--- 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: 8 published: 1913-06 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: The New Traveling Secretary," *Improvement Era* 16, no. 8 (June 1913): 833–837.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1608unse 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: improvementera1608unse start_page: 833 end_page: 837 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1913-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1608unse 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: The New Traveling Secretary Mutual Work The New Traveling Secretary The creation, by the General Board, of the new office of traveling secretary is one of the most important actions taken in the Young Men's Association in many years. If an athletic director is necessary, one whose duty it is to look after the sports and amusements of the young men, surely a mental and spiritual director, if we may so speak, is even more necessary, one whose work it will be to direct the intellectual and religious activities of our boys. Indeed, this second office was inevitable on the creation of the first, and was almost presupposed by it. The duties of the new officer, as already hinted, will be to inspire and guide the higher activities of our young men. It will be his duty to travel from stake to stake in the interest of the M. I. A. He will direct the reading, debating, the class work, and very much of the convention work of the organization. Also he will incidentally be expected to have something to do with the fund and the circulation of the Improvement Era, for an association, like a man, must live. The person chosen by the Board to undertake this important work is Oscar A. Kirkham. And a batter man it would hardly be possible to find. It is seldom that we see so complete fitness of the work and the man as we have here. We agree heartily with what Prof. John H. Evans of the L. D. S. U. says of him and his calling in the following: "Oscar A. Kirkham has unbounded enthusiasm and energy, which he will put into this work. This is his nature. He is not assuming a duty for which he has to pump up an interest. That interest he has always had. The boy problem doesn't bother Oscar Kirkham. He is interested in the boy. And when you are interested in the boy the boy problem vanishes. Contact with this man's wonderful, ardent sympathy for the young men of the Church is all that is needed to start any of them to doing something. The writer heard the other day this compliment to Brother Kirkham, after he had spoken at an M. I. A. gathering: 'You go away feeling ashamed that you haven't done something better in life, and determined to do that something!' "But Oscar Kirkham is not merely enthusiastic and energetic. OSCAR A. KIRKHAM He 834 IMPROVEMENT ERA is also intellectual. His judgment is sound. He says good things, things it is worth while to remember. He has for years been connected with one of the best educational institutions in this part of the country— the Latter-day Saints' High School, — where he has come in contact with the best educational thought of the times. He has studied and traveled abroad. He has always been a wide reader. And these qualifications, added to a naturally splendid understanding, warrant us in believing that he will render incalculable service to the Associations in elevating and keeping up the standard of efficiency of our boys in the work to which life has called them. "The writer is optimistic as to the outcome of this important movement conducted under the supervision of this capable man. But he cannot work alone. He must have help. Let no one stand by with his hands in his pockets looking on to see how the thing will go. This is no time for silence and sloth. Whenever Oscar A. Kirkham comes to your stake or ward, round up your boys and let him touch them with his magic wand." Rules for Ward and Stake Athletics Recommended by the Athletic Committee Y. M. M. I. A. The Athletic Committee have adopted, with a few minor changes in wording, the "Athletic Rules of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States," and recommend that all ward and stake athletic activities be governed by the same. Complete amateur athletic rules may be had at any sporting goods house. Rule I. Officials. Section 1. All amateur meetings shall be under the direction of The Athletic Committee, One Referee, Two or more Inspectors, Three Judges at Finish, Three or more Field Judges, Three or more Timekeepers, One Starter, One Clerk of the Course, One Scorer, One Marshal. Sec. 2. If deemed necessary, assistants may be provided for the Clerk of the Course, the Scorer, and the Marshal, and an Official Announcer may be appointed. Rule II. The Athletic Committee shall consist of members of Y. M. M. I. A. chosen by ward or stake M. I. A. officers. This committee shall have jurisdiction of all matters not assigned by these rules to the Referee or other games officials. Rule III. The Referee shall decide all questions relating to the actual conduct of the meeting, whose final settlement is not otherwise covered by these rules. He alone shall have the power to change the order of events as laid down in the official programme, and