A Model Stake Report

OUR WORK. 631

present trying to sing it, even the first tenors, and finally the hymn was sung (one verse) in all three parts over and over again, and real glorious it seemed, with the strong, vigorous voices, each determined to keep his own part by making it a little prominent. (Director Stephens had, of course, made a special arrangement of the music in three parts, so that the harmony was complete.) This brought the first rehearsal to a close-

A MODEL STAKE REPORT.

We publish the following letter from Brother Oleen N, Stohl, superintendent of the Box Elder Stake of the Y. M. M. I. Associations, not only for the purpose of giving the information concerning the state of the Associations in that Stake, but also that it may be the means of encouraging other superintendents to send us reports of a like character. The zeal, care and intelligence with which the work is prosecuted in Box Elder Stake may well be an inspiration and example to other Stakes. We especially commend to the attention of other superintendents the course of lectures to be given during the summer vacation months, and suggest that a similar plan, modified to meet local conditions, be adopted by other Stakes. Following is Brother Stohl's communication to the General Secretary:

— Dear Brother: As the Y. M. M. I. Associations of this Stake have now closed their meetings for the season, I have thought a few words regarding the past winter's work and the present condition of the Associations would be of interest to you. All of the Associations in the Stake began their meetings at the time agreed upon at our last General M. I. A. Conference, excepting two. Twelve of the Associations met on Tuesday night, four on Sunday night and one on Saturday night. The four Associations in Brigham City, the Mantua and Three Mile Associations were not benefited by changing to Tuesday night. Since making the change last fall, we have noticed that nearly all traveling theatrical companies that come to Brigham, come on Tuesday night. This has been quite detrimental to the Associations in Brigham and the near vicinity. I know of no one night that would suit

632 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

all the Associations in this Stake for Mutual Improvement night unless it isSunday night. And it is a question whether the bishops in the wards of this city would feel justified in granting us Sunday night for that purpose. Taking into consideration the visits of Stake officers to the ward Associations, it is an advantage not to have all the Associations meet the same night. For example: in this Stake we have seventeen Associations. Were the meetings all held the same night it would require seventeen weeks for the Superintendent to visit all the Associations in the Stake. Were the meetings held on different nights in the different wards it would be possible for the Superintendent to make two or three visits to all the Associations in the Stake during the season. All the Associations in this Stake, excepting the two referred to above as being late in beginning, have completed, that is, considered all the lessons in Manual No. 2, Apostolic Age. A number of the brethren in all the Associations have done excellent work during the season. Another class of brethren have partially prepared all or some of the lessons. Another class of members have taken but little interest in the subject presented. The great question with us has been, "How shall we get our young men to study the lessons so beautifully presented incur Manual?" In order to interest the indifferent young men some of the Associations were divided into classes for study. These classes would meet one night each week prior to the regular meeting night and study the lesson to be treated in the following regular meeting. Much good has been accomplished in this way. Some of the Associations in this Stake are quite large. We have seven Associations whose membership ranges from seventy-five to one hundred. These members range in age from fourteen to forty-five years. Their capabilities are as varied as their ages. We have spent considerable time in our Stake Officers' meetings considering this condition of affairs in our Associations, and are united in the belief that some suitable system of gradation, at least for the larger Associations, would be one way of enabling us to reach and labor with some of the indifferent young men in our communities. We have thought that our young members who identify themselves with the Associations from year to year should have the privilege of studying the Life of Christ preparatory to taking up the Apostolic Age. Were the Associations graded this could be very nicely arranged for.

OUR IMPROVEMENT FUND.

For the season of 1897 and 1898, Box Elder Stake sent to the

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Treasurer of the General Board $115.35. Figuring that the ward Associations deducted ten per cent, of the funds they collected, and the Stake organization deducted fifteen per cent, of the amount received from the various wards, it would show that there was collected that season on account of the fifty cent fund, $150.00 in the Box Elder Stake; or in other words, three hundred of our young men paid fifty cents each to said fund during the season mentioned. For this season, 1898 and 1899, it now looks as though we will not be able to raise more than $115.00 on account of the Improvement Fund. As this would represent the whole amount collected by the ward Associations for said fund you will notice that while it would represent that four hundred and sixty young men have contributed to said fund, we have actually collected less money for the Improvement Fund this season than we did the season previous. I think I can truthfully state that the efforts of our Stake Board have been more earnest for the collection of said fund this season than last.

OUR ERA.

We are proud of the Era. We would have been better pleased, however, had we reached a subscription equal to five per cent, of the Latter-day Saint population in the Stake. Box Elder Stake furnished one hundred and twenty-six subscribers to Volume I. of the Era. According to my present information we have furnished two hundred and one subscribers to Volume II. It was stated in our General Conference held last May that our Stake needed one hundred and seventy-six subscribers to make twenty per cent, of our enrollment. While we regret not reaching the two hundred and eighty subscribers which would have entitled us to the twenty-five cent rebate on each subscription we are pleased that we have reached the [twenty per cent, of our enrollment and have a few to spare.

missionary work.

The Y. M. M. I. A. missionaries did not reach our Stake until about the 10th of January, this year. Of course it would have been better for missionaries us could we have had them six weeks earlier. While the who labored here this year did not get as many young men to join the prede- Associations (because there were not so many to get) as did their Associations have cessors, I think those whom they did induce to join the

remained with the Associations better than those who joined the year