Editor’s Table

206 IMPROVEMENT ERA. demands, and others predicted that Minister Mirski would lose his place for allowing such meeting of the Zemstvos to be held. But, strange to say, the Czar not only received the memorial presented by the Minister of the Interior,but asked for an interview with the Zemstvos conference; whereupon a deputation of four leaders was received at the palace, who explained their views and wishes at length. The Czar is said to have been greatly impressed by what was said to him, and he asked many questions, but his intentions have so far not been made public. These Zemstvos are composed not only of peasants but also of nobles; and in them,landed proprietors, and those who, prior to the edict of the former Czar, in 1864, establishing these councils, were their serfs, meet for the occasion on a footing of equality. Strange to say, too, peasant and noble are united in a plea for more liberty. While great enthusiasm prevails in the cities and universities, every effort is being made by the Liberals to avoid demonstrations and revolutionary manifestations, not wholly with success, for early in December a serious demonstration was with difficulty quelled by the police. Finland and her leaders have sent a message of greeting to the Zemstvos. The resolution calling for a national assembly reads as follows, and is signed by 31 out of 32 of the Zemstvos represented: In order to secure the proper development of the life of the state and the people, it is imperatively necessary that there be regular participation of national representatives, sitting as an especially elected body, to make laws, regulate the revenue and expenditure, and determine the legality of the actions of the administration. What it may all lead to is a question of much doubt, for it must be remembered that while Mirski believes in the Zemstvos, he believes in them only so far as they shall be no risk to the established system of government. Von Plehve did not believe in them because he thought they contained the germ of a national representative parliament,and so he did everything in his power to hamper their activities. It must also be remembered that the Russian people are not prepared for constitutional government, as the most liberal governments understand it. The present crisis, however,is very interesting, affording a clue to the internal strug-

TOPICS OF MOMENT. 207 gle going on between the progressives and reactionists at court, the result of which, let us hope, will be greater liberty for the common people, and less power for the bureaucrats. The Cold Storage Industry. The wonderful growth of the cold storage industry in the U nited States is one of the greatest of our modern economic achievements. It not only brings the products of distant parts of the country to our populous centres in good, sound condition, bat it serves as a preservation and enrichment of what might otherwise be an unproductive industry. The value of the cold storage system is strikingly illustrated in the preservation of our apple crops. A few years ago, the apple orchards of the United States were small, scattered, and very imperfectly cultivated: today, this industry is pursued on a large scale in various parts of the United States. The apple is, perhaps, the king of fruits because of its universal use as a food of excellent quality and hygienic effects; it may be used during a considerable portion of the year to good advantage. Its culture has hardly taken hold of the people of Utah, and yet this state might produce as fine an apple as can be found in any part of the country. Heretofore,the apple has been kept under the common storage system of cellars and pits, which have both been imperfect and have entailed a heavy loss upon the apple growers of the country. The cold storage system, on the the other hand, maintains the apple for a long period of time in most excellent condition. We can easily appreciate this new system when we consider that in 1898 there were 800,000 barrels of apples preserved by this means, and in 1902, 2,000,971 barrels were kept in cold storage to be distributed as the people throughout the country needed them. According to the statistics in the common methods of storage in 1898, there were 400,000 barrelr, in 1902 there were 1,236,750 barrels. The new system of cold storage is of great advantage to small farmers, and in a country where ice may be had in such a great abundance as in ours, the system offers great inducement to capital, and in time we shall come to a systematic and profitable

