the stage when quite young greatly impaired my health. I married when
eighteen. My husband, Thomas Williams, had been in my father's employ
in his office, for several years; then in the Theatre, where I saw him
frequently, but, as he was much older than I, it never occurred to me
to fall in love with him. 'None knew him but to love him,' the bard
wrote, which is true of my husband. I was his second wife, and here let
me testify that in entering into the order of plural marriage, both
my husband and myself did so from the purest and holiest motives. For
six years I was his loving wife, bearing two sons, Sterling and Thomas
Edgar. In July, 1873, my dear husband was called home. None but those
who are called upon to pass through similar circumstances can know
the sorrow and anguish it is to part from a loving, noble husband and
father.
"My time now was given principally to my Church duties and to the
support of my dear children. In all my trials my dear mother was my
comfort and support. By the advice of my father, I went to Sevier
County and took up a quarter section of land. I went to St. George at
the completion of the Temple, and met many dear friends and relatives;
my father was there, and those who were present, will, I believe,
never forget the heavenly intercourse enjoyed by the Saints while thus
convened. Shortly after our return to the city, our honored father was
stricken down with his last sickness. Never was there a more solemn
scene than that witnessed at his death, his family were there, also
the head men of the Church. Physicians with their futile skill were
standing round, the faith and anxiety of the whole Church were centered
around that dying form and departing soul of God's Prophet at that
trying hour. His body unconscious now to pain, was there before us,
but his noble spirit already saw behind the veil which screens from us
the immortal spheres. 'Joseph! Joseph!' were his last words, and when
he breathed his last his face became radiant as if molten sunbeams
had been poured into his veins, giving him an unearthly and celestial
appearance never to be forgotten by those who surrounded his dying
couch. After a settlement of our father's estate I removed to Provo in
order to give my dear children and myself the advantages of attending
the Brigham Young Academy. In January of this same year, President
Taylor sent me, in company with Sister Emmeline B. Wells, to visit
the Woman's Suffrage Convention held in Washington. After my return
I began teaching in the Brigham Young Academy, taking charge of the
young ladies and organizing a work class; also the primary department
in which position I have been actively engaged ever since. The
Brigham Young Academy was endowed by inspiration by him whose name it
bears. Professor Karl G. Maeser was called to act as principal at the
commencement, and when he asked for instruction from its noble founder,
he received only this: 'Ask God to guide you in all things and carry it
on under His directions; this is all I have to say.'
"From that time Professor Maeser has faithfully lived to fulfill the
wishes of its founder. How he has succeeded is demonstrated every year
by the hundreds of young men and women who there receive for the first
time a knowledge and testimony of this Gospel. Too much praise cannot
be bestowed upon the Honorable Board: President A. O. Smoot, Harvey
Cluff, Wilson H. Dusenberry, Bishop Myron Tanner, Bishop Harrington,
Bishop Bringhurst and Sister Coray for their energy and labor to make
this school all that Brigham Young intended it should be.
"In the deeds bestowing a grant upon this institution it is plainly
stated that the young men be taught mechanism, and the young ladies
domestic duties. In accordance with this a young ladies' department
has been organized and we have endeavored to carry out this peculiar
feature desired by President Young, my beloved father.
"I have occupied the position of advisor and director to the young
ladies for the past four years. I have now the advantage of a fine
large room built expressly for this branch of education. Was called to
preside over the Primary Associations of Provo, am a Counselor to the
President of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association also; and
an officer in the Provo Silk Association."
While living in Salt Lake City, Mrs. Zina Y. Williams was one of the
committee superintending the decoration of the great Tabernacle. Large
classes were taught artificial flower making, and thousands of yards
of festoons and hanging baskets, interspersed with appropriate mottoes
and flags made the vast ceiling a bower of beauty for many months. She
has taught decorative work of different kinds in several towns of our
Territory, possessing a special gift in this direction.
An energetic spiritual laborer, a loving daughter and faithful wife
and mother, she has also a wide circle of sincere friends. She was
the first of President Young's daughters to manifest prominently
in the face of opposition, her willingness to unite with the
associations organized for the repression of extravagance in dress,
table expenditure and frivolity, and for the cultivation of spiritual
knowledge, and mutual improvement. These meetings were regarded with
aversion and even ridicule, by many, as tending to bring women into too
great publicity. This proved to be an incorrect idea. Sister Williams
was one of the earliest spiritual laborers and has never faltered or
deviated from her line of duty. President Young has other daughters
also, who have later become officers and actively interested in the
Women's Organizations among this people; and they will without doubt,
develop many of those abilities, which, combined and made subservient
to the will of God made the name of Brigham Young immortal in history.
