---
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: 18
number: 10
published: 1915-08
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "M. I. A. Conference: First Day," *Improvement Era* 18, no. 10 (August 1915): 888–900.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera18010unse
  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: improvementera18010unse
start_page: 888
end_page: 900
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1915-08)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera18010unse
  publication_year: 1915
  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 1915, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# M. I. A. Conference: First Day

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Conference

                    First Day, June 11,   1915

     The General Annual Conference of the Young Men's and
Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations was held in
Salt Lake City, June 11, 12 and 13, 1915.  Many important
items for officers were considered at the first session, on Friday
morning, June 11.    The meeting was held at 9:30, in the Assem-
bly Hall, and was a joint officers' meeting.      Elder Heber J.
Grant presided.     The congregation sang, "Come, Come, Ye
Saints," and prayer was offered by Elder Junius F. Wells, after
which the Granite stake Girls' Chorus, under the direction of
Marion Cannon, sang.
                        STAKE SUPERVISION
     Sister Clarissa A. Beesley spoke upon stake supervision,
strongly urging the stakes to organize their boards of the
best material to be found, as the wards look to the stake board
members to lead out and properly direct the work. She also
called attention to the necessity of stake boards keeping in touch
constantly with the ward officers, by personal visit where possible,
or by correspondence, where the wards are scattered. Important
also is the need of co-operation between the young men and young
ladies, for a great deal of the work now being taken up is joint
work and cannot be handled successfully unless both organiza-
tions co-operate.
                         CONTEST ACTIVITIES
     Elder Oscar A. Kirkham spoke upon special activities and
contest work.    He named the following events which are to be
taken up at the general June conference of 1916
     In order to make clear to the officers what will be done in
contest work at the M. I. A. Annual June Conference, and to aid
them in the selection and preparation of this work, the following
activities have been outlined by the General Boards.   While other
events may be used in wards and stakes for contest purposes, the
three following are the only events outlined by the General Boards
to be taken up, first in the ward, then in the stake district, the
stake, the Church district, and in the grand finals

I.   Senior Public Speaking   — 10 minutes.
     Open to all Seniors.
        Points of Judgment:

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1.              —
            The idea 20 per cent.
       2.                           —
            The development 50 per cent.
              a.   Introduction.
                      (1)  Simple, direct, earnest, suggestive of material to
                                  follow.
              b.   Body.
                        (1)    Develop     theme, which should be             persuasive
                                  rather than merely matter-of-fact.
              c.   Summary.
                        (1)    General conclusion taken from the body of ad-
                                  dress.
              d.   Original.
                        (1)    No long quotations should be given.
                        (2)    Sincerity.
       3.   Delivery   —30 per cent.
II.     Male Quartet.
       Open to all members of Y. M. M. I. A.
       Selection to be made.
            Points of Judgment:
       1.  Interpretation as per musical markings and text              — 15 per cent.
       2.  Expression and phrasing 15 per cent.  —
       3.                     —
           Tone quality 15 per cent.
                                           —
       4.  Blending and balance -10 per cent.
       5.  Reading (nroducing proper notes) 10 per cent.   —
       6.           —
           Tempo 10 per cent.
       7.  Pitch   —
                   10 per cent.
       8.  Enunciation and pronunciation 10 per cent.  —
       9.                             —
           Attack and release 5 per cent.

III.     Ladies' Quartet.
       Open to all members of Y. L. M. I. A.
       Selection to be made.
           Points of Judgment:                  (Same as for male quartet.)

        Church Districts (See Y. M. M. I. A. Hand Book, second
edition, p. 92). In order to obviate the over-crowding of time
at the general Church finals in June, the stakes of the Church
have been grouped in seventeen districts for try-outs.
     Stake superintendents and presidents of Y. M. M. I. A. and
Y. L. M. I. A. of the stakes starred will take the initiative in ar-
ranging for the finals in their districts, including dates and place
of meetings, etc., following the same general plan given for the
grand finals. In the holding of Church district meets, any vari-
ance from the general plan should be agreed upon by the super-
intendents and presidents of the different stakes, and a copy
placed in the hands of all the contestants in that district.

