Books

372 IMPROVEMENT ERA lessons, as published in the Era for November, 1914, if followed will get the boy through. Do not study at random the phases of scout work which may interest you or the boys most; but work out the re- quirements of a Tenderfoot first, then the Second Class, then the First Class, and then the merit badges. This order of taking up the work encourages the boy, makes a better program, and gets the boy to the desired place. No excuse is good enough to induce you to follow any other plan. (References to the lessons, in the Era are to the old edition of the "Hand Book for Boys.")

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION DAY The week of February 8 is organization week. On that day, 1910, the National Organization of Boy Scouts of America was effected, so on each anniversary of that day and week the scouts remember it by doing special scout work. One day should be used by the scouts in doing a "daily good turn," as a troop. Each stake should have all the scouts come together when practicable, on February 8, or during that week, and carry out a program consisting of short scout talks, scout songs, scout yells, scout stories, scout stunts, and re- views of scout promise and laws, and flag salute. Why not make it a big night for the boys in your stake or ward?

Reading Course

Books BY BRYANT S. HINCKLEY "It is chiefly through books that we enjoy intercourse with su- perior minds, and these invaluable means of communication are in the reach of all. In the best books great men talk to us, give us their most precious thoughts, and pour their souls into ours. God be thanked for books. They are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us heirs of the spiritual life of past ages. Books are true levelers. They give to all, who will faithfully vise them, the society, the spiritual presence of the best and greatest of our race. — No matter how poor I am, no matter though the prosperous of my — own time will not enter my obscure dwelling, if the sacred writers will enter and take up their abode under my roof, if Milton will cross my threshold to sing to me of Paradise, and Shakespeare to open to me the worlds of imagination and the workings of the human heart, and Franklin to enrich me with his practical wisdom, I shall not pine for want of intellectual companionship, and I may become a cultivated man, though excluded from what is called the best society in the — place where I live." Channing. In this beautiful tribute of Dr. Channing, we are inclined to under- score the statement "they give to all who will faithfully use them, the society, the spiritual presence of the best and greatest of all our race." To encourage the wise and "faithful use" of good books is the end sought for by the Reading Course Committee. It is confidently ex- pected that all Stake and Ward Officers will co-operate in this effort, that they themselves will not only read, but that they will ardently encourage the reading habit among the young men everywhere. "Read and get others to read," is our motto. For suggestions and helps in this direction, consult the Y. M. M. I. A. Handbook, page 45. Through the courtesy of the editor, we will be permitted to say some- thing about what to read and how to read, in subsequent issues of the Era.