Produced by the Mormon Texts Project,
http://bencrowder.net/books/mtp. Volunteers: Jean-Michel
Carter, Ben Crowder, Eric Heaps, Tod Robbins.
An Epic of the Ages
Progress eterne! thou goest hand in handWith Life eterne, and naught but death e'er dies.
Copyright, 1914
O. F. Whitney
Salt Lake City, Utah
"Elias" was begun in the spring of 1900, and was first published inthe autumn of 1904, when an edition de luxe, limited to one hundredand fifty copies, and two less pretentious editions, were subscribedfor by friends of the author. He was hardly a party to the project,the initial step being taken without his knowledge. Prior to that timehe had read the poem to select gatherings in private homes and in twoof the leading church schools, but had no thought of printing it soearly, until solicited by a committee of prominent citizens to allowthem to undertake, in his behalf, its publication.
That committee consisted of Governor Heber M. Wells, Senator GeorgeSutherland, President Anthon H. Lund, Major Richard W. Young, and Mr.H. L. A. Culmer. These gentlemen, out of pure public spirit and afriendly feeling for the author, had associated themselves togetherfor this purpose. Though aware of many defects in his work, andanxious to mend them before facing the public and the critics, henevertheless accepted gratefully the very generous offer. All themembers of the committee gave to the enterprise their hearty support,and two of them, Major Young and Mr. Culmer, conducted most of thebusiness necessary to putting the book through the press.
Since the original issuance the author has endeavored to bring thework into a more finished state, and the results are now before thereader. The poem is in twelve parts—a prelude, ten cantos, and anepilogue. Following these are explanatory notes, for the benefit ofstudents; the introduction of the epic as a text book into the schoolsbeing one of the purposes for which it was written.
The character and scope of the work are partly indicated by the title,"Elias—An Epic Of The Ages." It is an attempt to present, in verseform, historically, doctrinally, and prophetically, the vast themecomprehended in what the world terms "Mormonism."
This song to thee, friend, chieftain, sixth to rise
From him, the foremost of a seeric line,
Mock of the worldly, marvel of the wise,—
His martyred brother's son! May light divine,
Which 'lumined them, forever on thee shine,
Flooding with splendors new thy lineal fame;
And ancient rays with modern beams combine
To glorify a brow whose stalwart aim,
To merit heaven's high praise, nor fear a world's false blame!
"And if you will receive it, this is Elias, which was to come togather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things."
The aim of this poem is to point out those manifestations of theDivine Mind and those impulsions from human enterprise whi