Editor's Table: Should Exclusive Clubs Be Organized by Church Members?; Saturday Evening Entertainments

EDITOR'S TABLE. SHOULD EXCLUSIVE CLUBS BE ORGANIZED BY CHURCH MEMBERS? Should exclusive clubs be organized by Church members? If permissible at all, what class of clubs should be endorsed by the ward or stake authorities, and what steps should be taken by the organizers? The questions are asked by a stake president and his counselors who state that their attention has been called by some of the bishops of their stake to the fact that in some wards exclusive clubs have been organized by the sisters, principally young ladies, without the consent of, and without consultation with, the author, ities of the ward. It is further stated that some members of these clubs are not in sympathy with the Church, and seem unwilling to accept the authority of the Priesthood. Still others are actively engaged in Sunday School and M. I. A. work. It is felt that with those who are Church members the effect of membership in these clubs detracts, in a measure at least, from their ecclesiastical interests and duties. None will deny that there are enough organizations in the Church to suffice both for young and old, and for men and women. The complaint is rather that there are too many. Therefore, any organization, either secret or open, outside of those instituted by the Church would appear to be superfluous as well as unnecessary, if not also burdensome, and should be discouraged among the young men as well as among the young ladies. Besides, they tend to alienate the youth from the Church, to fasten their affections on associations that are narrower and less democratic in their nature than those of the Church. They tend to the establishment of classes, cliques, and clans, and to the cultivation of selfishness instead of the broad love and care for all, so characteristic of

314 IMPR 0 VEMENT ERA . membership in the Church organizations. The youth of Zion should be encouraged to prove loyal to the organizations instituted for their benefit, not only because it is for their own best good, but because such a course is most beneficial to the general community. If objections are made that the Mutual Improvement and other organizations do not meet the social needs of the members, then let there be such changes in present methods as will satisfy all the legitimate desires of the young people for social, artistic, literary and home entertainment and education. This can easily be arranged by proper gradation of the classes, and by allowing the membership the freedom under the organization that will provide congenial companionship in every line of development, as well as in social affairs. It would seem, for example, that a class belonging to the Mutual Improvement Associations could as well arrange, under their organization, for amusement, study, culture, refinement of manners and social intercourse, in the homes of the members, as could be provided by outside clubs. They could do it much better, for there is a bond of love and fellowship where one gathers under the operation of the spirit of the gospel, that can never be found under other influences and conditions. Such meetings would not tend to alienate the members from the ward organization, but would rather create enthusiasm and loyalty for it, and for the general membership, while at the same time providing for that more exclusive social companionship which friends of like tendencies so enjoy. There is no need of exclusive clubs among the Latter-day Saints. The many auxiliary organizations should be made to supply every legitimate public, social and amusem3nt want of the young people, and, in addition to the regular Church and quorum meetings, should meet every religious and ethical educational need of our community. Joseph F. Smith. SATURDAY EVENING ENTERTAINMENTS. There is a tendency recently among the wards of the Church to have amusements, — such as dances, entertainments, socials, and

EDITOR'S TABLE. 315 parties, — on Saturday evenings. This tendency should be strongly discouraged by the Presidents of stakes, Bishops of wards, and by officers of the various quorums and organizations. Some other evening of the week should be chosen for the purpose, because Saturday night amusements interfere with Sunday worship, devotion and spirituality. They not only interfere with attendance at Sunday schools but also detract from the worship of the Lord in the Sacrament meetings, the most important gatherings that we have. It is incumbent on members of the Church to so plan their work that there shall be no excuse for robbing the Lord's day of its sanctity. To this end let the boys and girls have a half holiday during the week, which may be profitably used for recreations, leaving the Sabbath for spiritual culture and worship. It is equally obligatory that we so plan our amusements that these shall not interfere with our worship. Let therefore some other night than Saturday be provided for the purpose. The Lord has commanded his people to observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy, and on that day to go to the house of prayer and offer up their sacraments in righteousness with willing hearts and penitent spirits: For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and tc pay thy devotions unto the Most High; Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times; But remember that on this the Lord's day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord. And on this day thou shalt do none other thing only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full. Verily, this is fasting and prayer; or in other words, rejoicing and prayer. The Saints can ill afford to lose or relinquish the blessings that are promised, contingent upon the keeping of this commandment with thankfulness and cheerful countenances. The promise is that inasmuch as they observe it, the fulness and every good thing that comes out of the earth shall be theirs for food, raiment, and supplies; and furthermore, by doing this and other works of righteousness, they shall receive as their reward, peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come.

316 1MPR0 YEMEN T ERA . Above all things, then, we must not permit our amusements to interfere with our devotions on the Sabbath day. Hence, let us abandon Saturday evening entertainments, and devote the time to such preparations for the Sabbath as shall be in keeping with the sacredness of the day, and the commandments of the Lord. Joseph F. Smith.