--- 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: 17 number: 5 published: 1914-03 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* 17, no. 5 (March 1914): 488–494." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1705unse 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: improvementera1705unse start_page: 488 end_page: 494 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1705unse publication_year: 1914 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 1914, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Mutual Work Mutual Work What can be Done with the Boys, Brethren?11 BY OSCAR A. KIRKHAM I think there are very few of the stakes but are anxious for, if not quite fully converted and ready to undertake, the M. I. A. boy scout movement. Instructions from the General Board say that it is nc longer in the experimental stage. We are instructed to go ahead and organize. Now, the big problem is how to organize. I want to repeat once more the appeal that Brother Hinckley made for this organization; if there is a corner, if there is a place or a class or an organization in the Church that really calls for a man of specific qualities, it is this organization. Just this one illustration of that point, for it is vital to the success of the organization of scout movements in your wards: I made an appeal to a bishop in Salt Lake City for a leader for the boys in a ward, and I went that evening to assist him in organizing and getting the boys together. The bishop came into the room after we had adjourned from the regular meeting, and these red-blooded boys were waiting, pitching around in the chairs, talking and looking out of the window, and daring some fellows outside to throw a snow ball at the pane of glass. In came the bishop and said, "Sit up. Sit up." They had heard that before, for they did not obey him. Then the bishop took hold of them, sat them down, and said: "Now, be still, Brother Kirkham is here!" That outdoor element had been asserting itself for years and years, and the counselors often had to leave the stand, and go out, and at the bishop's call: "Brother So-and-so, take care of that 'bunch,' scatter those boys, scatter them somewhere, they are disturbing the meeting." Why, they are disturbing the good brother who is up preaching the very dry sermon, and are disturbing the slumbering, the sleeping, of the members in the audience! But I appealed to that bishop for a man, and do you know, when I asked him he said, "Well, who can we have?" and I suggested to him one of the Sunday school superintendencv. "O no! O no!" "Well," I said, "all right, how big a problem is this in your ward? Do you want a ten-cent man to fill a hundred-dollar job? How big a problem is this that you have demonstrated right here to me tonight? This is one of the biggest problems in your ward." He said, "Why, it is." And I said, "Why then do you hunt for a second or a third place man to take it?" Now. the thing is that if the job is worth while, those boys are worth while, it is worth while for the bishop to make the necessary sacrifice. And that man did finally, — not have to make the sacrifice; but, fortunately, we found a man. In other wards, sacrifices were made, but in this instance a man was found, came in with the boys. *This spirited fifteen-minute talk, in one of the officers' meetings of the Y. M. M. I. A. June Conference, 1913, should be read in every monthly officers' meeting throughout the Church. MUTUAL WORK 489 They were fidgety, of course, they were a bunch of live wires up and down the rows of benches. They always measured a fellow, "Here he comes with a Sunday school talk for us," and they go on with their bouncing along the benches. Finally, if the man is really worth while, if the man has really a message for them, they will listen, and obey; and if you men do not have success, I am quite safe in saying you have no message, you are not prepared. If you have something to say and you are prepared, they will listen to you, and they will respond closely. This man came. He is no great preacher. He just talked easy with them, and before long they were listening to him. They said, "All_ right, let's do something." He did not keep on preaching. He went into a vacant room and got them going through some exercises and physical contests. Now they are standing by that man. The clique has been destroyed. Part of the bishop's troubles are ended, in that respect. That man has ten of those boys fixing up vacant lots where tin cans and rubbish were destroyed, and where cliques assembled during the week. He is doing things, and he is saving thoroughbreds, not the slum of London or New York, but thoroughbreds, our own flesh and blood, born under the covenant. Now that is what can be done, brethren, if you go out and get the spirit of this thing, and make a sincere appeal for the real live man. Get hold of the