--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Smith, Joseph F. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 8 number: 1 published: 1904-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Joseph F. Smith, "Events of the Month," *Improvement Era* 8, no. 1 (November 1904): 73–80.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0801unse 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: improvementera0801unse start_page: 73 end_page: 80 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1904-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0801unse publication_year: 1904 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 1904, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Events of the Month EVENTS OF THE MONTH, BY JOSEPH F. SMITH, JR. Local — September, 1904. Grasshopper Harvest. —County Clerk Bachman, Utah county, has prepared a statement of the bounty paid on grasshoppers in Utah county during the summer, under the law of 1903. It shows that the sum of $1,419.20 had been paid for 171,110 pounds, or more than eighty-five and one-half tons, or eight and a half car loads, of ten tons each, of hoppers. Of this amount, $946.14 was paid by the state, and $473.06 by the county, and the individual amounts paid ranged from 68 cents to $122.49. Opening of the Schools. — On Monday, 13th, the public schools of Salt Lake City opened for the season's work, with increased attendance. Many of the schools of other parts of the state also commenced work. The University of Utah began regular class work on Monday, 19th, with an enrollment of 575. Many more, however, joined daring the day and subsequent day. Death of Patriarch Merrill. — On Thursday, 15th, Patriarch Philemon Christopher Merrill, of Thatcher, Graham county, Arizona, died. He was born in the town of Byron, Genessee county. New York, November 12, 1820, and was the son of Samuel and Phebe 0. Merrill. He was baptized in Carthage, Illinois, March 14, 1839, and in 1841 filled a mis- sion in Wisconsin, During the trying days in Nauvoo, he was one of the guards who assisted to protect the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith from false brethren and avowed enemies. After the exodus, when the Mormon Battalion was organized, he joined that body and served during the campaign, receiving an honorable discharge in California. After his release, he journeyed east, met his wife and children, and proceeded with them to the Salt Lake valley. He made his home in Farmington, Davis county, but was shortly afterwards called on a mission to Europe; when he returned, he moved to Idaho as a pioneer. In 1876, he was called to go to Arizona as a colonizer, and made his home for a time in the Salt River valley, near Phoenix, and then established a colony on the San 74 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Pedro. A few years ago, he moved to the Gila valley, where he resided at the time of his death. Davis Stake Re-organized, —At the regular quarterly conference of the Davis stake, held Sunday, 25th, in Parmington, the stake presidency was reorganized. Joseph H. Grant was sustained as president to fill the vacancy caused by the death of President Hess, and James A. Eldredge, West Bountiful, was sustained as first, and Jesse M, Smith, Layton, as second counselor to President Grant. Elders John Henry Smith and Charles W. Penrose, of the quorum of apostles, were in attendance. Drammen Branch. —Thursday, 29th, the Scandinavian Saints of Salt Lake City met in the Fourteenth Ward assembly rooms and celebrated, in a fitting manner, the fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the Drammen branch, the oldest in Norway. The American (Anti-"Mormon") Party Candidates.— On Friday, 30th, the anti-"Mormon" political party met in the Grand Theatre, Salt Lake, and endorsed the following state ticket, which had been prepared by a committee: For Congressman, Ogden Hiles, of Salt Lake; for Governor, William M. Ferry, of Summit; Secretary of State, Walter James, of Millard; Auditor, Lewis B. Rogers, of Salt Lake; Treasurer, William M. Armstrong^ of Salt Lake; Attorney-General, Samuel McDowell, of Salt Lake; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Isaac N. Smith, of Cache. The latter withdrew some days later in favor of A. C. Nelson, the Republican nominee, and on October 16, F. R. Christensen, Ogden, a former Democrat, then Republican, accepted the nomination. One of the features of the meeting was a speech by Frank J. Cannon, in which he announced himself as a member of the American (anti- "Mormon") party, endorsed the ticket, and made what may be considered a very subtle, unwarranted, and malicious attack upon the leaders of the Church. On October 11, another convention was held in the Salt Laketheatre, at which a county, legislative, and judicial ticket was nominated. The feature of the gathering was another address by Mr. Cannon, in which he charged, among other like things, that the flop of the people of Utah from Bryan to McKinley, in 1900, was due to Church influence! Died. —In Salt Lake City, 10th September, John Augustus Sheets, born Philadelphia, 1826. He came to Utah 1861. —In Kaysville, Jane in — EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 75- Bodily, born England, November 2. 