-- Feb 2, 1900; Friday
Sisters Priscilla Jennings and Emily S. Richards called at the President's Office and had a talk with President [Lorenzo] Snow desiring to learn his mind and will in relation to them continuing their work in connection with the Utah State Council of Women organization. They explained that when this organization was first organized, members of the National society objected to Mormons being connected with it, but had since become friendly and quite cordial in their feelings towards the Mormon members, and they had invited the State society to send delegates to the convention to be held shortly in Washington, and Sister Richards had been appointed with Mrs. Gilmer to attend that convention as delegates. President Snow advised these sisters that it was his opinion that it would be politic for us to take advantage of every opportunity that would likely bring honor to Utah, and he encouraged Sister Richards in the desire to attend the National Woman's Suffrage Convention at Washington, D.C.
Presidents Snow, [George Q.] Cannon and [Joseph F.] Smith were at the office.
Elder James E. Talmage called at the President's office and had a talk with the Presidency regarding the edition of the Pearl of Great Price which he is to publish with foot note references. President Cannon suggested that it would be perfectly proper to make references to chapters and verses, but nothing should be done in the way of foot notes in this edition in the way of explaining the meaning of any passages as this might lead to difficulty.
Benjamin Cluff, Jr., who is organizing an expedition to go to Central and South America for the purpose of exploring Book of Mormon lands, called at the office in relation to the expedition. President Snow, who approved of the plan, authorized Brother Cluff to use his name to assist him to obtain contributions in the shape of financial help. Brother Cluff proposed that six young men be called on a mission to accompany the expedition with the understanding that they go for the purpose of learning the languages of the people and studying their myths, as he was of the opinion that the Maya people had traditions regarding the extraordinary physical disruptions of the earth at the time of the crucifixion of the Savior, as noted in the Book of Mormon. He had been impressed with this idea from the writings of [Augustus] LePlongeon, the author and explorer, and felt that a study of
these people by a number of capable young men would confirm the writings of the Book of Mormon in various ways. Moreover, LePlongeon states that the Maya people were acquainted with the Egyptian language and the writings engraved on their temples go to show it. The Presidency consented to call young men for this purpose.
At 1:30 o'clock Mr. [Elliot T.] Galt and Mr. [Charles A.] Magrath accompanied by their engineer, Mr. [George] Anderson, Judge [LeGrand] Young, Brothers [Milton D.] Hammond and [Charles O.] Card came to the office. They had been on consultation in the forenoon regarding certain indefinite clauses in the contract regarding the building of the canal, water rights and selection of lands. They reported that they had come to an agreement which had been prepared and would be signed in the morning. These gentlemen remained at the office in consultation until three o'clock when all withdrew excepting Mr. Galt and Mr. Magrath who remained to talk with the Presidency. In view of the fact that the Church had to take about six thousand acres of land in lieu of cash advanced to the sub-contractors, they now offered free water right for two years for this land, in order to give an opportunity to sell them to settlers. They also offered a quarter section in two different places as a bonus on which to form villages, with the privilege of purchasing three thousand acres immediately around. They also offered five dollars a head for emigrants to settle these villages, either from Europe or America; and if from Europe, $300. towards paying the expenses of a man to do the business of selecting them. They thought that each village could sustain sixty families, but it was not the intention to limit the Church in any way in what may be done in this direction. President Snow said he could see only one difficulty in this, and that would be the lack of means by new settlers to purchase implements and teams.
