| OCR Text |
Show 68 MADELYN CANNON STEWART SILVER It is difficult to assess the impact of this lack of college reli gious instruction, but we know that Madelyn came to believe that much of the Old Testament consisted of traditional accounts that would not withstand scientific and historical scrutiny. Although she was always a "faithful Latter-day Saint" (prayed regularly, paid tithing, attended church functions, accepted all callings), she was prepared to acknowledge that some of the truths of the gospel were conveyed in earthen ves sels. Intellect, "feeling," tradition, and personal inspiration were more important than the mantle of ecclesiastical authority. Jesus was divine and the gospel was true, but she felt free to work out her personal attitudes and standards quite independently of church pronouncements or social pressures. She lived in reality, not borrowed faith; this did not mean any diminution of belief. Madelyn had an inquiring mind, something that posed threats to people not accustomed to discussing theological prob lems. On one occasion Madelyn was in Sunday School class and asked a question that annoyed her teacher. His response was impulsive and negative. She ought to be ashamed to even think of such a question, and if she had nothing better to do than bring up propositions that might upset others' faith, she should stay away. So that is what she did; she did not attend Sunday School for several years. VI Madelyn'S connection with Alpha Chi at the university explains, to some extent, her marriage to Harold Silver. Harold's father and mother occupied one of the homes of the late Apostle Abraham H. Cannon in Cannon Ward, and the Silvers, who had purchased the home from his estate, were therefore neighbors and close friends of some of the Cannons. In 1914, when Harold and Madelyn were thirteen, a birthday party was held at Cannon Ward for Emerson Willey. Attending the party were Harold Silver, son of Joseph Askie and Elizabeth Farnes Silver, Madelyn, and of course many others. Harold played the piano, and Madelyn was very impressed with his tal ent and enthusiasm. The two met again three years later when he was in his sec- |
