---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Joseph Longking Townsend
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 17
number: 7
published: 1914-05
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Joseph Longking Townsend, "The Spirit of Freedom," *Improvement Era* 17, no. 7 (May 1914): 651.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1707unse
  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: improvementera1707unse
start_page: 651
end_page: 651
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-05)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1707unse
  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.
---

# The Spirit of Freedom

<!-- page:651 -->

—              :

CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS                           651

satisfaction to one's employer.   All sects agree on the funda-

mental principles of conduct and in the urging- of a well-spent

career in preparation for the bigger and better life to come.

VIII.    SELF ANALYSIS AND IMPROVEMENT REGISTER

The next question in our judgment for you to consider is this

"How do I stand with reference to each of the above items of

success, and what am I doing to improve?" To go on in life with-

out this self-analysis, followed by an honest effort to advance.

islike attempting to run a business without studying it carefully

and changing its methods and policies from time to time to in-

crease the efficiency of the institution. "To know thyself" has

been declared for ages to be the foundation of success. There

is no question but that success hinges very largely upon this vital

study of oneself, accompanied by an earnest, consistent effort

to improve.   The task is by no means an easy one, and for this

reason we have presented and discussed briefly the outline of our

subject, "Conditions of Success."

(to be continued)

The Spirit of Freedom

O say can you see, with a Patriot's eyes,

Our country's vast Union from ocean to ocean?

Our glorious land, where our freedom we prize

And love in our hearts, with true, loyal devotion?

'Tis the land of the free, where people can see

The plan Heaven gave for the world's liberty:

And the Spirit of Freedom, from her lofty shrine,

Shall light all the world with her message divine!

Our country has grown and extended afar,

Its   progress becoming the world's revelation:

Our sages of Peace and our heroes of War

Alike have renown in the courts of each nation.

Let prejudice cease, let our portals increase,

And Liberty give her endowments of Peace,

And the Spirit of Freedom, from her lofty shrine,

Shall light all the world with her message divine!

No tyrant shall rule on American soil,

But Freedom shall ever extend her dominion.

The years shall bring peace, and intelligence foil

The errors of strife and of selfish opinion.

Through the trials we've passed have our virtues been cast,

And our country, safe-guarded, forever shall last;

And the Spirit of Freedom, from her lofty shrine.

Shall light   all   the world with her   message divine!

Joseph Longking Townsend.

pleasant, utah