--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 3 number: 10 published: 1900-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "In Lighter Mood," *Improvement Era* 3, no. 10 (August 1900): 787–788.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera310unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera310unse start_page: 787 end_page: 788 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1900-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera310unse publication_year: 1900 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1900, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # In Lighter Mood IN LIGHTER MOOD. A well-known speculator on the stock exchange was sitting in a friend's office one hot day last summer, and during the conversation, which was chiefly about stocks and shares of diif erent kinds, he informed his friend that he had picked up a cheap thing during the winter. "It stood at thirty-three then, and yesterday it touched eighty-four!" he said. "By Jove! what an extremely lucky fellow you are! What was it?" said his friend. "Only a thermometer," was the quiet reply. * * * The group in the hotel office were talking about ghosts one evening and, as usual, some remarkable stories were told. Finally a small man with a red beard spoke up. "I had a little experience myself last summer, which I will narrate simply for what it is worth. I live in a very old house," he continued, "in the rear of which is a small bricked court, connecting with a passage leading to a side gate. At the back of the court is a wall, twelve or fourteen feet high, separating us from the next lot and showing traces, in the corner, of a narrow door, which was long ago filled in with masonry. There is nothing unusual about the place, yet for some reason it always affected me unpleasantly. I happened to go to the back door of the house one afternoon last July, and there in the court, near the entrance to the passageway, was what appeared to be an old man with a long, gray beard. He was tall and gaunt, and was standing in an attitude of profound meditation. I was not more than twelve feet away at the time, and I assure you I saw the figure as distinctly as I see any of you. This occurred in broad daylight, at about three o'clock, as nearly as I can remember, and I would like to add that I was in perfect health and not thinking about ghosts when I went to the door. I did not speak of the matter to my family, and, as far as I know they themselves have never had any unusual experience in the house. Neither have I been able to learn of any tradition that might be associated with the episode I have described." The story was told in a plain, matter-of-fact way, and its simplicity made it impressive. "That was certainly a remarkable experience," said one of the party, after a pause. "Has the old man ever appeared to you since?" "Oh yes," replied the'story teller. "He is our milkman!" OUR WORK, THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE MUTUAL IMPROVE- MENT ASSOCIATIONS. SUNDAY, 7:30 p. M., JUNE 10, 1900. The choir sang the hymn "Great God, attend while Zion sings." Prayer was offered by Apostle Francis M. Lyman. A duet was sung by Sister Luella Ferrin and Elder Thomas S. Ashworth. Apostle Heber J. Grant addressed the Conference upon the "History of Y. M. M. I. A." He stated that as early as 1852, the mutual improvement movement commenced, and it was pleasing to know that what was then done was done under the direction of the present general superintendent of Y. M. M. I. A., President Lorenzo Snow. In that year, a society for intellectual improvement and social pleasure and intercourse was organized, and its meetings held in the residence of Lorenzo Snow, in Salt Lake City. In 1873, an organization of a similar character was formed in Ogden, under the direction of the late Apostle Franklin D. Richards. In 1875, President Brigham Young was inspired to inaugurate the organization of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, and he called upon Elder Junius F. Wells to undertake the work of organizing associations throughout The Church. On June 10, 1875, twenty-five years ago today, the first Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association under this general plan was organized in the Thirteenth Ward, Salt Lake City. Elder H. A. Woolley, now deceased, was chosen president of the association with Elders B. Morris Young and Heber J. Grant as his counselors and Hiram H. Goddard, secretary. The work of organizing associa tions in the various wards was continued diligently by Elder