Resolutions Respecting Weekly Half-Holiday

Resolutions Respecting Weekly Half-Holiday At the afternoon meeting on Sunday, of the General Conference of the M. I. A., the following resolutions respecting a weekly half ■holiday were presented, being read by Elder Heber J. Grant, and unanimously adopted by the officers and members of the organizations: Whereas the officers of the Mutual Improvement Associations view with anxiety the tendency of the members of our ass_°c»ations anc' ew witn anxiety ine tenuency ui mc uicmuwa ^* ^"* --— id people generally, especially among the youth, to violate the

MUTUAL WORK. 861 sacredness of the Sabbath day by going upon excursions, attending base-ball games, picture shows, and other recreations, and, Whereas, it is self-evident that people, young and old, require outdoor recreation other than can be obtained after a hard day's labor in stores and offices six days a week; therefore, Be it resolved by the Mutual Improvement Associations in annual conference assembled, First, That we recognize the sacredness of the Sabbath day, and our obligation to keep it holy. Second, That to aid in the accomplishment of this obligation, we appeal to the business institutions throughout the stakes of Zion to follow the custom now almost universally prevailing in the East, of closing stores and other places of business at noon on Saturday, during the months of June, July and August, of each year, to enable the working classes to obtain the needed rest and recreation. Third, Recognizing also that labor in gardens, on farms, and in homes, becomes just as irksome, when unrelieved by occasional holidays and opportunities for recreations, as labor in stores and offices, we ask that parents and employers of such labor as is mentioned in this paragraph, grant each Saturday afternoon as a half holiday to their sons and daughters and employees. Fourth, Be it further resolved that the authorities of the Improvement Associations through the stakes and wards of Zion be appealed to to use their influence among business men and institutions to promote the object of these resolutions. Nebo Stake M. I. A. Day The Nebo Stake M. I. A. Day was observed at Eureka, Tuesday, May 28. The day was the most successful ever held by the associations of this stake. During the winter contests in quartet singing by both young ladies and young men, story telling contests by the junior boys and girls, and debates, have been held. A regular schedule has been followed, every ward having taken part in the contests. The stake was divided into four districts, and the contests arranged so that there were, First, ward contets for the selection of the team; then interward meets for the selection of the district champions; finally, interdistrict contests for the selection of the best team in two districts. These final winners of the northern districts then met the winners of the two southern districts on M. I. A. Day to determine the stake champions. Similar schedules had been arranged and carried out in baseball and relay racing. A special train was run from the valley to Eureka, carrying 350 M. I. A. workers and supporters, accompanied by the Spanish Fork silver band. The train arrived at 10:30, when a march headed by the band was formed to the L. D. S. Church, where the contests were held. The morning program consisted of music from the band, ladies quartet, contests between Benjamin and Payson First Ward, won by the Payson girls; a male quartet contest between Spanish Fork Fourth ward and Knightville, won by the Krightville boys. The junior girls' story-telling contest was between Miss Johnson, Ben-

862 IMPROVEMENT ERA. jamin, and Miss Parsons of Mammoth, won by Miss Parsons. The junior boys story-telling contest was won by James Carlquist, Spanish Fork, Third ward. Clarence Lichfield, who was unable to appear, also received a prize for his efficient work in winning his ward, district and southern division. At 1:30 the final M. I. A. debate was held between a team from Spanish Fork First and Eureka ward. Question: "Resolved that a legislative initiative and referendum law should be introduced by our state government." Spanish Fork, First ward, affirmative, Eureka, negative; the affirmative won. After the debate the company, again headed by the band, adjourned to the base-ball park, where the contests were continued. The game between Salem and Benjamin was won by Benjamin. The 100-yard dash was won by Madsen, of Goshen; 50-yard dash, by Glen Davis, of Benjamin; 200-yard relay of four junior, boys, won by Benjamin; and the 400-yard relay for seniors, won also by Benjamin. In the evening an M. I. A. ball was held in the Elk's Pavilion for which more than 275 tickets were sold, besides free tickets to the contestants. The train left Eureka at 11:45 and returned without an accident or incident to mar the success of the day. Supt. Melvin Wilson is congratulated upon the splendid conduct of the organization. The elders laboring in Lynchburg, Virginia, have been very successful during the past winter, where they have labored for about four months. The fruits of their labors are now appearing for on the 14th of April a very successful openair baptismal meeting was held at the water's edge. There were about two hundred people to witness the baptisms. Ten people were added to the fold of Christ, seven being baptized by Elder J. W. Hess *" and three by Elder Ernest Turley. The elders in the picture are, left to right, front row: Ernest Turley, Juarez, Mexico; H. B. Aycock, Pikeville, North Carolina. Back row: Marion Whittle, Marysville, Idaho; Joseph W. Hess, Plymouth, Utah.