--- 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: 19 number: 3 published: 1916-01 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, \"Passing Events,\" *Improvement Era* 19, no. 3 (January 1916): 282–288." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1903unse 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: improvementera1903unse start_page: 282 end_page: 288 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1916-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1903unse publication_year: 1916 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 1916, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Passing Events Passing Events Winston Spencer Churchill, former first lord of the admiralty, andchancellor of the Duchy 0f Lancaster, left for the battle frontin the uniform of his regiment, November 17, last, as major of theQueen's own Oxfordshire hussars. Prof. Alexander Lewis, for thirty-four years the director of theLogan Tabernacle choir and the leader of the temple choir in that cityfor many years, died in Logan, November 20, 1915. He was bornFebruary 3, 1833, in South Wales, and came to Logan in 1865. The extension of railroads in Utah has received much discussionlately in the papers. The building of a line to the Uintah reserva-tion by the Denver and Rio Grande is an uppermost topic in railwaycircles, and we are told that millions of dollars will be expended in theextension of the Gould lines. The coronation of the mikado of Japan, Yoshihito, was held atKyoto, on the 10th of November, 1915, amid spectacular ceremonies,witnessed by the people of Japan and representatives of foreigncountries, for the first time in the history of the country. The cere-monies which covered a period of three, weeks cost approximately fivemillion dollars. The Canadian government took over all the high-grade wheat onNovember 28, in the elevators of the country east of Fort William,amounting, according to estimates in the press, to about twenty mil-lion bushels. The government will pay the owners at once, and shipthe wheat to the allied countries, principally to England and France.This step was taken in order to prevent wheat from rising to an ex-horbitant price. Christopher O. Folkman, pioneer of Plain City, died in PlainCity, Utah, in early November, 1915, and his funeral services wereheld in the meetinghouse November 18. He was 89 years old, beingborn in Bornholm, Denmark. He came to Utah in 1858. He filledthree misssions to the Scandinavian countries, covering a period oftwelve years. He is survived by nine sons and one brother, J. G.Folkman, who is ninety-two years old. Samuel R. Bennion, one of the founders of Uintah valley, and aUtah pioneer who came to Salt Lake in October, 1847, died in VernalNovember 17, 1915. He was born in Nauvoo, Illinois, November 10,1842. His parents settled in Taylorsville where he lived until calledto help settle the Uintah valley. He was president of the Uintah stakeof Zion for over twenty years. He is survived by his wife and elevenchildren. Armenian massacres have appalled the world. The Americancommittee reported that a careful survey of the village of Can showsthat 55,000 persons were massacred in that district alone, and theybelieve that the Turks have slain at least one million Armenians.All aid for the sufferers is blocked by the Turkish authorities who willnot permit anyone to do anything to preserve the lives of a race whomthey declare disloyal to the Turkish rule. Neutrality violations were charged against officials and employeesof the Hamburg-American line in New York. They were accused ofconspiring to defraud the government of the United States by send-ing out vessels loaded with coal for German cruisers and commerce PASSING EVENTS 283 raiders, under false clearance papers. They admitted the overt actscharged and that they had disbursed $1,500,000 for this purpose, butdenied that those acts were part of a conspiracy to defraud the gov-ernment. Yuan Shih-Kai has announced that the republic of China willcease, and that he will declare himself emperor. Japan, Russia andGreat Britain, some weeks ago, made official suggestions to theChinese government that they postpone the decision of the questionof returning to a monarchial form of government. China declinedto accede to the suggestion. The reason the powers objected to Chinamaking so momentous a change during the European war was that theforeign nations would be unable to properly protect their citizens incase of disorders or insurrections. Lord and Lady Aberdeen visited Salt Lake during the early partof December and spoke in the Salt Lake Theatre for the benefit andrelief of Irish children. Lord and Lady Aberdeen also visited Proyo,Ogden, Logan and other parts of the state. Committees of leadingmen and women met them in each instance, and entertained themduring their stay. A luncheon was given at the Alta Club in theirhonor, by Governor Wm. Spry and Mayor Samuel C. Park of Salt LakeCity. Lady Aberdeen is the president of the International Council ofWomen and during her stay was entertained by local club women, theprincipal function being a luncheon at the Hotel Utah, on Decem-ber 11. The Carranza government in Mexico has been recognized by anumber of the nations, Spain having recently joined the number.During the latter part of November, Villa was defeated at Nogales.The whereabouts of General Villa is not clearly known but after thefighting at Cananea resulting in the defeat of his forces the remnantsof his army under General Rodriguez were reported withdrawing tothe interior of Sonora. The head of General Juan