21 January 1881


Anniversary Celebration; St. George, Utah Territory

Aunt Eliza’s Birthday.— A St. George correspondent kindly furnishes us with a full and well written account of the celebration, in that city on the 21st inst., of the 77th anniversary of Sister E. R. Snow Smith. We are obliged to condense the report, but are equally indebted to the writer. The day was warm and clear:

“Sisters Snow and Zina D. [H.] Young, spent the morning in the Temple, and in the afternoon with sisters Susan S. Young, Lucy B. Young, Minerva [W.] Snow, Susa Young Gates, Sister Empy [Mary Ann Empey] and Mrs. Potter, were the guests of Sister Ruth Young Johnson. In the evening, after returning home, about nine o’clock, the brass band, led by Captain Wm. [William] Thompson, serenaded the sisters, and a large number who had gathered to give Sister Eliza a surprise, entered the house. There were among them, Prest. [John] McAllister and wife, the Presidents of the Relief Societies of St. George and the members of President [Brigham] Young’s family who are in that city at present. Sister Snow was indeed surprised, but remarked that it was the happiest birthday of her life, thanked the members of the band, and all the rest who helped to make it so. A tribute of affection from the pen of Sister Minerva Snow and an address from Susa Young Gates were read, after which a large and handsome cake was presented to Sister Eliza, by President Minerva Snow, in behalf of the Relief Societies of St. George, Sister Eliza then said: “There are times when silence seems to be golden. To-night I feel too much to speak. I feel unworthy of the honor my brothers and sisters here in St. George have bestowed upon me. I pray God to pour out blessings upon the people here, and to multiply unto them the good things of this earth. I thank you brothers and and sisters, the Relief Societies, one and all. I wish it was in my power to make a suitable return, but I cannot do it.” President McAllister then spoke, followed by Sister Zina and a great many others and after a very happy time the assembly was dismissed by prayer.

[. . .] [p. 3]

Source Note

Local and Other Matters,” Deseret Evening News 14, no. 55 (27 Jan. 1881): [3].

See also “Local and Other Matters: From Thursday’s Daily, Jan. 27,” Deseret News 30, no. 1 (2 Feb. 1881): [1].

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21 January 1881, Anniversary Celebration; St. George, Utah Territory, The Discourses of Eliza R. Snow, accessed March 19, 2024 https://www.churchhistorianspress.org/eliza-r-snow/1880s/1881/01/1881-01-21