Events of the Month

OUR WORK. 155 logically unfold the subject; and the opportunity it permits of imparting incidental and additional instruction by the class leader. Care should be taken that no offense is given, nor discouragement to younger pupils, •in the amplifications and additions of the class leader or teacher; and he should not talk too much. The questions should be clear, concise, definite, and need not be altogether confined to the questions printed in the Manual. Leading or suggesting questions, and questions admitting "yes" or "no" as answers, should be avoided. This method has also disadvantages which are clearly manifest when not combined with the topic method: It is not a good drill in the expression of thought consecutively, and does not necessitate the logical analysis of a subject and the systematic arrangement of its parts by the student. The topic method alone has also its disadvantages: It is often superficial as a test when not directed by a clear-headed and thorough teacher, and there is grave danger that the student talks merely, which much random talk is often accepted for reciting. Take a topic, andj watch the next speaker in your association, and see whether he is merely talking, or whether be recites systematically to the point. The union of the two methods, with a good teacher and well-prepared students, makes an ideal recitation: the lesson is prepared and re- •cited, in the main, on the topic plan; then the class teacher follows imperfect statements, or other evidence of imperfect knowledge, by searching questions which clear the mists and lay open .the .leading points to the whole class. FOR PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION WORKERS. The following suggestive points prepared for the Box Elder Stake Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association officers, and forwarded by Superintendent Nephi Anderson, will prove of value to all progressive workers in improvement associations. Stake officers, in visiting the meetings of the associations of that stake, are requested to take note of how closely these points are observed, and report to the stake Board. (1) The meeting room should be well lighted and heated. (2) All officers should be present or excused. Encourage the bishopric to at-

156 IMPROVEMENT ERA. tend. (3) Begin and close the meeting on time. If possible, make the time of beginning 7 p. m. (4) Make a feature of good, lively singing. Have a music director. (5) Associations with an attendance of twentyfive or over should be divided into senior and junior classes. The junior class should consist of all members who are seventeen years of age and under. Give eighteen and nineteen-year-old boys the privilege of chosing which class to join. (6) Ask a few leading review questions on previous lessons. Take them from the topics rather than from the review; or have some member give a five minute talk on previous lesson. (7) Carry out the instructions on page four of the Manual, and on page 870-875 of the September, 1900, Era. (8) Avoid lengthy "sermons" in treating events. Distribute the lesson well. (9) Locate on a map each place named. (10) Avoid a parrot-like asking of the review questions. Ask original questions. Sometimes, do away with the printed review and bring out from the lesson its leading thoughts. (11) Grade your questions to the capacity of the members. Give all a chance to answer. Don't always wait for a show of hands. (12) Get the philosophy of the history. Unconnected facts are dry — put some "juice" in. (13) Encourage the reading of Church history to get the proper connection between events (14) Keep out of ruts; deviate in your manner of presenting the lesson. (15) Don't forget the missionary work. Remember the object of your association labors is the salvation of souls. (16) Hold regular officers] meetings at least once in two weeks; once a week is better. (17) See that your members are well supplied with Manuals. (18) Keep up your Era subscription. Remember that the young men who read it are acquiring a taste for good literature — a valuable acquisition; they are also instructed, entertained, and provided with valuable knowledge and information. (19) Collect twenty-five cents from every member of the association for the general improvement fund. (20) Keep your organization complete. Nephi Anderson, Fred J. Holton, Ernest P. Horsley, Stake Superintendency.

EVENTS OF THE MONTH. BY THOMAS HULL, GENERAL SECRETARY OF Y. M. M. I. A. Local — October 17 — Bishop Rawlins' will was filed, his estate being valued at $11,000 18— Professor J. W. Whiteley, a former teacher in the Brigham Young Academy and University of Utah, born in England about fifty-nine years ago, died suddenly Burlington surveys indicate that the road will come to Salt Lake by way of Ogden 19 — The City Council committees by a vote of five to three favor the granting of Pioneer Square for railroad purposes 21 — Louis Hyams, formerly of Salt Lake City, died at Gloversville, N. Y., age 48 The Short Line Kemmerer coal branches are nearing completion 22 — The Rio Grande Western Railway has let a contract to the American Bridge Company for thirty-six steel plate girders to replace as many wooden bridges between Salt Lake and Grand Junction Presidents George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith with a party of sixty visit the Lehi sugar factory 23 — The total valuation of property in the State is $104,970,253, an increase over 1899, of $5,627,054, which at 8 mills for general, and 3 mills for school taxes will net the State $839,647.43 The Crescent Hill mine, Park City, has been acquired by H. G. McMillan John M.Browning, Ogden, received a patent for machine loading feed belts, for machine guns; and George W. Craig, Provo, for railway ticket 24— There were 71,906 pupils enrolled in the public schools of Utah in 1898-99; average attendance, 52,208; teachers, males, 527, females, 892; avarage monthly salary, males, $61.42, females $41.19; valuation of school property, $2,801,556 27— The Utah Federation of Women's Clubs closed its convention in Salt Lake today, and the tenth annual convention of the W. C. T. U. of Utah closed a three days' session at Springville 29 — The first snowstorm of the season passed over northern Utah 30— The population of Utah is 276,565, an increase of 68,660 in the

158 IMPROVEMENT ERA. past ten years.... 31 — The dividend of Utah minesfor the month was $299,500; stock sales, 766,123 shares for $409,026.72 John Garr, aged 70, a pioneer of Cache County, died in Millville There is talk of extending the Eio Grande Western Railway to Cache Valley. November 3 — The political campaign is practically ended, it has been lively, and unusually free from mud-slinging on both sides 5 — In the Salt Lake Theater there was a' debate between Hons. W. H. King and George Sutherland, on political issues. The building was packed. 6 — There was fair weather all over the State 7 — Utah elected the Republican tickets by a large majority, national, state, and mostly local 10. — The Woodruff monument was dedicated, the prayer being offered by President Joseph F. Smith. The monument cost $1,500, one-half of which was contributed by the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations of The Church. "It is massive, plain and solid, and fittingly represents the character of the man who lies beneath it," said Apostle Anthon H. Lund, one of the speakers. Other speakers were Presidents George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, Apostle Heber J. Grant, and James Woodruff 11 — The preliminary meetings of the second Sunday School convention was held in the Salt Lake Theater, and were addressed by Presidents George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith, Apostles Brigham Young, Heber J. Grant, George Teasdale, and others 12 — The official canvass of the election returns began The erection of a sugar factory in Cache is assured by Hons. C. W. Nibley and David Eccles The election of C. R. Barnes from the Third District makes the Senate of the Legislature Democratic The Sunday School convention was continued The City Council of Salt Lake vacates Pioneer Square with a view to giving it to the Los Angeles [Railway Company Committees are named to arrange for the National Stockmen's Convention to be held in Salt Lake on January 22nd next. Domestic — October 17 — The great [anthracite coal 'strike, begun September 17, practically ended today, the sliding scale was abolished and the miners granted ten per cent advance in wages The enumeration work of the 12th census is completed and the 53,000 enumerators and 297 supervisors are nearly all paid, $4,200,000 being the cost 19 — William Jennings Bryan has a second encounter with college students, this time at Ithica, N. Y., the first ,being at Ann Arbor, Mich 22 — John Sherman, the statesman and politician, died in Washington at 6:45 a.m 23 — Charles L. Alvord, a note teller in the First National at New York, defaulted in the sum of $700,-