B. Hernandez, 80years old, an intimate friend of former President Diaz, was sent byLuna Gaticia to General Pablo Gonzalez, commander of Mexico City,as a "Christmas present" from Vera Cruz. Advices dated December20 state that Villa has abandoned his army and will seek refuge in theUnited States. Henry Ford, the automobile manufacturer, and a Peace party con-sisting of: Gov. Hanna, of North Dakota; Judge B. B. Lindsey, JaneAddams Dr. Washington Gladden, Mme. Rosika Schwimmer, andmany others, left New York on the 4th of December, on a Norwegianliner, "Oscar II." Mr. Ford called it a Peace expedition to theneutral countries of Europe, and the purpose was to press plans ofpeace for the early termination of the great war. Two steamerswere chartered to take the party to Norway from whence they willcommunicate and visit with other parts of Europe. The authoritiesat Washington declined to give the party their support, and refusedto issue pass ports for the party to visit belligerent countries. Mr.Ford took sick on his arrival in Norway, and returned to America,having first given his check for $270,000 to continue thework. The national budget Secretary McAdoo made public on Novem-ber 25 suggests legislation that Congress must enact to meet theexpected deficit in the national revenue, and the expenditures that thearmy and navy increase will require. He proposed that Congress shallre-enact the emergency revenue taxation law, return the tariff tax onsugar, increase taxation on individual and corporate incomes reducethe limit of exemption from the income tax, provide for taxation on 284 IMPROVEMENT ERA gasoline, crude and refined oils, and automobile and other internalcombustion engines. He estimated that nearly $113, 000,000 additionalrevenue must be found for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1917, Pres-ident Wilson reiterated these recommendations in his message toCongress. The Great War. The campaign in Serbia, it was declared byBerlin, closed with the end of November, its object having been ac-complished. The Germans report over one hundred thousand Serbianstaken prisoners, and the remnants of the disorganized northern armydriven back into the Montenegran hills. The Serbians deny that morethan fifteen thousand prisoners had been lost. The Germans at thiswriting control the oriental railway, and almost all of northernSerbia. Most of the German troops are concentrated on the Ruman-ian frontier, to guard against the Russian advance up the Danubethrough Rumania. It was generally conceded about the middle ofDecember that the allied forces which had entered Mesopotamia fromthe south, forcing their way towards Bagdad, had been practicallydefeated, and that the German forces are in control as far south asBagdad. The British withdrew from positions in Gallipoli Dec. 20. The "Ancona" affair continued to attract attention and the latestreport is that 208 people lost their lives when an Austrian submarinesunk the Italian steamer some weeks ago- Out of this number five werenaturalized American citizens. The government of the United Statesdemanded of Australia, on December 6, that the imperial and royalgovernment denounce the "sinking of the 'Ancona' as an illegal and in-defensible act, and that the officers who perpetrated the deed bepunished; and that reparation by the payment of an indemnity bemade for the citizens of the United States who were killed or injuredby the attack on the vessel. The government demanded a promptreply and expressed the belief that the Austro-Hungarian governmentwould not sanction or defend an act condemned by the world asinhuman and barbarous which has caused the death of innocentAmerican citizens. The Austrian government replied upholding thecaptain of the submarine in sinking the "Ancona." The relations be-tween the United States and Austria stood at the breaking point, onDecember 20. The President's message to Congress contained a momentousparagraph relating to the disloyalty of certain foreign-born Americans,"who have poured the poison of disloyalty into the very arteries of ournational life." He maintains that "the greatest threats against ourpeace and safety, have been uttered within our own borders," and herequests federal laws to deal with these conditions. This part of hismessage has, perhaps, elicited wider applause, as well as more bitterdisapproval in certain quarters, than any other feature of the message. The main part of the President's message, however, was a discus-sion of the national defenses, and while he asks for a great increasein the army and navy, military aims are denied in his declaration that,"we shall always see to it that our military peace establishment, is nolarger than is actually and continuously needed for the uses of daysin which no enemies move against us." He adds, however, "we dobelieve in a body of free citizens ready and sufficient to take care ofthemselves and of the governments which they have set up to servethem." His recommendations for preparedness follow SecretaryDaniels' program, made public some weeks ago, and contemplates avery large increase in the standing army—from 108,000 to 142,000 fortimes of peace, with a citizen soldiery of 400,000; also the construc-tion, within five years, of ten great battleships, with many cruisers, PASSING EVENTS 285 destroyers, submarines, ammunition ships, and the addition of 11,500men to the personnel of the navy. He deals with financing these pro-posed additions to the army and navy, by suggesting different internaltaxes. The extra expense will amount to probably $112,000,000. Heis opposed to raising the money by national bond