                               RULES AND REGULATIONS

        See pages 90-91, in the second edition of the Y. M. M. I. A.
Hand Book. These rules and regulations will govern the contest
work of 1915-16.              We give here only the four new rules.              These
are also found with the others in the Hand Book:

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1.   Contests, that is, try-outs or exercises calling for adjudication,
must not be held on Sundays.     Adjudications made on Sundays will
not be recognized.
     2.  In order to become eligible for contest work a member must
have been in attendance at regular class meetings at least five times
prior to April 1.
    3.  In group work in wards, individuals doing the best work may
be re-grouped to meet those of other wards. This rule applies to
wards only.
    4.  All stake officers are barred from participating in contests, in-
cluding stake pennant contest.

                   SPECIAL ACTIVITIES             STAKE PENNANT
        We
         suggest that a stake pennant be given for the ward scor-
ing the greatest number of points in proportion to its enrollment,
for participation in special activities as per the following score
card:

    1.                                 —
        Mixed Double Quartet 10 points initial group appearance, 3
points for each additional appearance, 10 points for complete rendition
of "Daughter of Jairus."
    2.                                                  —
        Boys' Chorus (six or more members) 10 points initial group
appearance, 3 points for each additional appearance.
    3.
Chorus).
        Girls' Chorus (six or more members)             —
                                                 (Score same as Boys'

       4.            — points
            Male Quartet        5     group appearance, 2 points each
                                        initial
additional appearance.
    5.  Ladies' Quartet— (Score same as Male Quartet).
       Advanced Seniors — Extemporaneous Public Speaking— 3 points
      6.
for        appearance.
      initial
        Senior Public Speaking— 3 points for
       7.                                           appearance.
                                                        initial
       Retold Story (open to
       8.                         — 3 points for
                                       all)             appearance.
                                                            initial
        Drama — 15 points for
       9.                           group appearance.
                                      initial
    Note. — These appearances, scoring for points    the above events
                                                             in
must be made in M.     A. gatherings.
                           I.
        Reading Course — 2 points for reading of each book of this
      10.
year's reading course,          making a possible score of 16 points for each
individual.
                                        NOTES
        The following list of subjects are for Advanced Senior Ex-
temporaneous Public Speaking:
    "Faith," "Repentance," "Baptism," "Gift of the Holy Ghost,"
"Tithing," "Word of Wisdom," "America the Promised Land," "The
Second Coming of Christ," "Modern Revelation," "Divine Authority,"
"Resurrection," "Prayer," "The Sabbath Day," "The Mission of the
M. I. A."
        It is suggested that stakes make a selection for ward use from
the above subjects.    These subjects have been suggested with the
thought that every Latter-day Saint should be able to speak intel-
ligently, for at least ten minutes, on anv one of them.
     It is suggested that the mixed double quartet develop the
festival idea, using The Daughter of Jairus, a sacred cantata by
John Stainer, published by Schirmer, New York price 60c. This     ;

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:

may be obtained through any music dealer. This work to be de-
veloped through preliminary programs, special activity nights,
finally culminating in all ward mixed double quartets uniting and
giving the production, on M. I. A. Day, under the direction of
the stake musical directors of the Y. M. and Y. L. M. I. A.
     A pennant will be given at the Grand Finals, held at the June
Conference of 1916, to the stake scoring the greatest number of
points in proportion to its enrollment, as per the foregoing score
card for stake use. Stakes entering for this Church pennant must
report to the General Secretary, Moroni Snow, not later than May
25, 1916.
                         THE READING COURSE
     Elder B. S. Hinckley of the Young Men's Board spoke upon
the Reading Course. The General Boards present for 1915-16
one joint M. I. A. Reading Course, instead of two separate
courses as heretofore. The eight books in the list have been se-
lected with care, and it is believed will be read with great profit
and enjoyment by our young people. They have been divided into
two groups, and both Seniors and Juniors are encouraged to read
the entire list. Five additional good books are also suggested, for
the use of those who may desire to read more than the regular
 course