material. First go over it yourself, get this movement in your own heart, and then go out and get the bishop, and ask for men. Do not start it, do not get the enthusiasm of the public worked all up and going, and the boys excited about getting into these "hikes," until you have discovered a man, a leader in this work! Then the thing will grow right. It will grow, perhaps, slowly, but it will grow right, and in the manner that will count, and not after a little season of newness be gone again. This work has come to stay, and it is going to save a great many of bur boys. After the man has been discovered, how are we to organize? Get that man interested in the literature of the Boy Scouts of America. I hope that the book stores will have sold out, before this conference is over, all their books, "The Boy Scouts of America," twenty-five cents; and you have not read a book worth more to you for twenty-five cents than that book is. And when I come around to your stakes, I will give you the twenty-five cents, if I am not speaking the truth. Get the spirit of this work. You cannot find a man unless you have the spirit of it yourself. You do not know what you are looking for. Then, after you have found this man, this scout master, have him get his certificate. By the way, we belong to the National organization. We have joined the National organization in this great movement for the salvation of boys. All M. I. A. boy scouts are under the direction of Dr. John H. Taylor, and through him, and not through a local organization, you must get the master's certificates and other information generally obtained through the local council organization. "Tack up" with Brother Taylor to the National organization. Twentyfive cents is the necessary fee. After you have your man, then call a meeting of the boys. Do something at that meeting. Do not go and give a long talk on theory. I went to one stake where they really had an excellent paper on boy scout work, which ought to be published in the Era; but while we were in that room talking about the boy scout movement, the room was closed up and some of the brethren had gone to sleep, and I noticed over by the door a man with a star on. He left the room, and while this most excellent paper was given on boy scout work, the sheriff was out arresting "Mormon" boys, putting them in the city jail. Now this thought! Boys do not want to be talked to; you have 490 IMPROVEMENT ERA got to do things with them. You cannot give beautiful papers on boy scout work, and tell what a fine thing this is for the boys. Somebody, somewhere, must make, — not a sacrifice, — but an effort, they must do something, and then feel a thrill that they never felt before. The Spirit of the Lord will come into the hearts of men when they start to save boys, as it never came before. They are responsive, those noble little fellows, and they will warm your hearts. There is nothing like it. Get a few of them together, and bring with you a piece of rope, and have them tie knots. Show them some new "stunts." They have thrown that rope over the old mare's neck, and tied up the calf and had it slip. Show them one that will never slip. Make a calf of one of them, and see if he can make it slip. Do a few simple things, for boys do love to do things, and in that you can teach them. Start out first with a few, do not try to rally in all the Sunday school, all the lesser Priesthood. Just get a few, a few of the leaders of the boys, and let this thing grow up slowly. Then, as it takes on force, the boys will grow to it, and be forever impressed that this is a serious matter. Always keep in mind that there is something really to do. and that it is not all fun and pleasure. The election comes. The specific organization is in patrols. A patrol consists of eight boys. Out of that eight comes a patrol leader, and an assistant patrol leader. In the scout organization, the boys have a voice as to who is to be the leader. They choose from their own rank and file of these eight who shall be their leader. Do not do that at once. Let them work together a while. Let the bovs show who takes the natural initiative, and then if you are a careful diplomat, and with a little tact, you will be able to guide them carefully in the appointment of the right boy. While they will have their freedom and have the say so, while they will elect him by their own vote, if you are tactful, you will get the right man into the position of patrol leader and assistant patrol leader. These eight ordinary members form the patrol. After you form one patrol, then vou may form another and another. In some wards we have as high as six patrols in one ward; that is, six eights. These different patrols joined together make a scout troop. Always impress the boys that this scout work is a part of the Mutual Improvement work, and is not an organization aside from the Mutual Improvement work. It