issues. These young ladies, with Bishop James G. Wood, of Clearfield,Utah, were with the crowds that attended the Round-up at Logan, where they spent several days ina most profitable and interestingmanner. "This great meeting im-pressed me," writes Bishop Wood,"with the fact that the home life isone of the most potent factors inthe foundation of character. Veryfew children who come from happyhomes go astray. There are manyexcellent mothers, but compara-tively few fathers who havelearned the secret of getting into aboy's heart, keeing his sympathies,guarding his appetite, developinghis virtue, and building him into amanly man. There is truth in theold saying: 'The "hand that rocksthe cradle is the hand that rulesthe world.' Nevertheless, if the boyis to be saved, the father must dohis part. Prof. O. H. Benson ofWashington, D. C., who was pres-ent at the Round-up, proved thatthe education of the last halfcentury has had a tendency to di-vert the child from the home,through the lack of practical edu-cation. He would much rather hischildren take up practical work, when seven or eight years of age, andthat, too, on the farm. In the home two-thirds of the time of the boysshould be spent in vocational work, and the girls brought back to thekitchen and dining room, prepared for what God has designed them tobecome. He congratulated Vernice Roberts, 13 years of age, fortaking the first prize for making the best bread. She should have hada double prize because she gained her knowledge at home, for she isan expert house keeper, even at her age; and all thoughtful people willrealize that she has saved her mother much labor. As to her school-ing, she is the equal of any girl her age. Susan B. Wood, also ofClearfield, received the first prize for growing the best potatoes in thestate, on school grounds. These two young girls enjoyed and appreci-ated a free pass arid a three-weeks' course at the Agricultural Col-lege. They attended many demonstration meetings, and had thepleasure of meeting and shaking hands with many prominent peopleof the East and the West. Professor Benson was particularly inter-ested in seeing the parents present with their children. He spokehighly of the people of Utah for encouraging their children in theirtemporal work. He closed his illustrated demonstration and lectureswith a portraiture of Jesus Christ, the character Builder, the perfectBeing, the correct Ideal. He was not above carrying water for hismother, or working at the carpenter bench for his father." VERNICE ROBERTS AND SUSAN S. WOOD, PRIZE WINNERS AT THE RECENT UTAH AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE ROUNDUP. Captain Boy-Ed and Von Papen, military and naval attaches of the Ger-man embassy, were recalled in early December on request of the gov-ernment of the United States, for their pernicious activity in labor dis-turbances, and bomb-handling in munition plants and ships for weeks past.They will suffer the same fate as the Austrian Ambassador Dumba did. Questions for M. I. A. Officers for January: 1. Stale briefly what is being done in your stake on vocations andindustries. 2. Name the ward in your stake that has the largest attendance accord-ing to population and give reasons why. 3. In how many wards have you reached 12%? 4. What are your difficulties in the promotion of scout work? 5. What methods have you adopted to maintain order in the classesand discipline? Improvement Era, January, 1916 Two Dollars per Annum with Manual FreeEntered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, as second class matter. Address, 20 Bishop's Building, Salt Lake City, Utah Joseph F. Smith, ) Editors Heber J. Grant, Business Manager Edward H. Anderson, f Moroni Snow, Assistant Winter—From Medallion by Thorvaldsen Frontispiece The Letter. A Poem Alfred Lambourne 191 Is Man Immortal? Joseph F. Smith, Jr 193 Blessings from the Tragedies of Life Orson F. Whitney 200 Jed at the Old Academy. A Story Ida Stewart Peay 202 Midsummer on the Wasatch Summits Alfred Lambourne 212 Ooutlines for Scout Workers. Illustrated Delbert W. Parratt, B. S.. . 214 Reverence in Worship Aubrey Parker 217 Live Today Elsie C. Carroll 218 Thoughts of a Farmer Dr. Joseph M. Tanner 220 Human Nature Not Explained by Evolution... Robert C. Webb 221 Duty is Privilege Minnie Iverson 231 Scenes at the Panama- California Exposition 233 Good Roads 234 For the Consideration of Parents Dr. John H. Taylor 237 Mother Passes Through the Shadows. "Home Evening." Story Elizabeth Cannon Porter. 241 The Island of Samos. Illustrated Lydia D. Alder 249 Waste in Spelling Mosiah Hall 253 Social Dancing and its Direction E. L. Roberts 255 Federal Aid to Vocational Education Frank S. Harris, Ph. D... 259 "Even the Waves and the Sea Obey Him"...Dr. James E. Talmage. ... 261 The Joy of Living and Serving Annie G. Lauritzen 263 Editors' Table—New Years Greeting Prest. Joseph F. Smith.... 264 Let Peace Abound 265 Where the Responsibility Rests 266 A Testimony Prest. Joseph F. Smith... 267 Socials and Dancing 268 Messages from the Missions 268 Priesthood Quorums' Table 273 Mutual Work 276 Passing Events 282 THANK YOU! FOR YOUR PART INMAKING 1915 SUCH AGOOD YEAR FOR US.OUR BUSINESS IN-CREASED VERY SATIS-FACTORILY OVER 1914.LET US HELP YOUSELECT YOUR BOOKS.IT'S OUR BUSINESS TOKNOW GOOD BOOKS. DESERET SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION BOOK STORE 44 East on South TempleSalt Lake City Joseph Smith As Scientist By Dr. John A. Widtsoe One of the best scientific exposi-tions of the teachings of theProphet Joseph Smith yet pub-lished. 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