1816. She joined the Church in South Africa and came to Utah in 1862. —Sunday, 11th, in Richfield, James W. Elliot, a High Priest in the Sevier stake of Zion, born Scotland, 1840, came to America in 1852, and moved to Richfield in 1874. Thursday, 15th, in Huntsville, Jens Peterson, a highly respected resident of that place, born March 21, 1818, in Denmark. — Monday, 19th, in Salt Lake CUy, Mrs. Eunice M. Almond, a pioneer of 1851, born London, England. August 8, 1828, and came to Utah in Elder Orson Pratt's company. — Friday, 23rd, in Virgin City, Simon Anderson, a pioneer of that place, born May 2nd, 1823, in Fals'er, Denmark, and baptized in 1854. Monday, 26th, in Idaho Falls, William S. Lords, a pioneer and veteran of tke Mexican and Black Hawk wars. He was born October 13, 1817, — and crossed the plains in 1853. Wednesday, 28th, in Monroe, Andreas Bertlesen, one of the earliest settlers of Monroe, aged 49 years. —Thursday, 29th, in Manti, William Luke, a pioneer and Black Hawk war veteran, born England, September 2, 1834. —Thursday, 29th, Spring City, Hans in U. Larsen, born Ephraim, January 24th, 1856. —Tuesday, 30th, Malad, in Idaho, James H. Chivers, a pioneer of that place, born England, February 8th, 1823, joined the Church in 1844, and was for many years an activemissionary. October, 1904. Utah Schools at the World's Fair. —On Monday, 3rd, the educational exhibit made by the state .schools for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind at the World's Fair, St. Louis, was awarded the first prize, winning over thirty-two schools from various parts of the United States. There were six students in the class at the World's Fair, three of whom were blind and three deaf and dumb. The work was under the charge of Miss Frances N. Eddy, one of the teachers of the institution. F. M. Driggs is the superintendent of the school, located at Ogden. Other prizes as follows were awarded to the Utah educational exhibit, which is in charge of Professor Horace H. Cummings: Collective exhibit, silver medal. Salt Lake City elementary schools; gold medal, Utah county schools; bronze medal. Salt Lake high school; silver medal, state normal school; bronze medal, Uintah county Indian schools; and also a medal for the training school exhibit of the University of Utah. Professor Cummings writes the Era as follows, October 10: The jury of awards has given us three bronze medals, two silver medals, one gold medal, and one grand prize, which will be ours unless the superior jury makes any changes,which they are not apt to do unless by giving us more. It seems a marvel to me when I think what a humble beginning we had here, how we have gained favor until every- : 76 IMPROVEMENT ERA body in the Palace of Education speaks of Utah educational conditions with the greatest respect, and the jury of awards has given U3 such fine recognition. State Pair. —The twenty-seventh exhibition of the D. A. & M. Society was opened to the public at one o'clock, Tuesday, 4th, and closed at midnight, Saturday, 8th, after one of the most successful fairs ever held in the state. The various industries in Utah were well represented, and many prizes were awarded to the different exhibitors. The attendance for each day of the fair was given as follows: Tuesday, 11,000; Wednesday, 7,000; Thursday, 8,000; Friday (children's day), 20,500, and Saturday, 10,500; making a total of 57,000 admissions. At a meeting of the directors, on the 4th, just before the opening of the fair, James G. McDonald was chosen President of the D. A. & M. Society, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of President Nelson A. Empey. Died. —In Salt Lake, 3rd, Samuel Levy, born London, April 16, 1841, came to Utah in 1872; he was a cigar merchant and prominent Liberal. — Sunday, 2d, in Forest Dale, Mrs^ Agnes McMurrin Young, wife of Royal B. Young, born December 21, 1860. She was a counselor in the Relief Society of the ward. —Sunday, 2nd, in Provo, William J. Strong, a High Priest and early settler in Alpine; born in Birmingham, England, December 12, 1830. — Wednesday 5th, in Salt Lake City, John Beers, born September 23, 1821, joined the Church in 1854, emigrated in 1860, — On the same day, in Salt Lake Ctiy, Eloise C. Burton, wife of William S. Burton, born in San Bernardino, California, September 26, 1857. , Domestic —September, 1904. Railroad Wrecks. —There were three railroad wrecks during the month, in which many lives were lost and considerable property destroyed. One on the Southern Pacific, at Lawton, near Reno, in Nevada, on the 12th, in which two persons were killed, and twelve or more injured, some fatally. The second on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, at a crossing, on Root street, Chicago, in which twelve persons were injured. The third on the Southern Railroad, near Hodge, Tennessee, in which a hundred or more persons were injured and over sixty killed. All these wrecks were caused by collisions. In this connection, the killed and injured in the railroad wrecks in the United States since 1895 are given by good authority, showing the number to be constantly increasing Year ending June 30. Killed. Injured. 