I
-*4v.-?
FEBRUARY, 1935
Volume 38 Number 2
Return Postage Guaranteed SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH
YOU May Secure the Scout Picture for Framing
Many who saw the Scout Picture, which is used in the middle of this issue of The Improvement Era, before we went to press, thought it ought to be made available for those who would like a copy for framing. We have decided, therefore, to have it reprinted on a fine grade of cover paper with a tint block giving it a two-color effect, upon the condition that we get approximately 1000 orders for it. We will mail it to any address in the United States, Canada, or the British Isles for 25c each. Where ten or more are ordered and may be mailed in a single package to one address, they may be had for 15c the copy. If you want one, send in your order immediately. Unless we have the orders at once we cannot furnish the pictures.
We think this double spread will make a fine wall-hanging for the boy's room and will be especially good for Scout dens and rooms in the chapels. Prints, colored individually by Paul S. Clowes, the artist, may be arranged for.
Order Now — Send Stamps, Money Orders, or Checks Be Sure to Give Name and Address When Ordering
The IMPROVEMENT ERA
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The Apostles of the Church for 100 Years
February 14, 1835, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was first organized in this dispensation. Celebrating this im- portant event and the One Hundred Fifth Anniversary of the Organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, The Improvement Era is planning a historical number for April which will contain a brief, comprehensive history of the quorum.
Events — Portraits — Maps — Historic Scenes and Buildings
These, and many more interesting features will be found in this num- ber. Artists are already at work; the Church Historian's Office is lending its support. That April issue is to be a "round up" of a hundred and five years of Mormonism.
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REGENT OF HUNGARY REVIEWING BOY
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GODOLLA, HUNGARY.
CODE
Heber J. Grant, Editor Harrison R. Merrill,
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Elsie Talmage Brandley,
Associate Editor
Organ of the Priesthood Quo- rums, Mutual Improvement Associations and Department of Education
Published monthly by the
GENERAL BOARDS OF THE
MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT
ASSOCIATIONS
Melvin J. Ballard, General Mgr. Clarissa A. Beesley, Associate Mgr.
EXECUTIVE AND EDITORIAL
OFFICES: 50 North Main Street, Salt Lake
City, Utah
Copyright, 1932, by the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association Corporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All rights reserved. Subscription price, $2.00 a year, in advance; zoc Single Copy.
Entered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October, 1917, authorized July 2, 1918.
■^c^ggys* <.
WASHINGTON JAMBOREE
■THE site has been select- ed; the day has been set; already plans are un- der way; one Scout from each troop is eligible to go! President Roosevelt has said that the poor lad who is a good Scout should be given the opportunity as readily as the rich lad who is a good Scout. That means early planning if troops are to be represent- ed. It is not too early to begin to make a program.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Volume 38
FEBRUARY, 1935
Number 2
EDITORIALS
Scouting and Boys Ruth May Fox 99
A Boy and a Valentine E. T. B. TT
ARTICLES
Frontispiece Cyrus E. Dallin 66
President Roosevelt Broadcasts Invitation to National Jamboree 68
To Latter-day Saint Leaders of the Boy Scout Movement Heber J. Grant 69
A Tribute to Scouting . Presiding Bishopric 70
Scouting and the Y. M. M. I. A. General Superintendency of the Y. M. M. LA. 71
Scouts and the Church Youth Movement Dr. James E. West 72
Keeping in Step With Youth George J. Fisher, M. D. 73
The Church Youth Movement Dr. Ray O. Wyland 74
Scouting and the Latter-day Saint Church in Canada John A. Stiles 75
Oscar Comes of Age in Scouting 76
In Twenty-two Years L. D. S. Scouting 77
The M. I. A. Preserves History John D. Giles 82
Thomas Hull, Senior Member of the Y. M. M. I. A. Passes 90
Capitalizing on that Urge to do Something Weston N. Nordgren 91
The Hike of Inspiration Judge Benjamin DeBoise as told to Matilda Rose McLaren 92
"The Trail Leads Up" Drawing by Paul Clowes 96
That Power Was Mine! Governor Harry A. Moore 98
When Winter Comes to Canada E. L. Chicanot 94
Let's Talk About Personality Mildred Baker 108
The Cover 1 2 0
Dear Bachelor Girl Katie C. Jensen 128
FICTION
Ne'r-Do-Well Russell Gordon Carter 80
A Romance of Two Cities, A Serial — Part 4 -Dorothy Clapp Robinson 88
POETRY
Choosing Hour Clarence Edwin Flynn 67
Hand-Me-Down Dog Mrs. Ida Powell Brown 121
Perseverance Grace Kaye 116
DEPARTMENTS
Lights and Shadows on the Screen . 100
Melchizedek Priesthood 101
Aaronic Priesthood - 103
Ward Teaching 105
Book Reviews:
The Meaning of Culture 106
This Little World 106
Utah Sings — An Anthology of Utah Verse 106
The Doctor in History 107
The Provincial Lady in America 107
Mutual Messages 109
Era and Publicity 110
Adults 111
Seniors 112
M Men 1 1 3
Gleaner Girls 114
Vanguards 115
Junior Girls 116
Bee-Hive Girls 1 1 7
Your Page and Ours . Inside Back Cover
A MAGAZINE FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
66
llil'lsl
. -: ■:.. :
MASSASOIT, BY CYRUS E. DALUN
XFJE have selected this statue of a well known Indian by this famous Utah sculptor for the frontispiece this month, because Massasoit was a great American, and, according to his own light, a really splendid Scout; and also because Cyrus E. Dallin is a pioneer Utah sculptor who has gone far up the trail towards the sunlit peaks of fame still carrying in his heart an appreciation of Indian and Pioneer life. His "Appeal to the Great Spirit" is one of the best known pieces of sculpture in America.
This magnificent figure, heroic in size, stands in the rotunda of the Utah State Capitol.
■■:::■■■ :-:■:■.■' ' ': ■' ':': : ■ ':■ -
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fflBnHUHHSm
oostfig
CJ
By CLARENCE EDWIN FLYNN
HERE is an hour somewhere among the years When each one in the -pathway halts , and hears Two voices ', deep within himself apart^ Asking the adoration of his heart.
One offers him the kingdoms of the earthy With all the golden glory of their worth; One offers him that more than golden goal — The opportunity to build a soul.
PRESIDENT
FRANKLIN 0. ROOSEVELT
President Roosevelt Broadcasts
Invitation to National Jamboree
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT in his broadcast on February 10th, 1934, invited Scouts to attend a National Jamboree in these words:
". . . It is appropriate, also, that we are planning for the celebration of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of The Boy Scouts of America, which will culminate in a great National Jamboree here in the Nation's Capital in the summer of 1935. Of course, it would be physically impossible for us to have the whole membership of the Boy Scouts of America, a million strong, come to Washington at one time, but I much hope that it will be possible to have every nook and cranny, every section of our Nation, represented."
Franklin D. Roosevelt. President of the United States of America.
From "Scouting"
6$
PRESIDENT HEBER J. GRANT
To Latter-day Saint Leaders of the Boy Scout Movement
I AM very happy to give the Boy Scout movement my full endorsement. For many years as acting Superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, I was active in the promotion of this program. I feel that thousands of our boys have been helped in becoming good men by living up to the principles of the Boy Scout movement.
"It is a real satisfaction to me to know that through the co- operation of our general, stake and ward officers we have more Boy Scouts per capita than any other church in the United States.
"I hope that our Scout leaders will remember that it is our privilege and obligation, in connection with the promotion of this program, to see that our boys receive also proper religious training in order that they may become real American citizens."
(Signed)
From Scouting in the L. D. S. Church
President of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
69
BISHOP DAVID A. SMITH
BISHOP SYLVESTER Q. CANNON
BISHOP JOHN WELLS
A Tribute to Scouting
WE are happy to have the privilege of joining in paying tribute to Scouting in its Silver Jubilee Anniversary year. We appreciate fully the privilege and benefits that have come to our boys through this splendid organization.
We are especially happy that during this jubilee year and in the future greater emphasis is to be placed on the spiritual and church activity phases of the Scout program. As we observe Scouting in operation and study its objectives as outlined in the publications of the National Council, it seems clear that spirituality, reverence and church service are fundamental in the program, and that religious activity is essential to the best type of Scouting.
We are grateful to the many splendid Scout Leaders who have en- couraged and assisted members of the Aaronic Priesthood in their quorum activities. We hope that the splendid cooperation which now exists between Aaronic Priesthood Chairmen and Supervisors and Scout Leaders will still further increase, and that all who have responsibility for the leadership of our boys and young men will join in an effort to establish a firm spir- itual and religious foundation upon which to develop the commendable virtues of strong character, good citizenship and service.
Congratulations on the excellent record made in the 25 years of Scouting service to this nation.
Sylvester Q. Cannon, David A. Smith, John Wells,
Presiding Bishopric,
70
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SUPERINTENDENT RICHARD R. LYMAN
SUPERINTENDENT GEORGE ALBERT SMITH
SUPERINTENDENT MELVIN J. BALLARD
Scouting and the Y. M. M. I. A,
71 S we enter the Jubilee Anniversary year of Scouting in America and note with
_ pride the splendid progress being made in Scouting in the M. I. A., we are im-
' pressed with the substantial nature of the religious foundation upon which this
great structure has been builded. Faith in God, good citizenship, clean living, and
personal development have been held up by our national and Church leaders as the
guiding principles of this outstanding program for boys and young men.
It is especially -gratifying to us that the youth of our Church have the privilege of participating in an international program that harmonizes with the principles laid down by our great Pioneer leader, Brigham Young, to guide the M. I. A. The parallel between the instructions given by President Young and a portion of the Constitution of the Boy Scouts of America, written by Dr. James E. West, Chief Scout Executive, is striking.
Brigham Young said: "Let the keynote of your work be the establishment in the youth of individual testimony of the truth and magnitude of the great Latter-day work: the development of the gifts within them . . . cultivating a knowledge and an application of the eternal principles of the great science of life. . . . Each member will find that happiness . . . mainly depends on the work he does and the way in which he does it. It now becomes the duty of these institutions to aid the Holy Priesthood in instructing the youth of Israel in all things commendable and worthy."
Dr. West wrote: "The Boy Scouts of America maintain that no boy can grow into the best kind of citizenship without recognizing his obligation to God. . . . The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome things in the education of the growing boy. No matter what the boy may be — Catholic or Protestant or Jew — this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before him."
We congratulate the National Council, the Regional Officers, leaders in local , councils, and the great army of Commissioners, Scoutmasters, Vanguard leaders and District and Troop Committeemen upon the achievements of Scouting.
We are especially grateful for the splendid cooperation of Aaronic Priesthood leaders throughout the Church, which has assisted so splendidly in our work.
George Albert Smith, Richard R. Lyman, Melvin J. Ballard,
General Superintendency .
71
DR. JAMES E. WEST
Scouts and the Church Youth Movement
AS Scouting celebrates its Silver Jubilee which marks, this year, its quarter century of living and doing and being in America, it is a source both of gratification and gratitude to me, looking back, to realize how splendidly from the beginning, Scouting and the churches have joined forces, worked hand in hand for the welfare of youth, its progress to happy, healthy, high principled manhood.
Among no church which has sponsored Scout- ing have we met with more wholehearted and effective cooperation and generous support than in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or finer, more enthusiastic leaders of unusually high calibre. The State of Utah has a larger per- centage of Scouts in its boy population, I am told, than any other state in the Union and a larger per capita Scout membership in the Mormon faith than that of any other religious body on record. All of this seems to me deeply significant, proves not only that we are offering a boy pro- gram which meets the needs of the great Church of Jesus Christ, but also that the ideals for which that Church stands are substantially the ideals of Scouting itself, the "recognition of God as the ruling and leading Power of the Universe" as a fundamental requisite for good citizenship and that correlative faith that only by living clean, generous, fine lives, serving others before remem- bering oneself, can we, either as boy or man, serve God properly.
The Youth Movement of the Mormon Church is in every way in accord with the very things we are working for in Scouting in our Ten Year Program, by which we hope to assure that out of ev- ery four young men reaching maturity
72
each year in America, at least one will have been a Scout, and have been one long enough so that the full value of Scouting may be a part of his future life — a life founded on Scout qualities of honor and loyalty, cheerful and intelligent obe- dience to law, reliability, courage, the habit of clean living, clean talking, clean thinking, friend- liness to all people, the readiness to serve at all times, in small ways or great, the love of the great outdoors, the love of one's neighbor, in the true Christ spirit, the love of God with all it means of reverence and ethical living, the realiza- tion of why we are here on earth at all, which can have fundamentally but one goal, the fur- therance of the Kingdom of God, the practical re- alization of "Peace on earth, good will to men."
It is with great interest that we read, at the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America, of the splendid work being done for and with Scouts in connection with the Mormon Church, particularly of the valuable older boy program of the Vanguards with their Sea Scouting and other phases of worthwhile activities, and hope that shortly it will be possible for the Church to avail itself of the opportunities offered by Cub- bing, our younger boy program for pre-Scout age, with its emphasis on the home hobbies and group recreation.
May the Church Youth Program move for- ward with its tremendous gift to young people, who today perhaps more than ever in our jumble of modern living need the steadying influence of noble leadership, under the banner of a great ideal!
Dr. James E. West,
Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America.
DR. GEORGE J. FISHER
Keeping in Step with Youth
THESE are days of social transition. Great changes are being made in the social life of the people of America growing out of the situation projected by the fact that there are millions of unemployed in America and multi- millions on relief.
Youth in this generation has been affected probably as in no other period of American life. We are in the midst of a great prospective per- manent change in the habits of the American people and particularly of youth.
The education of youth is being extended over a longer period. More of them than ever are in college. Work will not take as many hours of the energy of youth as heretofore. There will be energy available for other purposes. If this is directed wisely it may result in a finer, cultural, richer life, providing time to expend in reading and in the arts and in the crafts and in social service.
Heretofore business; the making of money; attention to work; have been the major con- cerns of life. Now life will be more evenly balanced. It may prove more beautiful, more lovely, for opportunity is at hand for applica- tion to the finer things.
Therefore the days of pioneering are not over. Here are new youth frontiers. What is needed is a leadership for this day and this epoch.
The Mormon Church has been a great pio- neering Movement. It has plowed the fields; broken the forests; built cities; raised up taber-
nacles; stood by its youth in perilous times and in momentous epochs of their experience.
Today there comes to it the challenge to con- tinue along with youth, to help give direction to them in these modern days, to help pioneer the new society and see to it that youth retains the same qualities of initiative, of self dependence as was true in the early pioneering.
The Mormon Church stands out preeminently in its volunteer service. Its leaders are high- minded. They seek to lead youth into the paths of character. The Mormon Church is the social center about which the youth of the Mor- mon communities rotate. Here we find recrea- tion and sports, the intermingling of the sexes under fine direction. Never was there a better opportunity for building the type of communi- ties that are based upon fellowship, on the broad- ening of life in all its relationships than now.
The Mormon Church is preeminently a social church. It seeks to bring the influence of the church into all its relations with youth and thus spiritualize those relationships.
May I express to the leaders of the youth movement within the Mormon Church, many of whom I know intimately and respect highly, my sincere felicitations, my best wishes for ad- vance in the things that are worthwhile in the new year.
George J. Fisher, M. D.,
Deputy Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America.
73
DR. RAY 0. WYLAND
The Church Youth Movement
I AM aware of the vitality of Mormonism. I have been impressed with its method of or- ganization and the onward sweep of this great Church.
I have been especially impressed by the Youth Movement within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and its constructive program of youth guidance which is bringing up a gener- ation of young men and women possessed with spiritual insight and a zeal for the Kingdom of God which is unsurpassed by any religious group that I know.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses the Boy Scout Movement in a larger way than any other Church in existence. It has a larger per capita of Scouts in its membership than any other religious body on record and the state of Utah has a larger percentage of Scouts in its boy population than any other state.
More significant than mere numbers and per- centages, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints has developed a better coordination of Scouting with the Church program, not only in the younger years of Scouts 1 2 to 15, but also in the late adolescent period of Vanguards 1 6 to 18 and older, and in this Senior Program there is a beautiful correlation of Church instruc- tion and participation in the Aaronic Priesthood which provides a further development of youth-
ful leadership and a spiritualized youth move- ment in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We are thoroughly convinced that there is no other Church that has given more intelligent and effective supervision to its Scout Troops, and we have not met anywhere in our Church relations a finer group of men, than are found among the leaders of this Church.
The supreme test of devotion is the sacrifice it will make. I have been profoundly impressed by the high quality of young men who visit our National Office on their way to the foreign mis- sion field and return two or three years later with a more mature and serious look on their faces, having fulfilled the missionary purposes of the Church as expressed in the injunction "Go and carry the good tidings to all men."
I, therefore, again, salute the Church and its leadership from the Presidency to the humblest of the Y. M. M. I. A. leaders and pledge you every cooperation within my power in the fur- ther development of your youth program and the spiritual growth of your young men and women.
Ray O. Wyland,
Director of Education and Relations, Boy Scouts of America.
74
CHIEF EXECUTIVE STILES FUR- NISHED NO PORTRAIT. WE SUBSTITUTED THIS BEAUTIFUL PORTRAIT OF A CANADIAN WATER FALL
TWIN FALLS— HELL ROARING CANYON— WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA, CANADA
Scouting and the Latter-day Saint Church in Canada
THE Scout Organization in Canada has been very happy in its relations with the Latter-day Saint Church. As a matter of fact, we both seem to be working towards the same end, placing the greatest em- phasis on the things of the spirit. It has been most en- couraging to notice the number of special training courses organized by the members of that Church, especially in Alberta, and the large attendance at such courses. One of my great delights has been to hear the Latter-day Saint boys sing. In that I think they excel the rest of us.
There was a time when the Scout movement was re- garded as an organization separate and distinct from the Church. As a matter of fact, Scouting is not, in the ordinary sense, an organization; it is a movement — a framework of certain principles common to practically all religious communions, which any communion may fill out with its own distinctive tenets and religious practices.
That Scouting is fundamentally religious has repeatedly been emphasized by its founder, Lord Baden-Powell. The first promise of every Scout is to "do his best to do his duty to God."
Proof that the movement has been found spiritually sound is given by the steady growth of Scouting as a church activity in Canada (as in other countries) , until today the majority of our Scout units are church groups. Many more would be added, if suitable meeting places were made available in church buildings, and numerous small town units are community or inter-church groups only because of the dearth of suitable leaders, or the lack of sufficient number of boys to organize effective separate church units.
Scouting's Value to the Church Broadly, the definite value of Scouting to the church is its help in solving the age-old problem of holding boys to the church and Sunday School after 14 or 15 years of age. More definitely, its value is its effective- ness in interpreting religion to the average boy' in concrete terms of "doing" and preventing his developing the attitude that to be religious is somehow to be lacking in manliness.
The Scouting program is graduated to the
boy's mental development at succeeding psychological stages. Through these stages there is developed an ability and inclination to participate in church activities, until as a young man the Scout quite naturally takes an active place in some department of church life and service.
What Scouting Asks of the Latter-day Saint Church
Scouting asks of the church its blessing upon Scouting's effort to help its boys, and all boys, along the path of practical Christian citizenship — indoor accommodation for at least one meeting a week for each section of the Scout group — a reasonable amount of freedom to pursue Scout methods of training — the formation of a Scout Parents' or Scout Mothers' Auxiliary — (such organizations are most helpful in many ways, including the maintenance of an understanding contact between the Scouter and the home) — on the part of the clergyman it asks for fairly frequent, if brief, visits to the various sections of the group on meeting nights — discussion with group leaders regarding religious observances during the Summer camp and the occasional week-end training camps for patrol leaders, when these are held. The clergyman will find that acting as group chaplain is always helpful and valu- able in establishing a common meeting ground for himself and the boy.
