Editor’s Table: Games of Chance; Moderation in Burial Displays; Was Jesus the Messiah?; To Create; The Election

EDITOR'S TABLE. GAMES OF CHANCE. In volume six of the Era, pp. 308-9, in reply to a question, it is clearly shown that all games of chance are disapproved by the Church authorities. Presidents Brigham Young, Lorenzo Snow, and Joseph F. Smith are quoted as strongly opposed to all games of this class. Raffling for the benefit of missionaries is included as not sanctioned by the moral law nor approved by the Church authorities. But the practice in places seems to still continue, and the First Presidency have thought it necessary to issue under date of November 14, 1908, the following statement on the subject, which the officers of our M. I. A. organizations as well as the Priesthood are specifically instructed to heed: To whom it may concern: — Among the vices of the present age gambling is very generally condemned. Gambling under its true name is forbidden by law, and is discountenanced by the self-respecting elements of society. Nevertheless, in numerous guises the demon of chance is welcomed in the home, in fashionable clubs, and at entertainments for worthy charities, even within the precincts of sacred edifices. Devices for raising money by appealing to the gambling instinct are common accessories at church sociables, ward fairs, and the like. Whatever may be the condition elsewhere, this custom is not to be sanctioned within this Church; and any organization allowing such is in opposition to the counsel and instruction of the general authorities of the Church. Without attempting to specify or particularize the many objectionable forms given to this evil practice amongst us, we say again to the people that no kind of chance game, guessing-contest,

144 IMPRO VEMENT ERA . or raffling device, can be approved in any entertainment under the auspices of our Church organizations. The desire to get something of value for little or nothing is pernicious; and any proceeding that strengthens that desire is an effective aid to the gambling spirit, which has proved a veritable demon of destruction to thousands. Risking a dime in the hope of winning a dollar in any game of chance is a species of gambling. Let it not be thought that raffling articles of value, offering prizes to the winners in guessing-contests, the use of machines of chance, or any other device of the kind is to be allowed or excused because the money so obtained is to be used for a good purpose. The Church is not to be supported in any degree by means obtained through gambling. Let the attention of stake and ward officers, and those in charge of the auxiliary organizations of the Church be directed to what has been written on this subject and to this present reminder. An article over the signature of the President of the Church was published in the Juvenile Instructor, October 1, 1902 (volume 37, page 592) in which were given citations from earlier instruction and advice to the people on this subject. For convenience, part of that article is repeated here. In reply to a question as to whether raffling and games of chance are justifiable when the purposes to be accomplished are good, this was said: "We say emphatically, No. Raffle is only a modified name of gamble." President Young once said to Sister Eliza R. Snow: ' 'Tell the sisters not to raffle. If the mothers raffle, the children will gamble. Raffling is gambling." Then it is added: "Some say 'What shall we do? We have quilts on hand, — we cannot sell them, and we need means to supply our treasury, which we can obtain by raffling, for the benefit of the poor.' Rather let the quilts rot on the shelves than adopt the old adage, 'The end will sanctify the means.' As Latter-day Saints, we cannot afford to sacrifice moral principle to financial gain." As was further stated in the article cited, the General Board of the Deseret Sunday School Union has passed resolutions expressing its unqualified disapproval of raffling and of all games of chance, for the purpose of raising funds for the aid of the Sunday

EDITORS TABLE. 145 School. And the general authorities of the Church have said, as they now say, to the people: Let no raffling, guessing-con tests, or other means of raising money, by appealing to the spirit of winning by chance, be tolerated in any organization of the Church. Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, - Anthon H. Lund, First Presidency. MODERATION IN BURIAL DISPLAYS. A good friend who is often called upon to attend to the proprieties on behalf of the dead, calls attention in a letter to the indulgence of extravagance in the laying away of our departed friends and relatives. She believes that the Lord is not pleased with the profusion of flowers, the expensive dress, and even with the ornaments of gold in the form of rings and other jewelry used in decorating the dead. Some people have even gone so far as to object to this finery being covered by the temple clothes, and have requested that these be put on later, as if not worthy of being seen. This extravagance in places is practiced to such an extent that some of our people actually distress themselves to bury their dead. We certainly recommand moderation and wisdom in the use of flowers, the hire of carriages, and the purchase of caskets. In the old scriptures we have numerous examples of simplicity in burials. While we are not called upon literally to follow these, they should be a lesson to us to avoid ostentations, and to attend to these matters with only such displays and preparations as will show due respect for the departed, and proper consideration for the living. In Jewishtimes the preparations for burial were not of an elaborate character. The dead body was washed (Acts 9: 37), anointed with ointments (John 19: 39), wound in linen cloths (John 19: 40; Luke 23: 52-3), and the hands and feet bound with