 Senior List  :

                              —
     The Prophet-Teacher B. H. Roberts.
                                       —
     A Study of Greatness in Men Larned.
                      —
     The Play-House Alfred Lambourne.
                                   —
     A Daughter of the North Nephi Anderson.
 Junior List:
      Little Sir         —
                Galahad Gray.
                           —
      Twenty-fourth of June Grace Richmond.
                         —
      Lance of Kanana Abd El Ardavan.
      A nature book will be selected later.
 Additional Books:
      Cities of the Sun— Elizabeth Cannon
                                          Porter.

      p e ter— F. Hopkinson Smith.
       The Rosary— Florence L. Barclay.
       Mother Carey's Chickens--Wiggins.
       Problems of Boyhood, for teachers in the Y.
                                                       M. M.   1.    A.

  classes.
                                                      "Our organi-
       Among other things, Brother Hinckley said:
  zation is making an earnest
                              and systematic endeavor to promote
                               It is taking advantage of the
                                                               great
  the reading of good books.
             reading to educate  and  elevate the entire community.
  agency of

<!-- page:892 -->

It requires no argument to convince you that the reading habit is
the key that unlocks the treasure-house of the world's knowledge.
It is the source of more happiness, more information and more
inspiration than any other habit.  I am bold to say that without
books, civilization would perish from the earth. I am reminded
of a statement contained in one of our sacred books. You will
remember when Nephi with his brothers went for the plates, he
was very much in doubt as to whether, in order to secure the
plates, he would be justified in destroying their keeper.      The
Spirit of the Lord whispered to him and said   : "It is better that
one man should die than that a whole nation should perish in un-
belief."
    It is said inA Study of Greatness in Men that the invention
of the printing press was the greatest invention ever made, if
measured by its effects upon civilization.   We can do no young
man or young lady greater service than to lead them into the com-
panionship of sages and seers, put them in touch with the great-
est and best spirits of the world.  I remember reading in the Era
a statement which I also heard a good man tell personally.      He
said about thirty years ago, when he was keeping a little book
store down on Main street, a young fellow with a strong face
sauntered into his shop, and the book man said to him    :   "Have
you ever read this book?" He said, "No." "Well," said the
keeper of the shop, "I wish you would take it and read it, and tell
me what you think of it." And the young man did read it. It
touched his heart and stirred his soul. He was transformed from
an indifferent sort of ruffian to a scholar and a thinker, and he
stands today better than most men. I heard Elder Roberts say
                                                    —
on one occasion that the same man (James Dwyer peace to his
memory) was the man who induced him to read the Book of Mor-
mon, and I feel in my heart that B. H. Roberts has given us more
original work on the Book of Mormon than any other man living.
      We   ask for officers to do two things.    First, read these
books. If you will devote ten minutes a day from now until the
first of October, you can read them all.   Let this fire be kindled
in your own heart, then you will kindle it in the hearts of others.
      Second, select as supervisors men and women who not only
love books but who have a knowledge of them, and who will be
active in this work. Our counsel is this, that in every stake there
shall be two supervisors, one young lady and one young man.
There shall also be supervisors of the reading course in the wards,
one for the young ladies and one for the young men. It is the
business of the stake supervisors to see that all the wards have
their supervisors, and that they work.    Whether these books are
read depends very largely on the supervisors, whose first qualifi-
cation is love for the work.

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:

        I   remind you of a story, printed for a long time on an
envelope.      This is the substance of it, the words of Dr. Channing

     "God be thanked for books. They give us the spiritual com-
panionship of the good and great of all ages. No matter how poor
I am, no matter though the prosperous of my own day will not enter
my humble dwelling; if the sacred writings will cross my threshold
and take up their abode under my roof; if Milton will sing of Para-
dise, and Shakespeare reveal to me the world of imagination and
the workings of the human heart; if Franklin will honor my home
with his practical wisdom, I shall not pine for the want of intellectual
companionship, and may be a well-read man, though denied the best
society in the place where         I   live."