to add to or to alter the announced arrangement of heats in any event. A referee has no authority, after heats have been duly drawn and published in a programme, to transfer a contestant from one heat to another. When in any but the final heat of a race, a claim of foul or interference is made, he shall have the power to disqualify the competitor who was at fault, if he considers the foul intentional or due to culpable carelessness, and shall also have the power to allow the hindered competitor to start in the next round of heats, just as if he had been placed in his trial. When, in a final heat, a claim of foul or interference is made, he shall have the power to disqualify the competitor who was at fault, if he considers the foul intentional or due to culpable carelessness, and he shall also have the power to order a new race between such of the competitors as he thinks entitled to such a privilege. MUTUAL WORK 835 If, during any athletic contest under the rules of the Amateur Athletic Union, a competitor shall conduct himself in a manner unbecoming a gentleman, or offensive to the officials, spectators or competitors, the referee shall have the power to disqualify him from further competition at the meeting. Rule IV. The Inspectors. It shall be the duty of an Inspector to stand at such point as the Referee may designate; to watch the competition closely, and in case of a claim of foul to report to the Referee what he saw of the incident. Such Inspectors are merely assistants to the Referee, to whom they shall report, and have no power to make any decisions. Rule V. The Judges at Finish shall determine the order of finishing of contestants and shall arrange among themselves as to noting the winner, second, third, fourth, etc., as the case may require. Their decision in this respect shall be without appeal, and in case of disagreement a majority shall govern. Rule VI. The Field Judges shall make an accurate measurement, and keep a tally of all competitors in the high and broad jumps, the pole vault, the weight competitions and the tug of war. They shall act as judges of these events, and their decisions, as to facts, shall likewise be without appeal. In case of disagreement a majority shall govern. Rule VII. The Timekeepers shall be three in number. They shall individually time all events where time record is required, and determine among themselves and announce the official time of each heat or race. Should two of the three watches mark the same time and the third disagree, the time marked by the two watches shall be accepted. Should all three disagree, the time marked by the intermediate watch shall be accepted. The flash of the pistol shall denote the actual time of starting. If, for any reason, only two watches record the time of an event, and they fail to agree, the longest time of the two shall be accepted. Note. — For record, however, three watches must be held on an event. See Rule IV.. General Rules of the Amateur Athletic Union. Rule VIII. The Starter shall have sole jurisdiction over the competitors after the Clerk of the Course has promptly placed them in their positions for the start. The method of starting shall be by pistol report, except that in time handicap races the word "go" shall be used. An actual start shall not be effected until the pistol has been purposely discharged after the competitors have been warned to get ready. In case the pistol was not purposely discharged the competitors shall be called back by the starter by pistol fire. Note.— The starter must have at least two good cartridges in his pistol before starting a heat. When any part of the person of a competitor shall touch the ground in front of his mark before the starting signal is given, it shall be considered a false start. Penalties for false starting shall be inflicted by the Starter, as follows: In all races up to and including 125 yards the competitor shall be put back one vard for the first and another yard for the second attempt; in races over 125 yards and including 300 yards, two yards for the first and two more for 'the second attempt; in races over 300 yards and including 600 yards, three yards for the first and and three more for the second attempt: in races over 600 yards and including 1,000 yards, four yards for the first and four more for the second attempt: in races 836 IMPROVEMENT ERA over 1,000 yards and including one mile, five yards for the first and five more for the second attempt; in all races over one mile, ten yards for the first and ten more for the second attempt. In all cases the third false start shall disqualify the offender from that event. The starter shall also rule out of that event any competitor who attempts to advance himself from his mark, as prescribed in the official programme after the starter has given the warning to "get ready." Rule IX. The Clerk of the Course shall be provided with the names and the numbers of all entered competitors, and he shall notify them to appear at the starting line before the start in each event in which they are entered. In case of handicap events from marks, he shall place each competitor behind his proper mark; shall immediately notify the Starter should any competitor attempt to advance