“Mormon” Music and Literature in Japan · Improvement Era

— EDITOR'S TABLE. 625 The milder form of the happiness felt is such as he thinks only those the most favored in temperament, and most blessed of God, can enjoy in mortality. He makes this experience known, only for the reason that it may stand as a testimony of God's love and mercy toward his children, and, therefore, comfort the hearts of those who need and believe. The result to himself was not one of self gratulation, but one of fervid desire; for, to have that experience continued, with the power to endure and fully appreciate it, is such a reward that the gold, the jewels, the power, the magnificence, the dominions, of the earth, would dwindle as the tallow dip in comparison to the flaming sun at noon day. 'MORMON" MUSIC AND LITERATURE !N JAPAN. The Era has received, under date of Tokyo, April 20, 1905, a cheering letter from the Japan mission, in which President Horace S. Ensign expresses his joy that notwithstanding the fact that the enemy of righteousness is up in arms against the Church and the servants of God, the people, the organizations, and institutions of Zion continue to increase and improve. He further says: We are getting along very nicely over here. The last mail from home brought thehappy news from the First Presidency that three elders had been called to this mission, and would sail from Seattle, May 16. They will certainly be received with open arms. [These brethren left Lake City, May 11, 1905. Salt Their names are: Burt Seeley, Mount Pleasant; W. R. Fairbourne, Gale; and Le Roy Chadwick, Ogden. —Ed.] For several months past, we have been devoting the greater part of our time to writing and ^translating literature. We have written and published five tracts. Sixty-five of our hymns have been arranged into Japanese verse, and your humble servant has written music for them. 1 enclose a sample copy of one of the pages, it being a proof of one ©f our Sunday school songs Beautiful Day of Rest. The printers have promised to have ©ur Sambikasko — — Hymnal as it will be called^ out by the first of June. Tracts are being prepared, and Elder Stoker is now at work trans-

lating Edward H. Anderson's valuable and instructive Brief History oj the Church. * * The Lord is blessing us. ^e We are very happy in our work, and the future looks very bright. We have many friends, and hope soon to see some of them associated with us in a church capacity. While we have been unable to organize an M, I. A., we have a thriving Sunday school which promises well. The children are deeply interested in their studies, and it does my heart good to hear them recite the stery of the birth and mission of the Savior. We are now teaching them the first principles of the gospel, and it is gratifying to see how they understand them. Our Sunday school has proved all, yea, more than we expected of it. Through it, many doors heve been opened to U3, and we have made everlasting friends of many whom, otherwise, we would not have met. Naturally my heart swells with pride when I hear the children sing, with heart and soul, the melodies I have written for our translated hymns. I feel safe in saying that, comparatively speaking, the "Mormon" hymns are better known, and more often sung, than the hymns of other denominations here. We have taken time to teach them to the children. Again, we have endeavored to write music similar to their own, having left out our own entirely. Other denominations have adapted words to their music, which has not proved a success, so far as I have been able to learn. The health of the brethren is excellent, though Sister Ensign is not in the best of health. * * * * Present my warmest regards to the brethren of the General Board, and to those in the office. Ever praying for your welfare and happiness, believe me, your brother in the gospel, Horace S. Ensign. A YOUNG LADY'S REPLY TO MISSIONARIES. If the young men will pardon me, I shall try to defend the young ladies in reply to the article in the May Era on, "Man Proposes." The few girls whom I have seen think it is quite unjust for our missionary friends to accuse the young ladies of being so very worldly and shallow as to make "point lace and diamonds" the aim of their lives, when there are so many more beautiful things to be had without riches.

EDITOR'S TABLE. 627 In the first place, I think you will find the young ladies who do break engagements are but following out the motto: To thine ovvnself be true, And it must follow as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. This we know is right. In most cases, she has fallen in love with someone else, and surely our young men would not be selfish enough to want her then. Leading such widely different lives, the ideals and aims of each must necessarily change, and the first fascination passes easily away. It is rather foolish to give a promise to last for three or more years, as we know not whom we might meet to shatter it. If a young lady denies herself passing pleasures, being true, in many cases she will no longer be attractive when her missionary friend returns, and, as a consequence, it is his turn to "call it off." Then again, the girl who cares only for the wealth of this world is surely not worthy of a noble missionary. In that case he should be glad she has forgotten him. As advice to the missionaries, I should say, "Do not propose just before going away; it is quite selfish to ask a lady to stay at home so long a time; but if you do, and both are congenial in every way, and neither changes in three years, then I think both will be true, otherwise it is good fortune which separates the two." Mistakes are better found out before the marriage vows are given. A missionary is a happier man when his whole time may be devoted to the saving of men's souls, and his attention is not divided. He will be a braver, truer missionary if he has no cares at home, and he will surely find some one, true and beautiful, to love when he returns. Very truly, "One op the Girls." APPRECIATION. The recent publication of Prof. M, Hall's paper on the training of children, in the Improvement Era, has brought many letters of congratulation to the author, complimenting him on the

value of the article. That our readers may judge how educators view it, and so perhaps be led to read it again with profit, we reprint the following note, dated April 24, 1905, East Aurora, New York, from the chief of the Roy crofters and the publisher of the Philistine: I have just read your little b®oklet on education. It certainly shows an insight into the heart of things that is very excellent, and I congratulate you on it. I expect to make use of some of your thoughts for the benefit of Philistia at an early day. So here is a hand- grasp over the miles, and I am ever, Your sincere Elbert Hubbard. The following is from the Director of the Science Department of the State Training School, University of Utah, dated April 8: Your philosophic and altogether charming essay on the Development and Training of the Child reached me a few days ago. It has been read and re-read with pleasure and profit. I consider it a distinct contribution to our philosophic literature. * * * * Your essay should commend itself to every earnest, thoughtful, growing teacher and parent. * * * * jt commends itself to me because it bases itself essentially upon good common sense, which gives it vitality and stability, and because it is at the same time pitched on a plane of fine sentiment, and is couched in splendid diction. * * * Fraternally, John S. Welsh. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. Is it proper for a priest to preside over a Mutual Improvement Association meeting when there are elders present? Several years since, the General Board, with the sanction of the Presidency of the Church, adopted a resolution declaring that the president of a Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association must hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, but that his counselors need not. If the president is present, he necessarily presides, but either counselor may conduct the meeting of the association by