Liberty in Utah

"Liberty in Utah"

With a suasion worthy of a better cause, a writer in "Cur-rent Comment," in the January Century Magazine, treats, in amost laughable and absurd manner, of "Liberty in Utah." Tothose who know conditions here, the statements set forth are par-ticularly amusing in their stupidity. The gist of the editorialarticle is that "the 'Mormon' Church prevented the 'completefacts' of the Eccles case from being sent out of. Utah on thewires!" Last summer, a dispatch, we are told, did appear aboutthe trial in the New York Tribune, "but it did not come fromLTtah. It came from Denver, Colorado," and the reason it camefiom Denver was, of course, that the "Mormon" Church controlsthe Western Union and Postal Telegraph companies, in Utah!We are told that another dispatch was permitted to come fromUtah, about the same day, and was printed in the Tribune. Thisdispatch reported that "the Liberty bell had arrived in Ogden,Utah, on its way to San Francisco and had received an ovationof welcome." "The reasons why the 'Mormon' Church mightwish to keep secret the proceedings in the Eccles case," are thendilated upon. The proceedings are pronounced "as interesting asthe fact that it [the Church] has succeeded so well in keepingthem secret." The writer then declares that all this, however, isno surprise to Utah, "where every one knows that the Churchhas been practicing polygamy ever since it publicly abandonedthe practice by divine revelation." But, of course, "if it [theinformation in the Eccles case]*were wired all over the countryby the Associated Press it might create trouble," and so theChurch "protects itself with a news censorship that is necessaryto the success of the conspiracy." The writer closes with: "It isprobable that the non-'Mormons' in Ogden noticed, during theirovation, that the Liberty Bell is cracked."

The editor of the Century writes as if he had been inspiredby the chief of the Ananias Club of Utah, whose name one mayeasily guess from his trail—Ogden, Denver, New York, not tomention his associates, high and low, who have ignorantly or forpersonal reasons listened to his false representations.

A correspondent sends the Era a letter from Higham Center,Mass., dated January 31. 1916, calling attention to the Centuryarticle. Tt is a copy of a letter which had been sent by our

554 IMPROVEMENT ERA

correspondent, to the editor of the Century, and in which he iscareful to say: "I am no believer in 'Mormon' doctrine, but Ibelieve in doing them justice." He then continues, by asking, theCentury, "What is your authority for the statements made, andhow can the 'Mormon' Church control the Western Union andPostal Telegraph Companies? My advices from Utah are thatthe 'Mormons' are observing the law regarding polygamy."

So far, as we know, the editor of the Century has not madeanswer. When he replies, he might also explain why the SaltLake and Ogden daily papers, which fairly bristled at the time,with whole pages of delicious detail of the trial in question,were prevented from reaching by mail the famishing public inNew York and the East. Can it be possible that the United Statesmails are also controlled by the Church!

"Are You Genial? Why?"

Collier's Weekly does not advertise drink and drug booze ofany kind, but has not yet strength enough to cut out the cigaretteand tobacco advertisements which advocate booze and dope ofanother kind. However, that the Weekly is coming to the light,even on tobacco, is indicated in the following recent editorial,under the heading above:

"Our learned British contemporary, The Accountant, in a lengthyand solemn obituary makes this interesting statement:

"He was a lifelong abstainer and a nonsmoker, but, as his many friends willtestify, he was nevertheless one of the most genial of souls.

"It is a complete summary of the acidity-of-virtue theory, thenotion that being good is such a strain as to frazzle the nerves,disrupt the digestion, and transpose the liver. Why is this fallacyanyhow? Wordsworth knew better when he wrote his Happy War-rior. Most of the real saints have been perfectly well aware that asour face does not prove religious faith. The encyclopedia states thatthe crusading King Louis of France had a sense of humor, and Har-riet Beecher Stowe, in Uncle Tom's Cabin, drew an unforgetful pictureof the abiding peace and joy in a certain good Quaker householdwhere Eliza took refuge. Nevertheless it is an implicit assumptionwith many of us today that sociability and good-fellowship are tobe had only by the pint, plug, or ounce! What makes you genial—when you are so—and are you proud of it?"

