Pure religion: Rare pearls
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"What you have to understand about Ralph," his wife says, "is that he can make the floorboards sing." From singing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, directing road shows, and acting, he has always been involved with music.
For more than 30 of their 90 years, Ralph and Molly Taylor have been leading the music for the weekly devotional at Welfare Square.
On Brother Taylor's cue —"OK, Mama"— Sister Taylor begins playing the morning hymn. He conducts the music as only a man who makes the floorboards sing can. He doesn't lead as much as he performs the music, holding his hand over his heart to draw out emotion or giving a vigorous shake of his fist for emphasis.
"We've been volunteering since it started," he said.
In fact, Welfare Square has always been part of their lives. As a young boy, Ralph flew his kite on the property where a grain elevator, a dairy, a storehouse, and other welfare facilities would later be built. When the first dairy on Welfare Square opened, Brother Taylor bottled milk and packaged cheese. As a young mother, Sister Taylor "trotted over with the baby" to play the piano. In all, the Taylors have given thousands and thousands of hours of service at Welfare Square. When Brother Taylor thinks about that, he grins playfully and says, "Who would believe that?"
Everyone at Welfare Square believes it. The Taylors have been volunteering every week for 65 years. Brother Taylor still slices and packages cheese two or three times each week.
Why do they keep coming? "It's just across the street," Brother Taylor replies.
During the days of the Great Depression, Brother Taylor watched as people came to Welfare Square for food. For some, it was all they had. He said, "It just impressed me that this welfare program was sufficient to help those in need."
Brother and Sister Taylor are a little embarrassed when others thank and praise them. "We never thought we were doing anything remarkable." When Brother Taylor returned from his mission, he brought back a few pearls.
He said, "A pearl is active, it grows in that part of the shell."
The welfare program has been growing pearls for many years. Ralph and Molly Taylor are among the most beautiful. — Barbara Rolbiecki, Welfare Services