208 IMPROVEMENT ERA. culture of the apple, which is at present lamentably neglected in our state. At the present time, New York state is reaping the greatest benefits from its apple crop. GENTILE, JEW OR CHRISTIAN. Gentile, in all thy worldly wisdom proud, Thy faith, thy hope,' is but uncertainty; Thy knowledge and thy power can ne'er unshroud The wond'rous myst'ries of eternity! Science, thy stronghold, cannot satisfy The yearning of the soul, the heart's deep sigh. Poor Jew, thou child of promises so great, Thine is but expectation to this day! God sent you the Redeemer; but his fate,— The Cross, the debt of all mankind to pay. Away with doubt and waiting, up, rejoice' Accept the gospel plan and hear his voice. Good Christian, why, why wilt thou be so blind, When God's own word is open for thy gaze? You say the Christ has come, but still we find With you but little truth of those good days. Where is the living word today, as then, Authority among the sons of men? But hark, a voice is heard above them all: The Lord again has spoken to our earth, Descended from his glorious, heavenly hall, To give the latest dispensation birth: His holy priesthood is restored again, With power to bind on earth, today, as then. The dear old message once again we hear: Repent and be baptized, and ye shall see The blessings of the gospel ever near, To save your souls throughout eternity. To Christian, Gentile, Jew, or who ye be, Obedience thereto will make you free. Otto J. Monson. Christiania, Norway.

EDITOR'S TABLE. HARMONY. Within the past two years much has been said, in manyquarters, both within the Church and outside of it, upon the subject of "Harmony," as a doctrine of the Church;how it affects the membership of the Church, and as it is supposed to subsist among members of the respective quorums of the priesthood. Not only have some leading elders expressed views upon the subject, but it has also been the subject of discussion in High Councils in some of the stakes. Also attorneys-at-law, more or less learned in nice distinctions and the force of words, have given their interpretation of "Harmony," as understood in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, before the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections. In view of this very wide discussion of so interesting, and, to the Church, so important a subject, it may not be amiss for me to say a word. To begin with, I may be permitted to express at least a mild degree of surprise at the fact that some, not members of the Church, in their presentation of the subject,have given a coloring of sinister import to their definitions; as if there were a menace to the full and perfect liberty of the members of the Church in' what I shall call our doctrine of harmony. It will not be necessary for me to expressly disclaim this sinister import, this "menace" to liberty, in our doctrine of harmony, as I hope the treatment of the subject itself will dispel all such false ideas respecting our views. Harmony! What is it? What is it, in its universal aspect? What is it,with special reference to the understanding the Latter_

210 IMPROVEMEN1 ERA. day Saints should have of it, as affecting the membership of the Church, or subsisting in the quorums of the priesthood? In its universal aspect, harmony is described as "accord in feeling, manner, or action; ***** completeness and perfection, resulting from diversity in unity." "Concord" and "agreement" as well as "accord" are given in the dictionaries as synonyms of harmony. But it is remarked by the latest authorities upon these synonyms that "concord implies more volition than accord; as, their views were found to be in perfect accord; or, by conference concord was secured. We do not secure accord, but discover it. Conformity is [or may be but] submission to authority or necessity." So also, "we may speak of being in accord with a person on one point, but harmony is wider in range." That is, it implies accord at all points. Then as to agreement: "harmony," say the authorities, "is deeper and more essential than agreement. We may have a superficial, forced, patched-up agreement, but never a superficial, forced, or patched-up harmony." From all which it appears that none of the terms considered are exact synonyms of harmony. And this agrees with the most subtle of philosophers who said: "There is an absurdity in saying that harmony is composed of elements which are still in a state of disagreement." Such as may come, for instance, from elements forced into, or patched into, an agreement; or from conformity through submission to authority, or necessity; or from accordance at one or two points only. Harmony, then, is more than concord, deeper than agreement, and of wider range than accord. It is that complete, perfect union at all points that blends the several into one. It is the "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt," of Jesus, in his address to his Father. In its most perfect expression, it is the oneness of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In its somewhat less perfect aspect, it is the one-mindedness, the one-heartedness, the like-mindedness of the Saints, so frequently spoken of in the scriptures and prayed for by the apostles. It is that oneness of the disciples of Jesus which is to be as the oneness between the Father and the Son, for which Jesus prayed in Gethsemane. This is harmony in its universal aspect. As to harmony, with special reference to the understanding that the Latter-day Saints should have of it, as affecting the mem-

