley should Mortensen. Committee of arrangenot be a little heaven of peace. And ments: Charles Wright, David McKay, there is no doubt, the people have good W. W. Bronson, P. C. Geertsen, C. F. times in the enjoyment of the spirit of Schade, A. P. Lofgreen and Christian God. Here are all the facilities for edu- Peterson. cating your children; here are all the The afternoon services were opened necessities to make life happy, a health- by the congregation singing: “We thank ful climate, pure streams, and lovely thee, 0 God, for a prophet. Prayer was fields. Children will here grow up to offered by Elder Abram H. Cannon. become good and pure.” The choir sang: “An angel from on Wilford Woodruff, (President of the high, the long, long silence broke.” quorum of twelve apostles) was The assembly was then addressed pleased to be present on this occasion. by President Joseph F. Smith. He said he could not be otherwise than pleased with his visit to Huntsville, and the substantial evidences of improvement since he visited it, several years ago. He saw no reason why the people here should not feel extremely thankful to God for the great number of blessings they enjoy in this peaceful vale. The more we have the more thankful we should feel, and it was a mystery to him how people could forget the source whence all blessings flow. “But it is not the rich but the poor who receive and obey the Gospel, and who have been gathered to the mountains of Utah. Thousands of them have been brought here by the assistance of their friends. Many of those persons who came to Utah and walked nearly the whole distance across the plains, are more thankful and much better satisfied today, than those who came by easy, comfortable, and speedy conveyances . . .” He counseled the people to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in all things, to be humble and faithful in the discharge of all their duties, “For it is by the mercy and love of God that we live and enjoy all the things we possess . . .” He saw where the Lord had greatly blessed the saints in Huntsville, “ . . . and he will continue to do so, so long as they will be as faithful in the future as they have been in the past.” He prayed God to help them to do so. President John Taylor was the next speaker. He said we came here to take our earthly tabernacles, that we might be able to work out our salvation. This was the purpose designed by the Almighty concerning us before the world was framed. “His design in this great work was not only that we should do something for ourselves, but also that we should do something for our ancestors who had passed behind the veil. “This work of salvation interests and affects all people who have lived and will yet live on the earth. We are here to build up the Kingdom of God, and to do his will on earth as it is done in the heavens . . . The world was framed by God through the agency of the Priesthood, and it was by this power that He does all things pertaining to the government of His Kingdom, either for the living or the dead. As a people we understand something of these principles, because we have obeyed the Gospel that was preached unto us, and the Lord has gathered us here from the nations that we might build up a Zion of God and co-operate here on earth with the Saints in the heavens to bring to pass and accomplish His purpose concerning us— which is eternal life.” President Taylor concluded his most interesting, impressive and instructive discourse by reminding the Latter-day Saints of the great exaltations that are prepared for the faithful, in the mansions of the Father, and counseled them to be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves, to live godly in Jesus Christ, that they may obtain these heavenly riches. He prayed that God would bless this house, which had been dedicated to His service together with all the people who have built it. The choir sang an anthem and the services closed with benediction by Counselor William Halls. |