Tobacco "Does Not Make a Scrub. It Marks Him"

Dr. George H. Brimhall, of the Brigham Young University,returned recently from a two weeks' visit to the superintendents'

EDITORS' TABLE 555

meetings of the N. E. A., Detroit, Michigan. On his return, anenthusiastic reception was given him at the B. Y. U., at Provo,and in his brief address Dr. Brimhall, among other interestingthings, referred to the question of cigarette smoking. As reportedin the Provo Post, he said: "I had always believed that thispractice of cigarette smoking made a scrub of any man whoindulged in it, but a gentleman in the east seriously questionedthat attitude: 'Cigarette smoking,' said he, 'does not make ascrub, it marks him.' "

One morning Dr. Brimhall stood at the gates of the Fordautomobile factory watching the change of shifts. Seven thou-sand men go out and in there, three times a day. Smoking is notallowed within the works. Naturally, therefore, the cigarettefiends are the first to reach the sidewalks, match alight, with thefirst touch of the pavement. As the processsion moved out, Dr.Brimhall said, he found fewer smokers, and the latter half ofthe men had scarcely any cigarettes. "The average daily wageof the Ford Company is five dollars, and varies from two dollarsand forty cents for the scrubs, to nearly ten dollars for the finestworkmen. The cigarette indicates the rank of these men in theprocession as truly as if each group carried a banner."

A Gratifying Survey

Twenty-five years ago, a census or survey of the St. Georgestake of Zion was taken, to ascertain how many of the young menbetween twelve and twenty-one years, inclusive, used tobacco.The survey was taken through the efforts of and for AnthonyW. Ivins, now a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Re-cently the question arose as to whether or not the people havemade any progress in the matter of keeping the Word of Wisdomin this respect. In order to ascertain this, Brother Ivins wrote toeach of the bishops of the wards which composed the St. Georgestake, at the time the first statistics were taken, as some of thewards now belong to other stakes, to learn how many of the youngmen between the ages of twelve and twenty-one, in each ward,are now observers of the Word of Wisdom as far as relates tothe use of tobacco. The result is very gratifying, as well as in-teresting. It appears that the young men between those ageshave doubled in the wards which composed that stake, and thatthe non-users of tobacco have increased about ten per cent. Therewere 428 young men, in 1891, 91 of whom used tobacco, leaving78% non-users; in 1916, there are 827 between the ages given,101 of whom are users of tobacco, leaving 85.1'4 non-users. Theresult in each ward is o-iven in the table below. Can everv stake

550

MPROVEMENT ERA

and ward in Zion show as good progress as the wards of theold St. George stake is able to show in this respect? Perhapsno survey was taken twenty-five years ago, in your ward, but doyon compare favorably with the showing of St. George today?

COMPARATIVE CENSUS

Of users and non-users of Tobacco, among male members of theChurch in the St. George Stake; ages 12-21 years; dates 1891 and 1916

Wards

O rt

■r. 9-V

m * C

pffl2

uO

V)

O

% Non-users1891

TotalMales

a —t ^ c

<U *J 0

''■ v r;

Non-users

% Non-users1916

Bunkerville

201551115

16

220159621201529182968

3534

25428

2

5031

8

0621

0400631315

1183

91

18

10

5

8

14

8

214138617201523151653

24

26

22

331

9066.610072.193.3

50

100

70

86.6

88.9100

81100100

79

83.3

55

77.9

68.576.58878.7

38

14

4484211545425327

5*

354315

111

129

22

38

46827

0

0

ii

52027

2130

"401

14

21

3

1

6101

38

14

"337919

15433532

24

5

"314314

97

106

19

31

40724

100

Grafton

Gunlock

Harmony

100

Hebron

Enterprise

Hurricane

Leeds

759490 5

La Verkin

Mesquite

Overton

10095.583.3

Panaca

60.4

Pine Valley

88.8

Pinto

100

Price

Rockville

88.5

Santa Clara

100

Springdale

93.3

St. George First

St. George, Second . .St. George, Third. . . .St. George, Fourth...

St. George, West

St. Thomas

Toquerville

87.482.98x497.3

Virgen City

Washington

Totals

8785.1

"The Truth About Booze"

Under the above title, a recent issue of Collier's Weekly contained the following which speaks volumes for itself:

"A New Orleans physician sends up a clipping from the 'Situa-tions Wanted' column of the States, a newspaper published in histown:

'"Disorganized.