himself after the Starter has warned them to "get ready ;" and in time allowance handicaps shall furnish the Starter with the number and time allowance of each actual competitor. He shall control his assistants, and assign to them such duties as he may deem proper. In all track competition run in lanes the choice of lanes shall be drawn for in each heat; in all other track competitions the positions shall be numbered from the curb or pole and shall be drawn for according to clubs in scratch events, and in handicap events the competitors shall be allotted their positions by the Clerk of the Course. Rule XI. The Scorer shall record the order in which each competitors finishes his event, together with the time furnished him by the Timekeepers. He shall keep a tally of the laps made by each competitor in races covering more than one lap, and shall announce by means of a bell, or otherwise, when the leading man enters the last dap. He shall control his assistants, and assign to them such of his duties as he may deem proper. Rule XII. The Marshal shall have full police charge of the enclosure, and shall prevent any but officials and actual competitors from entering or remaining therein. He shall control his assistants, and assign to them their duties. Rule XIII. The Official Announcer shall receive from the Scorer and Field Judges the result of each event, and announce the same by voice, or by means of a bulletin board. Rule XIV. Trainers and handlers shall not be allowed within the center field or inner field, or on the track immediately prior to or during competitions at any meeting except in distance races of five miles or over. Rule XV. Competitors shall report to the Clerk of the Course immediately upon their arrival at the place of meeting, and shall be provided by that official with their proper numbers, which must be worn conspicuously by the competitors when competing, and without which they shall not be allowed to start. Each competitor shall inform himself of the time of starting, and shall be promptly at the starting point of each competition in which he is entered, and there report to the Clerk of the Course. Under no condition shall any attendants be allowed to accompany competitors at the start or during any competition, except in match races, where special agreement may be made. Rule XVI. Protests against any entered competitor may be made verbally or in writing to the Athletic Committee or any member thereof before the meeting, or to the Referee during the meeting. If possible, the Committee or Referee shall decide such protests at once. If the nature of the protest or the necessity of obtaining testimony prevents an immediate decision, the competitor shall be allowed to MUTUAL WORK 837 compete under protest, and the protest shall be decided by the Athletic Committee within one week. Rule XVII. Track Measurement. All distances run or walked shall be measured upon a line eighteen inches outward from the inner edge of the track, except that in races on straightaway tracks the distances shall b'e measured in a direct line from the starting mark to the finishing line. Rule XVIII. The Course. Each competitor shall keep in his respective position from start to finish in all races on straightaway tracks, and in all races on tracks with one or more turns he shall not cross to the inner edge of the track, except when he is at least six feet in advance of his nearest competitor. After turning the last corner into the straight in any race, each competitor must keep a straight course to the finish line, and not cross, either to the outside or the inside, in front of any of his opponents. In all championship races of the Amateur Athletic Union, or any of it sassociations, at any distance under and including 300 yards, each competitor shall have a separate course, properly roped, staked and measured, whether the race be run on a straight path or around one or more curves. The Referee shall disqualify from that event any competitor who wilfully pushes against, impedes, crosses the course of, or in any way interferes with another competitor. The Referee shall disqualify from further participation in the games any contestant competing to lose, to coach, or to in any way impede the chances of another competitor either in a trial or final contest. (to be continued in next number) M. I. A. Scouts. — One of the wards doing active scout work among the boys of the Mutual Improvement Association is the Thirty-second ward, of Pioneer Stake, Salt Lake City. Though a small ward, they have there many enthusiastic supporters among the boys. The pictures were taken on one of their night "hikes" to Ensign Peak. The boys left the Eagle Gate at seven p. m. and figured on returning at ten. They have two patrols organized under the care of Scout Leader Andrew A. Anderson, and Assistant Scout Leader Bruno Lange. Both of the leaders attended a series of instructions given in the Deseret Gymnasium for the benefit of the scout leaders and organizers, and have found the lessons given there to be of great value in their work. The pictures were taken by flashlight. The first is on Ensign Peak at nine p.m., and the other is taken in the timbers, in City Creek canyon, by H. N. Anderson.