Show OLD FOLKS A gay time vine among the Te TIIE THE START AND ON THE WAY the old folks excision party consisting of about souls left the depot at salt luke f for or ogden at five minutes to a m the train consisted of thirteen cars superintendent sharp with his customary solicitude for all things to proceed properly so far as the railroad is concerned was antho on the ground from an early hour the engine and cars were gaily decorated with flags A large number of people witnessed the departure A special car waa was placed at the disposal of president taylor who was accod accompanied acied by presidents cannon ant and woodruff the venar venerable bishop hunter a central figure of the occasion bishop hardy hon L john nuttall and several ladies we also noticed on the train hon C W penrose editor of the deseret news elder jos E Taylor Sister taylor mother whit ne ncy mrs E EB B wells vella editor of edthe the comans womans exponent sister ellen bf whitney judge snow and many other prominent ladies and gentlemen A choir coin composed posed of fourteen members of the salt lake taber nacle choral organization led by bro IV foster passed through the train beginning at the presidents denes car and discoursed sweet music A walk from one end of the train to the other afforded one of the most pathetic and interesting sights of a lifetime life time the utmost cheerfulness prevailed the countenances of the aged veterans were lighted up with joyous and pleasing expressions and numerous and hearty were the greetings among old and trusty friends who had not met each other for long periods the energetic and ever kindly committee and their numerous aids passed to and fro among the veterans distributing with a free hand lemonade cakes fruit and other refreshments presidents taylor cannon and woodruff passed through the train shaking hands with and uttering kingly words to the company as they passed along at woods cross Cen centreville treville farmington and kaysville Kays ville crowds of people were on the platform sand the company were there joined by old folks of these towns A portion of the gramme pro of the day was the presentation of a SILVER MEDAL p to each excursionist on the train v over ninety years of age this ceremony ai was attended to on the train it was an affecting scene brother r goddard asked them in turn to stand upon their feet as did all who were in in the cars with ered heads the ribbon attached to the medal was then placed over the neck of the veteran to whom i it t r was awarded accompanied b by a hearty blessing pronounced by lo 10 bro goddard the recipients were deeply affected the tears tean gushing from their eyes and running down the aged faces while the spectators were also moved to deep emotion those who received the tile medals were k john wilson of the 17 th ward aged 97 susannah liversage of ft the ward aged 96 and win hines ad W ward ar d aa aged ed 97 mary bishop ward 91 there was a delay at Kay Kays avillo Ville I of over an hour in in consequence of the bursting of a flu flue e in in the engine giler after the ne acquisitions at points on the way t ane e company was counted it numbered of these exclusive of those over ninety 50 were between the ages of df 80 90 and 90 of these 29 were ladies and 21 were gentlemen there were between the ages of 70 to 80 there were therefore a total of over 70 years of age THE ARRIVAL at ogden was a scene of much interest A great concourse of people from the whole county had assembled at the depot to give a hearty welcome to the silver grey brigade if tile ogdan den brass band and the fourth ward ward band filled the air with sti stirring M strains of music musi C apostle lanaras richards and president peery P were on the ground around the people n te of weber county acted nobly ob oly i in f furnishing urn isbin conveyances to car carry the e excursionists to farrs barrs grove there must have been about teams at hand band for that purpose the difficult task of super superintending euper intending the ogden arrangements range ments was in m the hands ands of judge middleton who performed the work well and too much commendation men dation cannot be accorded to marshal barnard white and his mounted aides for the prompt and efficient manner in which they performed the parts assigned mined them the procession to the grove was very long and large ci crowds dowds of people le thronged thron ged different points of the line fine of march to see the old folks A warm welcome me met t the edcur ajon zionists jets at the grove wh where ere a large number of veterans from ogden and different lerent dif parts of weber county had preceded them and they freely mingled with and warmly erected greeted tho tile venerable via visitors igors largo large tables spread with the good abic thin things of life were in the grove of which i all partook who desired and everybody wanted to the provisions for the comfort and refreshment of the excursionists in the hands of the salt lake committee were also most ample no person was allowed to go without boing being inwardly replenished to obviate anything of that kind president peery went among the people personally to ascertain if there ther ewas was anybody who had not been tup supplied plied the people gathered adhered around the stand shortly before before p m when some interesting proceedings were inaugurated the ch air san sang come let us go up unto tho the mountain of the bouse house of the lord composed both music and words bt by a young man named stevens of willard it is a beautiful composition and was admirably executed A most impressive prayer was offered ered by president wilford woodruff fl lively music by the ogden brass band president pecry peery made a few a appropriate p prop remarks giving a cordial welcome to the visitors and thanking presidents taylor and Cannon also brother woodruff and bisho bishop hunter for their presence he ie paid a hi high h tribute to the tatter latter allu alluding