Limitations
It must be remembered that Scouting is not intended to be the major or dominating activity in a boy's life. Its scope is to help make more effective and assimilable the religious and character training of the home, the church, and the school. The tremendous growth of the movement throughout the world (the active membership today is over 2,200,000) — the almost universal approval and support of church and home thus indicated — all seem to argue that the Scouting program is a dependable and efficient "framework" upon which to build the par- ticular religious training of any church.
JOHN A. STILES,
Chief Executive Commissioner, Canadian General Council, The Boy Scouts Association.
75
THE LITTLE CHAP IS NOT CHRIS- TOPHER COLUMBUS BUT HE IS LEARNING TO CHART A COURSE FROM THIS MARINER WHO HAS LAUNCHED MANY CRAFTS UPON THE SEA WHICH LEADS TO FINE CHARACTER AND SERVICE. THE PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN ON THE PACIFIC COAST SHOWING OSCAR POINTING THE WAY.
Oscar Comes of Age in
Scouting
OSCAR A. KIRKHAM has been in Scouting leadership for twenty-one years and has been one of America's leaders at three of the World Scout Jamborees — 1920, London, England; 1929, Birkinhead, England; and 1933, Godolla, Hungary. Scouts of every color and creed, chattering in many tongues were present.
He has been the guest of rulers of nations and has dined with nobility, but says that one of his greatest privileges came last year, when he at- tended, as an American delegate, the Interna- tional Conference of Scout leaders in Hungary. The representatives of fifty-six nations were present. All that was said was translated and spoken into Hungarian, French, German and English. He spoke on "Scout activities and their relationship to World Friendship and Peace." When the gentleman translating and speaking French began, he said, "May I say that Mr. Kirkham is a personal friend of mine and he comes from far away Salt Lake City, Utah. He is a Mormon."
It was a thrill, Oscar said, as he heard the in- terpreters speak before the representatives of the fifty-six nations, the word "Mormon," for which there was no translation.
Oscar is an Honorary Member of the Boy Scouts of France and other countries of Europe.
OSCAR IS NOT TALKING "WITH KINGS," BUT HE IS IN CONVERSATION WITH A SON OF A PRINCE IN GODOL- LA, HUNGARY, DURING A WORLD JAMBOREE.
76
CHIEF OSCAR A. KIRKHAM IN LONDON, ENGLAND. DUR- ING HIS ATTENDANCE AT THE WORLD JAMBOREE. HE IS IN NATIVE AMERICAN COSTUME UNDER A FAMOUS TREE.
In 22 YEARS
L. D. S. Scouting Encircles Globe
The Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best'.
1. To do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law. 2. To help other people at all times. 3. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and mor- ally straight.
NATIONAL ANNIVER- SARY WEEK this year will find Scouting under L. D. S. supervision encircling the globe. The program which was adopted by the Church twenty-two years ago is being carried on in practically every ward and mission in the
about bringing the splendid inter- national boy-program into their folds.
In a statement made in a bro- chure issued by the Mutual Im- provement Association, President Heber J. Grant expressed his ap- preciation of the movement and
ada, Czecho-Slovakia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hawaii, Holland, Hungary, Ire- land, Mexico, New Zealand, Nor- way, Samoa, Scotland, South Af- rica, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. That means, of course, that wherever the Church
OSCAR A. KIRKHAM
SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE FIRST M. B. F. GRANT
I. A. SCOUT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE B. S. HINCKLEY
JOHN H. TAYLOR
Church throughout the world. Though there is little L. D. S. Scouting anywhere in Asia, it has gone around the world, carried by the missionaries, by way of Africa, Australia, and the islands of the Pacific.
The General Authorities early gave their staunch support to the movement and have never wavered from that early stand assumed when some churches were hesitating
offered his continuous support. He said: "I am very happy to give the Boy Scout movement my full en- dorsement." (See letter under his photograph and over his signature in this issue.)
As an indication of how widely the Scout movement has been scat- tered under the direction and in- fluence of the L. D. S. Church we are naming the countries in which the Church is sponsoring troops: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Can-
goes with its program for the tem- poral and eternal salvation of man- kind, the Boy Scout program fol- lows to assist in building manhood under whatever flag waves above the land in which the troop is or- ganized.
The story of Scouting in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints has been told, in brief, in the booklet, "Scouting in the L. D. S. Church." That story we are repeating here:
78
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, FEBRUARY, 1935
Story of Scouting in the
Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-Day Saints
"THE Y. M. M. I. A. was organ- *" ized June 10, 1875, by Junius F. Wells under the direction of President Brigham Young. Its purpose was to provide leisure time activities, particularly along spir- itual and cultural lines, for the young men of the Church. Later, athletics were made a prominent part of the program.
"As news of the organization of the Boy Scouts of England in 1 909 and the Boy Scouts of America in 1910 was received by our Church leaders, the Scout idea was investi- gated by the Athletic Committee of the Y. M. M. I. A. and in the sum- mer of 1911 the Scout movement was officially recognized in this As- sociation. Scouting with its spir- itual background and ideals appeal- ed to our Church leaders as an excellent activity program for its boys. Even before that time some enterprising boy leaders in various parts of the Church had organized troops along lines recommended by the Boy Scouts of America. On November 29, 1 9 1 1 , on motion of President Anthony W. Ivins, then a member of the General Superin- tendency of the Y. M. M. I. A., the M. I. A. Scouts were officially organized by the General Board. It was provided that all classes of boys from 12 to 18 years of age should thereafter be known by that name. (See Improvement Era for January, 1912, Vol. 15.)
"From that time Scouting moved forward in the Church very rapidly. In The Improvement Era for March, 1912, Vol. 15, was printed the first statement of the purposes and plans of the M. I. A. Scout movement. This laid the foundation for Scout procedure in the M. I. A. It provided that Scout meetings should be held for thirty minutes immediately pre- ceding or following the regular M. I. A. meeting on Tuesday nights. In this statement reference was made to the handbook of the Boy Scouts of America with apprecia- tion for the splendid idea and in- formation contained, and recom- mendations that the book be se- cured and used by M. I. A. leaders.
"Dr. John H. Taylor, who had previously been appointed Athletic Director of the Y. M. M. I. A., was given definite responsibility for
promoting Scout work in the Stakes and Wards under the direc- tion of the Athletic Committee which included Lyman R. Mar- tineau, chairman; Hyrum M. Smith, Oscar A. Kirkham, B. F. Grant, B. S. Hinckley, and John H. Taylor.
"At the June Conference of 1 9 1 3, on Saturday afternoon, June 7, an M. I. A. day celebration was held at Wandamere and the pro- gram was devoted entirely to Scout activities. This was the first gen- eral Scout gathering in the Church.
"The first lessons for the M. I. A. Scouts were published in The Improvement Era for January, 1913, Volume 16. Twelve les- sons were included covering such subjects as the Fundamentals of Scouting, Organization, Leader- ship, etc., tying of knots, troop drilling — following United States Infantry regulations for the pur- pose of obtaining discipline and ef- ficiency in moving the troop as a body — Bandaging and First Aid, the Story of the Flag, physical De- velopment, Stars, Compass, etc.
"In May, 1913, the M. I. A. Scouts, upon invitation from the National Council affiliated with and became a part of the Boy Scouts of America. The official action of the Executive Board of the National Council was taken May 2. 1913, at which time the General Board of Y. M. M. I. A. was issued a charter covering the entire Church and Dr. John H. Taylor was given a special com- mission as representative of the Na- tional Council in charge of all M. I. A. Scouts. At the same time Oscar A. Kirkham was made Deputy Commissioner. The Na- tional charter of the M. I. A. Scouts of the Boy Scouts of Amer- ica was issued May 21, 1913, which becomes the official date of entry of the M. I. A. Scouts into the National Organization.
"This arrangement continued until 1919, when local Councils were organized in Salt Lake City and other sections, Oscar A. Kirk- ham becoming the first Scout Ex- ecutive of the Salt Lake Council and later Associate Regional Ex- ecutive of the Twelfth Region which includes, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and California. He also became affiliated with the Regional Office of Region Eleven in order that he might have contact with Latter-day Saint Scouts, particu- larly in Idaho.
"There are approximately 24,- 000 Boy Scouts in the Church in 1934 which includes the Van- guards who are Senior Scouts. There are approximately 7,000 Vanguards. The Vanguard move- ment was inaugurated in 1928 and is now developing rapidly into an aggressive Older Boy Movement among the Scouts of the Church. It has been approved by the Na- tional Council of the Boy Scouts of America. „ ^ ^ # # „
"L. D. S. Scouts are now or- ganized in every Stake in the Church and in practically all of the missions. They are located in 22 different countries. The record of L. D. S. Scouts in membership and advancement is second to none among similar religious groups in all the world.
"Scouting continued under Y. M. M. I. A., its sole sponsor, until 1928. During this year it was named as the activity program for the Deacons and Teachers of the Lesser Priesthood of the Church to come to the boys of the Church of Deacon's and Teacher's ages through the Y. M. M. I. A., an auxiliary and aid to the Priesthood.
"The Y. M. M. LA. is the Priesthood functioning in the field of activity. Scouting therefore is the activity program for Deacons and Teachers in the Church and is the program for the junior depart- ments of the Y. M. M. I. A.
"The scoutmaster and assistant scoutmasters are officers in the ward Mutual Improvement Association. They should conduct themselves as such and be subject to the rules, regulations and program of the M. I. A. On the other hand the ward officers of M. I. A. should know that the Scout Troops and Scout leaders of the ward are a part of the M. I. A. program and should be considered as such.
"The Scout department is just as much a part of the M. I. A. Or- ganization as the M Men and should be so considered by the ward officers. The responsibility of the Scout and Vanguard departments is theirs.
"In the Stake the same relation- ship and responsibilities are main- tained. The District Commission- ers are Stake Officers and Scouting is the official department program for young men 12 to 16 years in- clusive.
"As a result of the development
of a plan of closer cooperation be-
(Continued on page 122)
79
:
These L. D. S. Men are Employed in Scouting
Top row, left to right: John D. Giles, Field Representative for the M. I. A. and Chairman of the Vanguard Committee; William A. Wessel, Assistant National Director of Camping; Oscar A. Kirkham, Assistant Regional Executive, Region Twelve; Ernest De Alton Partridge, National Director of Research; D. E. Hammond, Executive Salt Lake Council and Chairman of the M. I. A. Scout Committee; in circle, Verl G. Dixon, Department of Registration, National Office. Second row, left to right: S. Diiworth Young, Executive Ogden Gateway Council; Preston W. Pond, Executive Cache Valley Council; Andrew A. Anderson, Executive Timpanogos Council; George Bergstrom, Executive San Fernando Valley Council; William B. Hawkins, Executive San Joaquin-Calaveras Council. Third row, left to right: Victor L. Lindblad, Executive Sacramento Council; Harrald S. Alvord, Executive Teton Psaks Council; David Crockett Watkins, Executive Tendoy (Eastern Idaho) Council; Berne P. Broadbent, Field Executive Apache Council; Vernon Strong, Executive, Ridwood Council. Bottom row, left to right: Irving P. Beesley, Field Executive Sacramento Area Council; William G. Barton, Executive Bryce Canyon Council; D. L. Roberts, Field Executive, Salt Lake Council; Clyde V. Pearson, Director of Sea Scouting, San Francisco Area Council; Merrill Christopherson, Assistant Executive Timpanogos Council; J. H. Smithson, Field Executive Apache Council.
80
NE'R-DO-WELL
T.
X HESE are hard times, Mr. Burgeon."
"Yes, Craig, these are hard times."
The man and the boy stood facing each other in the gray weather-worn fishing shack that had served as a home for Craig Mc- Cord for the past two years. Luther Burgeon, heavy-set and aggressive, drew his dark brows together in a frown that was very nearly a scowl. Craig lowered his eyes, shrugged his lean shoulders.
"I guess you may as well take the dory, Mr. Burgeon. I can't pay you any more on it, at least not until spring, and since you're not willing to wait that long — ."
"Why should I, Craig? We made a bargain, didn't we?"
"I'm not complaining." Craig's eyes were blue and candid. "When I asked you to wait for the final payment, I knew I was asking a favor. If you're not willing to grant it — well, there's nothing I can say. I'm out fifteen dollars, that's all."
Luther Burgeon walked toward the door. Over his shoulder he said, "I'll send for the boat later in the day, if I get back in time — or maybe tomorrow. So long, Craig."
"Goodbye, Mr. Burgeon."
Craig thrust his hands deep into his trousers' pockets. Through the small window at the front of the shack he saw Luther Burgeon stride ponderously toward the waiting car. When he reached it he cast a brief backward glance to- ward the house, shook his head slightly from side to side, then climbed into the automobile and started the engine. A few moments later he was on his way over the long white road that led through the two-mile stretch of salt marshes between the beach and the village. Low clouds, gray and ragged, raced southward with the car.
Craig remained at the window. His eyes were cold, hard, his lips tight-set. That brief backward glance, that slight movement of the head from side to side — those things hurt! It was as if Luther
Burgeon's gesture had said in plain words: "Ne'r-do-well. I might have known in the first place, he never could pay for the boat!"
Craig crossed the bare room and seated himself on a bench beside the small sheet-iron stove. Ne'r-do- well — yes, that was what Luther Burgeon thought of him. That was what the whole village thought of him: Craig McCord, a ne'r-do-well like his father dead now these two years. * * *
Outside the wind was bleak. The bay was the color of molten steel. Wild ducks swept across the dreary marshes; their wings and bodies were black against the early-morning winter sky.
Ne'r-do-well — that hurt! It
CRAIG SHOUTED AS HE STRODE FORWARD. THE
MAN APPEARED NOT TO HAVE HEARD BUT
CONTINUED TO WAVE THE LIGHT
hurt far more than the thought of the fifteen dollars now lost to him. Craig rose and put on his cap and overcoat — a tall loose-jointed boy not yet twenty. He opened the door and went outside. The wind thrust at his back as he strode along the white road in the direc- tion of the village.
Mr. NICKERSON, at the general store, greeted him heartily. "How are ye, Craig?"
"Fine, thanks."
"Pretty cold at your place, I guess — eh?"
81
By RUSSELL GORDON CARTER
Craig McCord could not -pay for his boat, there- fore, Luther Burgeon decided to take it back — lacking faith in the boy. Mr. Nicker son, however said, "Pve got faith in ye, Craig." This is a story of Craig's test.
"I've seen it colder, Mr. Nick- erson."
"Well, what can I do for ye, Craig?"
"I stopped in to see if you needed help — ."
Mr. Nickerson shook his head. "Can't afford it," he said bluntly.
Craig nodded. "Know of any- one who needs a man?"
"No, I don't."
Craig turned toward the door. He was about to open it when Mr. Nickerson said, "Come back here, boy! Bless me, if it ain't the first time I ever see ye come in here without a cheerful smile! What's the matter, Craig; are ye in trouble or somethin'?"
Craig smiled and returned to the counter. 'Trouble enough," he said, still smiling. "But I don't want to bother other folks with it — .
"Nonsense!" the man inter- rupted him. "Tell me about it."
After a few moments of hesita- tion Craig said, "Well, it's like this, Mr. Nickerson. Maybe you remember, last fall I agreed to buy that green dory from Luther Bur- geon— thirty-five dollars was the price he set, and I paid him ten dollars down. I was to pay the rest of it by the first of the year. I think I could have, all right, but you know how I was laid up for more than a month. Well, it's past the first of the year now, and I still owe him twenty dollars on the craft. He's taking it away either today or tomorrow — ."
'Ye mean he won't give ye more time?"
Craig nodded. "You see, I came in here on a long chance, Mr. Nickerson, hoping you might give me a job, or might know of some- body else who would. I thought if I could count definitely on earn- ing, say, twenty dollars or so within the next two or three weeks, I might see Mr. Burgeon again — ."
"Lute Burgeon ought to be ashamed of himself!" the store- keeper exclaimed. "Come spring, ye'll be in a position to earn some- thing, what with the lobster catch and quohogs and such — ."
"Yes, that's why I wanted the dory," Craig replied. "Come spring, I don't know what I'll do — without it!" Then with a shrug and a forced smile, he added, "I guess I know how Mr. Burgeon feels. He thinks I'm not good for much. Matter of fact, I guess the whole village feels the same way — ."
"I don't!" Mr. Nickerson said emphatically. "I've got faith in ye, Craig. I know what a hard time of it ye've been having, and if I could help ye, I surely would!"
'Thanks, Mr. Nickerson!"
"Lute Burgeon ought to be ashamed of himself!" the store- keeper repeated. "Him with a good-paying lot o' summer cot- tages and time to go off duck- shootin' whenever he pleases, and a nice comfortable home of his own — he ought to be ashamed of him- self, and b'lieve me, I'll tell him
so!
I"
Craig shook his head and was silent.
A few minutes later he was on his way toward the other end of the village. At the storekeeper's suggestion, he stopped at Joe Hickey's garage and inquired for work; but Mr. Hickey had no need for help. From there Craig went to the rope and twine factory on the outskirts of town and asked for work there. Again he met with a refusal. He inquired at other places. He was willing to do any kind of labor no matter how hard; he was willing to work long hours for meagre pay — but no one of- fered him the chance.
IT was late afternoon when he turned his steps home- ward. Ne'r-do-well! The phrase occurred to him again as he made his way over the long white road; but swift upon the thought came the memory of Mr. Nickerson's words — "I've got faith in ye, Craig." The boy lifted his chin. There was comfort in the words. He forgot the weariness in his legs, forgot the sting of the wind against his face.
The tide was coming in, and the marshes were flooded. Here and there he saw patches of gray salt ice moving sluggishly southward. Here and there far off he saw little island hummocks fringed with dead grass. Several times he heard the distant report of a gun. The wide marshes were sombre, deso- late. Now and then a duck rose and wheeled against the wind.
In the little cove behind his shack the dory lay drawn up on the beach. He glanced at it and then entered the shack, thinking of Luther Burgeon.
The place was cold, almost as cold as the air outside. Craig set to work to kindle a fire in the stove. Before long the wood was crack- ling. He removed his overcoat and cap, put on his heavy frayed blue sweater. Then he went to the cupboard where he kept his canned goods, and opened a can of beans. He had not eaten a thing since breakfast. The odor of beans warming on top of the stove gave him a sense of comfort.
Darkness began to close in be- fore he had finished eating. The wind increased in violence, whis-
(Cortttnued on page 125)
82
".;:•::';'
THE M.I. A. PRESERVES HISTORY
By
JOHN D. GILES
Executive Secretary, Utah Pioneer Traits and Landmarks Association
The trails of the West will forever bear the impress of the Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks Association. John D. Giles, executive secretary and M. I. A . field man, has acted as photographer as well as chief historian of the project and presents here an interesting sketch of activities which have marked the trails in several western states.
JOHN D. GILES
"A wise nation preserves its records, gathers up its muniments, decorates the tombs of its illustrious dead, repairs its great structures and fosters national pride and love of country by perpetual reference to the sacrifices and glories of the past." — Joseph Howe.
THAT nation, state, or com- munity or church which fails to preserve its history, its story spots, its records of achieve- ments, its landmarks and old trails is indeed lacking in vision.
