--- 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., Jr. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 8 number: 11 published: 1905-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Jr. Joseph F. Smith, "Events of the Month," *Improvement Era* 8, no. 11 (September 1905): 875–880.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0811unse 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: improvementera0811unse start_page: 875 end_page: 880 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1905-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0811unse publication_year: 1905 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 1905, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Events of the Month EVENTS OF THE MONTH. BY JOSEPH F. SMITH, JR. Local, July, 1905. Died. —Monday, 3rd, in Mt. Carmel, Kane county, William J. Jolley, aged 76 years. He joined the Church in Tennessee in 1842, was driven from Nauvoo with the Saints in 1845, and came to Utah in 1852, where he took part in the Walker Indian war and the Echo Canyon campaign. —Friday, 7th, in Mesa, Arizona, Mary G. Winchester, a pioneer of 1848, and a veteran member of the Church, aged 83 years. — In Smithfield, Sun- day, 9th, Sarah C. Langton, a pioneer of Smithfield, born June 24, 1833, in Glasgow, Scotland, and came to Utah in 1857. —The same day, in Murray, George Hansen, a pioneer and a veteran of the Utah Indian wars. He crossed the plains by handcart in 1856, in Captain Edmund Ellsworth's company, was born in Birmingham, England, February 1, 1831, and joined the Church in 1851. — Monday, 10th, in Fountain Green, Reese R. Lewellin, aged 77 years, a pioneer of Sanpete county, who crossed the plains by handcart in 1856. For many years he was coun- selor in the bishopric of Fountain Green ward. —The same day, in Mesa, Arizona, James H. Brooks, a veteran Church worker and pioneer of Utah; born April 5, 1822, in Syracuse, N.Y. — In Salt Lake City, Saturday, 15th, Joseph H. Ward, editor of the German weekly, Die Beobachter. He was born near London, Ontario, Canada, August 16, 1842. During the Ameri- can Civil war he fought in the Union army, and in 1873 was baptized by Elder Harry Hall; three years later he came to Utah. In Salt Lake— City, Wednesday, 12th, Susan M. Sperry, wife of Bishop Harrison Sper- ry, of the Fourth ward; born October 11, 1845, and came to Utah in — 1848. In Ogden, Tuesday, 18th, David H. Stephens, a pioneer of Ogden, a High Priest in the Weber stake, and a veteran of the Salmon River Mission; born in Brown county, 111., October 22, 1835. —In Manti, Thurs- day, 20th, John Tuttle, pioneer of Manti; born June 19,1821. —The same day and place, Elias Demill, a veteran of the Utah Indian wars, and a pioneer of Juab county; born in Caldwell county, Mo., January 12, — 1838. In Lewisville, Idaho, Mrs. Olive Bingham, a pioneer of 1847, aged 876 IMPRO VEMENT ERA . 88 years. —Friday, 28th, in Provo, Franklin Beers, a veteran of the Black Hawk war, and a resident of Utah since 1848; born October 16, 1842, in — New York. In Salt Lake City, the same day, Andrew J. Burt, ex-sheriff of Salt Lake county, and a volunteer officer of the Spanish war, aged 46 years. —In Logan, Sunday, 29th, Joseph Keeler, aged 35 years. Elder Keeler recently returned from the Swiss and German mission, where he acted as the mission secretary. — Sunday, 31st, in Salt Lake City, Lucas Hoagland, one of Utah's early settlers. He was born in Michigan, in 1347, and for many years had lived on the Pacific coast. — Fire at the County Infirmary. Monday, 17th, the County Infir- mary of Salt Lake county was practically destroyed by fire, due to defec- tive wiring. The loss is estimated at about $18,000. Ecclesiastical Changes.— On Saturday and Sunday, 15th and 16th, the quarterly conference of the San Luis stake was held, in Man- assa, Colorado. Elder Levi P. Helm was chosen president of the stake to fill the vacancy caused bv the death of Elder Albert R. Smith. Elders Thomas A. Crother and Erastus S. Christensen were chosen counselors. At the same time Bishop Ephraim Coombs was honorably released from the bishopric of the Richfield ward on account of ill health, and Elder John W. Showcroft was ordained and set apart as bishop of that ward, with Erastus Beck and Henry W. Valentine as counselors. Brigham W. Harrison was sustained as a member of the stake High council and Eras- tus A. Nielsen and William W. Huffaker as alternate members. Presi- dent Francis M.Lyman and Elder John Henry Smith were in attendance, and ordained and set apart these brethren to their respective callings. At the quarterly conference of the Fremont stake, held in Sugar City, 26th and 27th, Mark Austin and Albert Heath were chosen and sus- tained counselors to PresidentThomas F. Basset. George A. Pincock was chosen and sustained an alternate member of the High Council, and Alfred Ricks, Bishop of Sugar City ward, with James B. Gaddie as counselor. Richard Hemsley, Jr., was chosen and sustained Bishop of Piano ward, with James Steele, Jr., as a counselor. Other officers were also chosen and set apart to various offices by President Francis M. Lyman and Elder Charles W. Penrose, who were in attendance. At the Star Valley stake conference, held at the same time, Elder Wilford A. Hyde was chosen as second counselor in the stake presidency of that stake. Pioneer Day, 1905.