President Cannon inquired of Mr. Galt as to the attitude of the Dominion of Canada towards our people. That gentleman replied that it was made acquainted with the contract with the First Presidency, and it has encouraged, and made some small appropriations towards carrying it into effect, and that the Dominion officials were working hand in hand with the Irrigation Company to carry this project through. Mr. Magrath, at the request of President Snow, promised to submit a paper embodying the above propositions, at their meeting tomorrow. (1)
-- Feb 2, 1999
Sisters Priscilla Jennings and Emily S. Richards called at the President's Office and had a talk with President [Lorenzo] Snow desiring to learn his mind and will in relation to them continuing their work in connection with the Utah State Council of Women organization. They explained that when this organization was first organized, members of the National society objected to Mormons being connected with it, but had since become friendly and quite cordial in their feelings towards the Mormon members, and they had invited the State society to send delegates to the convention to be held shortly in Washington, and Sister Richards had been appointed with Mrs. Gilmer to attend that convention as delegates. President Snow advised these sisters that it was his opinion that it would be politic for us to take advantage of every opportunity that would likely bring honor to Utah, and he encouraged Sister Richards in the desire to attend the National Woman's Suffrage Convention at Washington, D.C. Presidents Snow, [George Q.] Cannon and [Joseph F.] Smith were at the office. Elder James E. Talmage called at the President's office and had a talk with the Presidency regarding the edition of the Pearl of Great Price which he is to publish with foot note references. President Cannon suggested that it would be perfectly proper to make references to chapters and verses, but nothing should be done in the way of foot notes in this edition in the way of explaining the meaning of any passages as this might lead to difficulty. Benjamin Cluff, Jr., who is organizing an expedition to go to Central and South America for the purpose of exploring Book of Mormon lands, called at the office in relation to the expedition. President Snow, who approved of the plan, authorized Brother Cluff to use his name to assist him to obtain contributions in the shape of financial help. Brother Cluff proposed that six young men be called on a mission to accompany the expedition with the understanding that they go for the purpose of learning the languages of the people and studying their myths, as he was of the opinion that the Maya people had traditions regarding the extraordinary physical disruptions of the earth at the time of the crucifixion of the Savior, as noted in the Book of Mormon. He had been impressed with this idea from the writings of [Augustus] LePlongeon, the author and explorer, and felt that a study of these people by a number of capable young men would confirm the writings of the Book of Mormon in various ways. Moreover, LePlongeon states that the Maya people were acquainted with the Egyptian language and the writings engraved on their temples go to show it. The Presidency consented to call young men for this purpose. At 1:30 o'clock Mr. [Elliot T.] Galt and Mr. [Charles A.] Magrath accompanied by their engineer, Mr. [George] Anderson, Judge [LeGrand] Young, Brothers [Milton D.] Hammond and [Charles O.] Card came to the office. They had been on consultation in the forenoon regarding certain indefinite clauses in the contract regarding the building of the canal, water rights and selection of lands. They reported that they had come to an agreement which had been prepared and would be signed in the morning. These gentlemen remained at the office in consultation until three o'clock when all withdrew excepting Mr. Galt and Mr. Magrath who remained to talk with the Presidency. In view of the fact that the Church had to take about six thousand acres of land in lieu of cash advanced to the sub-contractors, they now offered free water right for two years for this land, in order to give an opportunity to sell them to settlers. They also offered a quarter section in two different places as a bonus on which to form villages, with the privilege of purchasing three thousand acres immediately around. They also offered five dollars a head for emigrants to settle these villages, either from Europe or America; and if from Europe, $300. towards paying the expenses of a man to do the business of selecting them. They thought that each village could sustain sixty families, but it was not the intention to limit the Church in any way in what may be done in this direction. President Snow said he could see only one difficulty in this, and that would be the lack of means by new settlers to purchase implements and teams. President Cannon inquired of Mr. Galt as to the attitude of the Dominion of Canada towards our people. That gentleman replied that it was made acquainted with the contract with the First Presidency, and it has encouraged, and made some small appropriations towards carrying it into effect, and that the Dominion officials were working hand in hand with the Irrigation Company to carry this project through. Mr. Magrath, at the request of President Snow, promised to submit a paper embodying the above propositions, at their meeting tomorrow. Had interview with the First Presidency on a matter which has been under informal consideration for some time, viz: that of preparing a revised edition of the "Pearl of Great Price," one of the standard works of the Church. I was appointed today to prepare the same, the text to be divided into paragraphs or verses, with references. I undertake this as I have attempted other labors in connection with church work, in a missionary spirit without hope or expectation of reward. Indeed I doubt that I will be known as the reviser even if the work be completed, and a revised edition published. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes
2 - Journal History; James E. Talmage, Diary
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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