At the time of the tercentenary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony more than two million people vis- ited Boston in less than three months. What was the attraction? The seashore? Hardly — there are thousands of miles of seashore to visit without going to Boston. Was it the large buildings, the climate or great theatres? It was history. It was interest in the hun- dreds of patriotic, shrines in New England. It was Faneuil Hall, the old South Church, the old State
House, Boston Common and other historic landmarks of intense in- terest to all Americans. Good for Boston. Good for New England. They have pre- served their history.
But let us remember that all of America's history is not in Boston or New England. Western Amer- ica is teeming with places of great historic interest. The intermountain region and the Pacific Coast boast of history as interesting, as thrilling and as important as any region in the new world. Our history is more recent but much of it is now more than a century old and should properly be classed as American his- tory.
Someone has said that the State of Utah has more important history than any state west of the Missouri River. But the history of Utah is so closely related to that of neighboring states ■ — -Idaho, Wyoming, Colo- rado, Arizona, Nevada,
California, and Oregon in par- ticular— that the history of one overlaps that of the others.
PRESIDENT A. W. IVINS;, PRESIDENT HEBER J. GRANT,
AND ELDER GEORGE ALBERT SMITH, PRESIDENT OF THE
TRAILS ASSOCIATION, AT UNVEILING OF MONUMENT
ERECTED ON ENSIGN PEAK BY ENSIGN STAKE M. I. A.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, FEBRUARY, 1935
83
Without making comparisons, which may be odious or otherwise, this statement can be made without fear of contradiction — the inter- mountain west is rich in historic resources that deserve to be pre- served for generations to follow. All too late the realization of this fact is being forced upon us. The movement now under way is fully twenty-five years late. The last of the riders of the colorful Pony Ex- press died before a monument was placed at the end of the trail. Not one of the partici- pants in that great venture was present. The last survi- vors of the hand- car t tragedies who were old enough to re- member what actually hap- pened passed on before their stories were re- corded. Most of those called "Old-Timers" among the pio- neers of the west have long since gone to their graves.
Now, when it is all but too late, we are be- coming aroused not only to our duty to those who made our history but to our own selfish interest in pre- serving these story spots.
The Young Men's and Young Wom- en's Mutual Im- provement As- sociations have long been inter- ested in Pioneer history. They sponsored a movement many years ago to search out as nearly as pos- sible the place where Brigham Young made his now historic state- ment, "This is the right place. Drive on." When the Utah Pio- neer Trails and Landmarks Asso- ciation was organized its leading sponsor was the General Superin- tendent of the Y. M. M. I. A.—
Elder George Albert Smith. His associate executives in the Y. M. and Y. W. M. I. A. and several members of both the General Boards became charter members. A member of the Y. M. M. I. A. general Board became its executive secretary-treasurer and another be- came chairman of the finance com- mittee.
When the campaign for funds was launched the M. I. A. took the
GEORGE ALBERT SMITH
President Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks Association
leadership. Through the medium of "plains dinners," recommended by M. I. A. General Board com- mittees and conducted in practically every stake in the Church, Oregon Trail memorial coins, specially minted by the Federal Government for use in marking trails and land- marks, Were sold at a premium. In
this manner the major portion of the funds used in marking the trails and landmarks of the West were secured. Contributions of patri- otic citizens and charter member- ship fees made up the balance of the fund.
f~\F all the outstanding accom- plishments of the Mutual Im- provement Associations in the past half-century, probably none will
be more last- ing or more far-re aching than this im- portant move- ment to save the history of the West. In six states monu- ments have been erected and im- petus has been given to a move- ment that will undoubtedly continue to grow long after those who start- ed the move- ment have pass- ed out of the picture. Many years must pass and other gen- erations come forth before the work now be- ing done will be appraised at its full value.
The announc- ed purpose of the Utah Pio- neer Trails and Landmarks As- sociation at the time of its or- ganization was: "Honoring the pathfinders and the pioneer builders, chart- ing and marking the historic trails and story spots, preserving our his- torical resources; promotion of the teaching of history in its all- Amer- ican aspects and vital relations to the up-building of our West and our country." The organization was formed as a non-religious, non- political, and non-profit association and has carried its program forward without regard to any influences or motives other than the accomplish- ment of its announced objectives.
84
1. President Heber J. Grant, Dr. Geo. W. Middleton, Mrs. W. S. Woodruff, Dr. W. M. Stookey and President Geo. Albert Smith at the old Mormon Wall, Fort Bridger, Wyoming.
2. Rev. Victor Herring, Franciscan Priest and Elder George Albert Smith at monu- ment marking Father Escalante's trail of 1776 at Provo, Utah.
3. President H«ber J. Grant speaking at ceremony marking the Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian established by Orson Pratt, August 2, 1847.
President Anthony W. Ivins speaking at ceremony marking the Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Oscar A. Kirkham, Andrew Jenson, Chas. Jackson, President Ruth May Fox and President George Albert Smith on Mormon Pioneer trail at Lewiston Mines, Wyo. Trail Markers camp at Rock Creek Hollow, Wyoming, on Mormon Pioneer trail.
B. H. Roberts, George Albert Smith, Dr. Howard R. Driggs, Geo. D. Pratt, James E. West, Andrew Jenson and Oscar A. Kirkham at Independence Rock, Wyo.
The results have been far-reach- ing and have been recorded in the press of the West and of the nation. In cooperation with local groups in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada and Arizona, substantial markers of stone and bronze have been placed to perpetuate the accom- plishments and achievements of the trappers, explorers, missionaries, pioneers, and builders of the West. Fifty-one historic places have been marked, forty-eight of them with the official tablets of the Associa- tion, and fifty of them carrying the familiar buffalo skull, insignia of the Association.
Photographs in this issue show the scope and variety of the Asso- ciation's efforts. Not all the mark- ers shown have been erected by the Trails group but in practically all
cases the association has cooperated in the work. Included in the il- lustrations are the beautiful and ar- tistic monument and flagging erect- ed by the National Women's Relief Society at the home of Joseph Smith in Nauvoo where that so- ciety was organized March 1 7, 1842. This is the most preten- tious and imposing of the series. Officers of the Association cooper- ated in its preparation and unveil- ing. The marker at Church Buttes, Wyoming, was placed by Lyman Stake. The temporary wooden markers at Devil's Gate and on the Oregon Trail in the Sweetwater Valley in Wyoming, were placed by the Natrona County Historical Society of Wyo- ming, a group which has cooperated generously with the Utah Asso-
ciation. All other markers were built by local groups in coopera- tion with the Trails Association.
The work of the Association is more extensive than is generally realized. Before trails and land- marks can be marked correctly they must be searched out and the true history established. This is some- times a more difficult and expensive task than the actual marking. By the time the work of this Associa- tion got under way all the members of the ill-fated handcart company led by Edward Martin from Iowa City in 1856, who were old enough at the time to remember and iden- tify Martin's Cove, scene of the most tragic experience of the Mor- mon migration, had died. Resi- dents of the vicinity had confused stories of its location, but from a
MONUMENTS ERECTED BY PIONEER TRAILS AND LANDMARKS ASSOCIATION
1. President George Albert Smith and grandson Robert Murray Stewart, Jr., at Big Mountain on Pioneer Trail.
2. Monument at Church Buttes, Wyoming.
3. Monument at site of first church and school outside the Pioneer fort in Salt Lake Valley.
4. Marker at Rock Creek Hollow, Wyoming, where J. G. Willie's handcart company sought refuie in 1S56.
5. Monument at site of Ogden Canyon toll gate.
6. Monument at Mountain Dell station on the Pony Express trail.
7. Site of Brigham Young camp at Silver Lake (Brighton), Utah, July 24, 1857.
8. Honoring Pioneers of Logan.
9. Site of Jacob Hamblin's fort, Kanab, Utah.
10. Fort Henry, St. Anthony, Idaho.
11. Escalante Trail, Provo, Utah.
12. Battle Creek, near Preston, Idaho.
13. Scene of meeting between Brigham Young and Jim Bridger, Little Sandy, near Farson, Wyoming.
14. On Donner trail at State Fair Grounds, Salt Lake City, Utah.
15. President Grant speaking at Independence Rock, Wyoming. Pioneer plaque at right.
16. Pioneer Celebration July 24, 1857, at Silver Laka (Brighton), Utah.
17. On Pioneer trail east of Fort Bridger, Wyoming.
18. Pioneer Social Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah.
19. Eagle Rock Crossing of Snake River, Idaho Falls,
20. On Donner trail, west of Grantsville, Utah.
21. Pioneer Stage Station, Layton, Utah.
22. Commemorating the founding of Utah, State Capitol, Salt Lake City, Utah.
86
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, FEBRUARY, I 935
historical standpoint it was lost. Fortunately a few paragraphs in early histories gave enough infor- mation to guide members of the Trails Association to the spot, but only after the search had gone into its second year.
A circumstance, which to many seems providential, resulted in the location of the site of Willie's Camp in Rock Creek Hollow, Wyoming, where fifteen members of the J. G. Willie handcart com- pany, a hundred miles ahead of the Martin company perished in one night and were buried in a single grave. Other sites, which had been forgotten have been searched out and marked and new interest in them created among the younger generations.
DECAUSE most of the early his- tory of the intermountain West was made by Mormons it is natural that most of the markers should be Mormon, just as most of the markers in California are Catholic. But that does not mean that the marking has been confined to Mormon history. A glance at the illustrations will show that the important history of the West has been preserved regardless of creed, politics or any consideration other than historic importance.
The trail of Escalante and Dom- inguez, Catholic Priests, dating back to 1776 is today the best marked trail in the Intermountain Country. The first marker planned by the Trails Association marked this trail at Provo. Jedediah Strong Smith, educated as a Methodist minister, explored the first overland trail through Utah, Nevada and California to the Pacific Coast in 1826. A marker on City Hall Square in Ogden marks the begin- ning of this trail. Jim Bridger discovered the Great Salt Lake in 1 824. This fact is commemorated in a suitable monument on Bear River in northern Utah. Bridger, Carson, Fitzpatrick and other trap- pers, by caching a fortune in furs in Willow Valley in Northern Utah, caused the name to become Cache Valley. This important bit of history is inscribed on a monu- ment at Logan in Cache County. The ill-fated Donner party of 1846 explored the route from Fort Bridger to the Salt Lake Valley which the Mormon Pioneers fol- lowed the next year. Two monu- ments, one at the Utah State Fair Grounds and one on the desert in Tooele County, mark that trail.
The Pony Express made history
in the West which has been pre- served on half a dozen markers along its trail.
The Mormon Pioneer Trail has been well marked through Wyo- ming in cooperation with various groups in that state and is fairly well marked in Utah, but much remains to be done in Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois. The splendid monument erected by the Relief So- ciety at Nauvoo marks the begin- ning of the Pioneer Trail, but some day its entire length, at reasonable distances, should be appropriately marked. And certainly no one would consider this historic high- way to have been properly marked until a monument of magnificent proportions and construction marks the place where Brigham Young made his memorable statement, "this is the place." Plans for such a memorial are now in the making although considerable time will be required to develop them. The last six miles of the trail through Emigration Canyon have been re- built. It is proposed to build the monument at the end of the trail on the new highway.
(""^NE of the most important phases of the work of the trails Association is educational. Pub- licity is used extensively in connec- tion with each marker for the pur- pose of renewing interest in historic places and of educating young peo- ple in the history of their own com- munities. Large numbers of peo- ple, old and young, attend the marker ceremonies and become in- formed regarding that particular phase of local history. Eventually photos and descriptions of all the markers with copies of the inscrip- tions will be published for wide distribution, adding still further to the educational value of the pres- ent movement to preserve our his- tory.
Efforts have been made in all cases to enlist the active cooperation of prominent local groups in erect- ing each marker. Schools, Scouts, Vanguards, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Chambers of Commerce, Citizens' Committees, Stake Pres- idencies, Ward Bishoprics, Adult Aaronic Priesthood, A a r o n i c Priesthood Quorums, Mutual Im- provement Associations, women's organizations, family associations, newspapers, state and government agencies and other civic, religious and patriotic groups, and indi- viduals have joined in placing markers and monuments.
As will be noted from a study
of the illustrations, President Heber J. Grant and his associates of the General Authorities have been ac- tive supporters of the Association. President Anthony W. Ivins, be- fore his death, joined in several of the marker ceremonies. Dr. James E. Talmage assisted many times with the preparation of inscrip- tions. B. H. Roberts was a staunch supporter and Andrew Jenson, Os- car A, Kirkham and others have given constant cooperation.
The officers of the Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks Association are:
President, George Albert Smith; Vice-President, Dr. George W. Middleton; Executive Secretary- Treasurer, John D. Giles; Direc- tors: Amy Brown Lyman, D. H. Christensen (Chairman Education Committee) , Dr. W. M. Stookey, Mrs. W. S. Woodruff, Mrs. Fred Davidson, J. Cecil Alter (Chair- man History Committee) , George Q. Morris (Chairman Finance Committee) , Dr. W. J. Snow, Wilford C. Wood, Joseph Wirth- lin. W. H. Reeder, Jr., Noble War- rum, Mrs. Jacob Bamberger and Samuel O. Bennion. Dr. Howard R. Driggs of New York City, Pres- ident of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association, was one of the organ- izers of the Utah Association and one of its first charter members. There are approximately two hun- dred charter members at present.
The Association has but one honorary member, James A. El- dredge, who through a generous contribution financed the prelim- inary plans for the coin sales through the M. I. A. and other early activities.
While the Association has a rec- ord of which the officers and mem- bers may justifiably feel proud, much remains to be done. Many important "story spots" are un- marked. Every community has some history that should be pre- served. The Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks Association plans to continue its activities and to en- courage other groups to join in preserving the historic resources of the West. Several patriotic, civic and religious groups are represented on the board of directors of the Trails Association and practically all groups are represented among the charter members. If all unite in this worthwhile movement eventu- ally monuments and markers will dot the trails, the valleys and the mountains, preserving indefinitely one of the most valuable and per- manent of all resources — history.
40
* m
23. At home of Joseph Smith where National Women's Relief Society was organized, Nauvoo, III.
24. Calls Fort, North of Brigham City, Utah.
25. At Fredonia, Arizona, pointing the way to Pipe Springs.
26. Honoring Jedediah Strong Smith, City Hall Square, Ogden, Utah.
27. Commemorating discovery of Great Salt Lake by Jim Bridger, North of Bear River City, Utah.
28. Site of Pioneer Iron Mills, Cedar City, Utah.
29. Pipe Springs, Arizona.
30. Site of Indian Treaty at Fish Lake.
31. Honoring Pioneer Catholic Sisters, Holy Cross Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah.
32. Old style marker on Pioneer trail, Devils Gate Wyoming.
33. Mormon Wall at Fort Bridger, Wyoming.
34. Site of Brigham City, Arizona, near Winslow.
35. Trapper's Cache, at Logan, Cache County, Ut.
36. On Pioneer and Pony Express trails at Henefer, Ut.
37. Martin's Cove, Wyoming, refuge of Martin's Hand- cart Company.
38. In Echo Canyon, Utah, on Pioneer Trail.
39. Fort Hall, Idaho.
40. Wyoming trail marker on Pioneer trail.
41. Honoring Jacob Hamblin, Kanab, Utah.
42. Pony Express trail and site of old Salt Lake House, Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.
43. Pioneer Square, Salt Lake City, Utah.
44. Mormon Pioneer Ferry, Casper, Wyoming.
CHAPTER IV
I
.T was a clear, cloud- less night. There was no moon, but the firmament was aglow with stars against which, the dark of the forest, a group of travelers had just left, looked gloomy and forbid- ding. The men lighted a fire and gathered around its cheerful glow. It lessened their sense of isolation. Their leader, Ammon, and his two brothers had withdrawn to counsel together. Taking advantage of their absence, some voiced com- plaints to the group.
'Tis a vain journey;" one said, "that promises naught but hard- ships as a reward. It would be well for us to return to Zarahemla before we are hopelessly lost. Why should we find the City of Lehi- Nephi?"
'Yea," another protested, "many, many, hopeless nights have found us camped thus, knowing little of the wilderness and plains we have passed through and noth- ing of what lies before us. It was said at home that Ammon had a map of the way."
"So he has," one called David
ROM
By
DOROTHY CLAPP ROBINSON
answered sharply, "but 'tis the same map all companies who have sought the lost City of Lehi-Nephi have had. 'Tis said 'twas drawn from memory by one who was in the exodus that traveled from that City to Zarahemla many, many years ago. 'Tis at best a rough guess. Surely you do not hope to reach victory and glory between sunsets."
"Not between many sunsets," the first complainer retorted; "but this endless wandering wearies body and spirit. Should we be fortunate enough to discover the City think of the journey home."
"That will be as nothing," David reminded them, "for Am- mon has kept a careful record. I think," he added pointedly, "out of the hundreds who wished to ac- company him, Ammon could have found men with more faith in him. Other companies have failed. We came to succeed no matter how long nor how far we must travel."
The two grumblers had the grace to blush and one said:
"We, too, hope for success, but days are long and nights eerie. We seem so utterly alone yet we know somewhere near here — perhaps back of those bushes — are hordes of Lamanites ready to spring upon us."
"Me thinks it is sweethearts left in Zarahemla," Philip, David's friend said banteringly. "This is a journey for men with free hearts. There is the possibility then of finding and making love to other maidens. That is why David and I came."
David rose under the laughter and walked to the crest of a hill that lay before them. It was his turn to stand guard and until then he wanted to be free — to forget the past and build on the future. Be-
hind him lay broken hopes and shattered dreams; before him — what? In the clear light he could see far to the southwest a precipi- tous hill. His pulse quickened. Suppose that beyond it lay Lehi- Nephi! Suppose after all they were lucky enough to find that luckless city? What honor would be theirs when they returned home?
1HE camp was up and stirring as soon as it was light. Before noon they reached the hill David had seen the night before. Ammon forged on ahead. As he gained the crest of the hill his gaze swept the surrounding country long and earnestly. Then in happy exultation he turned to his men and with a sweep of his arm cried:
"Behold! The City lies before us."
A rush followed, but, as the men gained the top, with one accord they bowed their heads in thank- fulness as the towers and walls of the long sought City burst upon their vision. Here was the quest of years and theirs the victory. Ach- ing limbs and weary feet were for- gotten. They waited quietly though impatiently while Ammon and his brother made ready to re- connoiter the last lap alone. In the City the people went about their work, dull with apathy, un- aware of the succor so near.
As darkness grew upon them, the men grew restless. Why did not Ammon return? Their impatience turned to suspense and toward midnight they held counsel. David urged that one or two of them be allowed to advance toward the City and see if any traces could be found of their belated Commander. With much reluctance and many admoni- tions, Philip, acting as Com- mander, appointed David and John
07
ANCE OF TWO CITIES
to the task. They advanced cau- tiously together, until they were within hearing distance of the mas- sive walls then separated. David shadowing the East and John the North gates. Thus far they had found no trace of Ammon nor his captors, if captured he had been. Now, David creeping along, trying to shield his ap- proach to the gate, distinguish- ed the burly form of a night watchman circling the walls, but could not tell whether he were Nephite or Lamanite. m There was the possibility he re- flected that the Lamanites held the City. They might even have captured Ammon and his brother. He decided to creep nearer, and when the guard K came again, find out if he were friend or foe. If he were a Ne- phite, he would risk asking for admittance at the gate; if a Lamanite he might try scaling the wall, but even a casual glance showed him the impos- sibility of such things. Stories he had heard of the inaccessi- bility of this grim fortress came back to him. They had not been overdrawn.
