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Show Page 45<br><br>ised to devote my life more thoroughly to him than I had in the past. Hearing there was no pastor at Beaver I asked the superintendent for the appointment and began my labors last February. The work in Beaver was in a low state. The church building is a nice, shapely edifice, enclosed in a yard with beautiful locust trees, and a silvery stream of pure mountain water running in front of it, while at the back is a spacious room. The church was built in 1879, will seat 150 persons. The cause and the building had greatly fallen into a dilapidated condition. The people kindly inquired after Bros. Jayne and Gillilan, who had served them as faithful pastors in the past. But the interest in the church was at a low ebb. I was informed that the people came to hear me preach the first time out of sympathy; the second time for curiosity, and now they come whatever be their motive. We have a full ___" The Utonian, which published the above, thus continues: "We regret to say our good brother had not strength to finish this brief sketch of his life and labors. After writing the word "full," the hand fell helpless by his side, his brain reeled, and with one last, fond look at the beautiful snowcapped hills the silvery stream and the happy little children on their way to school he was taken to his room; the cruel hand of death was then upon him, and in a few short hours Rev. William John Richards passed away, at the age of 30 years, 8 months." Brother Richards was a most faithful preacher of the Word, and was making for himself and the cause he espoused many friends. He was preparing for entrance to the regular ministry of the Methodist church. The biography above was being prepared for this edition of the REVIEW. A friend, writing from Beaver, says: "He was well thought of by all, and he seemed to be the right man in the right place. He talked freely to us, and seemed perfectly reconciled. The day before his death he told me that he would like to remain with us a while longer if he could be useful, but if he could not he was ready and willing to go. We thought a great deal of him, and feel his taking off very keenly." His death was from Bright's disease. Rev. G. P. Miller of Monroe conducted the funeral in Mr. Richard's own church, and in the midst of the people he loved, and by whom he was so much respected. His faithfulness was eulogized by Bishops Mumford and Murdock and Prof. Maeser of the Mormon church. He was buried by his own request at the Beaver cemetery. Here his body awaits the power of him who said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."<br><br> CEDAR, CITY-PRESBYTERIAN.<br><br> Rev. T. L. Leverett, who has charge of this work, writes: "The work at Cedar City was begun by the coming of Miss Eliza Hartford in November, 1881, to open a school. It was impossible to obtain a house for that purpose, but Miss Hartford remained in Cedar most of that winter giving lessons to a few young people as opportunity offered, but finding difficulty in gaining an opening. In the summer of 1882 a small building was purchased and in October Miss Hartford opened a school with an enrollment of twelve scholars. She continued as teacher until June, 1885. "From the opening of the school until he left Parowan-which was February, 1884-the Rev. W. C. Cort preached at Cedar every two weeks. "In June, 1885, Miss Hartford left the work, and the school has never been reopened. "From 1885 to 1890 Rev. P. D. Stoops, the successor of Mr. Cort in Parowan, preached at this town bi-weekly. "In September, 1894, the present minister was appointed to Cedar, since which time a regular weekly service of preaching and Sunday-school has been conducted, but there is no church membership. "The Sunday-school numbers about twenty-five. Rev. T. L. Leverett is superintendent. "As will be seen, the work is in an elementary stage, and it is difficult to estimate prospects immediate or remote; still, considering the past and the present conditions it seems prospectively as good as could be expected.<br><br> PAROWAN PRESBYTERIAN.