The Era, the Organ of the Seventies and the Y. M. M. I. A.; Close of Vol. 10; “Holly and Easter Lilies”

THE ERA THE ORGAN OF THE SEVENTIES Y. M. M. 1. A. the Era, in On November 1st, beginning with Volume XI, addition to being the organ of the Young Men's Mutual Improve- quorums of Seventy. In ment Assiciations will also represent the "Course of Study" for the quorums, now bemg prepared, the new

988 IMPROVEMENT ERA. and which will be ready for use in November, the following announcement is made, here copied for the information of all con- cerned. We believe that this movement will add prestige to our magazine and will be heartily welcomed by the members of both organizations, and further that it will assist the Era to grow in circulation as well as in literary excellence. We hope to obtain 15,000 subscribers for Volume XI, and to this end ask the officers of the Seventies quorums, and also the officers of the Improvement associations to lend their zealous and united efforts: "The Seventies are to be congratulated upon now having an organ through which the First Council can communicate with them from time to time without the inconvenience and expense of special circulars. That the Seventies have an organ may be mat- ter of surprise to them, since this is the first announcement of the fact, and there has been but little agitation of the matter, though it has been the proverbial "long felt want." It came about in the following manner: The First Courcil suggested to President Joseph F. Smith that the Improvement Era, now the organ of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, could easily be extended in its scope so as to become also the organ of the Seventies. Its general literature is already, in the main, of the class our Seventies would do well to read. The Era has been the vehicle through which very many important doctrinal articles have been published; and having become the organ of the Seventies, as well as of the Young Men's Associations, is a guarantee that it will con- tinue that line of work, and perhaps more abundantly in the future than in the past. There will be a Seventies department opened in the magazine, of several pages, in which will be published each month suggestions and directions relative to Seventies' class work, quorum discipline, and general management. Of the advantages of such an arrangement little need be urged, since they must be obvious to all. Hereafter, then, the Improvement Era will be known as the 'Organ of the Seventies and the Young Men's ' Mutual Improvement Associations. "The First Council bespeak for our organ the hearty support of all the Seventies. Its success has depended heretofore on the love and loyalty of the Young Men's Associations; hereafter that will be supplemented by the love and loyalty of the Seventies'

— EDITOR'S TABLE. 989 quorums. The attention of the members of the quorums should at once be called to this new adjunct in our work, and they be invited to become subscribers to our magazine. We suggest that one or two members in each quorum be appointed to solicit sub- scriptionswithin the quorum, that each member be given the direct opportunity to become a subscriber. The Era, it will be understood, has no other agents except those appointed by the Young Men's Association in the respective wards and branches of the Church, and now, of course, those who will be appointed by our quorums. The service is to be given without remuneration soliciting subscriptions within our quorums is to be a work of love and interest. The price is two dollars per volume, paid in advance, and subscriptions should be sent by the quroum agent to the assistant manager of the Era, Elder Alpha J. Higgs, 214 Templeton Building, Salt Lake City. Prcmptness and efficiency in dealing with this matter is expected. "It is a fortunate circumstance that this inauguration of better working conditions for the quorums of Seventies, and 'the begin- — ning of the volume of the Era Volume XI— should start off to- gether, viz., in the month of November. But is it not a co-ordi- nation of circumstances brought about by the operation of the Spirit of the Lord upon the minds of the brethren, rather than a matter of good fortune? So many things have conjoined for this new movement among the Seventies to augur success, that those of us who have been watching its development cannot doubt but that God wills it." CLOSE OF VOL. X. We are very grateful to our friends for the success which has attended Volume X of the Improvement Era which closes with this number. This volume has had the greatest circulation in the history of the magazine. It contains more reading matter than was promised in the beginning, there being several extra special articles of great interest and value. We thank the con- tributors whose names are found in the index in this number, for their splendid assistance in making volume X what it is. We also

