--- 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: 16 number: 3 published: 1913-01 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: Suggestions to Ward Scout Leaders for Organizing the M. I. A. Scout Work," *Improvement Era* 16, no. 3 (January 1913): 269–274.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1603unse 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: improvementera1603unse start_page: 269 end_page: 274 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1913-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1603unse publication_year: 1913 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 1913, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Mutual Work: Suggestions to Ward Scout Leaders for Organizing the M. I. A. Scout Work Mutual Work Suggestions to Ward Scout Leaders for Organizing the M. I. A. Scout Work. BY THE COMMITTEE ON ATHLETICS The text books may be obtained from The Deserct News and Deseret S. S. Union book stores. The following twelve suggestive lessons are given for beginners and are intended to be followed for fifteen minutes after class work at each weekly meeting of Y .M. M. I. A. as far as time will permit. Scout leaders, in order to arouse and continue the interest and enthusiasm of the boys should keep in mind the seasons of the year, taking hikes when opportunity will permit, and in applying lessons to so adapt them to stories of the birds, the flowers, seed time and harvest, etc., that throughout all the activities valuable lessons of practical utility may be shown while the boys are getting recreation. Lesson 1 Talk on general Scout work; such as, object; what will be taken up; kind of organization. (See Era for March, 1912.) Notify boys to be ready for the election at next meeting, also to bring a piece of rope about eight feet long to practice knot tying. a Lesson 2 Organization and election. Let the boys divide into groups of eight, and elect their officers. If you have only ten or twelve boys have one patrol. Knot Tying; overhand, figure of eight, square knot, weaver's knot. (See Hand Book for Boys, page 48.) Lesson 3 Drill— Preliminary. (See Era for January, 1913, and U. S. Infantry Drill Regulations for 1911.) We use drill for discipline in obedience, for moving from place to place in order, and for acquiring the habit of correct carriage. Guard against overdoing it. For the first few times drill as a whole, without patrol distinction. Notify each boy to bring a bandage (See for the next meeting. This can be made at home, or purchased. First Aid Book, pages 27 and 28.) Lesson 4 Bandaging. If possible have a doctor or a nurse come and give a of how to short talk on the uses of a bandage, and give a demonstration kinds of bandages and then have the boys put on two or three different ; next bandagdo it. Review drill, and add one or two commands. Before lesson, the Scout leader should learn two more kinds of bandages in ing case he will have to give the lesson. Lesson 5 National song. Talk on Flag. (See Hand Book for Boys, page 330), Flag salute. Learn one verse. If you can't sing it with spirit, recite it. See drill instructions. 270 IMPROVEMENT ERA Lesson 6 Bandaging. Review the work on bandaging, and add two more. Game, (H. B. for Boys, page 291.) Lesson 7 Study of body (First Aid Book, pages 1 to 5). Don't be too technical. Make it as practical as possible. Keep the idea before the boys that they are preparing to do first aid work.Setting up exercises (H. B., page 220). These exercises are used to give the boy a change as well as for physical development. Lesson 8 First Aid, (H. B., pages 255, 258). Review of drill, song, and flag salute. Lesson 9 Knot-tying. Two half hitches, Becket hitch, Fisherman's ben'd, Fisherman's knot, Fimber hitch, Garrick bend. Bandaging. Lesson 10 Study of body (First Aid, pages 5 to 7). Review. Games (H. B., 291). Drill. Lesson 11 Requirements of a Scout (See Era for March, 1912, or Manual for 1912-13). Something good every day (H. B., page 10). Lesson 12 Study of direction, stars, compass (H. B., pages 52 and 81). Tell how scouts and pioneers blazed the trail. If the sky is clear take the boys out and show them some of the prominent stars and star groups. definitions —A formation which the elements are placed one behind CoiiftjMN. in another. Element. — One of the similar parts of a larger as a a patrol, unit, file, troop, battalion, etc. File. — One or two men, according to whether the formation in is single rank or double rank. If in single rank, one man is a file; if in double rank, two men constitute one file, the file being composed of the man in the front rank, known as the file leader, and the man in the rear rank immediately behind him. In double rank formations where the rear rank may have no one behind a file leader, the file is known as a blank file. Flank. — The right or left element of a command in line or column. — Front. The space in width occupied by a command. The term is also used to denote the direction in which the elements of a command face. — Guide. An officer or man upon whom a command or element thereof regulates its march or upon whom, as a base, a formation is regulated. — Head. The leading element of a column. — Line. A formation in which the 'different elements are abreast of each other. — Rank. A line of men abreast of each other, as front rank or rear rank of a formation in double rank. — Close Formation. A formation in which the elements are placed with normal intervals or distances between them. — Open Formation, A formation in which the elements are. placed at intervals or distances greater than in close formation. — Patrol. The smallest unit of organization. A patrol consists of a captain, an assistant captain and six scouts. MUTUAL WORK 271 — Troop. A unit consisting of two or more patrols from the same ward under the direction of a scout leader. — Battalion. A unit consisting of two or more troops from the same stake under the direction of a stake scout leader. A provisional battalion is a unit composed of two or more troops without regard to their geographical location. — Athletic and Boy Scout Director. The highest officer in command in the M. I. A. Scouts. GENERAL