EDITORS' TABLE 557

"SOBER, reliable and honest bartender needs work badly; can open oysters, makesandwiches, etc., clean worker; don't drink; good references: small saloon preferredK. 832, States.

"BY a married man, 32 years of age, as bartender; can run oyster counter, or workin anv part of saloon; employed at present, but wants to change to a place wherehonesty and good work will be recognized; strictly sober; good references. K 831, States.

"This is what we call a poor card for the booze business. Alsoit reminds the New Orleans doctor of the joke about the two darkies.One sat down at a restaurant table and, looking up, recognized thewaiter as an old friend. 'Huh!' he said, '1 sees you is wuking here.''Yes,' said the waiter, noting the sarcasm, Tse wuking here, but,thank de Lawd, I ain't eatin' here!'"

New Books Received

Gems of Reminiscence, the seventeenth book of the faith-promot-ing series, designed for the instruction and encouragement of theLatter-day Saints, has just been issued by the publisher and com-piler, George C. Lambert. This series was started thirty-five yearsago and was begun again in 1914, since which "Treasures in Heaven,""Precious Memories," and now "Gems of Reminiscence" have beenissued. The "Gems" is a book of 192 pages bound in cloth and issold at retail for 50c, Lambert Paper Co., No. 145 West 1st. South St.,Salt Lake City. This last volume has a variety of articles amongwhich are "Among the Cannibals," "Experiences of James S. Brown,""Parkin Reminiscences," seven chapters; "A Sailor'-saint's Adven-tures," "Obtaining Genealogies," "Warned by the Spirit," "Recalledby Heber J. Grant," "A Busy Life," and several others of varied in-terest, and faith-promoting in their nature.

Principles of Agronomy is the latest book in the rural text bookseries edited by L. H. Bailey and published by the Macmillan Com-pany, New York. This is a text book of crop production for highschools, and short courses in agricultural colleges, by Frank S.Harris, Ph. D., professor of agronomy and director of the school ofagricultural engineering at the Utah Agricultural College, and GeorgeStewart, B. S., instructor in agronomy in the Utah Agricultural Col-lege. While the book is primarily a school text book, its discussion,which covers a wide range of very interesting farm instruction, willbe useful to the practical farmer. He will find in it the principlesunderlying many of the practices of the farm, stated in plain andsimple language. Many interesting tables are found in the appendix,and there is an extensive index pointing to the subjects discussed.The book contains 450 pages.

Messages from the Missions

"Four of our elders recently completed the longest trip ever takenin South Africa, without purse or scrip. Conference President Frank-lin D. Price, of the Cape conference, and LeGrand P. Backman traveledfrom Cape Town to Kimberley, a distance of 647 miles, and tracted allthe towns and farms between the two cities. The last two weeks oftheir trip was over the Karroo, which is one of the most deserted look-ing deserts I ever saw, with a house here and there where the sectionmen on the Railway live. The whole country is covered with rocks,and the side that is" turned toward the sun has been burned to a rich,red color. Some days they had as many as twenty-four punctures, but

558

IMPROVEMENT ERA

they feel that they were blessed on every hand, and their hearts go outto our Heavenly Father for the way in which they were provided foron the trip. They were out thirty-one days, and only slept out onenight. The people welcomed them on every hand, and asked them toreturn by the same way and stop with them again. One evening, aftertrudging through the rain all day, they had applied at two places forshelter and were refused; they stood out in the rain and bared theirheads, asking" the Lord to direct them to a place where they mightfind shelter and be able to get warm. The very next house which theyapproached was the place Father had made ready. They were taken inand given warm food, and dry clothing, and given a fine bed to sleepin, after they had spent the evening in conversing over gospel sub-jects. Elder Backman's feet were on the ground when they arrivedin Kimberley; but nevertheless the brethren were filled with the goodspirit and were as happy as could be in the thought that they haddone a great deal of good for the Church .

