--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 15 number: 6 published: 1912-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Mutual Work," *Improvement Era* 15, no. 6 (April 1912): 561–570.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1506unse 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: improvementera1506unse start_page: 561 end_page: 570 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1912-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1506unse publication_year: 1912 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 1912, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Mutual Work MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 561 ciples of the gospel. 'Tis an ill wind that blows no one good.' ' The wind that blew so strongly from the thousands of ministers and religious bigots and office seekers, over this isle, a few months ago, for the purpose of freeing themselves from 'Mormonism,' has terminated in our favor. The people are now desirous of learning both sides. As a rule, they will listen without prejudice to an elder, and when they do so, they remain lasting friends. In our tracting many are willing to listen, and we are daily gaining friends. The elders in the picture are, left to right, back row: Seth C. Kelsey, J. A. Hind, Wil3$ $ ft* % -. i V-1 ' i f I 1 I ' jjf V M*. % $\ liam L. Boothe, G. Tom Johnson, A. Willardson, J. W. Fitches, J. L. Broadbent, F. Dashdown, R. L. Shepherd; center row: Vance D. Walker, F. B. Hammond, conference president; Rudger Clawson, mission president; William G. Gidney, J. W. Watts; front row: James Ball, James Buck. Elder D. Vernon Shurtliff, clerk of the Transvaal conference. South Africa, writes from Johannesburg, stating that on October 16 President Frank J. Hewlett and company arrived at Johannesburg, and were met by John S. Sagers and the traveling elders laboring there. President and Mrs. Hewlett spent an enjoyable time with relatives and friends during their short stay in England, and had a very pleasant voyage on the waters to Africa. They spent over a month's time on board the steamship "Commodore." At Jeppetown a meeting was called on the 18th of October, at which six traveling elders, President Hewlett and President Sagers were in attendance. The business of the meeting was to organize a conference to be known as the Trasvaal Conference. Elder Gottlieb Blatter was chosen the new. 562 IMPROVEMENT ERA conference president, with D. Vernon Shurtliff as clerk. Presidents Hewlett and Sagers spoke of the splendid labors of the elders, and dwelt on the necessity of organizing conferences throughout the South African mission. The Transvaal conference is the first to be organized, in this far-off mission, and it goes to show that the work here is progressing rapidly. The work has been in progress here for two years, but we have quite a number of members and brigh* prospects for the future. The elders all rejoice over the prospects of the fruits of their labors. Elders of the South African mission, back row, left to right: William C. Crook, Elmer P. Chipman, C. Byron Whitney, L. A. Nelson, S. Boswell, F. R. Gardner. Middle row: Joseph F. Hintze. President John S. Sagers, President Franklin J. Hewlett and wife; Conference President Gottlieb Blatter. Bottom row: Rufus Beach, D. Vernon Shurtliff, Clifford S. Hodgson. This portrait was taken at a recent conference held at Bloemfontine. Sarah Mousley Cannon, wife of President Angus M. Cannon, died March 13, 1912. She was born July 21, 1828, in in Forest Dale, Utah, came to Utah with her parents, Titus and Centerville Delaware, and Ann Mousley in 1857. On July 18, 1858, she was married to Angus M. Cannon, and they had six children, two dying in childhood, the others being George M., John M., Ann M. Cannon, and Mrs. Bernard J. Stewart. Mrs Cannon was for many years engaged in pioneer life, and was noted for her sympatic for the distressed, Priesthood Quorums' Table Labors of Special Missionaries. At a recent conference of the Granite slake, Elder T. J. Yates, of the High Council, gave a report ol the work of the special missionaries who were called last October to labor in that stake of Zion among the people who are not of our iaith, and also those who have membership in ILe Church but who are neglecting their duties.Seventies were called to do this work, a committee from the High Council, under the Stake Presidency, being called to organize them and to preside over and have general supervision ot the work. The stake was divided into five conferences, each confer- — ence made up of four wards five presidents of Seventies were chosen co preside over the five conferences, and the Seventies of each conteience were assigned to their fields of labor by their lespective piesidents. Each pair of Seventies made a weekly written report 10 