--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Tanner, J. M. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 4 number: 4 published: 1901-02 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'J. M. Tanner, "Some Leading Events in the Current Story of the World," *Improvement Era* 4, no. 4 (February 1901): 296–300.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0404unse 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: improvementera0404unse start_page: 296 end_page: 300 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1901-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0404unse publication_year: 1901 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 1901, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Some Leading Events in the Current Story of the World 294 IMPROVEMENT ERA. has stood the test of time, while from the first, astrology has been condemned by the majority of scholars. History relates also that many kings and emperors, when in sore distress, have called in astrologers to their aid. It must be remarked, however, that astrologers, sooth-sayers, and other deceivers, have not found constant favor at the courts, as they have usually failed to make correct predictions. Besides, a king's favor does not add to the truth of astrology, for a king may be the most ignorant man in the kingdom, and in that case, is as much subject to superstition as the humblest peasant. The argument, however, by which the astrologer, who is also a theist, clinches his case is, that many of the holy men of old, who knew God, practiced astrology. As the most famous of astrologers are mentioned Solomon, David and Abraham. In fact, Abraham is looked upon as the great master of telling fortunes from the stars. The absurdity of the belief that men who talked with God would have need to go to the stars for their knowledge of coming events is stupendous, yet, some of our brethren and sisters, without close inquiry, have accepted it as a fact. Take, as an instance, the career of Abraham. It is well known that he was a man whose learning far exceeded that of his age, and that he studied with care the heavenly bodies. There is, however, nothing in history that says definitely that Abraham derived all or a part of his wisdom from this study of the stars. There is not even a clear indication that he practiced astrology. Of course, in common with all great men of the far past, Abraham is surrounded by a mythical atmosphere in which all kinds of wild fancies float; but no reasonable men will believe myth instead of fact. We who have been blessed to live in this age know with an absolute certainty that Abraham did not derive his knowledge from his acquaintance with the motions of the planets, for the Lord, speaking to the Prophet Joseph Smith, has said that "Abraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by revelation and commandment, by my word, saith the Lord, and hath entered into his exaltation, and sitteth upon his throne." * All the holy men of old received "all things, whatsoever they received" in just the same way. * Doctrine and Covenants, section 132; verse 29. THE FOLLY OF ASTROLOGY. 295 "The true key to astrology was lost centuries ago," says Raphael, the "astrologer of the Nineteenth century." He is wrong, for astrology has never had a true key. Falsehood, emanating from the Father of Lies, has been the hope and mainstay of the art in all ages. But if this great Raphael will define astrology as the art of f ortelling events, regardless of the stars, then he is correct, for the key of this power has been lost and found again several times during the world's history; it is the Holy Priesthood, "which continueth in the Church of God in all generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years." Abraham received this Priesthood,t and was a High Priest before God.$ Therefore did he have a right to call upon the Lord and to learn of the events of his future. This power of the Priesthood is the only one sanctioned of the Father, that can look into the past and the present, and discover the multitudinous relations of human lives. All other powers, with like claims, emanate from the source of error. Modern science, which is based on truth, claims no such power. The Church of God is upon the earth, and the Priesthood with all its powers. In our midst are prophets, seers and revelators; apostles, high priests and elders. If we must look into the future or the unknown past, let us go to these men, from whom we will get satisfaction; or, if we ourselves hold the Priesthood, then let us call upon the Lord in humility, according to the divine formula, "in fasting and prayer," and our hearts' desires will be granted us according to our needs. The evil one wishes that error should be supreme among the children of God, and he does all he can to support the false and to destroy the true. His snares are manifold. Young men of Zion, defy Satan; spurn all lies; there is truth enough in the universe to keep us busy through all eternities. Let us cast out from amongst us the folly of astrology. t Doctrine and Covenants, section 84; verse 14. % Pearl of Great Price, page 50. SOME LEADING EVENTS IN THE CURRENT STORY OF THE WORLD. BY DR. J. M. TANNER. New Year's Reception at the White House. One of the very earliest customs of our Republic has been the yearly reception given by the president and hostess of the White House, on New Year's day. This reception has varied in its forms, but has never been abandoned for a single year, during the century which has just passed. The first day of January, 1901, therefore, witnessed the centennial of this custom, which was inaugurated by President Adams and