Our father, like unto Abraham of old, sits as a great High Priest, surrounded by his family on earth, which now numbers over five score and ten, and like the ancient patriarchs, is waiting the time when the Lord will call him up, to become a God in eternity, not merely to reign over hundreds, but thousands and tens of thousands.
While the members of this family now look upon our honored father, we, his children, all, with one accord, feel to say, Father, the many silvery locks that adorn your venerable head number thousands, but your many noble deeds number tens of thousands.
It has often been remarked that children should excel their parents in goodness and noble deeds; but I say, may we, the sons and daughters of this, our aged father, make for ourselves as honorable record as that of his, and have before us, at the age of three score and ten years, as great a testimonial as surrounds him on this grand and glorious occasion.
Inasmuch as we are considered worthy to feast with our father on earth, may we prove ourselves more worthy to feast with him in eternity, when this earth shall have passed into its glorified state, and when our father will be surrounded by multitudes of his noble posterity who have obeyed the first commandment of multiplying and replenishing the earth.
I pray the Lord to pour down blessings upon each member of the family, and that in his declining years our father may look with as much pride and cause for gratitude upon a noble posterity as he does on this grand occasion.
ADDRESS BY MORRIS D. ROSENBAUM,
SON-IN-LAW OF LORENZO SNOW.
I've come, responsive to your call, dear friend,
And heartfelt tribute cheerfully extend
On this, your seventieth anniversary,
And gladly honor this, your jubilee.I fain would cherish all men's noble deeds,
Without regard to nations or their creeds;
I'll never harbor malice in my heart—
From truth and virtue I will not depart.In the grand cause of truth and human right,
You've labored long—you've worked with all your might,
In aiming Zion's children to unite;
The Lord has blest you with unrivaled light.You've traveled much abroad o'er land and sea—
The Gospel standard raised in Italy;
Journeyed in Asia's far-off sunny clime,
And testified to men in Palestine.A sacred record, by the ancients written,
You once presented to the Queen of Britain;
In various ways you've worked for Zion's cause,
Withal assisted framing Utah's laws.You long have known that truth alone will stand;
You know God's kingdom yet will fill the land;
You see it rolling forth in might along,
And yearly in these mountains growing strong.You've bravely toiled through many joys and fears,
Until your age o'erreaches seventy years;
On this occasion I rejoice to see
You thus enjoy your well-earned jubilee.Since nightly rest is unto labor given,
And one day set apart in every seven,
'Tis right that you should have a jubilee
Of rest, and bless your own posterity.I wish a thousand blessings and good cheer
To you, with all your family now here,
For what you've done and what you've suffered too,
With life so pure, and with a heart so true.In fervent prayer I ask the God of grace
To smooth your pathway in your onward race;
And unto you may special grace be given
To help you walk the "narrow way" to heaven.May many years of true prosperity
Be added on to your past seventy,
With peace and plenty in your mountain home,
Is the wish of your friend,M. D. Rosenbaum.
ADDRESS BY GEORGE F. GIBBS.
Much Honored Sire: Thankful for the opportunity, I cheerfully respond to the programme and offer a few sentiments on this highly interesting occasion.
Family gatherings are time-honored customs. The presence of a man's children (especially when his family is numerous) around the old homestead, besides affording social pleasure, administers to his manly pride—a characteristic marked and deep-seated in the hearts of all men worthy the appellation of Patriarch. But the present gathering is unique; its counterpart has been entirely unknown for many generations.
Your wives, children, and children's children, numbering in all one hundred and twenty souls, have assembled to do you honor on this, your seventieth anniversary, and to receive a husband's and father's blessing.