EDITOR'S TABLE. 211 bership of the Church, or as subsisting in the quorums of the priesthood, I would say that such harmony as is described in the foregoing remarks is the harmony that is sought to be established among the Saints, and in the membership of the respective quorums. That is to say, a harmony that comes from seeing eye to eye in all things; from understanding things alike; a harmony that is born of perfect knowledge; perfect honesty, perfect unselfishness, perfect love. This is the harmony the Church would inculcate among its members, and such the elements from which she would have it arise. But alas! in this world, where we can but know in part, and see in part, or but as through a glass darkly, and where even love is not without alloy, it is doubtful if that perfect harmony for which we hope, and strive, and pray—as did the prophets and saints of God in other days,—may be attained. It is with harmony as it is with all the ideals of the gospel. The saints and elders of the Church may fail in perfect attainment of them, in this life, but they may approximate to them. "In nothing, perhaps," says a thoughtful writer, "is it given to man to arrive at the goal of excellence he has proposed to himself; his glory is in advancing towards it." While that is true respecting all the ideals of the gospel, and as true of the perfect harmony we seek to attain as of other ideal conditions, yet we recognize the fact that a certain degree of harmony is essential in the Church as a working principle. This degree of harmony, essential in the Church, among the members and in the quorums of the priesthood, is neither hard to understand nor difficult of attainment. Neither is it a new principle, nor peculiar to the Church of the Latter-day Saints. It is as old as the society of men. It is common to all men working in community—to parliaments, congresses, conventions, boards, bureaucracies, and conferences of all descriptions. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this essential harmony consists of such union or agreement as is necessary to the accomplishment of the purposes of the organization. These purposes, in the main, are accomplished through the several councils of the priesthood, and through the conferences of the Church; hence, the work is done by the combined actions of groups of individuals, and of necessity must be by their agreement or consent. With men of varying intelligence, judgment and temperament, of

212 IMPROVEMENT ERA. course it follows that in the consideration of a given matter there will be a variety of views entertained, and discussion of the subject will nearly always develop a variety of opinions. All this, by the way, is not detrimental to the quality of any proposed action, since the greater the variety in temperament and training, of those in conference, the more varied will be the view-points from which the subject in question is considered, until it is likely to be presented in almost every conceivable light, and its strength as well as its weakness developed, resulting in the best possible judgment being formed of it. It is these considerations which doubtless led to the aphorism, "In the midst of counsel there is wisdom." It will sometimes happen, of course, in the experiences of councils or conferences,that all present may not be brought to perfect agreement, with reference to the proposed action; but, upon submission of the question to an expression of judgment, it is found that a majority of those having the right to decide a given matter determine it in a certain way. And now the question arises, what shall be the course of those who are in the minority, those not in agreement, perfectly, with the decision? Shall they go from the council or conference and contend for their views against the decision rendered, and be rebellious and stubborn, in adhering to their own judgment, as against the judgment of the majority of the council or conference who had the right to determine what the action should be? The right answer, I think, is obvious. The judgment of the majority must stand. If it is the action of the council or conference having the final word upon the subject, it becomes the decreed action, the rule or law, and must be maintained as such until greater knowledge or changed circumstances shall cause those who rightfully established such decision to modify or abolish it. Of course, if a member or members of the minority regard the action of the majority as a violation of some fundamental principle, or subversive of the inherent rights of men, against which they conceive it to be a matter of conscience to enter protest or absolute repudiation, I understand it is their right to so proceed; but this, let it be understood, would be revolutionary, it would be rebellion,and, if persisted in, could only end in such persons voluntarily withdrawing, or being severed from the organization .v They cannot hope to be retained in fellowship, and enjoy the rights and

