Events of the Month

About one hundred and fifty Elders participated in this work, and that great good has resulted from their efforts cannot be questioned, and especially is this the case in a number of the frontier stakes. In one of those stakes twenty-six baptisms are reported as the result of the work there. Concerning the work in another the following is reported to the committee:

Beloved Brethren: Inclosed please find our report from January 24th to February 14th. The brethren conclude in this Stake today; will start for Emery tomorrow. I wish I could express to you, in words, the real condition of affairs as a result of our missionary work. Stake Conference has just been held and all the Bishops and the Stake Presidency were so favorably impressed with the Improvement Mission work that it was the principal theme of the Conference in all of their speaking. The Stake with all its organizations and associations is in a better condition than it has been for years, which I attribute to the mission work done in our midst. Eighty-five baptisms have followed the work of the brethren, a spirit of reformation is felt everywhere. Everybody seems interested. The Gospel has been preached in power and plainness, as we seldom hear it. The enrollment in a large number of instances has been increased, though the work in this respect is not to be compared with the achievements of last year, and largely for the reason that so much was accomplished in that direction last year, that not nearly so much was left to be done this year. Quite a large number of individual reformations, which promise to be permanent, have been brought to pass through this work, and that beyond question is the chief thing. The Elders as a rule have been earnest and energetic, and are deserving of all praise for their unselfish efforts in behalf of this cause. We suppose that by this time they have all returned home from their fields of labor and in behalf of the General Board and the Missionary Committee who have directed their efforts we express appreciation of what they have done, thank them and pray that God will bless and prosper them for all time to come. As a general thing also the Presidents of stakes and Bishops of wards and the Saints everywhere have received these missionary brethren with great kindness and rendered them every aid that could be expected. To all such we wish to say God bless you for your interest in this cause ; and may that interest grow until it shall be universally recognized that there is a perfect unity of effort between the parents in Israel and the ofiicers of the Mutual Improvement Associations in bringing to pass the reformation and perpetual progress of the youth of the Church. In some instances it is reported that officers of associations have complained of the results of this missionary work, because, forsooth, of the

great increase in the enrollment of members, many of whom do not, at least immediately, become active in association work—and perhaps not regular in their attendance. The complaint is that the membership is increased but not the average attendance, and it gives the association apparently a bad record. To such officers, however, we say: Do not complain, but bend all your energies to making these newly brought-in members active factors in your association work as fast as possible. Look not so much to your record of average attendance as to whether you do not have more young men actually in attendance by reason of the larger enrollment, brought to pass through the missionary labor than you would have had without it. That is the thing to have in mind rather than whether or not your attendance relative to your enrollment is more or less. Our effort should be to reach with the influence of our work the largest possible number of young men; and whatever plans will result in that should be followed irrespective of what seeming effect it may have upon the record of our associations. A more detailed statement of M. I. missionary work may be looked for in a later issue, when the returns shall have been completed. 7-8. Such has been the demand for the M. I. A. Manual of 1897-8 which, it will be remembered, treats of "The Life of Jesus," that already two editions have been published and disposed of, and still there is a demand for this excellent Manual. Soon after the Improvement Associations commenced using it as a text-book it found its way into the Sunday School theological classes, and then into such classes in the Elder's and Seventy's quorums until the demand for it was and continues to be very general. The first and second edition having been exhausted the General Board has determined upon the publication of a third edition, and accordingly it is now in the press, and will soon be on sale at the Era office. We trust that M. I. A. officers will note this fact and give it as wide publicity as possible. Of the merits of the 1897-8 Manual it is not necessary to speak as it is now well known, and the publishing of three editions within two years is sufficient evidence that its merits are appreciated. The price will be the same as heretofore—twenty-five cents per copy. Send your orders to Thomas Hull, Era Office, Templeton Building, Salt Lake City.

EVENTS OF THE MONTH. BY THOMAS HULL, SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL BOARD OP Y. M. M. L A. January 24th, 1899: The second annual convention of the National Live Stock Association convenes at Denver. * * * The debate on the army reorganization bill is opened in the House of Representatives

