Our Work

OUR WORK. TO THE
READER. The Improvement Era has been complimented lavishly on the ex- cellency of its contents, but the General Board are not satisfied yet: their aim is to make the magazine better still. It can be made the best in the land — just what the young men want. But we must know what is wanted. Will you drop the editors a postal card, and say which article in this number you like best, and most enjoy? Probably there is nothing in it suits you. We shall be just as thankful if you will tell us that, and what you want. We hope to get ten thousand replies to this question from all over the world, especially from the young men: Which Article in This JNumber Has Interested You Most? Be sure and state your age. Sani reply to reach us before February 20. Address: Editors Era, Salt Lake City, Utah. PRELIMINARY PROGRAM. Preliminary exercises should consist of not more than four numbers, and the time consumed should not exceed thirty minutes, including the devotional exercises.
The following form has been adopted: 1. Devotional exercises. 2. Current events. 3. Extemporary address on scientific or literary subjects. 4. Music, vocal or instrumental. In making up these programs, the young ladies should be called upon as well as the young men, to present scientific, literary or historical subjects. System and order should be strictly maintained, in assembling for the preliminary exercises, and in separating for the class work. Let the fact be emphasized that the preliminary programs are part of the season's work, and not an unnecessary adjunct. The General Board desire them carried out. Although the form may be suggestive, and the subjects may be changed to suit the conditions, yet a program is to be carried out in accordance with the plan laid out for the associ- ations. The purpose of these preliminary programs is: 1.
To cultivate the talent of our young people.

OUR WORK. 311 2. To encourage a broad and liberal culture, by the study of cur- rent history of the world, the march of progress in science, literature, art and business. 3. To lighten the work of the association, and make it more attract- ive by lending variety. All the selections should be of a high order; proper wit and humor should not be debarred; personal "take offs" should be avoided. Under the head of current events, all the matter treated should be educational and historical, calculated to enlarge the mind and cultivate it. Avoid recording sensational and criminal events. Never permit burlesque; the preliminary program preceding serious study, burlesque is emphatically out of place. As sources from which to obtain, in terse form, matter for the topic of "Current Events," the following magazines are recom- mended: Improvement Era, Literary Digest, Public Opinion and American Review of Reviews. These programs should be conducted alternately by the officers of the young men's and young ladies' associations. Great care should be exercised in the selection of those taking part in these programs, so that they may be made successful; but, while it is advisable to secure the best talent for this work, the fact must not be overlooked that there is an educational side to this part of our work, and there is, therefore, special necessity for the training of the back- ward and inexperienced ones. It is advisable that presidents be held responsible for the char- acter of the preliminary programs, and the General Boards suggest that the programs should be submitted to the officers before given. ENROLLMENT OF GENERAL OFFICERS. A question having arisen as to whether or not general and stake offi- cers of M. I. A. should be enrolled in local associations, the General Board, at its meeting on January 13, replied by passing the following resolution: Resolved: — That it is the sense of this Board that it is understood that all general officers of Y. M. M. I. A. shall be enrolled as members of the association in the ward in v/hich they reside; and that they at- tend the meetings of said association whenever they are not engaged in other wards in mutual improvement work. The presence of general officers as workers in local associations has a tendency to encourage the membership; no officer should go unen- rolled. When he is absent at work, he should be excused and counted as present in the report.