their president of the work done. The missionaries were called for six months to spend at least three nights (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday) of each week in the field. They were greatly assisted by the bishops and ward teachers, who furnished them with lists of names to be visited, arranged for cottage meetings, notified the people to attend these meetings, and in some cases helped to conduct the meetings. The missionaries visit the people in their homes, discuss the gospel, and distribute tracts and books. They made special efforts to loan the books, thus opening the way for re-visits. They also held cottage meetings wherever possible, and public meetings in all the wards. These meetings were previously announced, and in every case were well attended. Altogether the results of the labors of these Many of our friends special missionaries have been very gratiiying. who have lived among the people for years know little or nothing of the gospel as taught by the Saints, and these received the missionaries very kindly. Quite a number have been baptized into the Church, and many others have applied for baptism. Some were found who had been baptized in their youth, and others who had once been ordained teachers or deacons, but had drifted away from the Church. These were labored with, and the results are good. A number of men and women who were married outside of the Church have welcomed missionaries to their homes, and have found joy in having the gospel taught to their husbands and wives. The missionaries keep a record of all the families they visit, how they are received, what they teach, etc., and from this information will make a report, at the end of their term of six months lor which they were called, to the bishop of the ward, so that the work may be followed up by the teachers and special visits during the summer, and not wasted. Work will in a measure be thus continued for the summer months so that the people who have been interested may be looked after and kept under the influence of the gospel. Some of the missionaries were at first reluctant to take up the work, but they are now enthusiastic and thoroughly love — 564 IMPROVEMENT ERA it, and feel well paid for the effort which it has cost them. Quite a number of books and tracts were sold and distributed. — Lesson 4. Something About the Seventies' Year Book. This book is the result of long and careful study. It was not written in a day. It took many months to do the mechanical part alone. The subject matter is the result of years of painstaking research. The students of this book, therefore, can not expect to master it in one reading, or in a half dozen readings. It should be carefully studied and discussed. Too frequently, however, do we find seventy who feel that they must gather all of the knowledge in the Year Book, and must try to follow none other than the author's point of view in each lesson. Sometimes a brother is disturbed because the author takes a rather new viewpoint to what he has been prone to believe. The student should in all cases try to discover the logic of each lesson, and note wherein the author has worked out his viewpoint logically and clearly. The Year Book, though of course a study, is a book that suggests lines of thought that should carry the reader into other reading. A book should not be our master, but our servant. The Seventy should not try to repeat the formula of the book, but it should be interpreted in the individual's own thought and language. Each member of the quorum should aid the teacher in trying to provide some wholesome thought for the enrichment of the text. The Year Book is a summary of the subject under discussion. One of the greatest deficiencies of a recitation is the danger that nothing new will be presented. It is not intellectually stimulating to themembers of the class to listen to the repeating of a mere formal lesson which all have read before coming to meeting. Each member must do what he can to add something new, in his own experience, to what is said in a lesson. The further one has read in history, literature, or ethics, etc., the better is one able to see the viewpoint of the author, and to take over into his knowledge what the author suggests. The Year Book is a text on the subject treated. The lessons are logically and clearly worked out, and though they all follow the truth of the gospel, they all are suggestive of thought, and facts that should be followed up by extensive — outside reading. Levi Edgar Young. The One Hundredth Quorum at Bountiful, Utah, is inviting from time to time some of the scholars of the Church to lecture to them. As a result of this idea, the members of the quorum have taken a renewed interest in their meetings, and the Year Book is receiving closer and better attention than heretofore. Once a month it is