• • • Wm. M. Stewart is re-elected Senator from Nevada. * * * Senor Lopez, secretary to Agoncillo, the Washington representative of Aquinaldo, files with the State Department a demand for the official recognition by the United States of the Filipinos' representative. 26th: Former Attorney-General Augustus H. Garland is stricken with apoplexy while addressing the United States Supreme Court, and expires almost immediately. 27th: The situation in the Philippines is regarded as critical by the officials at Washington. 30th: Agoncillo, the Philippine representative at Washington files another protest against the attitude of the United States government towards the Filipino "republic." 31st: The army reorganization bill passes the House. The bill as passed provides, in addition to the general officers and staff departments, for twelve regiments of cavalry of twelve troops each, one hundred and forty-four coast batteries, twenty-four field batteries, thirty regiments of infantry of twelve companies each, a corps of engineers and one regiment of engineers, an ordnance department, a signal corps, the latter with six hundred and twenty-five enlisted men. It also gives the President discretion to recruit the organizations serving in Cuba, Porto Rico and the islands of the Pacific, in whole or in part from the inhabitants thereof. February 1st: General Gomez, Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban army, telegraphs President McKinley assuring him of his cooperation in

disbanding the Cuban army and in distributing among the soldiers the $3,000,000 appropriated to enable them to return to their homes. 4th: The insurgents make an attack upon the city of Manila and a fierce battle is fought. * * * The old war cry of "No Popery," so long silent in England, is being raised again. The people are fiercely wrought up. The issue is overriding party programs and forcing leaders to declare themselves on the question of the separation of the church from parliamentary strife. 5th : The following dispatch is received in Washington from Admiral Dewey: Manila, Feb. 5, 1899. To the Secretary of the Navy, Washington: Insurgents here inaugurated general engagement yesterday night, which has continued today. The American army and navy is generally successful. Insurgents have been driven back and our line is advancing. No casualties to the navy. Dewey. Other reports state that the insurgents were repulsed with great loss. 6th: The treaty of peace, negotiated by the commissioners of the United States and Spain, at Paris, was today ratified by the United States Senate, the vote being fifty-seven ayes and twenty-seven nays, or three votes more than the two-thirds majority necessary to secure Senatorial concurrence in a treaty document. * * * Another fierce battle is fought at Manila and the insurgents are again badly punished. The Utah batteries in both engagements render important service in the very front of the battles. Dr. Harry Young, Corporal John G. Young and Private Wilhelm Goodman of the Utah batteries are killed and Corporal Geo. B. Wardlaw, Private P. Anderson and Isaac Russell wounded. Dr. Harry Young was a son of the late Lorenzo D. Young, brother of President Brigham Young. All dispatches received speak of the splendid work of the Utah Artillerymen whose guns did most effective service and the discipline of the command was perfect. 8th: Aguinaldo applies to General Otis for a cessation of hostilities and a conference. General Otis declines to answer. * * * The Utah batteries are assigned to the most advanced post on the American line at Manila. * * * The commission appointed by President McKinley to investigate the conduct of the war, submits its report to the Pesident. The report is a voluminous document and handles every department of the service and makes many suggestions. No intelligent synopsis can be made in the space available in these "Events."

400 IMPROVEMENT ERA 10th: The American forces attack the town of Caloocan near Manila and drive the Filipinos out. The attack is begun by the monitor Monadnock and gunboat Concord throwing a shower of shells into the town. The Sixth Artillery and the Utah Battery then opened fire and the Utahns did very fine work. Captain Hall of the British warship Narcissus, British Consul Ramsden, and other foreigners who witnessed the fight bestow the highest encomiums on our troops and especially commend the excellent work done by the Utah artillery. 12th: An insane asylum burns at Yankton, South Dakota, and seventeen lives are lost. 13th: The most severe blizzard in its history visits Washington^ D. C. Snow three feet deep blocks the streets and all traffic is suspended and business at a standstill. The storm also reached New York City and Philadelphia, in both of which places business is practically suspended.

• • • Word reaches Washington that Lieutenant Geo. A. Seaman, of Utah Battery^B was wounded in the engagement at Caloocan. * * * The following dispatch is received in Washington from General Otis: Manila, Feb. 13, 1899. General Miller reports from Uoilo that the town was taken on the 11th inst. and held by troops. Insurgents given until evening of the 13th to surrender, but their hostile actions brought on engagement during the morning. Insurgents fired the native portion of town. But little losses to property of foreign inhabitants. No casualties among the troops reported. Otis. 15th: Over $1,000,000 worth of government property is destroyed by fire in the Brooklyn navy yard. * * * The National Council of Women elects Mrs. Emeline B. Wells second recording secretary. * * * President McKinley conveys assurances to some of the party leaders in Congress, in addition to those given last week, that he will certainly call Congress together in extra session if it fails to pass the army reorganization bill at the present session. 16th: M. Felix Faure, president of the Republic of France dies at 10 o'clock p. m. of apoplexy.