"Elder Orville W. Cutler, and Transvaal Conference PresidentGerald M. Steed are the other two. They traveled from Johannes-

Franklin D. Price, LeGrand P. Bachman, Orville W. Cutler, Gerald

M. Steed

burg to Kimberley, a distance of about 330 miles, and were exactlythe same time in making the trip as the first mentioned elders. How-ever, their territory was more thickly populated, and some of the peo-ple insisted that they remain with them for several days. One manhad been praying for more truth, and when the elders appeared at hisdoor, he took them in and promised to get in touch with them whenthey returned to Johannesburg. Everywhere homes were opened tothem, and one night they were cared for in the home of a millionaire,where every consideration was shown them. One day they asked forshelter twenty-four times before they finally secured it, but they hadevery confidence in the Lord, and their faith was finally rewarded bybeing entertained in a fine home for the night. Like the other twoelders they made many friends who are anxious to have them callagain, and go deeper into the gospel than they were able 10 in theshort time they had to stay at one place.

"All the elders in the mission gathered at Kimberley, and on the

EDITORS' TABLE

559

8th and 9th of January, we held one of the best conferences it hasever been my lot to attend. Our Father's Spirit was there in abund-ance, and our hall was crowded at every meeting, notwithstanding thefact that the thermometer stood at 165° in the sun. The elders andSaints are united, and the Spirit of the Lord is manifest in everybranch. Already, in the new year, we have done more baptizing thanwe did in the year 1915.

"That the Lord will continue to bless Zion and all her interests isthe wish of the entire African mission. Sincerely your brother, Nich-olas G. Smith," "Magdala," Rosebank, C. C, Jan. 28, 1916.

The Purposes of the Lord Fail Not.

President D. Milton Marble, of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, confer-ence writes: "Our conference was held January 30 and 31. The re-ports showed progress and growth in spiritual lines and an increaseamong our friends everywhere. All our sessions were largely attendedand the conference kindled a higher interest among the people. A goodfeeling and kind is growing rapidly toward our people, and we cantestify with the Saints 'that the purposes of God fail not.' Our listof baptisms is continually growing, and our branches are receivingloyal support."

From New Zealand

Ren Jackson, President of the Gravetown conference, New Zea-land, of Logan, Utah, writes, January 22: "The people of Wavianconference are very indifferent concerning the gospel. There were sev-eral, however, who heard the gospel explained perhaps for the first timeat our conference on Christmas, and we think much good will resultfrom the efforts of the elders. We had the pleasure of the attendanceof our beloved mission president, William Gardner of St. George,Utah. Our friends speak very highly of the Era."

The Tall and the Small

This picture represents Elder P. P.Merkley of Vernal, Utah, 23 years of age,who has been laboring in Milwaukee,Wisconsin, for several months. The pic-ture was taken with the four-year oldbaby of our last baptized member inMilwaukee, Elliot Beuttner. Elder Merk-ley is a splendid specimen of manhood,a faithful elder, and is doing good workin the mission field.—Mary Smith Ells-worth, Chicago, 111.

Good Work in the British Mission

The statistical report of the Britishmission, for the year ending December25, 1915, was published in the "MillennialStar," of February 3, this year. It shows that there are thirteen con-ferences in the-mission, not including the Liverpool office, and thatthe total number of missionaries is 122, including one lady missionary,one apostle, three high priests, forty-seven seventies, and seventy el-ders There are 5,789 members, and 1,316 children, making a totalnumber of souls in the Church in that mission of 7,967. There were298 baptisms performed during the season, and 76 members diedAmong the labors of the elders was the distribution of 1,534,323 tracts.

5M

MPROVEM ENT ERA

They also distributed 719 Books of Mormon and 848 other Churchworks, and held 11,612 meetings. President Hynun M. Smith in aneditorial in the "Millennial Star" commends the Latter-day Saints forthe willingness they have shown to comply with the law of God con-cerning tithes and other free-will offerings. The Relief Society espe-cially is doing good work in this line, and during the year distributedin money 328 pounds and 14 shillings, made 2,200 articles of clothing,and assisted 380 families. The society has an enrollment of 731 in thevarious conferences; and there was an especially large average attend-ance of 491, at the 511 meeings held. It appears that the total numberof Relief Societies in the entire European mission is 99, with a mem-bership of 2,146. The members have made 8,919 visits, and distributed3,634 pieces of clothing.