a good thing to have a brother, well versed in some line of thought, to come in and to talk on his special subject. It is not only stimulating, but enriching in mental effort. The quorum at Bountiful has already had Dr. Fred Pack, Professor of Geology at the University of Utah, Professor Tipton, Dr. Joseph Peterson, and others. It is the object of the council and class teachers to invite many others to speak before the quorum during the year. We think the idea is a good one. Levi Edgar Young. Mutual Work The June M. I. A. Conference At a meeting of the General Board held Wednesday evening, February 28, it was decided to hold the annual M. I. A. Conference on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 7, 8 and 9. A committee, consisting of the General Superintendency and the chairmen of the various standing committees, was appointed to arrange a program, which will doubtless include officers' meetings, with instructions relating to the next season's work of the associations, a variety of activities in the field, as well as general religious services in the Tabernacle. It is believed that the occasion will be made one of the most interesting and instructive yet held by the Improvement associations. Members of the Second Normal Athletic Class Left to right, front row: Ona A. Harrison, Auburn, Orla Barrows, Fairview, E. A. Gardner, Afton, Adelbert Wilde, Afton, Star Valley, Wyoming; Arthur M. Jacobs, Torrey, Wayne; James J. Thompson, Garland, A. N. Grover, Fielding, Bear River; Joseph Edwards, Meadow, Millard; Ernest Adamson, Annis, Idaho, Rigby; John W. Fields, Lyman, Wyoming, Woodruff. Second row: Chester Whitehead, St. George, St. George; Percy Wilkenson, Cedar East; W. K. Granger, Cedar West, Utah, Parowan; C. H. De Priest, Manassa, Colorado, San Luis; Alvin Fjelsted, Centerfield, Daniel Beck, Centerfield, Sanpete; R. A. Christensen, Elwood, Revel N. Nielson, Garland, Bear River; Walter M. Stout, Leamington, Alma M. Harder, Leamington, Millard; Sidney Call, Chesterfield, Bannock; Earl D. Adams, Thatcher, Bear River. Third row: R. W. Richardson, instructor; Hyrum M. Booth, Honeyville, Box Elder; Frank J. Christensen, Kanosh, Alonzo Christensen, Oasis, Nelson Cooper, Fillmore, Millard; E. E. Rigby, Driggs, Teton; Hyrum Sander, Ogden, Fourth ward, Ogden; Reuben Blackner, Lyman, Woodruff; Lester G. Stokes, Bothwell, Box Elder; Alma Chambers, Eden, Ogden; Mrs. Kirkman, pianist; Miss Addie Cannon, dancing instructor; John H. Taylor, athletic field-man; W. E. Day, physical director, Deseret Gymnasium. Fourth row: Bryan Wright, Ogden, Edgar Holmes, Liberty, Ogden; J. C. Hogan, Hatch, Bannock; H. B. Spencer, Kanab, Kanab; Wilford Fife, Cedar W., Parowan; John A. Lindberg, Tooele, Tooele; Guy Chamberlain, Orderville, Kanab; Thomas Hale, Afton, Star Valley; Ben E Harker, instructor; B. S. Hinckley, secretary, Deseret Gymnasium. MUTUAL WORK 567 Activities in the Logan Fourth Ward President George L. Zundell, of the Fourth ward Y. M. M. I. A., Logan, writes that the M. I. A. of that ward recently presented Winston Churchill's jolly society comedy, "The Title Mart." On the 27th February they joined with the M. I. A. of Providence and gave their first public perlormance, and on March 1st joined with the Hyde Park M. I. A. with a second performance. The big performance was held at Nibley hall, Logan, March 2. A fair audience, composed of the cream of Logan's literary talent, greeted the play, and the best critics said that the play was one of the big events of the dramatic season. On the 29th a ward debate was held, the subject being "Woman Suffrage," two ladies and two gentlemen being the debaters. The ladies weie victorious, and, strange to say, they argued against woman suiii age. The district debate will be held later. Stake Meet in Snowflake Stake Superintendent Joseph W. Smith and Stake Secretary J. B. Pace, of the Snowflake stake Y. M. M. I. A., report that a very successful annual meet of the associations of that stake was held in early March. Out of eight organizations in the stake, live of them entered for contests in some or all of the events. On Sunday night, the 3rd, there was an excellent conjoint religious meeting. The whole of Monday was occupied with a program of fie'.d sports, finishing in the evening with another meeting in the stake house. Athletic events were: Basket ball, hammer-throw, shot-put, broad-jump, high-jump, pole vault; and the following races: 100 and 220 yards, one-fourth mile, one-half mile, mile, and relay race with eight on a side. The intellectual exercises were: Oratorical contests, story-telling, debates, violin, piano and vocal music. The people of the stake manifested a lively interest, and the meetings were exceptionally well attended. The outdoor games were witnessed by large crowds, and the young people exhibited a commendable spirit of fairness, while a high standard of manly deportment characterized the whole affair. The associations from St. Joseph and Woodruff each earned eight credits, while those from Snowflake and Taylor got seventy-nine each, making a tie, a rather singular but at the same time pleasing coincidence in such a hotly contested meet. The officers feel much encouraged over the success of the meeting, and are proud of the young men and women who entered. They see improvement, and believe that such occasions will have a tendency to raise the standard of the M. I. A. work in that stake. 