is a part of the already established and organized work among the boys of our Church. Now, as to troop clothes, the samples are over in the Era office if you would like to see them. But remember ever, do not order the troop clothes or the costume of the boy scout at once. Wait, wait! Let them understand it thoroughly. Clothes do not make real scouts, but a good turn every day. They pull out their necktie and go down the street. "I must do a good turn today. What will it be? What is this flopping? I have not done the good turn." And thev see an aged woman crossing the street. A street car is coming. "My goodness, there is my chance:" and out the boy comes and says, "May I assist you across the road?" The old lady smiles at him. Or he may see a piece of glass that an automobile may run over, and put the glass in the gutter. Those are good turns, and in goes his tie. These are the things that build up scout work, not the clothes. But if you would like to see the good quality of the kind that has been developed by the National organization, by competition by different manufac turers, they are on hand at the Era office. Come and look them over, and enquire as to prices, and so on. The examinations and details of this work can ever be had by MUTUAL WORK 491 corresponding with Dr. Taylor, at the Deseret Gymnasium This man is at your service, and so am I, in this and other works. Show your interest in corresponding and trying to get into touch with us arid by answering our letters and the letters from the Era office bhow us that you have something, and then when we come be prepared to make the best use of us. Many of you people who have come to these meetings, perhaps have thought that there was some temperance organization using this hall and had placed up this sign, (pointing to a large banner): "We stand for a weekly half-holiday and a sacred Sabbath." That banner was made for us. It is the motto of this convention, although no reference has been made to it yet. Perhaps it is more stirring than the spoken words. One of the hardest problems in my opinion that the Church has to solve is what to do on Sunday afternoon. One thing that we have felt, and by demonstration in different stakes proved, is that if we join with the boys for a weekly half-holiday, we will have solved a great deal, not all perhaps, but we will have solved a great deal of the sacred Sabbath problem. Join the boys in the things that they want to do, for they are not in touch yet, because of lack of education and lack of growth in many ways, with the things that we love. Join them in the things that they love. Be willing to sacrifice the office and the farm work they will do for the half day. I believe I can prove from experience that a boy will do as much work in five and a half days as he will in six, where he is not given a half holiday. Join them in the things that they love, and they will join you in the things that you love. May God help us in this splendid work of redeeming the boys, is my sincere prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Two Winners in Last Season's Beet Contest At the State Fair last fall, the boys whose pictures are herewith presented, won the first and second prizes in the Boys' Beet Club of SPENCER HISLOP, AGE 14 MILTON COWLEY, AGE 15 492 IMPROVEMENT ERA Utah, as inaugurated by the Utah Agricultural College Extension Division. The boys are both M. I. A. members, and were encouraged to join the Agricultural Club through the Vocations and Industries Committee of the M. I. A. of North Weber stake. These clubs are intended to stimulate an interest in agricultural work, and this year the M. I. A. Vocations Committee are encouraging the co-operation of our organizations with the Agricultural College in both sugar beet and potato clubs. The winner of the first prize was Milton Cowley, age fifteen, of Wilson ward; and the winner of the second prize, Spencer Hislop, age fourteen, of West Weber ward. The boys were required to contract for one-half acre of beets and both of them did the work themselves. The work consisted of plowing, preparation of the land for seed bed, care of the crop, etc. They were besides required to keep a record of their work as prescribed by the Agricultural College. They were judged on the following points: yield 70%, shape 10%, size 10%, record 10%. It is expected that many of our M. I. A. boys will join the potato and beet clubs during the season of 1914. The Vocations Committee are also arranging for launching a boys' half-acre contest, aside from the beet and potato contests. Mutual Work A three-days' session of scout work and other Mutual activities, conducted by Scout Commissioner John H. Taylor, was held at the Snow Academy, February 2-4. Sixty men, representing South Sanpete, North Sanpete, Wayne, and Sevier stakes, were enrolled, includ- MEMBERS OF THE M. I. A. CLASS, IN FRONT OF THE ACADEMY, EPHRAIM