<br><br> The Mission work in Parowan was begun in the spring of 1880, by Rev. W. C. Cort, who remained until February, 1884; Rev. P. D. Stoops, from 1885 to 1890; Rev. T. L. Leverett, from 1894 to present; Misses Mary Smalley and Grace Canning, 1880 to 1882; Miss Lila Morton, 1882 to 1886; Miss Josie Curtis (also see below*), 1883 to 1888; Mrs. Jennie Leonard, 1886 to 1887; Miss Carrie Angell, 1888 to 1889; Miss Mary Page, 1888 to 1890; Mrs. Lila Stoops, 1889 to 1890; Miss L. S. McMonigal, 1890; Miss Vernie Jones, 1890 to 1892; Miss Margaret Nelson, 1892 to 1893; Miss Josie Curtis*, 1893. The progress has not been in numbers; the school attendance has been from seventy to eighty-five each year, and the religious services have averaged from forty to fifty; there has never been an organized church, but the moral and educational tone of the place has been raised from year to year; the public schools have a good principal and graded system. Last year we had a temperance awakening, which, we hope, will be extended this year. Over one hundred persons, mostly children and youth of both sexes, donned the blue ribbon and about sixty have joined the temperance society. The Sabbath-school is an encouraging feature of the work, composed largely of the day-school pupils. Miss L. S. McMonigal is the superintendent.<br><br> Rev. T. L. Leverett,<br><br> In charge of the work at Cedar City and Parowan, was born in New York City; in 1838, he graduated from Yale, and after teaching a year entered the Union Theological seminary, graduating therefrom in 1892. Being ordained by the Presbytery of Binghamton, N. Y., the following summer. He preached at Nichols and Texas Valley, within the bounds of that Presbytery, until going to his present appointment, August, 1894. Mr. Leverett is the superintendent of the Sunday-school at Cedar, one of the teachers at Parowan acting in that capacity there. <br><br>TOQUERVILLE MISSION, PRESBYTERIAN.<br><br> Toquerville, Utah, is situated twenty-five miles north of St. George, at the foot of a black lava rock mountain; and has between three and four hundred inhabitants. It is a small oasis in the desert, and produces some of the finest fruits raised in Utah. Grapes are grown abundantly and made into wine which is drunk freely, and is thus made a curse to the inhabitants of the town. The Presbyterian mission work was commenced here in October, 1881. Rev. E. N. Murphy, the Presbyterian minister then at Silver Reef, held religious services every two weeks; these he continued for nearly three years, when he left to take charge of other mission work. Rev. A. B. Cort, at St. George, was the next minister; he held services occasionally for nearly two years. Since then preaching services are held whenever a minister passes through Toquerville. The Sabbath school and day school were opened in October, 1881, by Miss Fanny R. Burke, who was appointed for this work. The day school was started with one pupil, at the end of two weeks thirteen children had entered school and were interested. Then Geo. Q. Cannon visited Toquerville, preached against our school; and told the people to withdraw their children from it. Fourteen years ago, the people thought they were obliged to obey the authorities (as the Mormon church leaders are called), so most of the pupils were taken out of school. Two families still continued to send till spring; when the first wife of one family went to conference at St. George; while there, she was so ostracized by her former friends, (although the children were not hers, but belonged to the second wife) that when she returned home; she had her husband take the children out of school. The other family continued till the close of the school year. The day school was continued for ten years, with sometimes a dozen pupils and sometimes one. Many parents wanted to send, and the children wanted to come, but they dared not. The opposition being so great and the school so small, it was: thought best to discontinue it for a time. Last winter a night school was taught for young people whose education had been neglected in their childhood, but now were old enough to do as they pleased, and realized their need. They were much interested in their studies, and pleased with their advancement. It was also a pleasure to their teacher to note their improvement and see them appreciate their opportunity. The night school is in progress again this winter. The Sabbath school has continued, without interruption for nearly fourteen years, and I trust good has been accomplished. The greatest drawback is that only a few of the pupils come regularly. Sometimes our Sabbath school room is full, and sometimes only a few attend, but it is a pleasure to teach them the Bible lessons and the Gospel hymns. The same teacher that started the school is still the superintendent and teacher of the Sabbath and night schools; and for several years since there has been no regular minister to conduct worship here, has held a song and reading service in the chapel on Sunday evening; this is still continued. Much of the old prejudice has worn |