146 IMPROVEMENT ERA. grave clothes, and the face bound about with a napkin (John 11: 44; 20: 6, 7). The dead body was carried to the grave upon a bier or litter (Luke 7: 14; compare with IP Kings 13: 21; II Sam. 3: 31) which was a simple flat board, we are told, borne on two or three staves. Coffins were unknown among the Israelites. In the case of our Lord and Savior, on the day of the cruel crucifixion, "When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: he went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed" (Matt. 27:57-60). This, in the case of our Master and Great Example! Could anything be more simple and unostentatious? Relating to dress, the Latter-day Saints burial clothes are all sufficient for our day. Anything more is unnecessary, which good, common sense would clearly suggest; while the burial of jewelry with the dead can serve no good purpose. It savors of vanity, and might prove a temptation to grave robbers, — a naturally horrible thought. In like manner with carriages and caskets, only the necessary and modest should be used. In the Book of Mormon, there is no intimation that great ostentation was made even at burials of illustrious men. We are simply told that Lehi, the great prophet of the new world, after he had spoken to his household, according to the feelings of his heart and the Spirit of the Lord which was in him, waxed old, died and was buried. Ishmael, a prominent founder of the people of the American continent, died and was buried in the place which was called Nahom. And of the great Prophet Alma: "As to his death or burial we know not of." He was a religious man and the saying went abroad in the Church that he was taken up by the Spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord, even as Moses. In no case have we an account of costly apparel, jewelry, a profusion of flowers purchased at the expense of the necessities of the living, a retinue of hired carriages, and other extravagant displays so common among the people today. We agree with our friend that these extravagances are not pleasing in the sight of the Lord, and

EDITOR'S TABLE. 147 again recommend to the Latter-day Saints moderation and wisdom in these things. Joseph F. Smith. WAS JESUS THE MESSIAH? Some of the biblical scholars of the world are very anxious to prove that Jesus was only an extraordinary man and philosopher, and further, that Christ himself held no other view, and never declared himself to be the Messiah. In a recent issue of the New York Independent, Nathaniel Schmidt, of Cornell University, one of America's ablest biblical scholars, and Professor Crane, lately of the Chicago Theological Seminary, discuss this question. The first named is very radical in his disbelief of Jesus as the Messiah, and sets forth his reasons for so holding. The editor of the Independent replies to his paper in what seems to us a very decisive and conclusive argument, which is here given in full: Professor Schmidt denies that Jesus was more than an extraordinary man. He does not believe that he performed airacles or was raised from the dead, or that he was the Messiah, or even claimed to be such. When Jesus used the term "Son of Man," applied to himself, he meant nothing more than man, because that, in the Galilean Aramaic, which he spoke, bar-nasha, son of man, was the regular word for maD and woull mean nothing else; and so when used by Jesus himself it could not mean Son of Man, that is the Mtssiah. Indeed Professor Schmidt says that this is "the only Aramaic term which Jesus can have used." We have no literary Galilean Aramaic preserved earlier than a hundred years after Christ, but we have the Aramaic of Daniel, supposed to be perhaps two centuries before Christ, and in the seventh chapter we have bar 'anash, son of man, once, and 'anash, man, several times. There is not the slightest evidence that in our Lord's time the simple man was not used, as well as son of man. But Jesus seems to have used "Son of Man" in a peculiar and Messianic sense, that is unless the critic cuts it out every time as not genuine. But we cannot discuss these two articles at length. Let us add a word to what Professor Crane has said. In order to sustain Professor Schmidt's contention it is necessary to reverse the whole sense and feeling of the Synoptic Gospels, as well as of John's gospel. In order to accomplish this Professor Schmidt puts their date very late, as late as 100 A. D. so as to allow time for the accretion of myth, and holds them to be full of interpolations. But he cannot do this for Paul. Paul was the contemporary of our Lord, although he never saw him, being in Tarsus. He came to Jerusalem to study under Gamaliel, and there he met the disciples of Jesus. He got his facts directly from them before there was time for legendary accretions. He talked freely with Peter, James and John.