The retreating figure of the guard grew indistinct. David braced himself to sprint across that starlit space, then jumped behind a bush instead. From the shadow of the great wall two figures came, running swiftly and carrying a burden between them. On they came directly toward the rock and brush behind which he was hiding. Throwing himself upon the ground, David waited. They came nearer, but now the guard was again in sight. A whispered ex- clamation that was plainly audible to the unsuspected watcher, and the two dropped suddenly to the ground and lay motionless. On
came the guard, now he mounted the watchtower, swept the starlit space with ferret eyes. The three watchers waited breathlessly until he had descended again to the wall where the shadows soon engulfed him.
THE MIGHTY ONE
Cautiously, then, the figures rose and David had barely time to creep away, when they reached his rock and laid their burden in its shadow. Listening intently, he caught the hoarse guttural voices of men and knew them to be Lamanites. They conversed quietly for some mo- ments, but not a word was under- stood by the eager listener. Their burden stirred and voiced a groan that needed no interpretation. David's pulse leaped. If he could only get one look, a glance. He must try. Perhaps it was Ammon, overpowered, and waiting, no one
knew what fate. He heard the men rise and guessed they were watching for the guard. A few minutes passed and hearing quick move- ments and muffled directions, David saw them fleeing toward a grove of trees not far distant.
He crept as far as the rock, then rising and choosing a course a little oblique to theirs made a break for the forest. They might look back, but he trusted to their haste and reach- ed the woods undetected. To locate the fugitives was easy, and with skill born of experi- ence he wormed his way to- ward them, the low murmur of their voices his guide, for the forest was dark and gloomy. Presently, they took up their journey noisily and without ■ caution, and David had no trouble following them.
T OR some minutes they threshed rapidly through the brush, the noise of their passage covering David's pur- suit. Suddenly he sensed that they had stopped and advanc- ing carefully he found them seated in a small clearing light- ed by moonbeams that filtered through overhanging branches. The men sat on their haunches rest- ing with their burden between them. David looked about impa- tiently— if he only knew who the captive was. He reasoned with himself. He must turn back soon, or lose all sense of direction — but suppose it were his Commander? Certainly there was mischief afoot or they would have followed the highway. He must see that face. He looked about for some means of getting nearer. A particularly large overhanging limb caught his attention. If he were on that, {Continued on page 124)
THOMAS HULL
Thomas Hull
Senior Member of theYMMIA.
ON Thursday, January 3, death released Elder Thomas Hull, the senior member of the General Board of the Young Men's Mutual Im- provement Association. He was 79, making him senior from point of view of age as well as from point of view of number of years of service.
Ill for several months from a malady from which at his age there was no liberation except through death, the end came as a blessing and the aged missionary went home after a life of heroic service to his fellow men. Those of the General Board who knew Thomas Hull, however, could not think of him as aged, despite his three score and nineteen years. Active until the close of the summer, he was ever eager to press on, ever mindful of details, ever full of faith in the great latter-day work in which he was engaged.
His service to the Mutual Im- provement Associations of the Church began before there was any General Board in the sense in which it is now organized. Called on an M. I. A. mission in 1891, Elder Hull has been active in M. I. A. work ever since. He was one of those who worked hard and suc-
cessfully for the establishment of The Improvement Eta. He has been a supporter of the magazine ever since. In the first minutes of the General Board available, the name of Thomas Hull appears.
For a long time he served as secretary of the Board, his care of details making him ideal for the position. When advancing years and added responsibilities came, he was released from that arduous po- sition, but in order that the execu- tives might avail themselves of his wise counsel and superb enthusiasm for the work, he was made a mem- ber of the Advisory Committee. In that capacity he wielded an im- portant influence upon the program of the Associations.
A son of Eli and Susanah Lake Hull, he was born in London, Eng- land, December 27, 1855. Joining the Church when he was a child, he lived the life of a faithful Lat- ter-day Saint enabling him to re- ceive all orders of the priesthood. In 1875 he emigrated to Utah, where he continued in Church serv- ice. He early became identified with Z. C. M. I. and remained a member of the staff of that insti- tution until 1893. Later he served as United States Surveyor General for eight years. Active in public affairs, he was elected to the state
legislature where he became speaker of the fifth and sixth sessions. For three and a half years he had charge of the savings department of Walker Brothers' Bankers.
In 1920, Mr. Hull was appoint- ed secretary of the Board of Regents and purchasing agent of the Uni- versity of Utah, positions he still held at the time of his death. Fail- ing health caused him to ask for and receive a leave of absence of six months from active duty. Death came and gave him grand relief just before his leave from the Uni- versity expired.
On April 28, 1877, Thomas Hull was united in marriage to Margaret Craig Swan, the cere- mony being performed by the late President Joseph F. Smith. Later the couple were given their endow- ments in the old Endowment House. From this marriage came four daughters — Margaret Hull Eastmond, Provo; Florence Hull, San Francisco; Edna Hull Bennion, Spokane; and Susanah Hull Evans (deceased) , Salt Lake City. Mrs. Hull died in 1907, and two years later, Mr. Hull married Mary Ann Price, who survives him.
■"THOUGH he was always busy, Mr. Hull found time to give a
(Continued on page 102)
91
Capitalizing on that
Urge to do _ Somethina
By
u
ROBERT T. SNOW AND HIS GORDON LIGHT HYDROPLANE
VACATION time has mostly been considered "play time," by boys from 12 to 15 years of age who live in the city and who are denied the advantages of living and working on a farm during the three months school is out in the summer time. But few "city fathers" or others interested in the youth of to- day have thought up a better plan than the one I recently saw in action right in the heart of our community — Salt Lake City.
Working on the theory that boys are interested in making things with their hands, in using their eyes and muscles and in coordinating their brains and their eyes, The Deseret Gymnasium offered a six weeks summer course for adolescent boys. The course was varied, for each day except Sunday there was an hour and a half in a commodious, well lighted and equipped shop under technically trained and experienced teach- ers; then an hour of games, including baseball, archery, and so on; and the boys topped off the day with a good swim.
According to Bryant S. Hinckley, manager of the gymnasium, two things were guaranteed to boys who attended regularly and worked willingly: (1) Every boy would be taught to swim. (If he didn't learn during the six weeks of the course, he could come until he did learn.) (2) Every boy would make something useful.
Weston N. Nordgren
These boys had no leisure time hanging heavily on their hands — they put it to use. What they did, the boys of any community can do with the proper kind of leadership.
So far as I have been able to learn, every boy picked up enough of the swimming art to handle himself in an ordinary pool, and some became adept in several strokes. Swimming every day for six weeks is bound to teach the boy something, and the more than 150 boys who signed up for the course this year did well.
When the course was about two-thirds through, Mr. Hinckley took me into the shop and showed me around. The rooms were full of boys, all quietly
{Continued on page 123) AIRPLANES AND THEIR MAKERS DESERET GYM— 1934
92
'THE ANGEL OF THE TRAIL"
ON May 7, 1833, Abraham Lincoln was commissioned postmaster at New Salem, Illinois. On May 7, 1 933, in com- memoration of that event, 1 1 8 Boy Scouts of America took to the open road and traveled the twenty-two miles from New Salem to Spring- field afoot; carrying, between them, 2500 pieces of mail ! Some of these Scouts came from a great distance in order to participate.
The letters they carried were replicas of a letter written by one Mathew S. Marsh to his relatives back East, franked by Abraham Lincoln, in 1835. The original is a valued part of a Lincoln coU lection owned by attorney Oliver R. Barret, Chicago. Each of these envelopes was embellished with a cachet designed by Wilson Rape of the Illinois State Register, and told a story of progress in itself. The regular Boy Scouts of America in- signia, a tree foil, was inscribed in the upper section with a picture of the Lincoln-Berry store, in which the New Salem postoffice was housed. In its left wing you see a picture of the old Illinois State Capitol Building to which Lincoln came as a legislator; and in which his body lay in state after the assas- sination. This is now the Sanga- mon County Court House in which my own offices are located. In the right wing is a picture of the White House. Between these two pictures is a facsimile of Lincoln's own sig- nature, the original of which, I am proud to admit, is a part of my own collection. The head of Lin- coln is a copy of Patterson's pro- duction. This comes as near being a picture of him at the time he was postmaster as any we have. It was taken by an unknown photog- rapher during the time that Lincoln was a legislator, immediately after acting as postmaster. From this
THE
Of
HIKE
INSPIRATION
By
JUDGE BENJAMIN DE BOISE
as told to
MATILDA ROSE McLAREN
were mailed to His Majesty, King George of England; President Roosevelt; Ex-president Hoover;
ED CORELL, POSING IN FRONT OF RUTLEDGE TAVERN, MAY 7, 1933
picture the artist Patterson received by the Scout who carried them, much of his inspiration for the picture known as, "Lincoln as Illinois knew him," which hangs in the Administration Building in Lincoln Park, Chicago. You re- member, the beard be- came a part of the IF Emancipator's face only after he had be- come the President of the United States.
In addition to the mail the boys carried, at the invitation of the local Abraham Lincoln Council of The Boy Scouts of America, stamp and postmark collectors from all points of the United States and Canada addressed to themselves mail, sent it to Springfield and had it mailed to the home address on May 7. Besides the reg- ular postmark, these were stamped with Lincoln stamps, cacheted on the front with Patterson's head of Lincoln and the artist's signature; on the back, with the de- signed-f o r-the-occa- sion Scout tree foil. Both types of mail, that sent here by col- lectors and that ac- tually carried by the boys, totalled 12,000 pieces! Letters, signed at the end of the hike
■
*
9a
Literally in the Footsteps of ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Col. Charles Lindbergh; Dr. Eck- ner, Commander the Graf Zepplin; every governor in the United States and to various notables re- siding in France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
TT may be of interest to you to know that in Lincoln's day post- age rates were 6%.c, 12^c, 1634c and 25c, according to the distance, and was always collected at the point of destination. Sometimes, the addressee would not have the postage and Lincoln, not having the heart to refuse, would let him have it anyway; making up the difference out of his own meagre income! It is said that Lincoln kept his money in two socks; one the postoffice sock, and the other the Lincoln sock. When Salemites began to notice that sometimes the full postage was not being collected, they started an investigation and found that the postoffice sock was not in the red but the Lincoln sock was highly emaciated from malnu- trition! Contrary to ordinary politics, as Postmaster, Lincoln was not in accord with the administra- tion of that day but, because his predecessor liked old John Barley- corn too well, the women of the district petitioned to have honest Abe installed. It was while acting as postmaster that Lincoln spent much of his time studying law; walking the twenty-two miles to Springfield to borrow law books from Judge John T. Stuart. And this walk is now known as The Boy Scout Lincoln Trail.
Perhaps you would like to know something about the hike itself? In the summer of 1926 Scout Com- missioner R. Allen Stephens, of the Abraham Lincoln Council realized this unusual method by which a great inspiration might be derived from the story of our martyr President. The humble village life; the lengthy walks in order to bor- row texts; the way he invariably started to study these on the open road before he ever reached home; and after he did reach it, there was only the fire place to serve as stu- dent lamp in the Onstott Cooper
In Lincoln's Steps! What a hike this would be for a Boy Scout! We are wondering if any Scout y a member of the L. D. S. Churchy has yet made this pilgrimage — if soy we should like to hear from him.
shop; all these inconveniences went to build the warp and woof of the greatest and best beloved American citizen! How better to profit by his experience, to absorb inspiration than by actually walking the same path? For this purpose, in confer- ence with Scout Executive, A. J. Davis and other interested parties, a set of rules was formulated by which all Scouts who wish to earn for themselves the bronze Lincoln Trail medal must be governed.
To receive this medal, a Scout must walk alone the twenty-two miles and memorize on the way some of the Lin- coln quotations which are printed on the back of the cre- dential sheet for which he must qual- ify at Springfield Scout headquarters before taking the hike. Some of these are: "Learn the laws and obey them." "Give us a little more light and a little less noise." "Don't swap horses in the middle of the stream." Be- fore a credential sheet is issued, the Scout must qualify as to his Scout standing, his health and must have turned in to head- quarters a book re- view on, "The Boy Scout's Life Of Lin- coln," by Ida Tar- bell. This essay must not be under 200 words nor over 300. When the Scout sets out from New
Salem, (he furnishes his own trans- portation there) he registers with the custodian of the New Salem State Park where the Illinois His- torical Society has reproduced the log cabins of Lincoln memories. Mr. Geisness also signs the boy's credential sheet. On days when but two or three boys make the (Continued on page 118)
COMMEMORATING ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVER- SARY COMMISSIONING A. LINCOLN POSTMASTER OF NEW SALEM
WHEN WINTER
By E. L. CHICANOT
CHATEAU FRONTENAC AND TOBOGGAN SLIDE- QUEBEC
LITERALLY millions of Americans visit Canada in her glorious summer months. Before, however, the fall's first frost has commenced to tint the maples they have all returned home again. It is not only that vacation time is over, that holidaymakers must resume routines and take up again the pursuit of livelihoods. There is a certain apprehension over the Canadian winter which makes them flee before its approach. It would be very difficult indeed to convince these people that the season they are escaping may be just as divert- ing and enjoyable as the one they have experienced.
Certainly many misconceptions exist on the Canadian win- ter; fiction and the motion pictures have tended to emphasize the rigorous and un- pleasant side so that the impression which If generally prevails among those who do not know Canada in the winter months is anything but a pleas- ant one. Few have any suspicion that the season regarded as so forbidding and terri- fying may have an- other side; that so far from dreading the ap- proach of the wintry season many Cana- dians, especially the young, the vigorous and the sport-loving, positively look for- ward with keenness to its advent and hail the first days of frost and snow with de- -4 light.
Canadians do not I deny that it is at times decidedly cold in their country in the winter months and candidly admit that the elements can be extremely unpleasant at this season. But that is not their way of re- garding them. They have to live in their country summer and win- ter and life would be very drear if for a substantial part of the year they found conditions very dis- agreeable and merely tolerated them. They have adopted a very different attitude towards their winter.
Instead of meekly accepting the stern elements of winter as an in- evitable hardship, waging a futile battle with them and being gen- erally miserable, Canadians have long made it a practice to seize them boldly and mould them to their pleasure and enjoyment.
Everything that in a sportive way can be done with ice and snow is being effected in Canada and new ways of squeezing recreation out of them are being devised every year. As a result when the people of other countries are perhaps inclined to pity those of Canada, with their country locked in King Winter's icy grip, everybody is really having a wonderful time and engaging in a variety of outdoor sports that is possible in few other countries.
After all this is very reasonable when it is considered that every year people who live in milder climates in many parts of the world go to snow-clad Switzerland and icy Norway for the sake of the sports _ that are possible in those countries. These are seasonable di- versions which Canada has right at
home and which she has been enjoy- ing since the earliest days
THE BOUNCE
95
COMES TO CANADA
of her settlement. It is only in recent years, however, that Cana- dians have come to realize that the people of other countries might like to come and share them and have accordingly made certain special provisions for visitors.
TT must first of all be realized that Canada is not altogether the bleak land of wind-swept snowy expanses that she is so often pic- tured in the winter months. While such conditions may exist over a large area of the Dominion which yet remains unsettled and undeveloped it does not in the least faith- .^
fully portray
have come to know. It seems to be wrapped in cotton wool and all traffic sounds are deadened by the snowy blanket. The only sound to make itself distinctly heard is the tinkle of sleigh bells as the little horse-drawn vehicles with their fur-clad drivers move through the city street. The almost daily sun catches with its rays pen- d a n t icicles upon the
practically every night there. For those who would rather skate themselves there are numerous out- door rinks where, under powerful arc-lights, skaters circle to the
music o f
hidden
bands.
Mount
Royal,
tab- lished and produc- i tive area of Canada where thriving
cities and towns have evolved, harboring large, and for the main part, healthy and robust popula- tions. Here winter comes in the guise of a magician to transform nature to a new loveliness.
No one who knows it, for in- stance, could think of winter as an unpleasant time in Montreal, Can- ada's largest city. King Winter waves his wand there and the scenery is overspread with a mantle of purest white and adorned with frost jewels. It is a different city altogether but quite as attractive as that summer one so many visitors pi
trees and there is a con- stant flashing of multicolored fire from them. Crowds move happily and energetically about in the keen bracing air.
There is no city on the continent which has more agreeable or divers- ified sport in the winter months. Montreal is a busy financial and commercial center and it is only really at night and the week-ends, when business has been laid aside, that the city has time to enjoy it- self. Then crowds are to be found moving in all directions bound for some manner of diversion which only the wintry elements make pos- sible.
The finest ice hockey games in the world are to be seen in Mon- treal and the fastest game on earth ayed at its very best can be viewed
SKIING IN THE ROCKY
MOUNTAINS NEAR BANFF
Montreal's choicest posses- sion, the eminence looming over the city and accessible from all points, is a veritable paradise for winter sports' devotees. Snow- shoers tramp across its crest, and skiers shoot perilously between the trees down its lower slopes. On its famous toboggan slide, the longest in the world, loads of hap- py and thrilled humanity are catapulted down and into the val- ley below hour after hour. The Fete de Nuit is a riot of light and color with its fireworks display, the torchlight procession, and the hundreds of revellers clad in sports togs on the mountain sides !
At the week-end particularly the mountain features the greatest gaiety and merriment when it is the mecca of all citizens who are out to enjoy the winter. Skiers in all manner of bright colored costumes shoot down the icy slopes. Crowds of pedestrians, enjoying the brac- ing air, climb to the look-out on (Continued on page 119)
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98
THAT POWER WAS MINE !
TO know the date of one's birth is not unusual, but to know the day and hour of one's death is reserved for those who die by law. To contemplate the ap- proach of that day and hour is not, as a rule, fraught with cheerful anticipation.
I was in a neighboring state one evening, addressing a father-and- son banquet. I was stressing the responsibility of parents in training their children, and I reminded them of the Biblical injunction : 'Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not de- part from it." In support of the value of early training, I pointed out that among the hundreds of prisoners in our State prison, not one had ever been a member of the Boy Scouts, and that a doctor of one of the large penal institutions of New York state had said that in his twenty years of service he had not known one of the thousands of criminals in that institution who had ever been a member of the- Scouts. Drawing my watch from my pocket, I said to the six or seven hundred boys present: "It is now eight o'clock. At this same hour tomorrow night, in the peniten- tiary of my state, a boy (for he is little more than a boy) will walk or be dragged through a little green baize door into Eternity. He had forgotten God and the things of God — if, indeed, he had ever known them. With me rests the final decision as to whether he shall live or whether he shall die to- morrow— the power of a king, the prerogative of a god."
Next morning, as I entered my office at the Statehouse, I found the prison chaplain awaiting me — an ominous reminder of the execution to occur that night, although such a reminder is not necessary, be- cause a governor who is impressed with the weal or woe of his people always feels the strain of such an event.
The chaplain pleaded with me again to grant a final hearing to the
By
GOVERNOR
HARRY fl. MOORE
of New Jersey
mother of the condemned youth. He said she had exhausted every means in an effort to save him, and now his fate was in my hands; I alone could grant a reprieve. She would not feel satisfied, he con- tinued, unless she had made this last effort.
I naturally shrank from such an interview, harrowing and nerve- racking as perforce such interviews must be. However, because of his importuning, his somewhat vague hints that her story might move me to a favorable consideration of her plea, I allowed myself to be per- suaded to grant her request for an interview.
She entered the room bent and sobbing, as only a broken-hearted mother can sob; and as I arose to receive her, she threw herself upon the floor, and lying prone at my feet, she clasped her arms about my legs and in a voice quivering with emotion, cried over and over again: "Please, Governor, please save my boy!" Kneeling beside her, the chaplain audibly prayed that God might fill my heart with mercy — while the prayer I needed most was that I might have the courage to do the will of the people as ex- pressed by their representatives, and to uphold the traditions of Jersey justice.