568 IMPROVEMENT ERA Monthly Conjoint Meetings To Stake Superintendents of Y M. M. I. A., and Presidents of Y. L. M. I. A. Dear Brethren and Sisters: Many associations are devoting the entire time of the monthly conjoint meetings, held on Fast day, to musical exercises and recitals. The object of these conjoint meetings is, primarily, to enable our young people to exercise themselves in public speaking upon the subjects treated in the associations. While it may be advisable to present, occasionally, lectures on various topics, the original object should not be lost sight of and, as much as possible, these meetings should reflect the work of the associations and should be made faith-promoting in their character. The development of the musical talent of our young people is part of the work of the Mutual Improvement Associations, and the singing of sacred songs is an important part of the worship of the Latter-day Saints, and therefore, musical exercises and recitals may very properly be made a prominent part of the programs of the conjoint meetings. At the same time, we do not cons' der it proper to devote the entire time to musical programs or recital, to the exclusion of other exercises. We therefore desire the stake officers of the Y. M. and Y. L. M. I. A. to instruct their ward officers to arrange their monthly conjoint programs in accordance with the suggestions contained herein. Sio-nedi J OSEPH F Smith, Supt. Y. M. M. I. A. gnC - 1 Martha H. Tingey, President Y. L. M. I. A. M. I. A. Dancing Contest On the 21st of February the Granite stake held a dancing contest in the stake hall. Ten wards were represented by classes varying from ten to twenty in number, and presenting a variety of folk and gymnastic dances. The group from Forest Dale were winners of the first prize. They presented a Spanish tamboureen dance, under the direction of Miss Victoria Reed. The contest is the outcome of a year's work along this line. It was started last winter, at the suggestion of President Frank Y. Taylor. This is the first contest of the kind, as far as we know, that has been given. The benefit of this movement is to teach the young people throughout the stake to learn dances that carry with them grace and precision of action. Over five hundred people witnessed the contest, and were enthusiastically entertained. A number of young people have become interested In Mutual Improvement work through this movement whom it has not MUTUAL WORK 569 been possible to reach otherwise. The first prize consisted of a banner, which is partly shown in the center of the group herewith. ^ ::; l^-yj fcMB » n v"s «rv i 1 i if # mmwSESpmikh |1 Liyj t SI ^ ImP iV<. JjttE^ k >> Story-telling and Oratorical Contest On March 6th the second annual story-telling and oratorical contest of the Granite stake of Zion was held in the Granite stake house. Ten contestants competed for honors. These had been chosen from nearly forty, who appeared the week previous in try-outs held in the divisions of the stake. The winners were: Charles H. Norberg, oratory; T. B. Brockbank, senior story; Miss Fay Cornwall, junior story, reproduced, and Ethel Newman, original junior story. All received a gold medal. Much interest has been created in the art of storytelling and good reading, by these contests. To Stake Superintendents Blanks for ward and stake annual reports for the year ending April 30, 1912, have been distributed to the stake superintendents, who are requested to immediately forward them to the ward association officers in time for the secretaries to make up the ward report immediately at the close of the season's work. These should be sent 570 IMPROVEMENT ERA in to the stake officersand compiled and forwarded to the general secretary, Moroni Snow, 22 Bishops' Building, Salt Lake City, Utah, no later than May 10. Please be prompt in this matter, so that the whole Church will not have to wait upon the single stakes tor reports. Attention is also called to the necessity of seeing that the collections forGeneral Fund are promptly attended to and the the amounts forwarded to this office, so that each stake may receive proper credit in time for the report at the June annual convention. A substantial increase in the fund should be shown in every stake.