History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

THE FUNERAL CEREMONIES. 671
decked with chaplets, but stripped of its case and
drapery, stood on a plain catafalque in view of the
congregation. On the president's stand were his
councillors, John W. Young and Daniel H. Wells.
The apostles, of whom ten were present, occupied
their accustomed seats, the north side of the platform
being set apart for the bishops and councillors
of stakes, and the south front for the city council,
the band, and glee club; while to the family of the
deceased were allotted the seats immediately facing
the stands, his four brothers being in front.
Precisely at noon the vast assemblage was called to
order by George Q. Cannon, who, at the request of
the president's family, presided over the ceremonies.
First was sung by a choir of two hundred voices the
hymn commencing:
" Hark from afar a funeral knell,"
to a tune composed for the obsequies of George A.
Smith, whose decease occurred in 1875/° and now
inch redwood boards, not scrimped in length, but two inches longer than I
would measure, and from two to three inches wider than is commonly made
for a person of my breadth and size, and deep enough to place me on a little
comfortable cotton bed, with a good suitable pillow for size and quality; my
body dressed in my temple clothing, and laidnicely into my coffin, and the
coffin to have the appearance that if I wanted to turn a little to the right or
left I should have plenty of room to do so.' After giving instructions as to
the services and place and method of interment, he concludes: ' I wish this
to be read at the funeral; providing, that if I should die anywhere in the
mountains, I desire the above directions respecting my place of burial to be
observed; but if I should live to go back with the church to Jackson county,
I wish to be buried there.' Address of Geo. Q. Cannon, in Deseret Neivs,
Aug. 31, 1S77.
M George Albert Smith, cousin to the prophet on the father's side, his
mother being descended from the Lymans of revolutionary fame, was born at
Potsdam, N. Y., in 1S17. In the spring of 1S33 the family started for Kirtland,
where they were heartily welcomed, and during the summer George was
employed in quarrying and hauling rock, and other duties in connection with
the building of the Kirtland temple. He was also one of those who went up
to redeem Zion in Jackson co., Mo., returning three months later after travelling
some 2,000 miles, most of the way on foot. Of his missionary labors
mention has already been made. Ordained a member of the first quorum of
seventies in 1835 and an apostle in 1839, he was one of the pioneer band at the
exodus from Nauvoo, and almost until the day of his death took a prominent
part in settling and redeeming the vales of Deseret. Elected member for Iron
co. under the provisional state government, he was afterward appointed
church historian, and represented the same constituency during several sessions
of the territorial legislature. After the death of Heber C. Kimball in
1S68, he was appointed first councillor to Brigham, having previously been
elected president of the legislative council, which latter office he held during