148 , IMPROVEMENT ERA. He repeats in First Corinthians the words with which he was told that our Lord instituted the last supper, the same as we hive in the gospels: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood;" and Paul, adds: "As often as ye eat this bread and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come." Paul learned from the disciples themselves that Jesus would come again, that he was the Messiah, that he rose from the dead. There is no question of this, and with this the Synoptic Gospels agree. One who is going to eviscerate the gospels and leave Jesus as nothing but a mere human teacher has got to deal first with Paul and then with the disciples, from whom Paul learned the story and the teachings of Jesus. He mnst explain how it happens that the contemporary Paul got all this from Christ's own contemporaries, who were with him for three years, and who were present at his death, and who believed they saw him alive after his passion. With Paul agree the four Gospels. To get rid of all this, and reduce Jesus to a teacher who claimed nothing and did nothing but repeat a cycle of beautiful and noble parables, is a psychological problem which passes our solution. TO CREATE— THE HEBREW MEANING. Dr. Frederic Clift, of Provo, has sent the Era the following statement and letter, which give light on a subject of interest to the elders in the mission field, as well as to students at home. He says: "My opinion having been sought as to the philological meaning of the Hebrew word which is translated in the first and second chapters of Genesis as create, I thought it would be of more value to obtain the opinion of one of the greatest of our living Hebrew scholars. I accordingly wrote to Dr. Robert H. Kennett, the Regius Professor of Hebrew, in my old university, Cambridge, England. His answer makes it, I think, perfectly clear, that 'Mormon' philosophj is in accord with the exact philological meaning of the word 'create,' as used in Genesis. As the opinion is authoritative, and the point is often raised by those opposed to Latter-day teachings, I give the reply to my question on the subject in full:" "The College, Ely, October 9, 1808. "Dear Sir: — In answer to your letter, I may say that, whatever be the exact philological meaning of the word translated 'create,' in Gen. 1, which is not quite certain, it does not mean to make out of nothing. Gen. 1, 2 (in the form which it has in the Hebrew) makes it quite clear that the writer assumes the existence

EDITOR'S TABLE. 149 of chaotic matter at the time since when his narrative begins, and merely describes the way in which order was brought out of this chaos. "I do not think that we are in a position to say what opinion the Hebrews held as to the origin of matter. I cannot recall any passage of the Old Testament which throws any light upon this. The Hebrew mind is not speculative. "I am, Dear Sir, Yours very truly, "Robert H. Kennett." THE ELECTION. In the election held November 3, the Republican national and state tickets were elected in Utah by a plurality of perhaps twenty thousand. The various county tickets were also largely Republican. In Salt Lake City a political combination calling themselves "American" had long and aggressively fought the '"Mormon" Church, threatening imprisonment and exile to its leaders, in case the "American" party should win the county. But to the delight of all good people, their efforts were futile. They not only failed to carry the county, but also lost the city, their votes numbering, according to best estimates, at least five hundred less than in the election of 1907. The cause of their defeat may be assigned to the fight which they made against the Church and the Church authorities. Many non- "Mormons" are opposed to injustice. These, with a considerable number of Latter-day Saints, regardless of political affiliation, took it into their minds to rebuke the vicious, persistent and scurrilous attacks made by the "American" party upon the Church, and her leaders. With the former it was an act of justice; with the latter, a matter of selfdefense. Both are entitled to the commendation and praise of every well-wisher of our commonwealth. Both are opposed to political interference in Church affairs, as much as they are opposed to Church interference in political affairs. When one's religion and friends are unjustly attacked, however, it is natural to defend them. The brushing aside of the "American" party in Salt Lake City may thus be accounted for. Would that it might teach the