                             FALL CONVENTIONS

     Sister Emma Goddard, of the Young Ladies' Board, spoke
on fall conventions. The method of conducting the 1915 conven-
tions will be somewhat changed from that of previous years. The
General Board members will present the subjects and direct the
discussion. Important lines of M. I. A. activity, and detail work
of the organizations will be considered. Stake and local officers
are expected to be prepared to take part in the discussion. Pro-
vision will be made for local representatives to carry on the pro-
gram, in the event that no member of the General Boards is pres-
 ent.
      Since, to a great extent, stake officers will be relieved from
 presenting special subjects at the convention, it is urged that they
 devote their efforts to the securing of the 100 per cent attendance.
 In a stake of ten wards there should be present twenty presidents,
 forty counselors, twenty secretaries, etc.
     The convention program will provide for one joint officers'
 meeting, one separate officers' meeting, one public meeting, and
 one sociable. Complete outline of work will be given in the con-
 vention circular for 1915, soon to be distributed to stake officers.
 The  congregation sang, "O Ye Mountains High," and the ben-
 eduction was pronounced by Sister Rose W. Bennett.

                     DEMONSTRATIONS OF SOCIAL WORK

            The congregation adjourned  to the Deseret Gymnasium,
 where from 11 a. m. to     12:30  p.  m., a demonstration of social
 work  was  given, including two  divisions.  The first was a "Home
 Evening," by the Granite stake,     showing  how this evening in a
                    conducted.   The  program   included instrumental
 family should be
 music, songs, story telling, recitation, conversation
                                                         and the serv-
                               explanations  of  when   prayer  should
 ing of refreshments, with
              and  how  the evening   should be  generally conducted,
 be offered,

<!-- page:894 -->

by Vice-Chairman Thomas Hull of the Social Committee. This
demonstration was under the direction of Superintendent Charles
H. Norberg, of the Y. M. M. I. A., and President May Green of
the Y. L. M. I. A. of the Granite stake. The demonstration of
the ward dance showed how it should not be conducted, and how
it should be conducted, the lines of demarcation being very clearly

drawn, and was given by the Pioneer stake, under the supervision
of Superintendent Datus Hammond and President Sasie Heath,
who had selected young people from different wards of the stake
to    make the demonstration.

                 SPECIAL SUPERINTENDENTS' MEETING

       Aspecial meeting of stake superintendents and officers of
the Y. M. M. I. A. was held at 1 p. m., in the assembly room of
the Bishop's building.     A
                           general discussion of the subject, "Effi-
ciency in Stake Work" was taken up, the subject being introduced
by Elder John F. Bowman, who called attention to the necessity
of a complete organization, to systematic and energetic work, and
to appointing persons to work in departments to which they are
best adapted.     Ageneral discussion followed, in which methods
of gettitng the right man in the right place, and weeding out un-
interested officers were taken up.   The use of the Hand Book
was emphasized. Every officer should have this guide.

                      TRY-OUTS IN CONTEST WORK

     On Friday afternoon at 2 p. m., preliminary try-outs in the
three divisions of contest work were held.    The music section,
under the supervision of Oscar A. Kirkham and Mabel Cooper,
met in the Assembly Hall the Public Speaking section, under the
                               ;

supervision of Preston D. Richards and Emily C. Adams, in the
assembly room of the Bishop's building; and the Re-told Story
section, under the direction of Nicholas G. Morgan and Edith R.
Lovesy, in the Fourteenth ward chapel.
       The following were representatives at the preliminary try-
outs:
                       MIXED DOUBLE QUARTETS