gling to liis his great age and faithfulness ho he also thanked all who had contributed to tho the success of the occasion manor HUNTER REPLIED ho he explained the origin of the old folks excursions excursions he spoke of tho the excellent spirit that prevailed at the first affair of the kind ho he hoped he lie had ever been a citizen true to his god and his country ho he had no unpleasant reflections regarding the past he recollected the death of george Washingto nand tho the gloomy feeling he be experienced at the death of the father of his country he spoke of the glorious constitutional clause giving religious liberty to all ho he biving had ad always ways known there was a god but did not know how to approach him until lie became connected with tho the latter day saints ho ile related some interesting incidents of his early experience in the church he rejoiced re oi ed in tho the priesthood which ed had been given to bless and be blessed tile reception that had been accorded by the people of ogden and weber co had bad surpassed sur pissed all that could have been anticipated he spoke with emotion of tho the martyrdom of joseph and H hyrum and of the noble part PC performed ormed by president ert taylor on that tha occasion A TEST testimonial MoNrAL was presented to the venerable bishop edward hunter it consisted of the portraits of presidents joseph smith brigham young and john taylor it was tendered by prof monch in behalf of the sunday schools of ogden veen en it was intended to have been tendered by richard ballantyne founder of tho the first sunday school in utah uth but he was absent from ogden there waa was a suitable inscription expressive of the affection of the donors forthe for the recipient also a suitable poem by sister E R snow smith the sentiments were executed in m beautiful penmanship I by prof A J phelps this is wic the anni annil of the veteran bishops birthday three cheers were then given for the bishop the bishop whose faltering accents denoted the depth of his bi a emotion made a suitable reply in response PRESIDENT IDENT JOHN TAYLOR expressed his gratification at it being Pes present elit on BO so interesting an occasion ion he ile fully endorsed everything that had bad been expressed in the memorial ine morial to bishop hunter who was a man of faith and integrity he was also pleased to meet with and shake hands with so many of t the he aged brethren and sisters the hoary head is honorable if found in the way of righteousness he was pleased at such a testimonial of respect from the children to our venerable bishop he exhorted old and young to faithfulness at the close of president taylors ta aloris remarks all those OVER an fn NINETY YEARS OF AGE were ere requested to hold up their ands hands sister alary mary ann white m h ite of aden den c mother of 13 brother rother barnard aj ditc was awarded a silver medal brother william davis of brigham city ity 87 years old was award ed a like iko trophy t y father lher blasius erastus bingham 83 years got a silver medal sabra ra eldredge Eldred gc of farmers ward ard salt lake county got a medal samuel chandler 81 of wil lard ird ci city ty got a medal susanna garrett 82 north ogen den was awarded a silver medal Jol john wilson ward salt lake ake 98 next sept being the oldest man inan found on the ground got ota a gold medal and a plug tobacco bacco the oldest lady susanna laver liver sage wc of salt lake 98 next october ot a five dollar gold piece some F ncy flowers and a sunshade of ogden got a bottle of wine and a silver cup he is 89 on years cars of age A r pattern was given to the oldest lady in ogden margaret desal ules 88 atit the oldest lady from plain ct city IT was as awarded a tea pot hanna peterson eterson 75 got it it was stated that brother F falconbridge al con bridge ortho of the ward salt lake was over years old but was unable to como come with the excursion cur sion sister rachacl rachael middleton of judge middleton of ogden 86 years old got a sunshade A call was made for the oldest olde t lady that pulled a hand cart over the plains catherine wilson ward salt sal t lake 80 years old being that person got a dress pattern john atoms morris of the leth ward S it city 84 got a package of tea and a it bottle of wine A any man over 60 that could spell was entitled to a dollar one old gentleman said two pairs of slippers and an d two I pairs airs of shoes spells t lie K king cing ot of the jews and got a prize i brother goddard in behalf of all concerned thanked the people of Og ogden denand and weber county from the president president down downier for the kind reception cep tion it would bo be further acknowledged next season by an invitation to salt lake for a similar time of enjoyment the choir sang auld lang syne the benediction was pronounced ba by president cannon about clock when the work of loading up the conveyances was begun u under the direction of marshal white and his assistants the dispersion then commenced the road to the depot being alive with a long string of vehicles this is the sixth old folks excursion cur sion but it is freely acknowledged that none of the former occasions have equalled equal led this in many of its features the committee are bishop hunter george goddard C it savage win eddington win naylor wm win L binder and john kirkman their management of the affair in all its details has been most excellent they have displayed the most admirable tact energy and the most uniform pleasantness throughout and their efforts are appreciated and will never bp forgotten wo we should not omit ornit to mention that the company were indebted to conductor jacobs for marked courtesy on the railroad portion of the tri trip it i is estimated that the gathering at the grove numbered in the vicinity of people nothing occurred to mar tho the pleasure of the occasion which was one that will not soon pass out of the minds of those who participated it was a season of genuine gladness |