150 IMPROVEMENT ERA. combination to abstain from further interference in Church affairs, and teach all others that there is no excuse for the existence of such a party. JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET-TEACHER. The attention of the M.I. A. officers, and the reading public generally , is called to a new booklet by Elder B . H . Roberts entitled , Joseph Smith, the Prophet-Teacher. The book is issued from the press of the Deseret News, and has been adopted by the General Board of the Y. M. M. I. A. as one of the supplementary reading course for the season. It will prove helpful in the interpretation of the senior manual now being used by the associations. It will also be profitable supplementary reading for the students of the Seventies' course in theology for the year, which is an outline history of the dispensations of the gospel. The new volume treats of the Prophet Joseph's correction of sectarian errors, his philosophical doctrines and some of his miscellaneous doctrinal utterances. The book is especially adapted for the use of missionaries, and for reading by young men who are just now forming their conceptions of "Mormonism. " It is available as a souvenir of the anniversary of the Prophet Joseph's birthday, as well as suitable as a gift 'for the Christmas holidays. Price 75c, Deseret News, publishers. MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS. Under date of November 5, Elder C. E. Dinwoodey writes from Chattanooga, Tenn. — "For some years past, missionary work has been done in the city of Atlanta, Ga., but no regular, organized branch of the Church has been effected, althoug i meetings, Sunday schools and Mutuals were held at the different homes of the members. In the spring of 1907, the attention of the proper authorities was brought to the need of an organization and a building in which to meet. Mainly through the efforts of Elder James P. Jensen and President S. W. Golding, a suitable location for a Church building was found, and the matter was presented to President Ben E. Rich, of the mission, who immediately took the matter up with the presidency of the Church, who authorized him to make the purchase.

EDITOR'S TABLE. 151 The property is located on the corner of Woodward Ave. and Connally Street, and was formerly occupied by the Baptists, but had been abandoned and let run down, until, at the time of the purchase, it was an eyesore to the community. The elders laboring in that city laid aside their "preaching" clothes, donned overalls and jumpers, went to work with hammer and saw upon the old building, and Latter-day Saints Meetinghouse, Atlanta, Georgia. with pick and shovel upon the grounds, and made of them the very nice place shown in the accompanying picture. The building was dedicated, July 14, 1907, by Elder George Albert Smith, and shortly after, a complete branch organization of the Church was effected. The work was placed under the leadership of Elder C. E. Dinwoodey, who, with his wife and family, has been occupying the parsonage adjoining the church, and who up to this time had been acting as secretary of the mission for eighteen months past. Associated with Elder Dinwoodey, from time to time, were Elders M. B. Farr, A. F. Tolton, J. H. Dixon, J. M. Moody, T. E. Foote, H A. Pace and others, also three lady missionaries — Florence Zundel, Lillian V. Jones and Caroline S. Janes. The progress of the work has been very satisfactory, as the following work for nine months, will show: Tracts distributed 7,000; books sold, 700; baptisms, 12; besides a great number of families visited, and hundreds of conversations. The Mutual Improvement Association has been a big aid to us in cur work. The members were not sufficient to justify the organization of two separate societies, so a joint association was organized with Elder James P. Jensen, president; Mary E. Cook, first counselor; R. A. Parker, second counselor, and Nellie Cook, secretary; with Elder Dinwoodey as class leader. We took up, last winter, the study of the senior manual. We had an average attendance of about twenty, who were all interested in the lessons presented and most excellent classes were the result. The work this winter has been commenced under most auspicious conditions, and we look forward to having

152 IMPROVEMENT ERA. a good time. Elder Dinwoodey has been recently transferred to the mission office, Chattanooga, to act as secretary of the mission, and Elder Paul E. Nelson placed in charge of the work in Atlanta." Elder T. J. Bennett, president of the Belfast, Ireland, conference, writes, October 21: "The work of the Lord is progressing in Ireland. We have eighteen elders in the conference. We are meeting with some opposition which is helping us along in our work, and raising up a good many frieads for us. We feel as proud of the Irish conference as the Irish do of St. Patrick. The Irish conference is not taking its hat off to any of the conferences in the British mist # <?v 1 f • tlPW V fir r t- "rw!, Jr~r- Elders of the Belfast Conference, Ireland. sion. Seventeen of our elders attended the semi-annual Irish conference of the Church, which convened in the meeting hall of the Belfast branch on September 27. We are pleased to report an excellent Mutual in the city of Belfast, with an average attendance of twenty members. We are just completing the 1898 9 manual, The Apostolic Age. We wish the Era a prosperous new year, and the Mutual work success." Elder Lawrence Squires writes under date of November 9, from Geneva, Switzerland: "I am thankful that I was chosen to work among these people and in this country. Though the people do not seem ready for the gospel, and our success is not very great, as far as baptisms are concerned, we have a fine climate to work in, and we are allaying a great deal of prejudice whenever we can get the people to hear us. Indifference and prejudice are naturally the greatest obstacles in our way. We have about seventeen elders in the French conference at present, and we are all interested in the work and united for its advancement - One does not hear a great deal about this Frenchjmission, but we all think that it