     District No. 4, Bingham Stake, Idaho Falls, G. W. Charlesworth,
conductor; District No. 10, Utah stake, Provo, Utah, C, W. Reid,
conductor; District No. 7, Oneida Stake, Preston, Idaho, Margaret
Merrill, conductor; District No. 8, Ogden Stake, Ogden, Utah, Mrs.
W. C. Parker, conductor; District No. 9, Pioneer stake, Salt Lake
City, William Cook, conductor; District No. 12, Parowan stake, Ce-
dar City, Sadie Thornley, conductor; District No. 17, Deseret stake,
Hinckley, Utah, Mrs. C. A. Broaddus conductor.
      The quartets from District No. 4, Idaho Falls, and District No. 10,
Provo, were chosen to compete      in the   grand finals.

<!-- page:895 -->

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                 WINNERS OF THE MIXED DOUBLE QUARTET
     District No. 4, Bingham stake, Idaho Falls. Personnel: G. W. Charlesworth, con-
ductor; Joseph Morley, C. E. Dinwoodey, J. E. Pike, Mrs. Reuel Packard, Mrs. Leroy
Farr, Miss Lucile Pike, Miss Zula Boomer, Alvin Beesley, accompanist.

                               ladies'    quartet
     The winners in the Ladies' Quartet, in the above mentioned dis-
tricts were: First place won by District No. 12, Parowan stake, Cedar
City, under the direction of Mrs. Sadie Thornley.    The quartet was
composed of the following: Flora Urie, Pearl Urie, Zelma Jones, and
Mrs. Zazel Granger. The second place was won by District No. 7,
Oneida stake, Preston, Idaho, Margaret Merrill, conductor. The fol-
lowing composed the quartet: Margaret Merrill, Lucile Rogers, Hattie
Peterson and Agnes Nuffer.
                                 MALE QUARTET

                     WINNERS OF THE MALE QUARTET
    Taken from the personnels of the two Mixed Double Quartets contesting at the
Grand Finals. They are Clinton Luke, Gordon Reese, Warren Allred, Albert J South-
wick, and C. W. Reid, conductor. This quartet is from District No. 10, Utah
                                                                            Stake,
Provo, Utah.

<!-- page:896 -->

The winners of first place in the Male Quartet were from District
No. 10, Utah stake, Provo. The conductor was C. W. Reid. Personnel
of the quartet, Clinton Luke, Gordon Reese, Warren Allred and Albert
J. Southwick.   The second place was tied by District No. 4, Bingham
Stake, Idaho Palls, G. W. Charlesworth, conductor, with Joseph Mor-
ley, C. E. Dinwoodey, J. E. Pike and G. W. Charlesworth composing
the quartet; and District No. 12, Parowan stake, Cedar City, Sadie
Thornlcy, conductor, and Gordon Matheson, Lehi Jones, Randall
Jones, and Robert S. Gardner, making up the quartet.

                                BOYS CHORUS

    District No. 17, Deseret stake, Hinckley, Utah, Mrs. C. A. Broad
dus, conductor; District No. 12, Parowan stake, Parowan, Utah, L. J.
Adams, conductor; District No. 7, Hyrum stake, Mendon, Utah, C. C.
Watkins, conductor; District No. 8, Ogden, Utah, Mrs. Saville, con-
ductor; District No. 11, Sevier stake, Richfield, Utah, S. H. Chidester,

                      WINNERS IN THE BOYS' CHORUS
     District No. 12, Parowan stake, Parowan, Utah.  Personnel: L.   J.   Adams, con-
ductor; Clifford Benson, Alfred Morris, Lucius Benson, Glen Clark,   Edward Dalton,
Clifton Halterman, Albert Marsden, Rex Ward, and Charles Wood. "

conductor; South      Sanpete stake, Manti, Utah, Lars Peterson, con-
ductor.
    ""The choruses from District No. 17, Hinckley, Utah, and District
No. 12, Parowan, Utah, were chosen to compete in the grand finals.

