General Improvement Fund

154 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

times that it is because they have not been taught, because men have not reached out after them, and found their hearts, have not aroused their sympathy, nor lighted that spirit of repentance within them that may cause them to turn away from their sins. This great missionary work must be accomplished among this people. While it is true that we need strong men to send into the world, it is also a fact that it is not nearly as difficult to work abroad as it is to labor among our own young people. We do not meet with persecution in this home work, but we meet with indifference; and we meet with questions that are unanswer- able unless a man is inspired of God. Consequently,we need mission- aries and officers of wisdom and ability, men that are full of faith, men who by precept and example can awaken in the hearts of our young peo- ple a desire to serve the Lord. We do not need orators, we do not need preachers, we do not need exhorters; we have enough of them; but we need men who can go to their homes, who can sit down in their offices, and can convert them to this work, convert them to reading our litera- ture, to the study of the Manual, and to the desires of the General Board and their labors.

GENERAL LMPROVEMENT FUND.

Officers of the Improvement Associations should remember that the •date for the collection of the Improvement Fund is the first week in De- cember. This subject should be taken up promptly in every association so that the result may be satisfactory to all concerned. It is the advice

of the general board that the treasurer, or one of the aids in the stake board, specially adapted to this work, should be appointed to give his direct attention to the fund and all matters pertaining thereto. In each association, it would also be well to appoint one of the officers specially to superintend the collection of this fund. Several suggestions have been made as to how this may be best accomplished. Envelopes have been sent out by the general Secretary, which should be distributed to every member of the association, whether in attendance on the evening of distribution, or whether absent. In case of absence, the person spe- cially appointed to look after the fund, should see to it that the envelope