EDITOR'S TABLE. 153 is the best there is, and are all thankful at being called to it. We have -some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. There are not any large branches, as the Saints get the emigration spirit, and as soon as it is possible go to tltah to rejoice with the Saints there. We have now a very good edition of the Book of Mormon. It is placed in the book stores of most all the cities, and I think it will do a great deal of good. We also have a part of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Voice of Warning, Talmage's Lectures on the Book of Mormon and several other smaller tracts. The language is rather hard for some of us, but, as a rule, elders are able to make themselves understood pretty well in nine or ten months, and before leaving are pretty good Frenchmen." From Dunedin, N. Z., Otago conference, Conference President George A. Christensen writes, Sep. 22: "The accompanying photo shows the headquarters of the missionaries in Dunedin, and also the four elders laboring in the Otago conference, the most southern conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the world. The work is progressing favorably, tracting and visiting Back row — George A. Christensen, John Latimer, Jr.; front row— M. Wallace Woolley, WilfordM. Johnson, Elders laboring in Otago conference, New Zealand, the most southern conference in the world. take up a good deal of the time. Street meetings are being held at the present time, and occasionally the elders are given an opportunity to address certain of the town societies. New friends are constantly being made, which encourages the work and lightens the burden; and whenever a new friend is made, it is a victory over prejudice which is slowly but surely be:ng overcome. All the elders

1 54 IMPRO VEMENT ERA. are pleased with the prospects of their conference and expect to reap a harvest before the year is ended." Elder John L. Herrick has been chosen by the First Presidency to preside over the Western States mission, comprising Colorado, Nebraska, the Dakotas, Wyoming and New Mexico, with headquarters at Denver, Colorado. His appointment to succeed former President Joseph A. McRae, who goes to Independence, Mo., to fill a position with the Daniels Plow Co., was made public on November 6. Elder Herrick was born in Ogden, and is about forty years of age. For more than twenty years he served on the Weber stake board, Y. M. M. I. A., and was the stake superintendent of that organization, for nine years, until the late division of the stake, when he was chosen a member of the High Council of the reduced Weber stake. He is a capable business man, a faithful Church worker, full of integrity, cheerful in the performance of his tasks, and loyal to his friends. Elder Albert B. Foulger, writing from Kimberley, South Africa, September 28, says, relating to the work that is being done in promoting the gospel in the "diamond fields," of far-off Africa: "The report of my first years' labors, together with my companion Elder J. G. McKay, of Huntsville, Utah, who labored with me in that district, is: Tracts distributed, 33,860; books distributed, 12,058; invita tions, 1,998; gospel conversations, 4,734; meetings held, 186; baptisms, 12; children blessed, 9; people administered to, 12, eight of whom received relief. Besides the above, many friends have been found, several of whom have applied for baptism. Our meetings are well attended, and much interest is being manifest." It was announced on November 20, that Elder Thomas E. McKay, counselor in the presidency of the Ogden stake, and county superintendent of schools of Weber county, has been chosen to preside over the Swiss and German Mission, to release Elder Serge F. Ballif, of Logan, who has had charge of that mission for several years. Elder McKay will resign his office and prepare immediately to enter upon his missionary duties. First and Second Year Books Bound Together. — The first and second Year Books bound together in good, strong cloth binding can now be had, post paid, at a cost of seventy-five cents. Send in your orders at once to the general secretary. The number is limited to less than one thousand, and will soon be gone; so that those who desire these valuable numbers of the Year Book in the more permanent form of binding than in paper will do well to send in their orders at once prepaid. Also we call the attention of quorum presidents to the desirability of prompt payment for the second Year Books sent to them. The books sent to the respective quorums are surely by now distributed and paid for; and the amount collected should be sent to the Seventies General Secretary at once that the First Council may make prompt settlement with their printers and meet other expenses attending upon the publication of the Year Book. Bring this matter to the attention of the quorums, and your secretaries, Messrs. Presidents, and let us have a prompt response to this appeal .