RULES — To Form the Patrol. The scout leader directs Form the Patrols. : The patrol captain indicates to the assistant captain, who is the guide, where the patrol is to form, and directs, fall in. The guide faces to the front, and the other members take positions on his left until there are three in line and the other four fall in 40 inches in rear of the first three, ; in each case the tallest on the right, and the right rear rank man is directly behind the guide. The patrol captain then dresses the patrol to the right. The alignment being completed, the patrol captain directs: count off. At this command, all turn their heads and eyes to the right the right rear ; rank man calls One, the guide calls Two, the second man in the rear rank calls Three, the second man in the front rank calls Four, the next rear rank man calls Five and so on, all the men in the rear rank calling odd numbers and the men in the front rank calling even numbers. Each man as he calls off his number, turns his head and eyes to the front and stands at attention. the last man has counted, the patrol captain takes When his place as the fourth man in the front rank, No. 8. POSITION OF ATTENTION The of attention, at which all scouts should stand at all position times, whether at drill or not, and in which they should march when at drills'and walk whenever they walk, is as follows: Heels on the same line and as near each other as the conformation of man permits. , Feet turned out equally and forming with each other an angle of about 45 degrees. Knees straight without stiffness. Body erect on the hips, inclined a little forward. Shoulders square and falling equally. Arms and hands hanging naturally, backs of hands outward; little fingers opposite the seams of the trousers elbows near the ; body. < Head erect and square to the front, chin slightly drawn in without constraint, eyes straight to the front. _ It will be observed that the directions above begin at the heels and to the attenproceed upward in a manner easily learned. If this is called tion of scouts during instruction periods, they will more readily learn the the position. They should be taught to draw in the abdomen and raise the chest bv forcing the shoulders rearward and elevating the walls of _ the lungs with air in a chest by muscular action, rather than by filling constrained effort. The position acquired, soon becomes habitual and is conducive to good health and a graceful carriage. the rests ranks but will At the command fall out, the scouts may leave the in, they will remain in the immediate vicinity. At the command fall resume their former places at attention. . _ not place, but is At the command rest, each man keeps one heel in required to preserve silence or immobility. . heel in place and pre- At the command at ease, each man keeps one immobility. serves silence, but is not required to maintain ; 272 IMPROVEMENT ERA If command route order, the men keep their places marching, at the but are not required to keep the cadence step nor silence. in their patrols, If marching, at the command at ease, the men keep their places in their patrols and maintain silence but are not required to maintain their cadence step. Whether at halt or attention, the men resume the position of attention at the command : patrol attention. * COMMANDS The tone of command is animated, distinct, and of a loudness proportioned to the number of men under command. Preparatory commands are pronounced in an ascending tone of voice, but always in such a manner that the command of execution may be more energetic and elevated. Indifference in giving commands always leads to laxity in execution. The command of execution should be sharp, short, vigorous, and so animated that the men will instinctively respond instantly. — Right Face. Raise slightly the left heel and right toe; face to the right, turning on the right heel, assisted by a slight pressure on the ball of the! left foot place the left foot by the side of the right. Left face is ; executed similarly on the left heel, aided by the ball of the right foot. — About Face. Raise slightly the left heel and right toe; face to the rear, turnrng to the right on the right heel and the ball of the left foot replace the left foot beside the right. (Left about face is never executed.) — Right Hand Salute. Raise the right hand smartly till the tip of the fore finger touches the lower part of the headdress above the right eye, thumb and fingers extended and joined, palm to the left, forearm inclined at about 45 degrees, hand and wrists straight; at the same time look toward the person saluted. Scouts remain at the position of salute until their salute has been returned by the officer saluted or until he has passed six paces from the scout. Officers salute and immediately drop the hand to the side. Scouts salute with the hand farthest from the officer saluted. Officers always salute with the right hand unless it is engaged, when they salute with the left hand. STEPS AND MARCHINGS The length Of the full step in quick time is 30 inches, measured heel to heel; and the cadence is 120 steps per minute. Small boys may not be able to make the full length step and for this reason in marching the smaller boys should be at the head of the column and the larger boys be required to conform their steps to those of the smaller ones. The cadence, however, is always maintained at the full rate. — Forward, march. At the command Forward, throw the weight of the body upon the right leg, left knee straight. The position of the body must not be allowed to shift. At the command march, move the left leg smartly, but without jerk, straight forward 30 inches from the right, measuring from heel to heel, sole near the ground throw the weight of ; the body forward and plant the foot without shock weight of the body resting upon it next advance the right foot and plant it as above con- ; ; tinue the march. The arms hang naturally, the hands swinging about six inches to the front and three inches to the rear of the seam of the trousers. When necessary the instructor indicates the cadence by counting one, two, three, four the instant the left and right foot should be planted, counting one and three for the left foot. — For marching in double time 50 walking, 50 running. — Patrol (Troop, Battalion, etc.) halt. At the command halt, given as either foot strikes the ground, advance and plant the other foot; place the foot in the rear by the side of the other. — Mark Time, march. Execute halt, except that the cadence is con- MUTUAL WORK 273 tinued by alternately raising and planting each foot on a line with the other. The feet are raised about 4 inches from the ground and planted with the same energy as when advancing. — Half Step, march. Take steps of 15 inches. — Full Step, march. Resume the full step. Right Step,* march.