--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Merrill, H. R. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 16 number: 4 published: 1913-02 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Merrill, H. R., \"Church School Department: The Purpose of Founder's Day; Dr. George H. Brimhall,\" *Improvement Era* 16, no. 4 (February 1913): 394–398." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1604unse 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: improvementera1604unse start_page: 394 end_page: 398 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1913-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1604unse 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. --- # Church School Department: The Purpose of Founder's Day; Dr. George H. Brimhall 392 IMPROVEMENT ERA "Get the boy into the association, and make it worth while for him to stay there," is the slogan we should adopt. Your brethren, Committee on Stake Work of General Board Y. M. M. I. A. By Heber J. Grant, Chairman. February Class in Athletics On Monday, February 10, the second M. I. A. Normal Training Course for this season will be opened at the Deseret Gymnasium^nd will continue for four weeks. This will permit the young men to return home in time for the spring plowing. While it is desirable that young men be called to take this course who have sufficient education and ability to become leaders, it is assmned that most men of this type are so engaged in business and professional duties that they could take the work only at a great sacrifice. It is, therefore, considered wise to open this course to young men who may not be identified with Mutual work, and who may now be spending their time to very little purpose at home. These men would be immeasurably benefited by taking this course, and in many instances would develop into successful leaders and trainers. The nature of the work is such that it becomes fascinating to boys who ofttimes find little or no interest in other activities. Many young men are neither able nor qualified to go on foreign missions, but could and would, if they were called, take this course, and we are safe in saying that no other brief mission would be of greater benefit to them. It is suggested that at least one or more young men in each ward be called to take this work at his own expense. Instructions in field and track events, scout work, swimming, games and dancing, will be given. The work is all given by experienced teachers, who are experts in their lines. The classes meet five hours each day. The expense for board, tuition, books, gymnasium suit, etc., need not exceed $35. Bountiful Scout Banquet On December 13, 1912, the Bountiful M. I. A. Scouts gave their first annual banquet under the direction of L. D. Briggs, the scout leader. Thirty-two boys made up the troop. The affair was given in honor of the boys' parents, all of whom were present. The program of toasts was the following, L. F. Muir acting as toastmaster: "What the Boy Scouts Can Do for Bountiful," Mayor Charles R. Mabey; "The Clean Young Man," John R. Rampton; "The Cold- Water Cure," President Joseph H. Grant; "The Boy as the Future Business Man," Richard Stringham; "The Man and the Maid," Apostle Heber J. Grant; MUTUAL WORK 393 "The Relation of Scout and Parent," John H. Taylor; "The Boy on the Farm," Prof. Lewis; 'The Athletic Young Man," E. Conway Ashton; "The Country Boy," Prof. W. M. Stewart; "Pioneer Trails in Salt Lake Valley," Brigham H. Roberts. During the serving of refreshments and between the toasts, the Scout band and the Scout chorus rendered several musical selections. The Third Y. M. M. I. A. Normal Training Class Commenced November 25, 1912, and closed December 20. The Y. L. M. I. A. course was given at the same time, and was under the direction of Miss Anna Nebeker, physical director of women at the Deseret Gymnasium. On the afternoon of the 20th a luncheon was tendered to the classes by the General Boards of the two associations. Alpine Front row, left to right: Fern Chipman, American Fork, Bear Lake stake; Harvey Young, stake; Myrtle Dalrymple, Montpelier, stake; Anna Fruitland, Young stake; Nellie Howson, Nephi, Juab Huisser, Weston, Oneida stake; Lucretis Lyman, Grayson, San Juan stake- BelleStringham, Bountiful, Davis stake. Back row: Robert scout director; Richardson, instructor; Dr. John H. Taylor, M. I. A. stake; John Col- Clarence A. Oldroyd, Fountain Green, South Sanpete Paris, Bear Lake stake; Arthur Cahoon, Deseret, Deseret stake; lins Norman S. Felsted, Thomas, Blackfoot stake; Willard Chnstensen, Benja- Oak City, Deseret stake; Henry Voyce, Oakley, Cassia stake; Day, physical director Deseret min Harker, instructor; William E. viz., F. J. Gymnasium. Besides these, three others attended the class, Wheeler, Kimball, Alta., Canada; Nye, Albion, Cassia stake; Elmer Lovell, Oak Creek, Deseret stake, Utah. and Sylva by we stand under many By Faith We Stand.-"Happily faith things we do not understand."-George H. Brimhall. Church School Department The Purpose cf Founder's Day. —This paper was read at the celebration of Founders' day at the 'Oneida Stake Academy, by H. R. Merrill: We are met here today to celebrate the birthday of our beloved institution, which has successfully baltled the storms and the hardships of twenty-five long years, and to do honor to the memory of him who brought it into being. It has been a custom with man since very early days to commemorate deeds of importance by means of appropriate celebrations. This procedure seems to have received divine favor, for, in the day when Israel was delivered from the hands of the destroyer, while yet they sojourned in the land of Egypt, the Lord himself instituted a yearly celebration which was called the Passover, by means of which that act of Divine Providence was kept continuously before the minds of the people. Since that time the Israelites have preserved that time-honored tradition which has come down to our day as one of their most important sacraments. Nearly all nations have a thanksgiving time. The ancient Hebrews called their celebration Pentecost, and upon that day the people would assemble and give thanks unto God for his great and good gifts; for the bounteous harvests and the health and comfort of his people. Our nation has many such yearly celebrations; our Church has others, but the Oneida stake has one also. Our traditions, our sacred memories, cling about this one day — Founder's Day! This is our Pentecost, our thanksgiving time. We are met here, not altogether to thank the Great Giver for a harvest of wheat or of hay, but for the conditions which make possible a great and bounteous harvest of bright, intelligent souls! We are here to thank him because twenty-five