1895 6,136 33,748 1896 5,845 38,687 EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 7T Year ending June 30. Killed. Injured. 1897 6.437 36,731 1898 6,859 40,882 1899 7,123 34,620 1900 7.865 5U,320 1901 8,455 53,339 1902 8,588 64,662 1903 9.840 76,553 1901 3,787 51,343 Hail Storm at Thatcher. — On Sunday, 11th, a terrific hail storm burst over Thatcher, Arizona, and did considerable damage, destroying crops, killing poultry, and injuring domestic animals. Many window panes were broken, including those of the L. D. S. meeting house. As hail or even snow storms, in the winter time, occur very rarely in Thatcher, this one is most remarkable. The loss is estimated at $5,000. Fire at Idaho Falls. — On Sunday, 11th, the business portion of Idaho Falls was destroyed by fire, which broke out near the Butte cafe, and rapidly spread throughout the Consolidated Wagon and Machine Company's stores and other buildings. The fire, it is supposed, was caused by tramps, and destroyed between $250,000 and $300,000 worth of property. — The "Lena" in San Francisco Harbor. On Sunday, 11th, the Russian cruiser Lena made its sudden appearance in San Francisco harbor. Under international law the Lena had the right to remain but twentyfour hours, and to take on just enough coal and provisions to allow her to reach the nearest Russian port, but the captain claimed that her engines and boilers were in need of repairs, and it was not safe for her to go to sea without the necessary repairs,which would take some weeks. A careful investigation of the condition of the vessel was had under direction from Washington, and the report made that repairs were necessary. Consequently, after proper consultation with the governments of Russia and Japan, by the authorities in Washington, and with the consent of both these nations, it was decided that the cruiser should be dismantled, and remain confined, with her officers and crew, until the close of the war. By this action our government is saved from any unpleasant complications, and retains the good will of both Russia and Japan. She carried 23 guns and a crew of about 500 men. DowiE's New Move.— On Sunday, 18th, John Alexander Dowie, the religious fakir who for a number of years has posed as the third re-incarnation of the Prophet Elijah, appeared before his followers, dressed in gorgeous robes, and wearing a miter after the style of the ancient '78 • IMPROVEMENT ERA. Hebrew high priest, and announced himself as John Alexander, the First Apostle. This office he claims should be perpetuated in the church, and is a title warranted by the Scriptures. Chief Joseph Dead. —This Indian chief of the Nez Perces, whom General Miles called the "Napoleon of Indians," died on the 23rd. He came into prominence thirty years ago by the courage with which he resisted the attempt of the United States to dispossess his tribe from its reservation in Oregon. He was finally defeated by General Miles, after having repulsed a force led by General Gibbon. — The Battleship "Connecticut." On Thursday, 29th, the battleship Connecticut was launched from the navy yards in Brooklyn. A few days later, it was discovered that three attempts had been made to sink the new war machine. These attempts were: by boring a number of holes lengthwise through the rivets fastening the keel plates; by placing an obstruction on tha launching ways, a long bolt driven vertically in the timber warp so as to protrude five or six inches; and by boring a hole about one inch in diameter through the five-eights-inch steel keel plates. This hole had been so bored that on the outside it was hidden by the cradle, about ten feet up from the bottom line of the keel, so that when an inspection was made on the outside of the vessel, on the morning of the launching, this fiendish work was not discovered. The naval by the shrewd placing of the holes and the authorities are convinced, mechanic-like way in which the work was done, that the guilty party or parties were mechanics who were well acquainted with the construction of the vessel. However, the guilty parties have not been discovered, and how and when the deed was done remains a mystery. '';! Death of Senator Hoar.— On Friday, SOth, at Worcester, Massachusetts, United States Senator George Frisbie Hoar, of that state, died. Senator Hoar was born in Concord, Mass., August 29, 1826; studied in Concord Academy and Harvard College, from which he graduated in 1846. He moved to Worcester shortly afterwards, where he soon became a leading figure in the state. He was elected to Congress as a Representative in 1868, and served for eight years, after which he declined a re-election. However, in 1877, he was chosen as United States Senator, which position he held continuously until his death. He was a member of the Committee on Privileges and Elections, and was quite active during the recent investigation of the rights of Senator Reed Smoot. He was a scholarly man, and represented the choicest New England culture, wit and intelligence. He led a simple and upright