It was a scene which one does not soon forget, and my heart was torn within me for the anguished mother — one word would make her happy; one word could plunge her into the lowest depths of de- spair.
As the chaplain intoned his prayer, I remembered those words I had often recited as a boy. "The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from
Ever since the kidnaping of little Charles Augustus Lindbergh, the state of New Jersey and its Governor have been very much in the public mind. Through the courtesy of "Red Book Magazine" our readers are given an oppor- tunity to see into the heart of Governor Moore. This ar- ticle appeared in that maga- zine for January. Every fath- er and mother , every boy, every Bishop and Scouter, should read this article.
Heaven." But all at once another scene was pictured before me. I saw an office with a number of clerks busy about their tasks. Sud- denly the door flies open. A young man enters with a gun in his hand; several other young men follow him. The one with the gun shouts out: "Stick 'em up!" Instantly all the clerks raise their hands ex- cept one, the office-boy; and he, with the spirit of a Crusader of old, launches his strong young body at the gunman, only to be met with a bullet which sends him stagger- ing to the floor. But he is only wounded; he raises himself — whereupon the gunman with a sardonic smile steps over to him and pumps three more bullets into the boy's body, and his noble soul goes to its reward. He is dead — the sole support of his mother, who comes and takes his poor bullet- ridden body to its final resting- place.
I stoop down and raise the wom- an to her feet; I order the chaplain to cease praying and stand up; and then I say: "I'm sorry, but your boy must pay the price."
"Save my boy!" is a cry which I have often heard; but I am per- suaded that that particular job is committed to the parents when a child is born; and wise indeed are they, if they enlist the powerful and effective assistance of the church or the synagogue in the perform- ance of their task — Reprinted by permission from "Redbook Mag- azine."
Scouting and Boys
•"TEACHERS, scientists, philosophers — all who have made a study of human nature are agreed that early training is an important factor in all life. "As the twig is bent so is the tree inclined." Latter-day Saints are particularly enjoined to train their children in correct principles. Therefore it is not surprising that the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association early recognized the ex- cellence in the Boy Scout program and, with the approval of the Church Authorities, adopted it for our own youth.
Some may say that boys seemed to get along before Scouting was ever thought of. True, but they did not get along so well. Changing times require a change in methods. To give a boy a chance to do the things he likes to do, to let him touch a big world full of interests, to start him out in the right direction in character-building, is to confer upon him an incalculable benefit, the effects of which will shape and color his entire life. A boy who is trained to be observing, to be polite, to be considerate of others, to show proper respect to his elders, has a tremendous advantage in his contacts with society. Many a good man has regretted his lack of early training in these things.
The General Officers of the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association are as concerned with the training of boys as they are with the training of girls. The lives of these young people parallel. They should march together to the same goal. Therefore we commend the Young Men's organization and all others who are en- gaged in this splendid work for boys. May their remarkable success be added upon ten-fold.
Ruth May Fox, Pres. Y. W. M. L A.
R Boy and a Valentine
"\ATITH roses, forgetmenots, doves and lace backgrounds so profusely displayed for Val- entine's Day, a boy sometimes feels that it is not his day, really.
It is too sentimental for him, too effeminate, too flowery and gushing. Naturally he bows to the traditions of the day sufficiently to push through the slit in the Valentine Box a few tokens for the nicest girls in the room; or, if he has grown out of school, to cause the very nicest girl to receive a more elaborate emblem of devotion — candy, flowers, books, or other things. To a boy, tender affections are not to be bandied about in Valentine and mail-boxes; they are to be kept fairly well hidden in the depths of himself and brought out for display only occasionally and in the presence of certain privileged individuals. To
a girl it is thrilling to be acclaimed before friends and relatives as the favored of a particular man, young or old. It has been said that to man love is a thing apart; 'tis woman's whole existence. The attitudes underlying this analysis perhaps explain the difference in the feelings of boys and girls at Valentine time.
There is, however, a possibility for a boy on this day which might serve a double purpose — that of sending Valentines (verbal, written or formal) to his Mother: One purpose would be to express sentiment to one who will understand and love it; the other to put a bit of Mother's Day ahead a few months. For Christmas plans have materialized into gifts for Mother — that is the expected thing. On Mother's Day the proper recognition will be made — that, too, is expected. But on Valentine Day Mothers have rather stop- ped looking for remembrances for themselves; have remained content to admire and exclaim over the tokens the rest of the family have received. And because it is exciting to send unexpected Valentines, it will naturally prove so to send them to Mothers.
What kind of Valentines might a boy send to his Mother? There is such wide variety and choice that every boy might select a different sort. There is the quiet assurance, spoken with the sincerity of eyes meeting eyes, that she is a great little Mother — the best in all the world. There is the written note, telling her of what she has meant, and is meaning, in the life of a boy who doesn't quite know what life is all about. Or, still written, a statement of ways in which a boy is determined to make a Valentine a permanent, lasting thing — not just a passing utterance — by keeping the walks clean; or even a neck; by hang- ing pajamas up each morning — and not on the floor; by taking time out once in awhile to tell her of hopes and dreams and ambitions — and ways of making them come true. Make a Valentine last through all the year and it makes an enchanted year of it!
Boys, you see, are their Mothers' accounts in the bank of life. Into the bank a Mother puts every spare bit of the money-of-memory; the cur- rency of courtesy; the wealth-of- wonder which comes with motherhood. Work, worry, trouble and disappointments can so easily be submerged if the bank account is accumulating in heartening proportions. But to be a good investment, boys must do one thing — keep up their interest — and to keep it up in Mothers is the greatest of all great kinds of Valentine! — E, T, B.
CCOUTING is the greatest program for boys ever devised by man," a Church leader has said. Is your ward, your branch, taking ad- vantage of that program?
99
100
LIGHTS anc
. SHADOWS on the SCREEN
•pHE Little Minister (R. K. O.) : ■ With a fine Scotch flavor, against the beautiful background of Thrumms village, the old Barrie story is told of the young clergyman who gives his love to the gay, irresponsible gypsy Babbie. Charmingly enacted. Family.
Sweet Adeline (Warner Bros.) : Done in quaint mood and manner of the old song this musical moves charm- ingly through a series of episodes which takes a girl from her father's simple cafe to the heights of the concert stage. Deft- ly directed. Family.
Bright Eyes (Fox) : A story made
to measure for the diminutive Shirley Temple, this picture will appeal to al- most every age. Family.
Broadway Bill (Columbia) : The story of a man's love for his horse and faith in the ability of the animal, Broad- way Bill, to win a race takes various people from cross sections of life into a surprisingly interesting story. Ethical values might be questioned, as a too- casual divorce, shooting craps, and the courting of a woman with money by a man already "slightly married" are woven in so smoothly that their pres- ence goes almost unnoticed. Aside from this, for Adults and Young People.
The County Chairman (Fox) : Political picture of twenty years ago which works toward an exciting cli- max. A jolly, wholesome and human bit of entertainment. Family.
Grand Old Girl (R. K. O.) : Or- iginal story of a domineering, tender, understanding school principal of thirty years who almost goes down to defeat when she tries to fight the selfish inter- ests of the town in saving her boys and girls. Verges on good hokum toward the last. Family.
Wicked Woman (M. G. M.) : The story of a woman's grim battle for the happiness of her children is fraught with tragedy and realism, but made unusually interesting by the pres- ence of a new foreign actress, Mady Christians. Adults.
BABES IN TOYLAND (Hal Roach) : A phantasy produced with imagination and novelty possible only in pictures. The good old characters of Mother Goose come to life, and, aided and abetted by the perenially funny Laurel and Hardy. Children especially, but Family as well.
The Mighty Barnum (20th Cen- tury) : Rise of the humble Barnum to the position of the greatest showman on earth is depicted with little attention to accuracy. Many badly burlesqued scenes create a jumble which is a matter of taste for anyone.
Forsaking All Others (M. G. M.) : Too worldly wise in type to ap- peal to all, this picture will doubtless
tTHE members of the "Era" staff view and evaluate pictures in all possible cases. When this cannot be done, the estimates of groups of people organized for this especthl purpose are taken. The groups previewing pictures and presenting representative opinions are: Nat' I Daughters of the American Revolution; Nat' I Society New England Women; Gen. Federation Wom- en's Clubs; California Congress of Parents and Teachers; Nat' I Council Jewish Women; Wom- en's University Club.
They indicate audience classi- fications as follows: Children — up to 14 years; Adolescents — up to 18 years; Young People — 18 to 25 years; Adults — over 25 years. The advice of these com- mittees, and the "Era," is: "Se- lect your pictures. Go to those you know are of line type. Stay away from those that you know are trashy or objectionable. Your admission ticket is a definite con- tribution toward setting stan- dards of production."
be received with interest by Crawford, Montgomery and Gable fans. Such a cast spells sophistication; the picture is a matter of choice.
SEQUOIA (M. G.M.): The unique photography of the poetic beauty of the virgin forest with its herds of grace- ful deer would in itself alone make this a delightful film; the strange, lifelong friendship of the great deer and the mountain puma adds a touch which
W. C. FIELDS AND FREDDIE BARTHOLOMEW IN "DAVID COPPERFIELD"
sets a new high in film entertainment. Family.
READY FOR LOVE (Paramount) : Adventures of a young girl whose mother sends her to a small town to cure her of being stage-struck. Family.
Fugitive Lady (Columbia) : A young girl is innocently convicted of crime, and through a series of exciting incidents finds romance. An ingenious, though melodramatic plot. Fair for Family.
Gay Bride (M. G. M.): A gold- digging chorus girl marries a racketeer and their experiences make up a tire- some and pointless story with uncon- vincing, unethical confusion a 1 1 through.
Bachelor of Arts (Fox) : Pic- ture of College life, skilfully directed and well acted. Family.
EVENSONG (Gaumont — British) : Selfish ambition and pride form the theme of this musical romance built around a singer who sacrifices every- thing in life to her success and dies with a meaningless crown of glory. Excel- lent for Family.
Gentlemen Are Born (First Na- tional) : Study of disappointments and disillusionments of four young men fol- lowing their graduation from college. Well done. Adults and Young People. it and sports. Family.
School for Girls (Liberty) : Well directed and interesting drama of girls' reformatory. Contains food for thought. Adults and Young People.
The White Parade (Fox) : Very human drama of student nurses from probation to graduation, with the pathos, tragedy, joys and hopes along the way. One of the really worthwhile pictures of the year. Family.
Girl O' My Dreams (Mono): Sympathetic study of family life, lifted by fine interpretation into the field of good entertainment. Family.
Tomorrow's Youth (Mono.): An appealing picture of the successful efforts of a young boy to avert divorce of parents. Adults.
BABBIT (Warner Bros.) : The well- known story of the pompous Babbit, his strength and weakness and loyalty and egotism. Fair blend of comedy and satire for Adults and Young People.
Behold My Wife (Paramount) : Rather unusual tale of New York so- ciety man who marries an Indian girl in order to disgrace his family, only to find her clever and charming enough to meet the situation and win his love. Rather too melodramatic. Adults and Young People.
BIOGRAPHY (M. G. M.) : Enter- taining comedy offering plea for toler- ance concerning human frailties.
Details of New Procedure for Quorums
TN the January Era the official com- munication from the General Au- thorities of the Church explaining the new policy to be followed in conduct- ing Priesthood meetings during the Sunday School hour, and also in the regular monthly Priesthood meeting of the several quorums, was published. It is expected that in each ward and branch of the Church the procedure in this official communication will be faithfully followed. Some of the details in relation to these meetings could not be published in the former issue and they are now presented here.
Order of Business in Bishopries Meetings
TT is suggested that each Sunday morn- ing at 9:30, or earlier if desired, that a meeting be held to be attended by the following: The Bishopric, group leader of the high priests, seventy and elders; the presidents of the teachers and deacons quorums; the Aaronic Priesthood supervisor and any others whom the bishopric wishes to invite.
In this meeting the order of business will be as follows:
1. Opening prayer.
2. Reports on assignments previously made, if any.
3. Assignments to various priesthood groups.*
a. High Priests.
b. Seventies.
c. Elders.
d. Priests.
e. Teachers.
f. Deacons.
4. Choosing of one of the three Melchi- chizedek Priesthood group leaders to present these instructions to the com- bined priesthood groups at the 11:25 a. m. meeting. (Note : In those wards in which Melchizedek quorums meet separately this assignment need not be made as each group leader will present the message in the meeting of his group.)
*Some of the fields of activity which should be considered in this meeting are as follows: Ward teaching, home missionary work; missionary farewells, attendance at quarterly conferences, at sacrament meetings, Gospel Doctrine class and other established meetings; visiting indigent and otherwise helpless members of the quorum; visiting families of missionaries; raising missionary funds; securing conveyances for members attending Priesthood meetings, stake con- ferences, union meetings, etc. For the Aaronic Priesthood: Administration of the Sacrament; collecting fast offerings and
Changes in Ordaining
Young Men to the
Priesthood
THE presiding authorities have directed that the following change be made in relation to class study in the Sunday Schools of the Church and in the ordaining of young men to the Priesthood:
"That a definite time be fixed foe the ordaining of Priests to the office of Elder in the Melchizedek Priest- hood, and that this age be 19, thus affording Elders the privilege of two years of training and experience be- fore they become eligible for ordina- tion to the office of Seventy."
The following order is also au- thorized for advancement in the Aaronic Priesthood:
"Three years experience and training for the Deacons — 12, 13, 14;
"Two years experience and train- ing for the Teacher — 15 and 16;
"Two years experience and train- ing for the Priests — 17 and 18."
A two-year course is provided in missionary -training for Elders and young women of 19 and 20 years of age who are prospective mission- aries.
Under this arrangement worthy young men may be ordained Elders at 19 years of age, and after com- pleting this two-year course, or dur- ing the time if necessary, they may be called on missions and be ordained Seventies before departing for their mission fields.
any other duties particularly applicable to ward conditions.
Suggestive Order of Business for Weekly Priesthood Ac- tivity Meeting — Mel- chizedek Groups
(See Quorum Bulletin, Vol. 2, Number 1, page 2, January — March, 1935.)
1 . Reports of Committees on assignments previously made.
a. Personal welfare.
b. Church activities.
c. Class work.
d. Miscellaneous.
(See Priesthood Manual, pages 47- 50.)
2. Assignments of duties as determined at the 9:30 Bishop's Meeting.
3. Consideration of priesthood duties, priesthood responsibilities and priest- hood ethics.
4. Consideration of principles of conduct. See Priesthood Manual, page 56, for
suggestive lessons. Also in the Realm of Quorum Activity, 1931. For con- venience suggestions are presented here. If quorum presidencies or group leaders have their assignments and instructions for the week well in hand, the period devoted to assignments and reports need not necessarily be prolonged and the remaining time may be given to the consideration of the following topics.
FIRST MONTH
First Week:
Topic : Church Organization. I. Organization in general.
1. Purpose.
2. Need of organization. (See In the Realm of Quorum Activity, pages 25-30.)
II. Organization of the Church of Jesus Christ.
1 . Importance and need. (See Jos- eph Smith's Own Story; History of the Church, Vol. 1:1-8.)
2. Benefit to members and to com- munity in general. (Gospel Doc- trine, pp. 87, 88, 91, 171, 178.)
Second Week:
Topic : Presiding Councils in the Church. I. The First Presidency. (Doc. and Cov. 107; Hist, of the Church, Vol. 2:181-200, 209-217.)
1 . Joseph Smith President of the High Priesthood. (Doc. and Cov. 81: 1-2; Hist, of the Church, Vol. 2:242-3 and note.
2. Duties of the President (Doc. and Cov. 107:64-67; 91-92; 124: 125.
a. By revelation.
b. By confidence, faith and prayers of the Church.
1. Power and authority. (Doc. and Cov. 107:8-9, 18, 78, 83; History of the Church, Vol. 1:477-9; 112:30-33.
Third Week :
Topic: Presiding Councils (continued). I. The Twelve Apostles.
1 . How first chosen.
a. Forshadowed. (Doc. and Cov.
18:26-47.)
b. Zion's Camp.
c. 1. History. (History of the
Church, Vol. 2:61-134.)
2. Names of Members. (Ibid 183-185.
3. Arrangement and meeting at which chosen. (History of the Church, Vol. 2:180- 181.)
4. Part taken by the Witnesses. (Ibid 2:194-198.)
5. Instructions to. (Ibid, Yol. 2:194-198.)
2. Special duties. (Doc. and Cov 107:23, 24, 33, 35, 39, 58 18:31-34.)
3. Authority: (Doc. and Cov. 107 24, 36, 47; 18:27-29! 20:38 44; 124:128; President, 124 127; 112:30-33.)
102
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, FEBRUARY, 1935
Fourth Week:
Topic: Instructions on Principles of Con- duct, Prepared by Local Officers.
SECOND MONTH First Week :
Topic: Presiding Councils (continued). I. The First Council of Seventy.
1. How first chosen. (History of the Church, Vol. 2:181-182.)
2. How organized. (Ibid 201-2-3.)
3. Named. (Ibid 203.)
4. Number of Seventies to be chosen.
(Ibid 221; Doc. and Cov. 107: 95.)
5. Duties. (Doc. and Cov. 107:25, 26, 34, 38, 93-97.)
6. Authority. (Doc. and Cov. 107: 25-32.)
Second Week:
Topic : Presiding Councils (continued) . I. The Presidency of the Aaronic Priest- hood.
1. When first introduced.
a. The call of Aaron and his sons.
(See Keeler's Lesser Priesthood and Church Government, pp. 6- 7; Exodus 29:4-9, 44.
b. Why Aaron was called. (Doc. and Cov. 84:24-26; Num. 3: 12-13; Doc. and Cov. 107: 13.)
2. Order of Priesthood from Adam to Moses.
a. Melchizedek Priesthood offici- ated in all things temporal as well as spiritual. (Gen. 14:18- 20_; Heb. 7:1-2; Keeler's Lesser Priesthood and Church Govern- ment, pp. 4-5.)
3. Right of this presidency from father to son.
c. Aaron's son Eleazar successor to
Aaron. (Num. 27:21-23. Doc. and Cov. 107:13.
5. How called. (Doc. and Cov. 68: 20-21.)
6. Duties.
a. To preside over Aaronic Priest- hood. (Doc. and Cov. 107: 13-17.)
b. To officiate in the temporal af- fairs of the Church; to offi- ciate in outward ordinances and hold the keys of ministering of angels. (Doc. and Cov. 84: 26-27; 107:20.
Third Week:
Topic: The Evangelist, or Patriarch. I. The Patriarch to the Church.
1. Appointment of. (Doc. and Cov. 124:91-93, 96; 107:39-40.)
a. By whom.
2. Powers and duties (Doc. and Cov. 124:91-95.) Note: "The juris- diction of the Patriarch, and his power to bless, extends throughout the Church. His special duty is to bestow patriarchal blessings, but being a High Priest, he has au- thority by virtue of his ordination, to administer in the other ordi- nances when called upon. His office is sometimes known as the evangelical office. Other evangelists or patriarchs are ordained by the Twelve Apostles in the stakes of Zion, as it is designated to them by revelation from time to time, but the Presiding Patriarch, or Patriarch to the Church, holds his office by virtue of inheritance.