years ago, while yet this fair plain was barren; while Preston was but a garden spot in a wilderness of sage, he moved upon a noble leader of our Church, and lo, this beloved institution was born. This monument was set up in a desert place around which our people might rally to the call of education. The influence that such an institution has in a community is sometimes overlooked by the careless or the unthinking, but never by the trained student of humanity. A seminary of learning is as a light set upon a hill. It sheds its radiance upon all who are afar off; its celestial rays penetrate to the darkest depths of the human heart. As the puny flowed of the shaded canyon lift their heads to the light of the sun, so, unconsciously, do individuals respond to the genial rays which proceed from it, and their souls are lifted up; their aims are raised; their aspirations are heightened, and many become masters of their own lives. History bears me out in this statement. CHURCH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT 395 Nearly three hundred years ago, away back in 1636, those brave Puritan forefathers of ours, realizing what education meant to a people, caused their general court to vote four hundred pounds for the purpose of establishing a college at Newton. Two years later John Harvard gave his large and valuable library, and donated seven hundred and fifty pounds to the new institution which took his name and became one of the very greatest of our educational shrines. Harvard University will stand as a glorious monument to his name as long as time shall last. Now let us see what that Founder's Day meant to Boston and New England. Let us see if all that work was worth while; if the college was a light set upon a hill; she did raise the aims of her if devoted subjects. Of course, an affirmative reply is already found in every mind present here today, because ever since our district school days,we have heard Boston spoken of as the Athens of America, the The seeds of her power were planted at hub, the center of culture. Newton, which has since become Cambridge, upon that great day in 1636. In later years the light which had been kindled and which had been kept aglow by John Harvard, drew from the rocky soil of New England to dizzy heights of fame, a number of boys who became the most brilliant men in our nation's history. Whittier, Longfellow, Lowell, Emerson, Holmes, Grey, Adams and a Host of others were moved upon by the spirit of that great seminary, and as a result they have shed light unto the whole world by means of their immortal writings, and the end is not yet. What is true of Harvard is true of other large universities, and of secondary schools, to a lesser degree, of course. Since very early times empire has set her face toward the Occident; her course is toward the setting sun, conesquently the centers of learning are gradually moving westward. One hundred years ago the great city of Chicago was but a frontier fort, but she grew in importance until the seeds of another great university were planted there on the shores of Lake Michigan, where they were carfully nourished, until today the University of Chicago is taking her place among the foremost schools of our land, and here again the refining, elevating influence of culture is felt. Young men and young women by the thousands are going up to that institution every year to drink from the fountains of knowledge. From the Oneida Stake Academy, with her two hundred students, to Harvard with her thousands, may seem a long step, but American life abounds in such paradoxes — it is a big step from a log cabin to the White House; from rail splitter to president. All great men commence life in the cradle; most institutions grow from small beginnings, but the heights to which the man shall attain are determined only by his own potential powers; the institution has no limits of growth. This Academy is small, but has sprung from selected seeds, culti- — 396 IMPROVEMENT ERA vated by the most careful and prayerful thought of the worthy pioneers of this section, therefore, its power of evolution is infinite. Even now, from her ever-burning taper small candles have been, and others may yet be, lighted, whose flames may become so brilliant that the whole world may be illuminated. The purpose of this celebration, then, is the perpetuation of the name of President John Taylor, who, through inspiration from on high, brought this institution into being. We meet once a year to do honor to his sacred memory, and to the memories of all the honest souls who contributed their hard-earned means toward the erection of this building, and to tender our loyal support to this our school. We believe that this course is right, since this institution has done as much toward the uplifting of our people as any other influence which has been at work in our community; it has done more toward planting in the hearts of young women and young men a desire to be somebody than any other institution outside of the home. It has discouraged the scrubs. It has set up a standard of excellence which will help to draw every individual of our community up to its own level. It is shaping, to a certain extent, the ideals and the characters of every boy and every girl of this stake, whether they ever enter these portals or not. Founder's Day is, therefore, the day of days unto us! The business men of our city today are paying a beautiful tribute to our institution and to the memory of its noble founder, by closing their shops. We believe that they can well afford to do so, to gather here and draw from the spirit of this institution and these exercises new strength and desires to aid them in their future lives. It is upon such occasions as these that we gain the power to hear the songs which are always to be heard somewhere, if the heart be perfectly attuned: There is ever a song somewhere, my dear; There is ever a something sings alway: There's the song of the lark when the skies are clear, And the song of the thrush when the sky is gray. The sunshine showers across the grain. And the blue-bird trills in the orchard tree; And in and out, when the eaves drip rain, The swallows are twittering ceaselessly. There is ever a song somewhere, my dear,. Be the skies above or dark or fair, There is ever a song that our hearts may hear — There is ever a song somewhere, my dear There is ever a song, somewhere! There is ever a song somewhere, my dear. In the midnight black, or the mid-day blue; The robin pipes when the sun is here, And the' cricket chirrups the whole night through; The buds may blow, and the fruit may grow, And the autumn leaves drop crisp and sear; But whether the sun, or the rain, or the snow, There is ever a son,a: somewhere, my dear!