                                GIRLS'   CHORUS
      District No. 10, Utah stake, Timpanogos, C. W. Reid, conductor;
District No. 9, Ensign stake, Eighteenth ward, Edna Edwards, con-
ductor; District No. 4, Teton stake, Driggs, Idaho, James Driggs, con-
ductor; District No. 7, Oneida stake, Preston, Idaho, Margaret Mer-
rill, conductor;  District No. 8, Ogden stake, Ogden, Utah, Beatrice
Brewer, conductor; District No. 11, Sevier stake, Richfield, Utah,
Eleanor Heppler, conductor; District No. 12, Parowan stake, Cedar

<!-- page:897 -->

City, Utah, G. W. Foster, conductor; District Mo. 17, Deseret stake,
Hinckley, Utah, Mrs. C. A. Broaddus, conductor.
    The choruses from District No. 10, Timpano^os ward, Utah stake,

                        WINNERS OF THE GIRLS' CHORUS
                   Utah Stake, Timpanogos ward. Personnel: Emma Peck, Diantha
    District No. 10,
Patten, Temple Evans, Lorna Booth, Ethel Hills, Lapriel Gappmeyer, Minnie Farley,
Sylvia Draper, Bessie Cook.    C.    W. Reid, conductor.

and District No. 9, Eighteenth ward, Ensign                    stake,   were chosen to
compete in the grand finals.

                           SENIOR PUBLIC SPEAKING

       John   F. Miller, District       No.   4,   Yellowstone stake,       St.   Anthony,
Idaho, "Will the Golden Age of Peace Ever Come?"
       Samuel Clawson, District No. 9, Ensign                 stake, Eighteenth ward,
Salt    Lake City, "Choosing a Vocation."
       Florella Love, District No.            1,   Taylor stake, Raymond, Canada,
"The Gospel of Love."
       Pearl Christensen, District 'No.            11,   Richfield, Utah,   "Our    Birth-
right."
    Edwin Baird, District No. 10, Provo, Utah, "Margins.
    Moroni W. Smith, District No. 12, Parowan, Utah, "Service."
    Harvey Taylor, District No. 8, Ogden, Utah, "The Unused Dy-
namo."                                               _        _ , ,                      ,

    .Urs. R. D. Holt, District No. 7, Oneida stake, Preston, Idaho,
"Trust and Believe in God."
    Henry Maxfield, District No. 3, Union stake, Cove, Oregon,                           I he

Builder and His Dream."                                                              .       .

    John F. Miller, of District No. 4, and Samuel Clawson of District
No. 9, were chosen to compete in the grand finals, and John F. Miller
was given first place.

                       ADVANCED SENIOR PUBLIC SPEAKING

    Mrs. Gertrude Smith, District No. 10, Wasatch stake, Heber City,
Utah, "Woman's Work."

<!-- page:898 -->

Bertha Eccles Wright, District No. 8, Weber stake, Ogden, Utah,
"The Lord's Prayer."
    Newell K. Young, District No. 9, North Davis                   stake, Kaysville,
Utah. "A Man Sent of God."
     Georgia Hoagland Forsythe, District No. 12, Parowan stake, New-
castle, Utah, "Woman and Vocational Training."
     Mrs. Edward P. Horsfall, District No. 4, Pocatello stake, Poca-
tello, Idaho, "Christianity in the Balance."
     J. B. Bearnson, District No. 7, Cache stake, Logan, Utah, "Speak
Ye the Truth."
      Mrs. Bertha Eccles Wright of District No. 8, and Newell K.
Young of District No. 9, were chosen to compete in the grand finals,
and Mrs. Wright was given first place.