However his appointment comes through the presiding councils of the Church based upon his worthi- ness. (See Doc. and Cov. 107: 40; 124:91-93.) 3. Evangelists (Patriarchs) in the stakes. Note: It is the duty of the Twelve to ordain Evangelical ministers in the stakes as they are led by revelation. These patriarchs are limited in their jurisdiction to the stakes to which they belong. Those seeking blessings must ob- tain a recommendation from the bishop of the ward in which they live before asking for a blessing.
Fourth Week:
Topic: Open Sunday, to be Provided by Local Officers.
THIRD MONTH First Week:
Topic: Ecclesiastical Divisions of the Church. I. General Presidencies and Councils. (As considered in preceding topics.) II. Stakes. (See Keeler's Lesser Priest- hood and Church Government.)
1 . Where located.
2. Number of. (January 1, 1935, there were 110 stakes.)
3 . Presidency.
a. How composed.
b. How chosen.
c. Authority of. (See Keeler's
Lesser Priesthood and Church Government; Talmage's Ar- ticles of Faith, p. 211-212.)
4. High Council.
a. How chosen. (Doc. and Cov.
102.)
b. How organized. (Ibid.)
c. As an aid to stake presidency.
1. In general administration.
2. In visiting wards.
3. In personal work among Saints.
Second Week:
Topic: Ecclesiastical Divisions of the Church (continued) . I. Ward Organization.
1. Division of stake.
2. Number. (See In the Realm of Quorum Activity, and Keeler's Lesser Priesthood and Church Gov- ernment, pp. 87-88.)
3. Presiding officers — the bishopric.
a. Special duty. (Doc. and Cov. 107:87-88.)
b. How chosen. (Doc. and Cov. 68:14-24; 40:9-12.)
c. Duties. (Doc. and Cov. 72:9-
26.)
4. Sub-divided into districts. a. Purpose.
5. Branches.
a. Relation to wards. (See
Keeler's Lesser Priesthood and Church Government.)
A THUMB-NAIL History of the 'c*> Church in Picture and Print" is what the April num- ber of The Improvement Era will undoubtedly be called. You can- not afford to miss it; send your subscription at once to The Im- provement Era, 50 North Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Third Week :
Topic: Ecclesiastical Divisions of the Church (continued) . I. Missions.
1 . Purpose.
a. To regulate, supervise and direct missionary labor.
b. To facilitate the preaching of the Gospel.
2. How presided over.
3. Divisions.
a. Districts.
b. Branches.
Note: In the missions throughout the world the field is divided into dis- tricts, each district presided over by a district president. This is done in order the fields of labor may be brought within reasonable limits as far as the number of traveling missionaries will permit. Within these districts where the membership of the Saints will permit, branches are organized, presided over by a branch president very similar to a branch in a stake of Zion. The branch president calls to his assistance such officers in the Priest- hood as reside within the borders of the branch and these look after the welfare of the members. A branch in a stake is under the supervision of the Bishopric of a ward, unless it is an independent branch. The branch in the mission is under the general super- vision of the district president, who in turn is directed by the mission presi- dent.
Fourth Week
Topic: Open.
Thomas Hull
(Continued from page 90)
great deal of service to the Church and to his fellow men. A tribute paid him by the editors of the University of Utah year book, The Utonian, in 1932, expresses the esteem in which he was held by the young people who really knew him: 'Thomas Hull, Secretary.
"Working unobserved and dili- gently, with innumerable duties unknown to the students of the University, Thomas Hull has com- pleted his fourteenth year with the school. For eleven years Mr. Hull served as assistant secretary of the school and for the past ten years has capably held his present posi- tion.
"Mr. Hull has a host of exacting official duties to be executed but he always finds time to act with un- usual understanding as a student advisor. Realizing his capabilities, the school has appointed Mr. Hull bursar of the student funds, to- gether with his position as secretary and auditor of the university, and secretary of the board of regents."
Three Point Campaign Enthusiastically Received
Stakes and Wards Organize for Success
TF advance indications are accepted as a guide the Three-Point Campaign for 1935 is already assured of success. From wards and stakes reports are be- ing received of the enthusiastic accept- ance of the plan and a successful be- ginning. Some stakes are conducting special competitions between quorums and grades of Priesthood; others plan some outstanding event to celebrate victory at the end of the campaign.
In the activity phase of the cam- paign the allotment of each ward is one and six-tenths the total popula- tion. A ward with 1,000 members (total population) would have as a quota 1,600 assignments for the year. Under this plan each ward chairman can figure his own quota and the stake chairman can figure the quota for the entire stake.
This is a far-reaching campaign. It includes activity, missionary work and education. Each phase should be given careful consideration by all leaders of Aaronic Priesthood in any capacity. At the end of each quarter, as the quarterly reports are compiled the leading stakes in activity will be announced in the Era.
Word of Wisdom Anniver- sary February 27
r~\N February 27, 1833, the revela- ^>^ tion known as the Word of Wis- dom was given to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Since that time it has in- fluenced the lives of hundreds of thou- sands of people. It has contributed tremendously to the remarkable record of health and the low death rate of our people.
The third point of the Three-Point Campaign of the Aaronic Priesthood in 1935 is "Teach Clean Living." The Word of Wisdom teaches clean living in a positive way. The 102nd anniversary should be made the occa- sion for calling special attention to this outstanding code of health and clean living.
Dan Carter Beard, National Com- missioner of the Boy Scouts of Amer- ica, gives this advice to boys and young men: "Be careful what goes into your mouth and what comes out of it." That is good advice for any- body. And it is excellent material for a talk on clean living. It is import- ant enough to become the basis of a sermon. In fact, it is a sermon.
Four Important Centennials in 1935
"piVE important events in Church history occurred in the year 1835. They are, in chronological order: Or- ganization of the first Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in this dispensation on February 14, by David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, the Three Witnesses, who had been es- pecially appointed to that responsi- bility; the commencement of the or- ganization of the First Quorum of Seventy on February 28; the first mis- sions of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as apostles, the group leaving Kirtland on May 4; the Papyrus from which the Pearl of Great Price was printed came into the hands of Joseph Smith on July 3 ; the Doc- trine and Covenants was approved at a general assembly of the Church on August 1 7 and accepted as the law of faith and practice of the Church. In one hundred years these history-making events have been important stones in the foundation upon which the struc- ture of the Church has been reared. The centennials of these events are im- portant milestones in Church history.
Benson Adult Aaronic
Priesthood Class Makes
Good Record
"DEPORTS of outstanding successes in Adult Aaronic Priesthood activ- ities continue to reach the office of the Presiding Bishopric. This new plan
Aaronic Priesthood Three- Point Campaign for 1935
1
One Million Assign- ments. Every Ward to do its Share.
2
Every Aaronic Priest- hood Member to fill ■ at Least One Assign- ment.
3.
Teach Clean Living- Thoughts — Speech — Actions — Bodies.
has been adopted in a large number of wards and is credited with the renewal of activity among thousands of adults throughout the Church who still hold the Aaronic Priesthood.
Bishop Henry W. Ballard, Jr., of Benson Ward of Cache Stake in a report to the Presiding Bishopric, outlines a very successful program which is being followed in that ward. Bishop Bal- lard's report in part is printed here- with:
"When we were organizing this class we recognized the seriousness of the leadership. In going over our ward we decided the right man was Super- intendent of the Sunday School, so we released him with the understanding that he would give this new duty his best efforts. Elder Munk was chosen to look after the religious side of the class, and as an assistant to him we chose Brother Silvin Petersen. Brother Petersen has wonderful ability in athletics, music and drama.
Recognizing that it was necessary to get these boys to do most anything they wanted to in order to get started and acting upon their suggestion, ath- letic equipment and ping pong tables were provided.
As time went on it was suggested that part of the time be spent in study, so the "Articles of Faith" by Talmage became their outline. As a result of this, some very splendid discussions followed.
I ma*y say that every inactive man in our ward over the age of 20 was visited by Brothers Munk and Petersen. As a result many inactive elders also were enrolled.
About midwinter, the class decided they would put on a show. This went over with such success that it was taken to a number of towns and some of the wards in Logan.
We invited the class to furnish the complete program for Sacrament meet- ing. This was done in a splendid way several times.
We feel sure their work this winter will be as successful as last. A number of the boys are active at the present time. One of the priests is preparing himself for a mission, another is to be married in the Temple in the near fu- ture.
As a whole we feel more good was accomplished in this work last winter than anything we have undertaken. When you see boys formerly indifferent, and elders who have never done any- thing for years appear, take charge, and furnish the programs for a faith pro- moting Sacrament meeting, it all makes one wonder with thankfulness.
104
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, FEBRUARY, 1935
Adult Aaronic Priesthood Lessons
Prepared by Elder George W. Skid- more, Logan Ninth Ward, Cache Stake (Continued from December) Lesson Thirty-Three
1. Discuss Fourth Chapter of Malachi.
2. Evidences of work by Proxy in Ancient Times.
3. Scriptural Evidences of Baptism for the Dead.
4. Relate the Visitation of Elijah to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in Kirtland Temple, April 3, 1836.
5. Temples in Ancient Times.
6. Temples in this Dispensation. Specially Constructed.
7. Other Ordinances for the Dead besides Baptism.
8. Ordinances for the living per- formed in Temples.
9. Why we should do Temple Work.
References Malachi, Ch. 4; Leviticus 16:21; Exodus 28; I Kings, Chs. 6-8; Ezra, Ch. 6 ; Pearl of Great Price, page 5 1 ; I Peter 3:18, 19; 4:6; I Cor. 15:19, 29; Doc. and Cov. 84:3-5, 31:110; 14, 15, 16; 124:39; 127 and 128. Compendium, pages 283 to 288; 178 to 182. Articles of Faith, by Tal- mage, pages 148 to 161. The Gospel, by Roberts, Chapter 24, pages 239 to 249.
Lesson Thirty-Four
1 . Position of the Church regarding Honesty, Truthfulness, Refinement, Chastity, Virtue.
2. Thirteenth Article of Faith, "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul, We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
3. Sexes.
4. Marriage for Time.
5. Marriage for Eternity.
6. Eternal Increase.
7. Destiny of those who do not marry for Eternity.
References
Articles of Faith, by Talmage, Lec- ture 24, pages 441 to 461, with all scriptural references. Select applicable topics. Compendium, Chapter on Marriage, pages 117 to 123 with all scriptural references. Key to Theol- ogy, by Parley P. Pratt, Chapter 17, pages 149 to 159. Gospel Doctrine, Chapter 16, pages 341 to 399.
Lesson Thirty-Five 1. Review of Lessons Thirty-One
Thirty-Two, Thirty-T h r e e and
Thirty-Four.
(Make assignments in advance to
members of the class.)
Lesson Thirty-Six
1. The Law of Consecration.
2. Stewardship.
3. United Order Anciently.
4. United Order in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times.
5. Tithing.
6. United Order During the Mil- lenium.
References
Compendium, Chapter on Consecra- tion — Stewardship — United Order, pages 247 to 249, with all Scriptural References. Articles of Faith, by Tal- mage, pages 449 to 454.
Lesson Thirty-Seven
1. Resurrection — Definition.
2. Resurrection at Christ's Resur- rection.
3. Resurrection at Second Coming of Christ.
4. Resurrection at the End of the World.
5. Resurrection of the Body as it is Laid Down.
References
(The above order of subjects is taken from the Compendium by Rich- ards and Little, pages 53 to 63, which see with all Scriptural References.)
See also Gospel Doctrine, Chapter 24 on Eternal Life and Salvation, pages 538 to 603. Select only the topics in this chapter which are applicable. See also "Resurrection" in Index and Con- cordance to Doctrine and Covenants. Read Moses 7:55-5 7 in Pearl of Great Price. See Articles of Faith by Tal- mage, Lecture 21.
Joseph Smith's Own Story
Extracts from his history Written in 1838
(Continued from December)
"56. In the year 1824 my father's family met with a great affliction by the death of my eldest brother, Alvin. In the month of October, 1825, I hired with an old gentleman by the name of Josiah Stoal, who lived in Chenango county, state of New York. He had
heard something of a silver mine having been opened by the Spaniards in Har- mony, Susquehanna county, state of Pennsylvania; and had, previous to my hiring to him, been digging, in order, if possible, to discover the mine. After I went to live with him, he took me, with the rest of his hands, to dig for the silver mine, at which I continued to work for nearly a month, without success in our undertaking, and finally I prevailed with the old gentleman to cease digging after it. Hence arose the very prevalent story of my having been a money-digger.
"5 7. During the time that I was thus employed, I was put to board with a Mr. Isaac Hale, of that place; it was there I first saw my wife (his daughter), Emma Hale. On the 18th of January, 1827, we were married, while I was yet employed in the service of Mr. Stoal.
"58. Owing to my continuing to assert that I had seen a vision, persecu- tion still followed me, and my wife's father's family were very much opposed to our being married. I was, therefore, under the necessity of taking her else- where; so we went and were married at the house of Squire Tarbill, in South Bainbridge, Chenango County, New York. Immediately after my marriage, I left Mr. Stoal's, and went to my father's, and farmed with him that season.
"59. At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate. On the twenty-second day of September, one thousand eight hundred and twen- ty-seven, having gone as usual at the end of another year to the place where they were deposited, the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to me with this charge: that I should be responsible for them; that if I should let them go carelessly, or through any neglect of mine, I should be cut off; but that if I would use all my endeavors to pre- serve them, until he, the messenger, should call for them, they should be protected.
SCOUTS AND VANGUARDS JOIN IN MONUMENT BUILDING MARKING OLD FORT HENRY— ESTABLISHED, 1810-11
Ward Teachers Message, March, 1935
The Sealing Ordinance
7\ ND verily I say unto you, that the •^ conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obliga- tions, oaths, vows, ... or expecta- tions, that are not made, and entered into, and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eter- nity, and that too most holy, by reve- lation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power ... are of no efficacy, vir- tue or force, in and after the resurrec- tion of the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead." D. 8C. 132:7. "Marriage, as regarded by the Lat- ter-day Saints, is ordained of God and
is designed to be an eternal relationship of the sexes. With this people it is not merely a temporary contract to be of effect in earth during the mortal ex- istence of the parties, but a solemn agreement which is to extend beyond the grave." The Articles of Faith, by James E. Talmage.
Every member of the Church who contemplates marriage should under- stand fully what is involved in a deci- sion to marry outside the temple. It is the duty of the Ward Teachers to teach this principle to the people. With the approach of June, the month of many marriages, young people are now making plans. This is an appropriate time to discuss this vital question.
This is also an appropriate time to discuss sealings with those who, in the past, have been married outside the tem-
ple but who are worthy of having the sealing ordinance performed for them. Those who are worthy should be en- couraged to take advantage of the pri- vilege still offered them. Those who are not worthy should be given every encouragement to prepare themselves for this great blessing.
In the homes of those who have been married in the temple a discussion of the blessings and benefits of this pri- vilege will doubtless prove beneficial. The desirability of so living that noth- ing will be permitted to endanger or nullify the blessings attending temple marriage is the principal message sug- gested to be left in these homes.
References: Articles of Faith, by Talmage, pages 442-447; A Rational Theology, by Widtsoe, pages 146- 149; D. 8C.Sec. 132.
■"X^aggvai*-
-<•
Supplementary Material for Ward Teachers
rPHE Sealing Power. Naturally, the power to seal men and women to each other for time and eternity, and to seal children to their parents for eternal ages, is a supreme power, com- mitted to man's keeping. The Presi- dent of the Church is the only person on the earth who holds the keys of these sealing ordinances. True, he may dele- gate his power to workers in the tem- ples, so that celestial marriages and seal- ings may go on, but such delegated authority may be withdrawn at any moment. In that respect, it differs wholly from the power of the Priest- hood, which can be withdrawn from a man only who is found in sin. It is proper that only one man should hold this power, for it is of infinite effect, and should be guarded with the most jealous care, and kept from the frail prejudices and jealousies of men." A Rational Theology, by John A. Widt- soe.
"Marriage — The Teachings of the scriptures concerning the necessity of marriage are numerous and explicit. 'The Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone;' this comprehensive declaration was made concerning Adam, immediately after his establishment in Eden. Eve was given unto him, and the man recognized the necessity of a continued association of the sexes in marriage, and said: 'There- fore shall a man leave his father and
his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.' Neither of the sexes is complete in itself as a counterpart of Deity. We are expressly told that God is the Father of spirits, and to apprehend the literal- ness of this solemn truth we must know that a mother of spirits is an existent personality. Of the creation of human- kind we read: 'So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.' The purpose of this dual creation is set forth in the next verse of the sacred narrative: 'And God bless- ed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.' Such a command would have been meaningless and void if ad- dressed to either of the sexes alone; and without the power of perpetuating his kind, the glory and majesty of man would be insignificant; for small in- deed are the attainments of any individ- ual life in mortality.
"Grand as may seem the achieve- ments of a man who is truly great, the culmination of his glorious career lies in his leaving posterity to continue, and enhance the triumphs of their sire. And if such be true of mortals with respect to the things of earth, trans- cendently greater is the power of eter- nal increase, as viewed in the light of revealed truth concerning the unending progression of the future state. Truly the apostle was wise when he said: 'Neither is the man without the wom- an, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.'
"The Latter-day Saints accept the doctrine that marriage is honorable, and apply it as a requirement to all who are not prevented by physical or other disability from assuming the sac- red responsibilities of the wedded state. They consider, as part of the birth- right of every worthy man, the privi- lege and duty to stand as the head of a household, the father of a posterity, which by the blessing of God may never become extinct; and equally strong is the right of every worthy woman to be wife and mother in the family of mankind."
"Celestial Marriage — Marriage, as regarded by the Latter-day Saints, is ordained of God and designed to be an eternal relationship of the sexes. With this people it is not merely a temporal contract to be of effect on earth during the mortal existence of the parties, but a solemn agreement which is to extend beyond the grave. In the complete ordinance of marriage, the man and the woman are placed under covenant of mutual fidelity, not 'until death doth you part,' but 'for time and for all eternity.' A contract as far reaching as this, extending not only throughout time but into the domain of the hereafter, requires for its valida- tion an authority superior to that of earth; and such an authority is found in the Holy Priesthood, which, given of God, is eternal. Any power less than this, while of effect in this life, is void as to the state of human soul beyond the grave. — Articles of Faith, by James E. Talmage,
Ill
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THESE BOOKS, YOU ARE MISSING SOMETHING UNUSUALLY FINE.
BOOKS
The Meaning of Culture
By John Cowper Powys {Published by Norton)
TN its eleventh large edition, this book is scarcely what one would call new, but it is so new to each new reader that it can scarcely be called anything else. The preface says: "One rather felicitous definition runs as follows — 'Culture is what is left over after you have forgot- ten all you have definitely set out to learn' — and in this sally you get at least a useful warning against associating cul- ture too closely with the academic para- phernalia of education." With this be- ginning the book sets out to indicate signs of culture and bits of philosophy underlying it. The cultured person is one who has his own philosophy of life, guards it from disintegrating ele- ments, and guides it carefully through dangers of brutality and stupidity. "The more culture a man has", says Powys, "the more austerely . . . does he abide by his own taste. It is ever the mark of the parvenu in education to chafe and fret till his opinions cor- respond to the last word of modish sophistication. Culture, however, like aristocracy, goes its own way and does not bother about justifying itself."
Through twelve absorbing chapters the author leads the willing reader into a consideration of culture and its effect upon and relationship to philosophy, literature, poetry, painting, religion, happiness, obstacles, love, nature, read- ing, human relations, and destiny. A somewhat profound and at times al- most impenetrable depth of words and construction characterizes the book, but from the digging necessary to discover golden meanings there emerges a wealth and clearness of thought which are amazing in their simple power. It is a book to be read twice at first and then again occasionally thereafter, for new
truths and new visions of old truths come with each successive reading.