his wife, just one hundred years ago. President Adams and his wife drove over in their carriage from Baltimore to Washington, in the fall of 1800, and gave the first New Year's reception in 1801. We are told that the lower portion of the mansion was not finished at that time, [but the house was originally built very much as it now stands. At first, it was called the "palace," but the term had so much of the monarchial quality that a strong opposition to its use in the early days com- •pelled abandonment and the adoption of some name more its appropriate to the American theory of democracy. It was later called the "Executive Mansion," and sometimes the "President's Home." In 1814, the English burned it, and left only the naked walls standing. It was not again fitted for occupation until 1818, and not finally completed until 1829. The smoke from the fire had so blackened the walls as to make it necessary to paint them. The color chosen was white; and from that time, the popular name for our executive mansion has been the "White House." CURRENT STORY OF THE WORLD. 297 Descriptions of these receptions on New Year's day, as given in the early days of our republic, furnish very interesting reading; and show how we have departed from the early notions of a New Year's reception. In these times, the guests were received by the president and hostess alone, and the cabinet members and their wives took no part in receiving and entertaining the guests, who> after shaking hands with the president and his wife, daughter, or sister, whichever happened to act as hostess at the White House, during the president's incumbency, passed on to receive refreshments served by a colored waiter. In early times, an effort was made to return these New Year's calls, but as the privilege was extended to all, without distinction of rank, to pay their respects to the president on New Year's day, the numbers became in time so great that it was entirely impossible to return even a fraction of the calls made, and Mrs. Monroe in her time vetoed this burdensome custom. In early times, too, it was customary for the president and his wife to entertain, once every session of congress, every one of the senators and members of the House of Representatives, and that custom prevailed until the time of Andrew Jackson, who refused to continue the practice, because of the great demand that it had made, and was continuing to make, upon the president's time. For many years, the custom of New Year's receptions has been quite uniform, so much so as to become a part of the unwritten law of the White House. The hour is announced, usually by a bugle call, and music from the Marine Band, and the hours fixed for receiving all and any who may wish to shake hands with the president, are from 11 a. m. to 1 p. m. It is not the custom^ however, and has not been for a long time, for the lady of the White House to shake hands with her callers. Usually she holds in her right hand a pretty bouquet of flowers, which serves as a modest hint that callers are not expected to offer her their hand. Around the president and his hostess are formed, in order of their rank, the vice-president and members of the cabinet. This year Mrs. Hobart was not present, owing, of course, to the death of the vice-president. Mrs. Hay, the wife of the secretary of state, is in mourning for her mother; so the first lady of rank 298 IMPROVEMENT ERA. was Mrs. Gage, the wife of the secretary of the treasury, who stands next to the secretary of state. While these receptions are open to all, without distinction, and the rich and poor jostle one another in the line of march, which is formed early in the day, and which often reaches away out into Pennsylvania Avenue, yet there is an established order of reception, and the general public must await its turn by yielding first place to those whose distinction entitles them to first rank at these receptions. The first in order is the diplomatic corps, which really presents the most brilliant and most stately part of the parade. Foreign diplomats at Washington are generally costumed during these occassions in the most brilliant colors, and are profusely decorated. There might be some difficulty if order of precedent were given among the diplomats according to the rank of the respective nations which they represent. The president would be greatly embarrassed, if he were compelled to say that England, Germany or France rank first, and permitted his choice to be received first on New Year's morning. All objections are removed on this ground by the custom which requires the diplomat longest in the service of his country at Washington to be received first, and each country in the order of time which its minister has passed at Washington. After the diplomatic corps, the members next in order are those of the supreme court of the United States. The judges are followed by senators and representatives who happen to be at Washington at the time, though as a rule most of them spend the New Year at home. After them come the officials of the several departments in Washington, and then the veterans of the war of 1846-47. The veterans of the Mexican war are followed by the veterans of the Civil war; and lastly, the general public is received, without distinction as to rank in office, wealth, or nationality. There has been some effort to exclude the general public from these receptions, and have them conducted by means of special invitations, but the democratic spirit of the country would not tolerate any such innovation upon the rights and privileges of the masses. No president would dare to suggest such a change, and it is doubtful whether the country at large would suffer the least