life. Following is an expression from President Joseph F. Smith which EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 79 was furnished the Associated Press, by request, regarding: his char- acter: I regard Senator Hoar as a statesman and a gentleman; one of the foremost men of America; an honorable, highminded and estimable citizen and legislator. His death is a great loss to the country. When I was before the Committee on Privileges and Elections of the Senate, I found him, as a member of that body, while very pressing in his questions on the subjects investigated, strictly just and courteous. His summary of my testimony, as he understood it, was correct, and his conclusions concerning it were logical and fair from his standpoint. I sincerely regret his death, and deeply sympathize with the bereaved. On October 12, Governor Bates, of Massachusetts, named eiGovernor W. Murray Crane to succeed as United States Senator from Massachusetts, for the unexpired term. October, 1904. International Peace Congress. —On Monday, 3rd, the thirteenth International Peace Congress convened and was formally in Boston, opened. The congress assembled by invitation of the United States government, $50,000 having been appropriated for expenses. Robert Treat Paine, of Boston, was elected president, and Benjamin F. Trueblood, secretary. Secretary of State John Hay delivered the address of welcome, and several addresses were made in the interest of universal peace. Other peace congresses have been held in Paris, Berne, Rome, London, Brussels, Christiania, Vienna, Budapest and The Hague. In Utah a peace meeting was also held in theBarratt Hall, Salt Lake City, on the evening of Wednesday, 5th, and addresses were made by Governor Wells, C. V .Garetson, of Holland, and Dr.W. H. Fish. A resolution favoring peace was unanimously adopted. Other Utah cities likewise held meetings of a similar kind. Postmaster- General. —Henry C. Payne, Postmaster-General of the United States, and a member of the National Republican Committee, aged 60 years, died in Washirgton, D. C, on the 4th. His successor in oflBcewas appointed by President Roosevelt, on the 10th, in the person of Robert J. Wynne. Foreign — September, 1904. Independence of Mexico.— On Friday, 16th, the ninety-fourth anniversary of the independence of the Mexican Republic was celebrated throughout that nation; also at the Mexican Building at the World's Fair, in St. Louis. On the 17th, Congress convened, and, the president's message shows the country to be advancing in education, mining, irrigation, — 80 IMPR VEMENT ERA railways, military matters, with a remarkably solid condition of the national finances. YoM KiPPUR The Day of Atonement. —Beginning at sundown, Sunday, 18th, and continuing until sundown, Monday, 19th, the celebration of Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement, was held among the Jews throughout the world. In the city of London, England, there was considerable rioting in the Jewish quarters, over two thousand Jews eagaging in the disturbance. The trouble arose over the action of the non-conforming, or apostate Jews, known as the Social Democratic Jewish Club, who aroused the ire of the orthodox Jews by mockery, and showing their contempt for the ceremonies. The exercises were conducted in Salt Lake City, and other parts of Utah, by both the orthodox and the reformed Jews, in their synagogues. Free-Thinkers' Congress. — On Tuesday, 20th, a congress of the Free-Thinkers of the world was held in Rome, Italy, in the Roman College, erected by Pope Gregory XIII. The event assumed special importance, the day being the anniversary of the fall of the temporal power of the Pope. There were over five thousand delegates present from all parts of the world, one thousand of whom were from France. Several papers were read by the leading Free-Thinkers of Europe and America. After the exercises were over and the election of officers had been attended to, the delegates marched in procession to the walls of Rome, and hung wreaths on the spot where the Italian troops made a breach in the wall and entered the city. — King Peter Crowned. King Peter Karageorgevitch was crowned King of Servia, at Belgrade, on the 21st, in the presence of representatives of most of the powers. Russia is not yet ready, however, to condone the assassination, last year,of the former king and queen, and hence that nation's minister was not present. It is related that the most interesting incident of the crowning was the painful attempt of the king to wear the thirty-pound bronze crown, made by the first Karageorge, who led the insurrection against Turkey, in 1804, and was the founder of the dynasty now represented by Peter. — "Mormons" Not Wanted. On Thursday, 22nd, Count Tesza, the Hungarian Minister of the Interior, rendered a decision prohibiting the elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from preaching in Hungary, upon the ground that the preaching of the gospel is considered undesirable, both by the state and by the religious interests of the country. The immediate occasion of that decision was the expulsion of two elders from that country some months ago.