— Pioneer day, July 24, 1905, was celebrated with imposing ceremonies throughout the State, and in all settlements EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 877 of the Saints in distant parts. The citizens of Salt Lake City and county held their celebration in Liberty Park, where the pioneers of 1847 were the honored guests. A magnificent and characteristic parade was given in the forenoon, which was followed by appropriate literary exercises. Bishop Orson F. Whitney delivered the oration, and Hon. Fisher S. Harris paid a high tribute to the pioneers who through their sufferings, toil and industry laid the foundation of our glorious inter- mountain commonwealth. Died. —Friday, 7th, in Waipawa, New Zealand, Arapata Meha, a native chieftain, who joined the Church in 1886. At the time of his death he was president of the Waipawa branch of the Church. Arrested for Preaching the Gospel.— Elders W. H. Hopkins and Chester Liljenquist, who are laboring in Mississippi, were arrested at Teasdale, in that state, Sunday, 23rd, for preaching the gospel. They were taken by the sheriff, who was armed, to Charleston, where they were tried by a mock court, on the 26th, having been denied witnesses, and were fined for preaching the gospel, under the pretext of disturbing a meeting. The fine and costs amounted to $8, and were paid by friends, after which the elders bore their testimonies to the court. August, 1905. Died. —Tuesday, 1st, in Ogden, Ezra G. Williams, a pioneer of 1849; born in Ohio, November 17, 1823, joined the Church in 1832, and passed through many of the early hardships in Ohio, Missouri and Illinois. —Wednesday, 2nd, in Salt Lake City, Reed T. Cannon, son of President George Q. Cannon, aged 30 years. —Sunday, 6th, in Clinton, Andrew Pat- terson, one of the best known residents of Davis county, and second counselor in the bishopric of the Clinton ward, aged 51 years. —In Kays- ville, Thursday, 10th, William Stewart, an original settler of Davis county, who joined the Church in Bedfordshire, where he was baptized May 7, 1841. He came to Utah in 1851, and was 89 years of age. — The Uintah Reservation Opening. On Tuesday, August 1, the work of registering for the drawing for homesteads on the Uintah res- ervation commenced, and continued until Saturday, 12th. Registration was conducted at Provo, Price and Vernal, Utah, and at Grand Junction, Colorado. On the first day, the registration was 5,467, and the total for the entire twelve days was 37,657, which is about seven times as many as there are quarter sections on the reservation to be opened to the public. Domestic —July, 1905. End of the Chicago Strike. — The Chicago teamsters' strike came 878 IMPROVEMENT ERA. to an end on the evening of Thursday,20th, after months of needless suf- fering, bitterness and crime. It resulted in a complete defeat of the strikers, many of whom are now out of employment. Wreck of the "Bennington." —A boiler of the U. S. gunboat Ben- nington exploded as the ship was at anchor in the harbor of San Diego, California, at 10:30, Friday, 21st. At the time, there were on board 278 men, many of whom were killed, and most of the remainder injured. The gunboat was launched in 1890, was 230 feet long, and drew 14 feet of water. This is the worst disaster that has happened in the navy since the destruction of the Maine in the harbor of Havana. The Body op John Paul Jones. —The body of John Paul Jones, recently found in a cemetery in Paris through thesearch instituted by Ambassador Horace Porter, arrived in the Chesapeake bay on board the U. S. cruiser Brooklyn, Saturday, 22nd. Interment will be at Annapolis. Elders Mobbed in the South. —Elders Chester C. Pulley and Wm. R. McNeil, traveling in the Mississippi conference, were treated in a brutal manner at Shuqualak, Miss., on the 8th, by the constable, Tom McClure, W. J. Hubbard, and Dr. J. Perry, who resorted to violence in their efforts to force the elders to leave the town. Two gentlemen, named N. I. Campbell and Louis Sparkman, came to the elders' assist- ance and prevented the ruffians from carrying out their wicked intentions. Two days later, 10th, Elders Heber C. Miller and Joseph H. Walton, Jr., who are laboring in Tennessee, were also brutally assaulted while engaged in tracting and seeking for entertainment. They were invited by a man to his home for the evening, and accepted the invitation. While they were at supper, their host left the house and raised a mob with the expressed intention of doing the elders bodily harm. Fortu- nately, just as they were about to retire for the night, the elders were warned of the approach of the mob and hastily made their escape. Shots were fired at them in their retreat, and the corn in the field where they sought shelter was shattered by the bullets of the would-be assassins. The members of the mob were residents of the town of Fall Branch, where the elders were laboring. August, 1905. The Portsmouth Peace Conference.