LOUISE M. WELLS.
SECRETARY OF CENTRAL ORGANIZATION OF THE YOUNG LADIES' MUTUAL
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS.
The fact that most of the ladies of this work are of mature, and
some even advanced years, suggests the thought--what of the "rising
generation" of this people? How have the practical workings of this
system which the world can judge of only from report and occasional
glimpses into its operations, but which with the youth of the people is
a literal and sole experience--affected their ideas and purposes?
Time, steadfast determination and spiritual progress have adjusted all
mingled and varied elements of individualities and nationalities in
those who received the Gospel in scattered homes in different parts
of the earth, have overcome those obstacles (which were such through
inexperience in newly restored truths and laws,) and brought all to
the proper level of their individual sphere of action and usefulness.
What a piece of master-work has this been! Order out of confusion,
brotherhood created between stranger races.
It has been often said, "that when the old stock dies out," the world
can better judge the worth of our doctrines; if they survive and grow
in the hearts of the succeeding generation their parents did not plant
the spiritual tree in lack of wisdom, and it will after this test of
years prove worthy of the serious consideration of those who now deem
it beneath their thoughtful attention.
More than fifty years have passed since the glorious message was first
proclaimed to the world; many of those true, noble Saints who toiled
as builders of their Master's Kingdom have finished their work, and
with years filled with honors have passed on to their rest and reward.
A few years more, and the witnesses who lived in the days of Joseph
and Hyrum will be gone, we shall be left to ourselves, their record
and our God. Who will replace them? Are their posterity following in
their footsteps? Yes, beneath the seeming swift current of youthtime's
careless indifference runs an undercurrent of earnestness, integrity
and--yes--royalty of soul. There can be found many of our young people
who bear the impress of their destiny in their daily lives, their
numbers are increasing, their works assuming prominence and recognition.
In connection with the young people's organizations it is due to Miss
Louise M. Wells, that a brief record of her history and position form
part of this work.
This young lady was born in Salt Lake City, August 27, 1862. On both
her father and mother's side she is descended from families of the old
Puritan stock. General Wells' record in Church history is one that
earth's greatest men might be proud to possess, and he has received
such a tribute of respect and love from our people as has rarely been
recorded. Her mother is the editor of the _Woman's Exponent_, but
has during her lifetime written constantly, amounting indeed to many
volumes were her writings published; and is exceptionally gifted as a
poetic writer. With such parents it may be reasonably expected that
with her inherent endowments trained in the influence of the Gospel,
with a fine spiritual nature, conscientious principles, an amiable
disposition and quiet, gentle manner, Miss Wells will do credit to her
parents and her people.
Of Louie, as she is familiarly called, it is said that when she was
very young she gave evidence of musical talent by rendering in an
original style, plaintive melodies admirably suited to her voice,
and rich in that pathos that always touches the heart. With many,
singing is an acquired accomplishment, with her it is as natural as
to the nightingale. Also in her childhood she unconsciously disclosed
artistic taste by gathering the autumn tinted leaves and grasses from
the garden, which she arranged in quaint and pretty devices for home
adornments. This talent was later cultivated under competent teachers,
when she soon became qualified to give lessons privately and in
classes, in drawing and painting. Already artists of distinction have
pronounced her oil paintings of sufficient merit to entitle her to
enter the Academy of Design in New York, and she has been advised to
adopt art as a life vocation. On the occasion of the Church Jubilee,
on Pioneer Day, 1880, Miss Wells was selected by the committee to
represent Art. In 1882, in company with some of her relatives, she
visited California, and there for the first time saw the ocean, one
of nature's grandest pictures. During this visit she went through the
art galleries of San Francisco. In 1883, she with her sister, Mrs.
Sears, made a trip to the Eastern States, and visited the art galleries
and museums of St. Louis, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Boston,
Philadelphia and Washington. Also had the opportunity of attending the
World's Exposition at Boston. While visiting in the East she attended
a reunion of the Dickinson's held at Amherst, Massachusetts, as a
representative of the name, from whom her father descended through his
grandmother, Experience Dickinson. Arriving at College Hall, where
the reunion was celebrated, she met many hundreds of her kindred. Of
this family I quote: "It is now almost two hundred and fifty years
since Nathaniel Dickinson landed at Boston, and prior to 1634 found a
home at Wethersfield, forty or fifty miles below Amherst. In 1659 he
planted the permanent seat of our family, and deeply rooted the name
of Dickinson, and here nine succeeding generations have risen to call
him blessed. Nathaniel Dickinson died at Hadley, June 16, 1676. No
pencil or artist has preserved to us the semblance of his features, no
gravestone marks his resting-place. We only know that he sleeps in the
only burying-ground at Hadley."