MUTUAL WORK 493 ing two stake superintendents, board members presidents and counselors of wards, senior and junior class teachers and scout masters. At the close of the class all voted the course a profitable one. The representatives from Wayne stake experienced great difficulty in getting to the class on account of the heavy snows on the mountains, which took them nearly three days to reach the railroad line, where ordinarily they make the trip in one day. Besides scout work, methods in teaching, and presentation of lesson work, vocations, social work and dancing were taken up by the classes. On Tuesday night a dance was given in honor of the visiting Mutual Improvement workers in which the new dances were introduced. Beaver and St. George M.I. A.— New Superintendents Field Secretary Oscar A. Kirkham reports good success in thethree days' session held at the Murdock Academy in Beaver, January 26, 27, 28. Renewed interest in Mutual Improvement work, it is hoped, will result from his efforts there. Some twenty-three officers attended and they were well satisfied with the work and received new ideas for the carrying on of Mutual activities in their districts. Superintendent Robert P. White retired, owing to other duties, and George D. White was appointed superintendent in his stead. At St. George there were present twenty-six M. I. A. officers and scout leaders from the different towns in that stake, and besides, three came over from Parowan, after hearing of the success at Beaver. One also attended from Moapa. Secretary Kirkham says: "Here, in this land of sunshine and song, I look for good things in M. I. A. work." The picture shows the class at St. George. The third man from the end, on the back row to the right, is the new superintendent of Y. M. M. I. A. in that stake, David R. Forsha: and the second, in the front row to the right, is David H. Morris, retiring superintendent. Brother Kirkham 494 IMPROVEMENT ERA says: "Our new superintendent is a good man. He has the love of the boys in this country, and I feel sure he will 'make good.' The Lord is with him and he is a worker." David H. Morris, who has rendered heroic service in the cause for many years, retires with the love and best wishes of all the Mutual workers, having been appointed a member of the High Council. He was chosen second counselor to Edward H. Snow, as superintendent of Y. M. M. I. A. of St. George stake, December 16, 1888, and was chosen first counselor to Superintendent Snow, December 16, 1889, and appointed superintendent of the Y. M. M. I. A., September 14, 1896. He has served in this capacity ever since up to February 8, 1914, and upon his retirement was the oldest superintendent of Y. M. M. I. A. in point of service in the Church. He attended the first meeting held in St. George, when President Brigham Young and Junius F. Wells first organized the M, I. A., was one of the first members, and has worked in the organization ever since. During- Brother Kirkham's visit at the three days' session of the officers, Supt. Morris was present and aided loyally in every way possible in the work. He believes no other association is doing the good among the young men that the M. I. A. is doing. The General Board, at its meeting, Feb. 18, passed a resolution thanking Superintendent Morris for his long and faithful service in the cause. How About Your Fund? The stake and ward officers having the M. I. A. Fund in charge are asked to push the collection now to completion. Go after what balance, if any is still needed, and clean up the accounts, looking to it that 100% is obtained from each ward. Read this letter from Superintendent Grant, to stake superintendents, and act today: Dear Brother: We appreciate your earnest effort in the interests of the young men of your stake, and we are anxious to give you every possible aid in this great work. If we can secure 100% of the Fund, which is a small matter for each ward, we can return many times its value in service to the organizations. The second week in February has been set apart as one of the Fund Weeks. If you have not already secured your 100%, now is the time. You can perhaps give some interesting social, concert or play; of course, you will know best how to do this in your wards. Our organization needs two things — men and money. It can never fulfil its high destiny without the earnest and sacrificing efforts of the young men of the Church, and enough money to make the organizations efficient. A little well-directed and concentrated effort will secure 100% in each ward. Let us all pull together and maintain the organization on a high plane and give to it that dignity and efficiency that should characterize it. Sincerely your brother, Heber J. Grant, Chairman Stake Work Committee. P. S. — Remit promptly the amounts collected to Moroni Snow, General Secretary, 20-22 Bishop's Building, Salt Lake City, Utah.