                         JUNIOR RE-TOLD STORY
      Grace Valentine, District No. 8, Box Elder stake, Brigham                City,
Utah.
      Leatha Anderson, District No. 7, Benson stake, Lewsiton, Utah.
      Marion Burton, District No. 12, Parowan stake, Parowan, Utah.
      Sadie Stubler, District No. 10, Alpine stake, American Fork, Utah.
      Reva Riddle, District No. 11, South Sanpete stake, Manti, Utah.
      Lyle Cropper, District No. 17, Deseret stake, Hinckley, Utah.
      Fannie Harris, District No. 4, Fremont stake, Salem, Idaho.
      Donnett Shumway, District No. 15, Snowflake stake, Snowflake,
 Arizona.
      Florence Cramer, District No. 5, Cassia stake, Marion, Idaho.
      Mattie Schofield, District No. 3, Union stake, La Grande, Oregon.
      Helen Root, District No. 6, Bannock stake, Soda Springs, Idaho.

                          MISS LEATHA ANDERSON
                     District   No.   7,   Lewiston, Utah, winner in
                   the Junior Re-told Story.       Miss Anderson   is
                   L.teen years of age.

<!-- page:899 -->

Julius Madsen, District No. 9, Liberty stake, Salt Lake City, Utah.
    Grace Valentine of District No. 8, whose story was "The Other
Wise Man," and Miss Leatha Anderson, of District No. 7, who re-told
the story of "Laddie," were chosen to compete in the grand finals, and
Leatha Anderson was given first place.

                                    JUDGES
     In the preliminary try-outs in the music section the judges
were:    Miss Nora Gleason, Edw. P. Kimball and Joseph J.
Daynes, Sr. in the public-speaking section, Ardella Bitner Tibby,
             ;

Frank Nebeker and Charles H. Hart; in the junior re-told story
section, Miss Angie Holbrook, Alfred Reese, and Nicholas G.
Morgan.
    In the grand finals, held on Saturday evening, June 12, in the
Assembly Hall, Prof. A. H. Peabody adjudicated in the musical
numbers; Adam Bennion, Margaret Caldwell and John Henry
Evans judged the re-told story contests; and Adam Bennion,
Mary Connelly and Carl Badger judged the public speaking.
                      EVENING ENTERTAINMENT
     At eight o'clock on Friday evening, the General Boards of
the Y. M. and Y. L. M. I. A. tendered to the visiting officers of
the M. I. A. free admission to the grand concert in the Salt
                                                             Lake
Tabernacle, given under the auspices of the Commercial Club for
the benefit of the Ogden Tabernacle Choir, to aid
                                                    them in their
trip to the Panama  Exposition.  Leading musicians  also took part
with the choir, including      Emma
                                  Lucy Gates, John J. McClellan,
 Roumania Hyde, and Horace Ensign.

                      A SAMPLE OF CONTEST ACTIVITY

<!-- page:900 -->

:                                             —             —

     The Deseret stake is a sample of the splendid activity the
M. I. A. contest work has aroused throughout the Church, and in
which at least fifteen thousand young people participated during
the past season.    The above picture represents the contingent
that came to Salt Lake City to represent the Deseret stake in the
final try-outs.  There is the mixed double quartet at the back, the
junior girls' chorus in the center, and the boy scout chorus in
front, and with them the chaperones and accompanist and the
leader, all of Hinckley, Utah. Mrs. C. A. Broaddus, of Hincklev.
who was the efficient instructor in the singing, is the wife of Dr.
C. A. Broaddus. Mrs. M. E. Damron is the Deseret stake chor-
ister.  The names of the young people and their associates are as
follows
      StellaWn>ht, Hugh Hilton, Richard Terry, Ruby Stout, Golden Webb, Eugene
Hilton,  Utah Terry, Virgil Hilton, Blyne Moody, Manton Moody, Grace Robinson,
F.lfic!          Virtor Terry, Leatha Wright, Asahel Wright, Dr. and Mrs. C. A.
          T?i c hards,

Rroaddus. Edna Home, Frances Stout, Clara Stewart, Rena Reeve, Fontella Cahoon,
Clement Hilton, Leroy Cahoon, Aaron Home, Eureka Robinson, Marion Slaughter,
                         ,

P.oy Hilton, Carrie Langston, Norma Damron, accompanist; Rose Terry, absent.