Reading by a cultured person is done with the detachment which gets the writer's viewpoint and does not try to adjust every written thought to the reader's ideas; response to nature and nature's moods and teachings is a part of culture; real, beautiful culture must be founded upon dreams. These are but a few of the innumerable thoughts presented which arouse in the reader innumerable more. Regarding religion and culture Powys observes that "re- ligion has kept clean and open, facing the unknown outer spaces, a postern- window in the prison of the self which common sense might only too easily have allowed to get blurred or shut."
The book should be read with the attitude the author regards as cultured — entering into it as if the reader him- self had written it; living in a world not merely belonging to Powys, but to the reader himself. And many times during the course of perusal will come the thrilling, sudden flash of insight into the author's meaning which is the pulse and life-giving discovery that comes with reading.
This Little World
By Francis Brett Young (Published by Harpers')
"N /[ORE important than anything else ■*■ in this book by an Englishman is the coming to life of an English village which seems as real as any of the people in it. There is a charm of slow-meas- ured music in the book; a satisfaction of having known all the characters, though by different names and in dif- ferent places; a sudden flash of deter- mination to try to understand better those who live about us and might so easily have lived in Chaddesbourne.
The Ombersleys help to people the village — which is the book — dignified
military Miles; tranquil, lovely Helen, his wife; interesting, inscrutable Cath- erine, their daughter. Miss Loach, a shut-in who misses nothing in the cur- rent of others' lives and interprets every- thing as she pleases is as real as our own Miss Loach, or whatever her name is. Dr. Selby with his love of beauti- ful things; Mr. Hackett, with his ob- noxious parade of wealth and his al- most frightened spirit which wears a cloak of money for protection; Mr. Winter, the clergyman; Elsie Cookson, too sophisticated and her brother Jim, not sophisticated enough; Mary Lyd- gate, who might be a daughter of your best friend — all these move through the story with such quiet tread that they are scarcely heard until the book is closed and they are still in the room with you; and always will be.
Utah Sings
An Anthology of Verse
(Sponsored by the Utah Academy of
Sciences, Arts and Letters)
•"THE first book of Utah verse to be *• published, apparently, this volume just off the press has surprising matur- ity and finish. It presents representative work of some hundred and twenty poets of Utah with over four hundred poems included, typical of various moods and forms. From Lulu Greene Richards and Ruth May Fox, both over eighty and both singing beautifully, down to Martha Ross and Edith Welch, still in their teens and singing with youthful modernism the book abounds in variety and loveliness. Form and content both are in delightfully adequate evidence, and some of the thought captured in lines is poetry in the finest sense. Someone has said that poetry may not save souls, but it makes souls better worth the saving; Utah Sings goes to make good that statement. Many a page, read and pondered, will
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, FEBRUARY, 1935
107
leave the reader stronger and finer for the contact.
Random selections, chosen from the page which happens to open, give us Rosannah Cannon's "Autumn After- noon":
"Something within me seems to suffer most
In Autumn, when the chill advancing ghost
Of Winter lifts a warning signal high
In flaming trees against a clean blue sky.
When distant hills lie in a ruddy glow,
And winds are crisp and boisterous, I know
That these things do not last, and I must stride
Up the steep slopes, along the moun- tainside,
Gathering beauty to my aching breast,
Touching the copper leaves before they rest,
Sodden and dull again upon the dy- ing earth,
Never again to feel the warmth of birth.
Somehow I cannot face the cold, un- less
I have stored up October s loveliness."
And "Waiting," by Helen Cand- land:
"They tell me That Penelope Was a woman of great poise.
They tell me ,
That calmly
She waited for Ulysses nearly twenty years.
Had she Her serenity
From some inexhaustible well within herself?
Or can it be That she
Had never heard of the Cyclops, and Lotus Eaters, and Circe?"
Lowry Nelson gives us "Re-crea- tion":
/ love a wind
In a willowy lane,
When billowy clouds
Are sowing rain;
When birds and brooks
Have come again;
And each thing
Is throbbing with Spring.
I'm glad for these — The wind, the rain, And the lovely willows That line the lane; Oh Maker of willows, And Maker of men Thanks for making Them new again.
And Bertha Woodland contrib-
utes:
"Abe Lincoln" Did you want him, Nancy, Who could so ill afford him? Did your tired eyes follow Tom about the room With thoughts of Inequality?
Immortal, frontier Nancy; Neither time nor circumstance Dims your courage in a world That could so III afford His passing.
Hundreds of poems there are, with hundreds of dreams and heart-beats in their lines. And the nicest thing about it is that in reading you are likely to discover that the author of any one of the poems lives right next door!
The Doctor in History
By Howard W. Haggard
(Published by Yale University Press,
New Haven, Connecticut)
TO the laity as well as the medical pro- fession there is unremitting interest in medicine, surgery, bacteriology and related subjects. Doctor-books of years ago were the most fascinating of all volumes, perhaps because of their se- crecy. Medical books of today, not secret at all, still are fascinating. And among the intensely interesting ones stands "The Doctor in History," a 1934 publication now being read widely.
Beginning with prehistoric times, the author points out the fact that disease is older than man — century-old animal remains show signs of infection, disease, and decay. Theories of dis- ease and superstitions regarding it are traced through succeeding ages — medi- cine-men and mythological characters being as prominently identified with medicine as were such men as Galen and Hippocrates, who accomplished much more than is generally known in their fields.
Contagions and epidemics, physical and mental, are discussed with enlight- ening understanding, and here and there a glimpse into the past gives rise to a strange feeling that every bit of pro- gress in medicine has been accomplished against odds — the prejudice of the un- learned being only slightly less bitter than that of the learned opponents of certain theories and practises.
Medicine in Europe and America; the laboratory in which experiments have been made with such revolution- izing results; bacteriology, antiseptics, anesthesia, bedside medicine and oper- ating-room surgery; all these are pre- sented with a powerful simplicity which commands at once respect and unflagging interest.
Dedicated to his children and pref- aced with an explanation that for them largely is this history of health writ-
ten, Howard Haggard gives to all the children of all ages a new insight into the importance of the work of medi- cine, and endows it with the dramatic interest which is its rightful atmos- phere.
Jimmy Microbe
(~\F particular interest to M. I. A. ^■^ Workers is the little volume just off the press, "The Adventures of Jimmy Microbe," written by Dr. Lyman L. Daines of the Y. M. M. I. A. General Board, and Virginia Budd Jacobsen, long a devoted and enthusias- tic M. I. A. worker.
The characters of the book, as may be imagined, are the fascinating crea- tures of bacteriology, put into such intriguing situations that the truths of this science are imparted with such sim- plicity that the learning is a joyous, al- most exciting experience. Let no one think it is a book for children only; it is for them and for all their grown-up relatives; and the only question will be as to who will enjoy it most.
The Provincial Lady in America
By E. M. DeMeld (Published by Harper and Brothers)
pXCERPTS from this book which appeared in Harper's Magazine in 1934 aroused sufficient anticipation among readers to make the actual con- ning of the volume more or less of an experience. It is a book of the type far too rare — a recital of everyday affairs in an everyday way which builds up subconscious fraternity of all who live ordinary lives and share usual hap- penings of the uneventful kind. Many books are so full of excitement that readers are left feeling that their own lives are very flat indeed; "Provincial Lady in America" is so full of the ordinary that it encourages the great mass of people who read it to find fun and value in the unimportant. With no chapter headings, the running style is so like the running style of living that no other form would fit it, quite like the diary type used.
Not a page in the book is dull, yet not a page skyrockets. Describing a jaunt to an agricultural show with Robert, her husband, she says: "We continue to look at machinery, and Robert becomes enthusiastic over ex- traordinary-looking implements with Teeth, and does not consider a quarter of an hour too long in which to stand looking at it in silence. Feel that personally I have taken in the whole of its charms in something under six seconds — but do not, of course say so. Fall, instead into reverie about Amer- ica, imagination runs away with me and I die and am buried at sea before Robert says, Well, if I've had enough (Continued on page 112)
108
Let's Talk About
Personalitu
By MILDRED BAKER
PART VIII
IN this, the concluding article in this series, let's attempt to dif- ferentiate between personality as we have tried to present it and the more or less popular attitude to- ward and understanding of the term. Personality, as we have re- garded it, represents our particular stage of self-development and our particular stage of self-development paints the picture that the world sees of each one of us. Some of us present strikingly beautiful pic- tures, others, pictures less beautiful and still others mere daubs. Those of us who have successfully learned to integrate our personalities, that is to build them up, will daily achieve a greater degree of physical poise and grace, mental stability and emotional maturity. All these will work consistently together in one harmonious whole and make life a glorious adventure with a definite goal before us. Through observation and study, we will have come to understand ourselves better and to understand the fun- damental rules of living. We will learn to take an impersonal view, and hence a scientific view of a great many matters which we have been accustomed to regard with ex- aggerated personalism. We will know that while it is right and proper that we, as individuals, shall expand, that we shall be privileged to express ourselves, it is not our privilege to do that which will cause conflict with the design of creation or to conduct ourselves in a manner opposed to natural law. We will know that we can exer- cise our individual choice as we will so long as we do not choose to do that which is contrary to the gen- eral good. Furthermore, we will learn to know our individual na- ture, knowing that what represents the proper expansion for me, does not necessarily represent it for my brother or my neighbor or you and knowing that insofar as I do not transgress the immutable laws of nature and of life, insofar as I do
not interfere with the inalienable right of others, I may indulge my individual choice. I shall know, too, whether I am a lily, a rose, or a modest violet and will bend every effort to expand and develop in harmony with my true self because I will have learned that genuine happiness can come to me only as I strive constantly to be true to my nature, to be what I am and not what I am not.
•"POO often we confuse personality with mannerisms and artificial- ities. A girl who possesses the faculty of being a good dancer and engaging readily in small talk and inconsequential conversation, who "has a line" or who possesses a few intriguing mannerisms, gestures or physical allurements, is often said to possess "loads of personality," when in reality she may be woe- fully lacking in real requirements of personality. If, at home, for instance, she flies into a tantrum when she is inconvenienced or crossed, she is not emotionally ma- ture. If the suggestion of a quiet evening with the prospect of a little thoughtful reading proves either frightful or abhorrent, she is men- tally lazy. If, no matter how ex- pertly she manages intricate dance steps, she is guilty of slouching and generally careless carriage or poor posture, she lacks physical poise. And if she is any of these things, she is lacking to some degree, at least, in personality.
Personality should not be con- fused with individuality either. That swing of the shoulders, that tone of the voice, that particular attitude which I take toward a difficult problem or situation, in fact all those attributes, gestures and characteristics that are pecu- liarly my own, constitute my indi- viduality but they do not constitute the whole of my personality.
One's personality is drab and colorless or rich and colorful, ac- cording to our individual efforts to develop it. Then let us strive, each one, to develop it to the limit of our capacities. Let us strive to know ourselves, to recognize our possibilities, to appreciate our capa- bilities and to put forth every ef- fort to expand, grow and develop ourselves to the point where we may look upon life joyously. For, undoubtedly, the development of one's personality with all that it implies of effort and error is a joy- ous undertaking. Development means conscious growth toward an ideal. Development of personality then, means conscious growth to- ward the ideal of self-hood in har- mony with the great cosmic forces of natural law and creation and there is no greater satisfaction to be gained from life than the satisfac- tion of conscious unfoldment and a sense of fulfilment which may be ours when we undertake the ab- sorbing task of developing our own personality and helping our children to develop theirs. Life will take on a very different aspect for us when we attack the problem with sincerity of purpose and our rewards will be more precious far than jewels.
"THERE is this to be remembered.
No individual suddenly acquires either mental or emotional maturity with the attainment of physical maturity. Development of person- ality should begin in infancy and continue throughout life. But it is never too late to begin to make improvements, correct imperfec- tions or begin the process of per- sonality development.
So then, I hope these little talks will have proved of practical value to someone, somewhere and that your personality, dear reader, may be richer for having read them.
General Superintendency
Y. M. M. I. A.
GEORGE ALBERT SMITH, RICHARD R. LYMAN, MELVIN' J. BALLARD, OSCAR A. KIRKHAM
Executive Secretary
Send all Correspondence to Committees Direct to General Offices
General Offices Y. M. M. I. A.
50 NORTH MAIN STREET SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
General Offices Y. W. M. I. A.
33 BISHOP'S BUILDING SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
General Presidency
Y. W. M. I. A.
RUTH MAY FOX,
LUCY GRANT CANNON,
CLARISSA A. BEESLEY
ELSIE HOGAN
Executive Secretary
Tribute to Thomas Hull
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever:
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults.
Keep back thy servant also from pre- sumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be accept- able in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalms 19:9-14.
•"THESE verses quoted from the 19th ■*■ Psalm, a Psalm which often thrilled his soul to ecstasy hold in their keeping the feelings and sentiments of Brother Thomas Hull's heart.
Naturally enthusiastic about any- thing he believed or undertook to do, his mind soared as on eagle's wings to sublime heights. While of a religious temperament and what is termed seri- ous-minded, he was also affable, merry hearted and a prince of good fellows. When in company of his friends truly the proverb, "He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast," was ex- emplified in the life of this good man.
Brother Thomas Hull was a man that any boy might love. Although 79 years of age, he had a boy's heart. He loved life and the good things life offered — he loved the beauty of earth, sun and sky. He rejoiced in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and praised his Heavenly Father for the oppor- tunities it afforded him for service and self-advancement, and may we add, he took advantage of them to the full. To do his good turn every day regard- less of reward, was his delight.
The members of the Young Wom- en's Board will miss him greatly in their deliberations with the Young Men's Board, as well as in their visits
to the Stakes. With him they have traveled thousands of miles to implant in the hearts of the young people of the Church an abiding faith in its prin- ciples, a task Brother Hull loved and which with all the fervor of his soul tried to accomplish.
Ruth May Fox, Lucy Grant Cannon, Clarissa A. Beesley, General Presidency, Y. W. M. I. A.
Chief West
Praises M. I. A. Program
September 10, 1934. Dr. George A. Smith, Gen. Supt. Y. M. M. I. A. Dear Dr. Smith:
We are very grateful for the per- mission extended in your very kind letter of August 8, 1934, to use your Church Program in Scouting, and espe- cially that phase of it which has to do with the Program of the Vanguards, as a basis for our expanded program in the Senior Division to be developed in cooperation with the Protestant Churches, and as a part of their uni- fied program for youth within the Church.
Dr. Wyland assures me that the Curriculum-Planning Committee of the Protestant Churches will have real appreciation for the practical working plan offered in the Vanguards.
We are therefore hopeful that you will see, after a few years, the fruits of your labors in a very much wider field developed by the Christian Churches generally.
Cordially and sincerely yours, (Signed) JAMES E. WEST,
Chief Scout Executive.
The Presiding Officer
TLTAVE you thought how importatnt is the role he plays. His is the first voice heard — he sets the stage for the meeting. Time does not allow for long and flowery announcements and introductions — in fact, too flattering an introduction often embarrasses the person taking part on the program. To say it briefly, the presiding officer should look to his appearance; the lan- guage he uses — choice of words and
originality of expression; voice — qual- ity of tone and ability to be heard; for his is a big little job. Of course in M. I. A. the masculine personal pro- noun means woman too.
Sunday Evening Joint Program for March
A PROGRAM of Public Speaking, Music, and Stories.
1. Hymn— "Let Us All Press On," or a similar hymn.
2. Prayer.
3. Music — by this time the quar- tettes and choruses ought to be ready to furnish excellent numbers. They might sing two numbers here. Instru- mental numbers, carefully selected, would be appropriate.
4. The Slogan — One ten minute or two five minute talks on the subject.
5. A Religious Story — by one who has been studying story-telling.
6. Music — Selected.
7. Speech — On some such subject as "Brigham Young as a Dauntless Lead- er," "The Organization of the Quo- rum of the Twelve Apostles— When and Why," or some topic which has been used during the season in one of the M. I. A. classes. This speech should be very well prepared by one who has been studying speech. If some other topic than those suggested is used, it should be on some religious subject.
8. Music — Ladies, Mixed, or Male Chorus or quartette.
9. Benediction.
NOTE: Every effort should be made to produce an outstanding cultural pro- gram. This is an opportunity for the Community Activity Committee and for activity Leaders in the various de- partments.
Activity Program Effective
"DEPORTS received indicate that 4 1 6 groups chose drama, 274 dancing, 256 music, 149 speech, 177 story, 154 conversation, 382 reading, 294 hobbies, 481 social conduct.
Effective
The New Year Finds Many Stakes Near The Top
XKTE are now going down the home v stretch towards that April 1 5 and the close of the circulation contest. Nearly eighty per cent of the stakes have passed the fifty per cent mark and fifteen have gone over the one hundred per cent quota. Juarez has gone up to 158 per cent, a splendid record, with Union second, and Moapa crowding followed almost neck and neck by Snownake. But the best of all is that the subscribers have a magazine which they read and of which they are proud.
The race for numbers of subscrip- tions is also extremely interesting. Idaho Falls is out there in front with 635 subscribers, 116 per cent of its quota, proving that the larger stakes can go over the top if they will. Lib- erty, champion of last year, is a close second, followed in order by Maricopa, Fremont, Ogden, and Salt Lake.
Juarez, though it has 158 per cent of its quota, is not among the first twenty, according to numbers, indicat- ing that it is well to have two races.
Herewith are listed 20 Stakes with their standing according to percentages:
(Several mistakes in totals were dis- covered in our published figures last month; these, however, have been care- fully checked and appear to be correct.)