— Carry and plant the right foot 10 inches to the right; bring the left foot beside it and continue the movement in the cadence of quick time. — Backward, march. At the command march, step back with the left foot 15 inches straight to the rear and so on, the feet alternating. At the command halt, bring back the foot in front to the side of the one in rear. Incline to the Right (or Left). The column moves to the right or left as indicated. Close up. This is the command given when the column, for any reason, has become prolonged. Each man closes up to his proper place. the patrol — Right, dress. All turn their heads and eyes to the right and place themselves so that the rank is in a straight line at the same time, the left ; hand is placed on the left hip, palm of the hand against the body and thumb to the front, the elbow to the left and just touching the right elbow of the man on the left. At the command front, all resume the position of attention. — Forward, march. Each man marches to the front at the command march, keeping abreast of the man next to him on his right; the front of the patrol a straight line. Patrol Right Turn, march.—The man on the right of the patrol marks time, turning to the right in marching the man on the left flank takes the ; full step, marching on the arc of a quarter circle to the right; the men between the two flanks conform their steps to the pivot and the marching flank so as to keep the front of the patrol a straight line. When the turn to the right is completed, the scouts mark time until the command Full Step, march, when all move to the front in quick time. Patrol Left Turn, march.— Executed same as above but to left. Column Right march.—The man on the right of the leading element marches with half step on the arc of a quarter circle whose diameter is 15 inches; the man on the left taking full step marches to the right on the arc of a quarter circle, the men between the pivot and the marching flank conforming their march to them and continuing the march in the new direction as soon as the turn has been completed without marking time. This command may be used for a column of files, two, four, troops or larger units. Form Files.— At the command, files, being in column of twos, each rear rank man places himself behind his front rank man. To Form Column of Twos.— At the command, Form twos, being in column of files, each rear rank man places himself abreast of his file leader on the same side as he was before files were formed. The habitual formation in which the patrol will march will be a the column of twos, formed by the captain causing his patrol to face to rio-ht or left before giving the command, Forward, march. He will elsewhere to habitually march as No. 8, unless his presence is required observe the march or give instructions. When acting alone, the captain may give the command followwith- me, when the patrol will conform to his movements, changing direction patrol, the assistout further commands. When the captain is leading the observe the march ant captain will march in the rear, two of the patrol to marching. In and to recover any articles which may be dropped while following the captain after this command the members of the patrol will march at route order unless directed to march at ease. Passing Events Sir Thomas Lipton, the British sportsman, multi-millionaire, and merchant, visited Salt Lake City, December 1, and v/as entertained by Ex-Senator Thomas Kearns, at the Alta Club. Carl A. Ek, a stone-cutter by trade, for ten years since its organization bishop of the Twenty-fifth ward, Salt Lake City, widely known as a great friend of children and the poor, died November 8, 1912. He was born in Skokloster, Sweden, June 10, 1845, joined the Church in 1871, and came to Utah in 1878. A widow and ten children survive him. James W. Ure, a prominent business man, a pioneer of 1849, and a leading member of the Deseret Sunday School Union Board, died in Salt Lake City, December 10, 1912. He was born in England, October 21, 1847, and two years later came to Utah with his parents. He was a devoted Latter-day Saint, a conservative and able counselor, and a man of faith, works, and character. Mary Pearce Ballantyne, widow of the late Richard Ballantyne, founder of the Sunday school among the Latter-day Saints, died at the home of her daughter, Jane B. Anderson, Salt Lake City, Nov. 26,- 1912. She was born in London, England, Oct. 1, 1828, came to Utah in 1855, and was a faithful member of the Church. She is survived by six children, forty-eight grandchildren, and twenty-three great grandchildren. The Utah Educational Association held its nineteenth session in SaltLake City during the closing days of November. The attendance was larger than ever before. More than 3,000 teachers were in regular attendance. G. N. Child was unanimously chosen president of the organization. Many important school topics were discussed by leading educators. Alma W. Richards, Utah's premier athlete, winner of the high jump at Stockholm and holder of the Olympic record in that event, left Tuesday, Dec. 3, for San Francisco, where he was to become a member of the American track team which sailed for Australia on December 11. Coach E. L. Roberts of the Brigham Young University, where Richards was developed, was to accompany him. They were expected to be gone two months. David Eccles, financier, and founder of manufacturing and business enterprises in Utah, Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming, fell suddenly in Salt Lake City, December 5, 1912, as he was returning up-