At this reunion, which was quite an elaborate affair, a congratulatory
letter was read from her father, General D. H. Wells, which elicited
considerable applause, and the President, who had seen the General when
visiting Salt Lake City, spoke of him in the highest terms.
Miss Wells was very cordially received by the hundreds of Dickinson's
and succeeded in getting the names of many of the relatives of the
family who are now sleeping in the old graveyard at Hadley, and from a
"roll of honor" which hung upon the wall in the hall where the meeting
was held, on which were inscribed the names of those who had made
themselves distinguished. It was singular that this great meeting of
the Dickinson's should have convened at the time when Miss Louie was
visiting her mother's relatives only a few miles from Amherst, giving
her an opportunity of meeting her father's kindred.
Louie visited Nauvoo, also Kirtland, where she went through the Temple.
She has also proved herself to be a most charming press correspondent,
by contributions to the _Exponent_ that touched the heart of every
Saint; letters that were as beautiful, fresh and sweet as spring-time.
She has been connected with the _Exponent_ for some time; is a writer
for the _Contributor_, has been a member of the Tabernacle Choir for
several years, and taught a department of Miss Cook's school in 1880
and 1881.
In June, 1880, Miss Wells was appointed Secretary to the Central
Organization of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations, Mrs.
Elmina S. Taylor, President, a position of honor and importance, and
which she fulfils with dignity and ability. As a Latter-day Saint, the
young lady is worthy of her position and the love and confidence of her
friends; and we look forward to her future with happy anticipations of
beautiful works from her spirit and hand.
As in this work are represented the venerable silver-haired matrons,
and the younger wife and mother, it seems beautifully appropriate that
Miss Louie, in her youth and purity, should represent the daughters of
Israel, looking towards the future with eyes of faith and confidence.
Explanatory of the Picture
REPRESENTATIVE WOMEN OF DESERET.
The first portrait in the first group of the picture, is that of
ELIZA R. SNOW SMITH, President of the Latter-Day Saints' Women's
Organizations. The second, on the left-hand side of the same group,
ZINA D. H. YOUNG, First Counselor. Third, on the right-hand side, MARY
ISABELLA HORNE, Treasurer. Fourth, SARAH M. KIMBALL, Secretary.
The above are the Presiding Board over all the Latter-Day Saints
Women's Organizations.
At the head of the "Association Group" is, first, ELMINA S. TAYLOR,
President of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations. Second,
MARY A. FREEZE, President of the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement
Association of the Salt Lake Stake of Zion. Third, left-hand side, is
LOUIE FELT, President of the Primary Associations. Fourth, ELLEN C.
CLAWSON, President of the Primary Associations of the Salt Lake Stake
of Zion.
At the head of the picture, left-hand corner, PHOEBE W. WOODRUFF, wife
of President Wilford Woodruff. At the right-hand corner, BATHSHEBA W.
SMITH, wife of President George A. Smith. At the left-hand corner,
PRESCENDIA L. KIMBALL, a veteran Saint and pioneer. At the right-hand
lower corner, ELIZABETH HOWARD, Secretary of the Relief Society of the
Salt Lake Stake of Zion.
At the head of the fourth group is, EMMELINE B. WELLS, editor of
_Woman's Exponent_. At the right-hand, same group, is ROMANIA B. PRATT,
M. D.
Turning now to the four ladies on the left-hand side of the picture,
the first is EMILY HILL WOODMANSEE, poet. Second, right-hand side,
HANNAH T. KING, poet and prose author. Third, on the left, AUGUSTA
JOYCE CROCHERON, author, and Secretary of the Young Ladies' Mutual
Improvement Association of the Salt Lake Stake of Zion. Fourth, HELEN
MAR WHITNEY, daughter of Heber C. Kimball, and writer of Church history
and biographies; also First Counselor of the Relief Society of the Salt
Lake Stake of Zion.
Returning to the fourth group: third portrait on the left, ZINA Y.
WILLIAMS, daughter of Brigham Young, and President of the Primary
Associations of the Utah Stake of Zion. Fourth, is LOUIE M. WELLS,
daughter of President D. H. Wells; Secretary of Central Organizations
of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations. Vocalist and
artist.
FINIS.
Transcriber's Note
Various obvious typographical errors have been corrected as seemed
reasonable, e.g. "coronatiion" for "coronation" and various similar
spelling issues, missing periods, and so forth.