990 IMPROVEMENT ERA. extend many thanks to all the officers of the Improvement Asso- ciations whose unselfish and indefatigable labors in soliciting sub- scribers and otherwise, have aided us in making a financial success of the magazine. We believe they have been repaid in the knowledge of the good which the Era has accomplished for the cause of the great latter-day work which we all so eagerly love. We solicit the continued kind cooperation of both readers and members for Volume XI, and hope that we may have many new workers. The first number will be issued November 1st. All our sub- scribers are invited to renew their subscriptions immediately and to use the order blank found opposite the title-page of this num- ber. Attention is called also to the prospectus found in this number. A glance at the list of special features there announced for Volume XI, we think will convince the reader that the new volume will exceed all its predecessors in variety of matter and general interest. Among the notable changes is one making the Era the organ of the Seventy. This will add prestige to the magazine, as well as literary advantage. The first seven presidents of Seventy have chosen Elder B. H. Roberts, one of the recognized Church author- ities on doctrinal writings, as editor of their division of the maga- zine, and he will besides continue to write general articles for the magazine as heretofore. We trust that the brethren of the quorum of Seventy will be as loyal in working for the interest of the magazine, and in obtaining subscriptions for it, as the officers of the Improvement Associations have been and are. If so, there will be no doubt about our getting the number of sub- scriptions we have determined upon for this volume, namely, 15,000. As heretofore, the best writers in the community will contribute for the pages of the Era, many of them having con- sented to write for Volume XL We solicit all who are talented in writing, to contribute for our magazine. One of the objects of the Era is to encourage home literature. A change will be made in the paper of Vol. XI, and good book paper will be used. This will enable us to illustrate the maga- zine, thus making it more attractive, while not losing any of its

EDITOR'S TABLE. 991 other merits. We solicit portraits and scenes on subjects of interest from the Church missionaries and writers in all parts of the world. The Era is sent free to all missionaries, and we hope our brethren will reciprocate the courtesy of the General Board in sending them the magazine free, by providing the editors with photographs of scenes in all parts or the world where their duties and labors call them. As many as possible of these will be repro- duced for the pleasure, we hope, edification, and instruction of our readers, who now number thousands in the Rocky Mountain states of Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Oregon, Nevada and Wyoming, and in the territories of Arizona and New Mexico, also in Canada and Mexico; and who are found scattered in all other states of the Union, and in nearly all the countries of the world. We hope to make our illustrations as interesting and instructive as our reading matter has been heretofore, and as we trust will be hereafter. The Era is not a money-making business, but entirely a work published for the advancement of the young people, the members of the Church generally, and now the Seventy. We trust that the brethren everywhere who are interested in maintaining a good literary magazine will assist us in continuing the Era as a worthy representative of the Church, the Priesthood, and our associations. Special efforts will be made, also, to win the interest of the young people— the boys— in the contents of our magazine, and to this end articles adapted to their wants and capacities will appear from time to time. We invite all our subscribers immediately to renew their subscriptions, without waiting for further solicita- tion. and quick, it will greatly aid the If the response is hearty business office, and will enable us to carry out our plans more promptly; besides, it will avoid^annoying delays in the delivery of the first numbers. All expired subscriptions are stopped with this number, and we invite our subscribers to return the blank subscription order, found opposite the page in this number, so that no delay may first occur in the delivery of the November Era. Some have com- plained because we do not continue to send the Era without an order, but we have learned that it is much more satisfactory to

992 IMPROVEMENT ERA. hear from our patrons once each year, at least. It makes us friends longer; and this system has proved most satisfactory to all con- cerned. We hope that our subscribers will agree with us that it is the best business way and trust that not one of them will fail to fill : out the blank and return the order to the office at once. In case there are any who wish the Era continued indefinitely, please so indicate in ordering, and it will be continued to your address until you order otherwise. By a hearty and united effort on the part of the officers of the Seventy and the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associa- tions, the subscribers, missionaries, editors, managers and pub- lishers, our magazine is sure to progress, increase in usefulness, and continue to succeed. To this end we invite the hearty cooper- ation of all concerned. We are grateful to the Lord for his blessings over this cause in the past, and trust that we may be directed to do his will, relating to the Priesthood, the members, and the young people of the Church, now and in the future, for that is ever the leading and uppermost desire of the editors and the General Board. Joseph F. Smith, Edward H. Anderson, Editors. "HOLLY AND EASTER LILIES." Holly and Easter Lilies, —birth and resurrection, — the is title of a poem dedicated to his wife, Wilhelmina Marie, by the artist and poet, Alfred Lamlourne. The book received by the Era is a limited memorial edition of the poem, and is artistically and typo- graphically all that could be wished. The poem itself is a most beautiful tribute to the memory of his departed companion. It is the expression of the author's soul, in contemplating the mystery of life, and death, — it is his creed and ritual — his masterpiece, in which is interwoven the thought and work of twenty years, and his life's experience, to which his sanguine signature is affixed. Through all the sorrows and doubts expressed in t, there shines

EDITOR'S TABLE. 993 clear and warm the sun of belief in the love and teachings of the Savior, and hope in companionship and eternal life: Lo, as at morn a dove that upward springs, Bathes glad its plumage in expanse of light, So we, within Thy love, King of Kings, Behold a dawn that follows after night. The weary sould doth ever near Thee draw; The broken-hearted come to Thee for cure; All tenderness and just Thy simple law; Thy life all spotless, as the lilies, pure.