Lethbridge Stake Going Over the Top
HAVE just been checking up the stake and find we are only 3 below the stake quota," says John H. G. Green, of Lethbridge, Canada, "and I am sure we will finish over the top. Several of our wards have exceeded their quota." ... "I believe," says an Eta director, "that the greatest difficulty we have in this stake, and in each ward, to a great extent, is getting agents that will take an active interest in the work and call on the people in the spirit of rendering a service to them. Too often the M. I. A. officers have selected young boys and girls to do the work. In most cases in this stake, this has been done and they (the boys and girls) have no interest in the work and make one or two can- vasses and then quit and a number of the people are not called on at all. Where older people are selected and given that opportunity, better results are obtained. That is one of the lead- ing factors in our success this year. . . . . The ward agents as a rule should not be less than 35 years of age, and
only selected because of their person- ality and spirituality and willingness to work and make a real canvass."
|
20 Stakes Which Have Turned in |
|
|
the Highest Number o) |
: |
|
Subscriptions |
|
|
1. Idaho Falls |
.635 |
|
2. Liberty |
.495 |
|
3. Maricopa |
..486 |
|
4. Fremont |
..475 |
|
5. Ogden |
..469 |
|
6. Salt Lake |
..443 |
|
7. Pocatello |
..437 |
|
8. Fnsign |
..409 |
|
9. St. Joseph |
.407 |
|
10. Benson |
.405 |
|
11. Montpelier |
..380 |
|
12. Hollywood |
.378 |
|
13. Mt. Ogden |
.373 |
|
14. Box Elder |
.372 |
|
15. Snownake |
.367 |
|
16. Franklin |
.360 |
|
17. Moapa |
..339 |
|
18. Utah |
.336 |
|
19. Cottonwood |
.332 |
|
20. Big Horn |
..324 |
|
Record of Stake Percentages as |
|
|
of January 10, 1935 |
|
|
1. Juarez |
..158 |
|
2. Union |
..136 |
|
3. Moapa |
..133 |
|
4. Snowflake |
.131 |
|
5. Montpelier |
..129 |
|
6. Lyman |
..127 |
|
7. Big Horn |
.118 |
|
8. Maricopa |
.118 |
|
9. Twin Falls |
..117 |
|
10. Idaho Falls |
.116 |
|
11. Curlew |
.113 |
|
12. Lethbridge |
..110 |
|
13. Bear Lake |
..107 |
|
14. Franklin |
..101 |
|
15. Deseret |
..100 |
|
16. Star Valley |
...99 |
|
17. Zion Park |
...98 |
|
18. Kanab |
...93 |
|
19. Fremont |
....92 |
|
20. St. Joseph |
90 |
21. Burley 90
22. Uintah 89
2 3 . Pocatello 8 8
24. Bannock 86
25. Hyrum 85
26. Oneida 85
27. Lost River 79
28. Morgan 75
29. San Juan 74
30. Taylor 73
31. Bear River 71
32. Cache 7 1
33. St. Johns 71
34. Young 70
35. Blackfoot ____69
36. Mt. Ogden 69
37. Raft River 69
38. San Luis 69
39. Alberta 67
40. Benson 67
41. Minidoka 67
42. Shelley 67
43. Idaho ^66
44. Ogden 66
45. Kolob 65
46. Palmyra 65
47. Boise 64
48. Hollywood 64
49. Malad 64
50. San Francisco 64
51. Timpanogos 64
52. Beaver 63
53. Logan 63
54. South Davis 63
55. Box Elder 61
56. Lehi 61
57. Teton 60
58. No. Weber 59
59. Alpine 58
60. Carbon 58
61. St. George 58
62. So. Sevier 58
63. Yellowstone 57
64. Emery 56
65. Panguitch 55
66. Portneuf 55
67. Salt Lake 55
68. Rigby 54
69. Cottonwood 53
70. Ensign 53
71. No. Davis 53
72. Woodruff 53
73. Blaine 52
74. Juab 52
75. Nevada 51
76. Parowan 51
77. Summit 50
78. Los Angeles 47
79. Sevier 47
80. Wasatch 46
81. East Jordan 45
82. West Jordan 45
83. Utah 45
84. Cassia 43
85. Liberty 43
86. So. Summit 42
87. Sharon 42
88. Roosevelt 42
89. Garfield 41
90. Weber 40
91. Millard 39
92. Moroni 36
93. Tooele 36
94. Blaine 35
95. Gunnison 33
96. So. Sanpete 33
97. Duchesne 32
98. Nebo 30
99. Tintic 29
100. Pioneer 26
101. No. Sanpete 25
102. Wells 25
103. Granite 24
104. Grant 24
105. Oquirrh 23
106. No. Sevier 19
"Man's prevailing mood should be objective."
Speak Now
"K/AY we remind you that ours is a cooperative movement — a mutual association- Already we must formu- late our program for next season. You share in that responsibility. Based on your observation, experience, and con- tact with members this year, will you make recommendations now for the new program?
What appreciation courses do you feel would be welcomed by your adult group? Should these be included in our manual? How shall we modify, amplify or enrich our general program? This is your opportunity to be con- structive and truly helpful, but do not hesitate to point out present defects in our plan even if you cannot suggest a remedy.
Tell us please too, how this sea- son's program has been received, modi- fied, amplified or substituted. What of social activities? How successful have your sessions been on the 5 th Tuesdays of the month? Are personal experiences being given? We are anx- ious to receive these helpful incidents as explained in the manual. Are you opening up to view the world of hob- bies and making preparation to partici- pate in another Hobby Show at June Conference?
Please tell us now. Even a penciled note with only a sentence or two will be appreciated. But send it now. Ad- dress— M. I. A. Adult Committee, 50 North Main or 30 Bishop's Build- ing, Salt Lake City.
What Lack We Yet?
/^•OD, some would say Nature, has been trying to produce the whole man — the perfect man with all his fac- ulties fully developed. Tribes, nations, peoples, men without number have risen and fallen. Some civilizations have climbed high, but sooner or later, all have lost balance. Like circus clowns, they have tumbled down from the inclined wire of human progress. Unbalance has toppled the nations. Never on this planet has life been made complete or perfect enough to bear up under the pressure of time. Always it has been defective — some element essential to complete the circle of life has been lacking.
The balanced life has never been
Life an Achievement
T2IRTH is a universal gift; life is an individual process, achievement. Alt are born, but not everyone really lives. Some whose birth antedated death by even three score years can scarce- ly be said to have lived at all.
Life varies in degree from near zero upward in the scale toward that of a man described by Shake- speare as "infinite in faculty . . . noble in reason . . . how like a God." Man is that he may develop fully alt his faculties, in order that he may know all joys. Joy is the aim of the eternal pro- cess— life. Man lives for joy; through joy; in joy. .
Therefore, a joyless life is a failure — lifeless. Only as life be- comes joyous, does it become suc- cessful. "The amount of satis- faction one gets is the new suc- cessful life." As life improves in quality, joy increases in inten- sity. Man becomes more alive by opening up and developing more and higher avenues to enjoyment. His joy will never be complete because his powers are capable of infinite development and exploi- tation. His joy will be as end- less as his progress. The rich reward of living is more life — eternal life.
lived; therefore, no civilization has been permanent. Sparta sought the perfect man through physical develop- ment; Athens by emphasis on learning. Both left out something; both failed. Rome builded grandly, but moral un- balance at last brought ruin and ended her reign. She fell beneath the feet of less cultured, but more sturdy man.
No fact in history seems plainer than man's inability to maintain balance. Nations rise like waves of the sea — higher and higher perhaps but each in turn disappears. Savagery follows hard upon the heels of culture. We may well ask, can a cultured civilization survive? History gives only the gloomy answer — it never has. Culture has brought decay; culture has been crushed by savagery. Says one surveying the panorama of the past, "if there is vali-
dity in history, where we now stand, savages will roam."
And yet certain gains have been made; -not all has been lost. Out of the past come echoes of man's nobler achievements. Into our seething day of change has come some of the change- less wisdom of the ages in the form of literature, art, music, science. These costly tools fashioned on the anvil of time are ours for the taking. Standing on the vantage ground of the present, may we not hope now to rear upon the summit of the centuries a broad- based, truly symmetrical civilization? With the clear perspective of the past, may we not now build a balanced struc- ture of life so complete, so rounded out that nothing vital shall be neglected? This is the question of the ages; can we keep our balance? What lack we yet? If the answer is too high for us, we too shall go down into oblivion.
Adults' Day
T70R years we have acclaimed youth. We have remade the world for them. The lurid shade that hovered over dawning life has been banished, we hope forever.
We have emancipated youth, recog- nized their rights as persons to live their own lives and given them more ?nd more freedom, opportunities, ad- vantages.
Adults have done this — and of course rightly.
"The next decade belongs to adults," now announces a national figure. Just what has he in mind?
We think he merely recognizes a growing realization throughout the land that now it is time to give attention to adult life; to take the dullness out of it.
The adult has been forgotten, pushed aside, shelved. Now he feels the quick- ening pulse of new possibilities for zestful living. Adult life is taking on new lustre. It is being discovered that life need not wane until it "winks out;" that there are ways, many of them, to keep alive in the freshening stream of events and make progress in the art of well proportioned living. It will be the proud achievement of this decade to extend life in depth and scope as well as in duration.
Let us help win the war against joy- less maturity. Hail the dawning day for adults.
"D Y throwing their whole nature into the interests of others, men most effectually escape the melan- choly of introspection; the horizon of life is enlarged; the development of the moral and sympathetic feelings chases egotistic cares."— Lee ky.
JI2
To All Seniors
CENIORS, according to the M. I. A. classification, are those adorable and virile people between the ages of 23 and 35. This page is for them — those fashion setters, conversation directors, world builders, and world changers.
The Seniors have a course of study and a course, in fact many courses, of activity outlined for them. The man- ual bears the intriguing title: "The Quest For Complete Living." The Committee's hope is that every Senior will fill his days with fine things in order that he may live his life here to the brim.
We hope you have read that portrait of Joseph Smith by John Henry Evans, in the January issue. The author says that brains have capacities just as cups do and that no one would try to pour a gallon of water in a pint cup. But everybody should try to fill the cup to the brim. Somehow there are those who believe that the Lord had some such thing in mind when he spoke of those talents. He wished to point out that all of us should not only use the talents we have but find new ones.
We hope that February will offer many suggestions for living life to the full — socially as well as physically and spiritually, for after all man is gre- garious and enjoys association with his fellows when inertia is not too great.
We hope many of the Senior Men will find in Scouting an opportunity for service and personal growth. The boys need the men and the men need the boys. The Senior Women can find equally interesting opportunities among the girls.
Spring is just around the corner — we know that. It isn't like the de- pression. Old Mother Nature rolls her seasons at us whether we are prepared for them or not, so — now is the time to plan that spring and summer.
Are you going to grow a garden — then plant it now — spiritually or should we say dreamily — before it is in the ground. Are you going to make travel your hobby this coming summer? Then lay out your trip now; study costs, stretch it to the limit of every dollar set aside for the purpose. Will you camp some where? Then why not get well up on camping out- fits and places to go.
Don't forget that there is likely to be a hobby-show at June Conference. All of our Senior artists, writers, wood- carvers, builders, bird fanciers, etc., eic, should have the occasion in mind and
A NUMBER OF SENIORS MAY
BE INTERESTED IN THESE
QUESTIONS
1. I plan to grow a flower gar- den next summer. I have a strip bordering a piece of lawn. I should like to plant banking flowers — about three or four rows rising from low ones to Zinnias in the back row. Will some good Senior gardener tell me what flowers — annuals — to select for my purpose? Thank you.
2. I have just finished reading the book — "The Ancient Mayas" — by Robert Stacy Judd. I like it. Will some one guide me to another about the same people?
3. We need help. My husband and I live on a farm a consider- able distance from our commun- ity center and somewhat remote from neighbors. We attend mu- tual s rather regularly on Tuesday evenings, especially when the weather is good, but we are in need of something for our home evenings. We have read a bit about hobbies, but we need sug- gestions. We should be glad to read about other people's experi- ences under somewhat the same circumstances.
Now, Seniors, who have made home evenings delightful, here is an opportunity to lend a help- ing hand. The Committee will welcome answers to these ques- tions. Please make them brief and as definite and concrete as possible.
ought to be read by all Seniors, one be ready to send something in worth while.
And now, Seniors, if you have read thus far, you will know that we are merely throwing out hints. All of us need some sort of spur to keep us push- ing along. The best of luck attend you.
What Have You Read?
Seniors should, by design, become voracious readers. Men are thinking through all sorts of problems these days and are presenting their thoughts in more interesting ways and through more avenues than ever before.
Here are some articles which have been mentioned to us as being worth while. "Be Glad You're Neurotic" gave one person new hope. Reader's Digest, January. "The Magic Twist," American Review for January, 1935,
by Francis Rufus Bellamy, North of our readers declares. "A Better Place To Live In," by Edward W. Bok, found reprinted in the January Reader's Digest is a companion article. Young people in search of jobs could not find better advice, perhaps, than in the article "Ideas Get The Job," by John Tunis, Review of Reviews, January, 1935. "New Feet For Old," by Paul de Kruif, Country Gentleman, Decem- ber, 1934, should not be over-looked by older people who are suffering from hardening of the arteries of the leg. All of us may some day so suffer. In fact, this is very confidential — you will usually find a cross section of the best magazine articles in The Reader's Di- gest. Perhaps if none of you take the magazine now, you could subscribe by the class and pass it around.
Books
(Continued from page 107)
>-
-sf
of the caterpillar— -(caterpillar?) — what about some tea? We accordingly repair to tea-tent — very hot and crowd- ed, and benches show tendency to tip people off whenever other people get up. . . . Small girl . . . spills her tea, it runs down the table which is on a slope, and invades Robert's flannel trousers. He is not pleased, but says that It doesn't Matter, and we leave tent."
Nothing startling, we grant, except as it is startling to find a chuckle in whatever happens (especially when it happens to other people) and the entire trip through America with this Eng- lishwoman recalls moments of our own. The everlastingly empty tooth-paste tube which gives rise to a strange sus- picion that the children eat tooth-paste; the unfailing discussion of "Anthony Adverse" by any and all; the large woman who works her way steadily through an eight course dinner, dis- cussing the while the rigid diet she is on; the question as to whether or not Thanksgiving has a disastrous effect on trade in England and the delicate reply that so far as known England has never returned any particular thanks for the United States' having left them; — these and many more bits are cumula- tive in their power to absorb and de- light. Don't miss "Provincial Lady in America" both for herself and the fact that she will be a stepping stone to other books by the same author.
Special Instructions for M Men
M Men Basketball "DEPORTS from nearly every stake indicate that the basketball teams are having the best season in years. Several new teams have been added to the hundreds of entrants already par- ticipating. The Church-wide tourna- ment will be held in Salt Lake during the early part of March, 1935.
The San Francisco area will send a team to the tournament this year along with the Southern California contestants. All M Men officers should keep us acquainted with the stake and district winners so we can plan for a selection of the best teams for final competition.
$2.00 Ward Athletic Fees
All wards that have not sent in their $2.00 fee to the Y. M. M. I. A. office at 50 North Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, should do so as soon as possible. It was voted at the June Convention to raise the fee to two dollars to help defray expenses of teams who travel long distances to compete. Details of this plan will be furnished later to the selected teams. This fee covers all expenses for the athletic contests in Tennis, Swimming, and Softball baseball held in the spring, and helps make these Church-wide events possible.
M Men in C. C. C. Camps
Several hundred M Men and thou- sands of prospective M Men are en- camped in C. C. C. Camps in the West. The M Men officers should co- operate with C. C. C. Camp chaplains to promote our athletic program and course of instruction. If possible, have them attend your ward and play with you. If the group is large, arrange to hold M Men classes at the camp and let their athletic teams play in your stake tournament. A wonderful mis- sionary work can be accomplished by making all young men in your vicinity welcome at all M Men functions. Contact your Stake Supervisor of M Men and the Chaplains of C. C. C. Camps to get this program under way. Suitable literary material and equip- ment have already been placed in the hands of the Chaplains.
Master M Men Applicants
The Master M Men application blanks are being mailed to all those M Men who have written saying that they have completed their credits and other requirements. Some stakes have already sent in for fifteen or twenty
cards to be filled in. This is the end to which we are all working. Don't let your ward and stake lag in this respect. Read carefully the require- ments in the M Men Handbook and Guide. If you are eligible for the Master M Men award write us for a form to be filled in immediately.
Initiation Ceremony and M Men Pins
If you have not been an M Man before June, 1934, you are not one now unless you have completed the M Men requirements and been initiated into our brotherhood. A beautiful and impressive ceremony is set out in the M Men Handbook. Try to hold an initiation in your ward soon. We have a supply of M Men pins at the Y. M. M. I. A. office to sell for 75c and $1.00. These gold pins are our
Unanswered?
By Roger W. Haglund
TS your prayer as yet unanswered,
Though your plea was fervent quite, And you know God heard you calling And your cause was surely right?
Can it be that God is willing That your prayer should be in vain? Is it that He is unmindful Of your trouble or your pain?
Nay, take courage and be faithful, God will give your soul relief; He will make your burdens lighter, And give solace to your grief.
God is Love and Truth and Mercy, He is Father of us all. Can He then forget His children, Or deny them when they call?
Oft we send our prayers to Heaven, Knowing well that we should ask For the courage, strength and knowl- edge Needed in our daily task.
Every day is but a little Of the life that each must live, And the whole of life's the picture That the days repeated give.
God will make each day a journey Full of joy and happiness, If we trust His guiding wisdom And His loving tenderness.
Prayers are just as surely answered Though requests may be denied, As if all our supplications Were abundantly supplied.
recognition awards and should be worn on the vest, over the heart, by every duly qualified M Man. Try to make the sacrifice to obtain your pin now. Address Y. M. M. I. A. General Office, 50 North Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Special M Men Instruction
In January M Men Institutes have been held in the Salt Lake, Ogden, Provo and Logan areas. These have been held under the supervision of the M Men Committee of the General Board and the M Men Executive Coun- cil. A general course of training for M Men leaders and officers were of- fered including three major topics of universal interest. These topics were: I. Athletics. II. Master M Men Instruction.
III. The M Men Program Explained From Now Until June Conven- tion.
Many stake and ward M. I. A. Su- perintendents, M Men officers and coaches attended these meetings. The continuance of these additional helps is assured by the success of those al- ready held. The information gleaned from these meetings will be sent to you in the form of a special bulletin.
M Men International
Reports from S. Homer Durham, Superintendent in charge of M. I. A. in the British Mission indicate that our brothers from across the sea are joining us in the M Men movement with great enthusiasm. Orders for M Men Hand- books, Guides, Lessons, Pins, Awards and Master M Men material are being requested. A Cricket league is being organized. In the German Mission and elsewhere a renewed enthusiasm for M Men activity is being evidenced. It may not be long before we have an M Men International. It is hoped that Missions in all parts of the world will include the M Men program in their work or modify it to suit their purposes and circumstances.
Greetings
■"THE M Men Committee of the Gen- eral Board and the M Men Execu- tive Council desires to express heart- felt gratitude for your splendid coopera- tion in 1934 and pledge their best efforts to a bigger and more prosperous M Men year in 1935. Herbert B. Maw,
Chairman M Men Committee, General Board. Charles J. Parkinson, Pres. Church M Men Organiza- tion.
-zw.nt*.
The following talk given by Linnie Parker, a Gleaner Girl of the Cannon Ward, Pioneer Stake, is a sample of the splendid talks given by Gleaners at M. I. A. Conventions.
The Slogan
T BELONG to a wonderful Church — so wonderful that I am anxious to share it with others, with everyone the wide world over. I want them all to know that I'm for it heart, body and soul. But how can I show it? How can I prove my allegiance to the Church?
Words in themselves are of little use, whether they be employed in flowery sermons or loud, heated arguments. Words sometimes only bring people to a state of mind where they say, "Now show me!" — for folks everywhere would rather see a sermon than hear one, and how much better we can prove our allegiance by keeping our poise and quietly demonstrating the divinity of our religion by the way it enriches our lives and personalities, than by any number of arguments in its behalf.
There is a story told in an old German play called "Nathan the Wise," and the moral brought out by that little story might well be applied to the proper way to prove our alle- giance to the Church. Briefly, the story is this: Long ago there lived in an Eastern country a king who had three sons. This king possessed a wonder- ful ring endowed with the power to make whoever wore it beloved by both God and man. The ring had been passed down from father to son for many generations. If a father had more than one son it was to be given to the one he loved best. Now the king was very' perplexed, for he loved all three of his sons equally well, and he didn't know to which one he should give the ring. Finally he had a jeweler make two other rings just exactly like the one he wore, and just before he died he called each son to him, gave him a blessing and one of the rings. After his death, however, a contention arose among the sons as to which one had the enchanted ring. No one could tell by looking at them, so the three sons went to a great judge and asked him to decide which one had the real ring. But the judge shook his head. "Your father who is dead is the only one who could decide that," he said. "But wait — the enchanted ring is endowed with the power to make its wearer beloved by both God and man, is it not? Go, therefore — live your lives in peace. Arguments and contentions will be of
no avail. Let your lives prove which of you has the real ring."
And down through the ages that advice still rings true — go let your lives prove which of you has the real church, for the people all over the world are the judges. They cannot tell by just looking at the religions which is true and which is false. And so