—The first session of the peace conference of the diplomats of Russia and Japan was held at Ports- mouth, N. H., Wednesday morning, 9th, and lasted about one hour, dur- ing which time the credentials of the interested parties were submitted, and an agreement was entered into regarding the program of the future sessions. The peace envoys who have power to act in behalf of the EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 879 contesting nations are Count Sergius Witte and Baron Rosen for Russia, and Baron Komura and Minister Takahira for Japan. Yellow Fever in New Orleans.— The yellow fever epidemic which broke out in New Orleans some weeks since, continues to spread. At the request of the state of Louisiana, the Federal government took charge of the situation. Thus far, there have been over six hundred cases and between one and two hundred deaths. Archbishop Chapelle, of the Catholic church, who has been laboring in the fever district, was attacked by the disease, and died on the 9th. Foreign. —July, 1905. — Church and State in France. Early in the month, the French Chamber of Deputies passed the bill for the separation of church and State in that republic, by a vote of 341 to 233. This subject has been up for consideration for several months and has been bitterly contested. The bill provided for the continued support of the French clergy now receiving support from the state, but allows none for their successors. The cathedrals and churches will belong to the state, but will be leased to the congregations now worshiping in them. The bill, it is expected, will pass the senate. A petition signed by 3,853,283 Catholics who are apposed to the separation was presented to the French Senatorial Com- mission on the 16th of the month. Lord Roberts and the British Army. — In the British House of Lords, 10th, Lord Roberts stated that the British armed forces were ab- solutely unfitted and unprepared for war. Colliery Explosion in Wales. — An explosion of fire damp in one of the mines of the United National Colliery company at Wattstown in the Rhondda Valley, Wales, 11th, caused the. death of about 125 miners. A Rare Book Sold. — The fourth edition of Shakespeare's Tragedie of King Richard the Third was sold in England, on the 13th, for the sum of $8,750. The book was printed in 1605, by Thomas Creede, and was sold by"Matthewe D. Lowe, Dwelling in Paule's Church yard at the signe of the Fox, near St. Austin's Gate." The book contains forty-six leaves, and has in it the signature of the elder William Penn. It is perhaps needless to say that an American bought the book. Attempt to Assassinate the Sultan. — An attempt to assassinate the Sultan of Turkey, 21st, failed, although twenty-four persons were killed and fifty-seven wounded. It is supposed that the assassin who threw a bomb at the Sultan was among those killed. 880 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Russia and her Troubles.— On the 11 th, Count Shuvalof, prefect of police at Moscow, was assassinated while the people were presenting petitions in the audience chamber. The assassin was arrested. Riots continue, in Lodz, Warsaw, and throughout Poland. One hundred kilo- grams of dynamite were found in a cellar beneath the imperial apart- ment in the castle near Moscow. Famine threatens northern, cen- tral and eastern Russia, due to the failure of crops and the call of all the able-bodied men to join the army. The women in many villages marched in bodies to the police stations and demanded that their hus- bands be returned to their homes. The Zemstvos congress met on the 19th, at the palace of Prince Paul Dalgorukov, son of the grand cham- berlain of the imperial court. There were 284 delegates and many leaders of the reform movement present. The chief of police, acting under orders from General Trepov, whom the Czar has placed at the head of the police system of the empire, appeared on the scene and notified the assembled delegates that the congress was forbidden on the ground that it would promote disorder in the empire. The assembly greeted the charge with laughter and contempt. The president of the congress, Count Heyden, informed the chief that the Czar had on June 19 author- ized the meeting. The chief then said he would seize the papers and take the names of the delegates. Copies of the proposed constitution were eagerly given to him, and each delegate handed him his card. Many who were not delegates insisted that their names be included in the list. The meeting then proceeded, and the proposed constitution was discussed and finally passed by a vote of 320 to 7. The newspapers were officially forbidden to publish the constitution, or make any mention of the pro- ceedings of the congress, on penalty of being suppressed; one paper, how- was promptly seized ever, the Slovo, published the full transactions, and and suppressed by the government. On the 14th, a Russian regiment near Tiflis killed its officers and joined the insurgents. August, 1905. The Throne op Norway.— Emperor William, on the 2nd, promised to support Prince Charles of Denmark for the throne of Norway. Surrender to the Japanese.— On Friday, 4th, the Russian gover- nor of Saghalin, 70 officers and 3,200 men surrendered to the Japanese. Attempt to Assassinate a Russian Governor.— An unsuccessful attempt was made on the 4th to assassinate M. Stolypin, governor of Sa- taroff, Russia. Cossacks killed a large number of strikers in the Caucasus, and the disorders throughout the empire are unchanged.