Passing Events

Passing Events. Elder Lester Jenkins Cannon died in Lille, France, May 16, 1911, while on a mission. He was the son of Abraham H. and Sarah Ann Jenkins Cannon, and was born in Salt Lake City, July 4, 1889, where he lived in the Cannon Ward all his life. He left for his mission to the Netherlands July 9, 1909, and was assigned to the French speaking part, laboring in Liege, Brussels, and Verviers, Belgium; and then in Lille, France, where he died. He became very proficient in the language, and did most of the interpreting at the last confer- ence he attended. He was a boy of strong faith, having been from childhood a faithful worker in the Sunday School and Mutual Improvement Association. He was industrious as well as faith- ful. He had a powerful phy- sique, and was a young man whom disease, it would seem, would be the last upon whom to make an attack. He was of a sunny and lovable disposition and made friends wherever he went. From the last letter written by Lester to his mother, which was received three days before she heard the dreadful news of his death, it seems that he had recently had a number of very remarkable dreams. One was that he saw himself LESTER JENKINS CANNON.

1044 IMPROVEMENT ERA. laid out upon a table or couch, with President Thatcher and two strange men standing over him, a dream which was fulfiled to the utmost detail. Another was that he had received a release from his labors, and when he remonstrated with the president for sending him home before the usual length of time had elapsed, the latter assured him that he had already performed a full and honorable mission and could be of more use else" where. That he should have had dreams so significant is not more re- markable than that he should have told them to his mother, for the eifect upon her was sure to be depressing, and yet it seems to have been wisely ordained, for it prepared her in a measure for the shock of the later news — so much so that when his older brother George J. Cannon went to the house bearing the last sad message, she exclaimed with a scream, as soon as she saw him, that she knew that her beloved youngest son was gone. Mr. James H. Wallis, of Rexburg, Idaho, recently cele- brated the 30th anniversary of his marriage. As a souvenir of the occasion he had a card engraved containing photos of himself, his wife and their fifteen children. He sent one of these cards to Senator Borah of Idaho, who evidently showed it to ex-President Roosevelt who there- upon promptly sent a congratulatory letter to Mr. Wallis, dated June 15, 1911, which reads as follows: My Dear Mr. Wallis: — My good friend Senator Borah has sent me a card showing you and your wife and family, and I must take this opportunity of sending one word of hearty congratulation to you and your wife on your thirtieth wedding anniversary to wish well to all of you. You are the kind of American citizen I thoroughly believe in, and for whom I feel the highest regard. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt. The card is prized very highly by Mr. Wallis and his family. Two sons are now on missions, and four children are married, and there are two promising grandchildren. Mr. Wallis is 50 years of age and his wife but 46. She is the proud mother of all the children, and all are single births. The Era adds congratulations to the family. From the Frozen North, Elder K. N. Winnie writes from Nome City, Alaska, to the Era under date of July 18. He «ays that the steamer Corwin had recently brought twelve and one-half tons of mail collected in Seattle during the winter. When the historic Yukon broke up.in the spring, forty odd sacks were brought over by steamer from St. Michael that had been sidetracked along the winter trail. "The admon- ition always comes to me in the time of disappointment: Submit thyself

EDITOR'S TABLE. IO45 to the powers that be, "until He comes whose right it is to reign. Please continue to send me the Era volume 15. This is a most beautiful sum- mer, and I intend to make a sightseeing and picture-taking trip into the famous Saw-Tooth range, north of our mining interests. The Era may receive some views to scatter through its pages from time to time." Thanks, and a pleasant journey. — Ed. New Wards and Changes for the month of July, 1911, as reported by the Presiding Bishop's Office: Ernest A. Griffin was sus- tained as bishop of the Escalante ward, Panguitch stake, to succeed Andrew Schow; Richard G. Watt, as bishop of the Thatcher ward, Bear River stake, to succeed James Nelson, Jr. ; H. B. Coles was appointed ward clerk of the Thatcher ward, Bear River stake, to succeed Amos Hatch; T. Ray Rencher, ward clerk of the Eager ward, St. John's stake, to succeed Orson P. Greer; Joseph M. Martin, ward clerk of the Millard ward, Woodruff stake, to succeed E. Harris; Wm. D. Wilcock, ward clerk of the Escalante ward, Panguitch stake, to succeed Mary A. P. Schow; Charles C. Johnson, ward clerk of the American Falls ward, Pocatello stake, to succeed Lillie J. Muehlen; Hyrum A. Reeve, ward clerk of the Tenth ward, Liberty stake, to succeed James T. Strong; Jos- eph Steele, ward clerk of the Circleville ward, Panguitch stake, to suc- ceed Maggie Peterson; M. D. Allen, ward clerk of the Kingston ward, Panguitch stake, to succeed R. A. Allen; Elkol ward, Woodruff stake, has been disorganized; Wm. Robinson was appointed ward clerk of the Upton ward, Summit stake, to fill the vacancy caused by the release of A. M. Christensen; Jesse McCullough, ward clerk of the Provo Sixth ward, to succeed Alfred C. Larson. The name of the Burtner ward, Millard stake, has been changed to Delta ward, Delta, Utah. The address of the president of the Fremont stake, has been changed to Rexburg, Idaho. Beautiful Homes In Liberty Stake are encouraged by the M. I. A. Supt. E. M. Ashton and Chairman Orson H. Hewlett of the Beautifi- cation Committee of that stake, one day during the latter part of June, visited some one hundred owners of homes whose properties had been entered in competition for cleaner and prettier front and back yards, which was instituted by the Y. M. M. I. A. of that stake last spring. The activity has resulted in a great improvement in many of the homes in that stake. The work in connection with awarding the prizes was very arduous, and difficult, but on the whole gave satisfaction to every- body concerned. It required three days to visit the homes to obtain

1046 IMPROVEMENT ERA. information on which to base the decisions. In delivering the thirty- three awards which consisted of silver cups and cash, the committee invited a number of officers of the associations, reporters and others to accompany them. Thirty-three homes were visited on the evening that the awards were distributed and it was an inspiration to wit- ness the smiles of satisfaction as well as the lovely flower gardens, lawns and tidy back yards of the winners. In many instances it was ascertained that the children, boys and girls, had taken special delight in beautifying the homes and mak- ing the premises beautiful. Many interest- ing stories were told of the efforts put forth by the winners for the prizes, and all who entered the contest were rewarded for their efforts in more beautiful homes and surround- ing,even if they received no a ward,and so were satisfied; while those who did receive awards were, of course, doubly paid for their pains. The portraits accompanying represent one of the many cups that were given and also a portrait of the Awarding Committee taken at a home awarded a prize on Ninth East Street. ONE OF THE CUPS AWARDED IN THE LIBERTY STAKE. Award Committee, of the Liberty Stake at a home on Ninth East awarded a prize.