EDITORS TABLE. 213 privileges of the Church, and at the same time be making war upon its decisions or its rules and policy. But no power on earth, certainly no power in the Church, can prevent men dissatisfied with the Church from absolutely withdrawing from it; and such is the disfavor with which the Church is regarded, by the world, that such withdrawals would in most cases be rewarded by the applause of the world. Or, if the dissatisfaction of the member be only with the quorum or council of the priesthood with which he is connected, he would be at liberty to withdraw from that quorum or council, and still retain his membership in the Church. On the other hand, the harmony which I spoke of as being essential to the Church certainly demands that the Church shall not tolerate, and indeed, if the life of the organization persists, it cannot tolerate, such internal conflicts as those just alluded to, as they would lead to confusion, anarchy, disruption, and final abolishment of the organization. This phase of the subject may be illustrated, in a way, by reference to the union which subsists between the states which form the American Nation. No one, I believe, will deny the ultimate right of revolution to the American, people considered en masse, or as groups collected within state lines; so long as we hold with our Nation's Declaration of Independence that it is a selfevident truth that when any form of government becomes destructive of the ends of government—the preservation of the people's right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it. So long as we hold this to be a self-evident truth, I repeat, we may not deny the ultimate right of revolution. But it has been held, and with an emphasis no less decisive than the great Civil War, that it is a solecism to suppose that a state may remain in the Union and yet be bound by no other of its laws than those it may choose to obey, and it is now a settled principle in our country that there can be no secession of a state from the Union without revolution. So with the Church and its members, and also with the quorums and councils of the priesthood and their members. If, in the opinion of members of any of these bodies, decisions or policies become violative of fundamental principles, or result in hardships or injustice not to be endured, then the members may resort to what would be equiva-

214 IMPROVEMENT ERA. lent, in a state, to revolution: that is, they can sever their connection with the organization, and take such course of opposition as they may think the occasion requires. But surely they may not remain within the organization,and persist in taking such a course as disturbs the peace or threatens the very existence of the organization. The right of the organization to perpetuate its existence would justify it in disciplining such recalcitrant members, and, in the event of failing to bring them to repentance, it would have the undoubted right to expel them. When men enter the Church, or become members of the quorams of its priesthood, they do so with a full knowledge of the existence and operation of these principles; for, as before remarked, they are but the terms of convention common to all community work. Therefore, it would be an unreasonable contention to hold that a member of the Church, or a member of any quorum of its priesthood organization, could persist in opposition to itsdecisions and policy, and still maintain his membership in the organization. Whenever decisions are rendered by the councils of the priesthood, or the conferences of the Church—after the period of consideration and discussion is passed, and final action had,—itjbecomes the duty of the minority to make the decisions of said councils or conferences their dscisions, and to maintain them honestly, as the rule or policy of the Church, by adhering to and advocating them, as if they were in perfect accord with their individual convictions. And this is the essential harmony which, in the commencement of this discourse, I contended was necessary to the Church, and, for that matter, to every organization which is to have any assurance of permanent existence or efficiency of administration. There is one other element to be considered in this matter of harmony, as a doctrine of the Church, which may not operate in other community efforts of men; and that is, the living presence and effective force of the Holy Spirit. That Spirit, it must be remembered, is, by way of preeminence, called "The Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father." He teaches all things; and brings to the remembrance of the Saints all the instructions of the Master. He guides into all truth; and, as in all truth there is unity or harmony, so, it is to be believed that if the Saints are in

EDITOR'S TABLE. 215 possession of this Spirit, the harmony in the Church of Christ will be superior to the harmony that can be looked for or hoped for, in any other organization whatsoever. And because the Saints have free access to the Holy Spirit, and may walk within his light and fellowship, and possess the intelligence which he is able to impart, a stricter harmony among the Saints may be insisted upon, than in any other organization of men whatsoever. For the same reason, lack of harmony may be more severely censured, and persistent opposition and rebellion more justly denounced and swiftly punished. In all things, however, patience and charity must be exercised —and no less in seeking the perfect harmony we hope for,than in other things. The present state of imperfect knowledge, the struggle it is for all men to live on those spiritual heights where they may be in communion with God, must be taken into account, and due allowance made for human weakness and imperfections. So that, while the existence of that degree of harmony essential as a working principle in the Church must always be imperatively demanded, beyond that, the Church in the matter of harmony may well afford to exercise forbearance and charity towards all its members, until the day of more perfect knowledge shall arise upon the Saints; a day when, through a wider effusion, and a deeper penetration of the Holy Spirit, they may be brought to stand in perfect harmony with each other, and with God. Joseph F. Smfth. AIR AND VENTILATION. One of the important considerations tending to the enjoyment of good health is plenty of fresh air. It would seem unnecessary to reiterate this truth,were it not known that so many people are careless, indifferent, or even criminally negligent, on this point. During the winter months, people are even more apt to neglect ventilating their homes than during the summer months, when the heat