Successful Conference

Paul B. Talmage writes from Trenton, New Jersey, February 25:"A conference of the East Pennsylvania district was held February 13,and 14, and from the reports of the elders it appeared that they arc-greatly encouraged with the results shown from their labors. Thegathering was an entire success, well attended, and a goodly portionof the Spirit of the Lord was present, repaying the elders and the

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Saints for coming out in the very inclement weather. The elders are,reading from left to right, back row: George H. Romrill, Saul E.Hyer, Paul B. Talmage, Byron Pingree, Chester A. Asplund, J. H.Williams, Simpson Roper, Glen W. Banks; middle row: Robert S.Hillier, Benjamin H. Knudsen, Conference President E. WoodruffStucki, Mission President Walter P. Monson, L. Hardy Redd and J.Lester Ogden; front row: Sisters Benj. H. Knudsen, Sylvia Barlow,Edna Crowther, Iris Hawkes and Josie Jensen."

Great Sale of Literature.

Elder James M. Clarke, Pana, Illinois, February 1: "During thepast month fifteen missionaries reported as follows: 170 Books ofMormon sold, an average of more than 11 to each; 3 standard works;286 small books; 5,000 pamphlets, 340.000 tracts: 422 "Liahonas," 11"Liahona" subscribers; and 78 meetings. One elder left fifty Booksof Mormon with interested investigators. This month promises tosurpass last. The outcome of our work will be a rich harvest, we hope.The names of the elders are, from left to right: William M. Blumel,

Mas-rath, Canada; J. I. Peterson, Blackfoot; Jessie A. Stowell, Lorenzo,Idaho; Herbert Halls, Mancos, Colorado; Alma Packer, Shelley, Idaho;middle row: Samuel H. Zwallen, Ferron; Frank Yurka, Bountiful;Emma Anderson, Fountain Green; Lawrence J. Barclay, Hunter; Mar-garet Meldrum, Provo, Utah; Alvin D. Reber, Littlefield, Arizona;James M. Clarke, succeeding conference president, American Fork;front row: Alta M. Craig, Layton, Utah David S. Welchman, Grover,Wyoming; Sister Mary S. Ellsworth and German E. Ellsworth, missionpresidents, Chicago, Illinois; Frank B. Matheson, Salt Lake City; FernHarrison, Pinto, Utah."

A. S. Tingey, Presidentof the Brooklyn conference,writes February 5: "Thisphoto shows the elders, F.O. Gledhill, President A. S.Tingey and Elder Julian Neff, ofthe Newark Branch of theBrooklyn conference, New York.Elders Gledhill and Neff havebuilt up a thriving branch. Up-on my visit there recently, theyinformed me that they are to begranted the privilege to addressthe congregation recently har-angued by Frank J. Cannon.Friends are continually beingraised up on all hands who coun-teract every attack made uponour people. We all appreciatethe support given us by the Im-provement Era. The acknowl-edgment, now and then, whichit gives of the elders' efforts, isa splendid stimulus to them intheir fields of labor. We wishyou continued enjoyment andsuccess.

562

IMPROVEMENT ERA

Disposing of Literature

Elders R. W. Turner, and Fred S. Hess,of Marietta, Oklahoma, write under date ofFebruary 14: "In this part of the country,which only a few years ago, was called thewild and wooly West, we have been success-ful in selling, during the past two weeks,seven Books of Mormon, eighteen smallcommentaries, besides giving away two hun-dred and fifty pamphlets, and a great num-ber of tracts. We have had good success inholding eight well-attended meetings, andin finding many new friends and investi-gators."

More Elders in Denmark

Elder Alvin D. Stoker, Aarhus, Den-mark, February 4: "The elders here are re-joicing in the fact that conditions are nowsuch that a number of elders from Zion aresent to assist us in the work of the Lord in this district, located sonear the war zone. We have had only two elders in each of the con-ferences, since some sixteen months ago when the majority of theelders were called home on account of the war. Now, however, wehave four elders in most of the conferences in the Scandinavian mis-sion. Since we have received new help, we are able to get away fromthe offices and do some visitingand tracting among strang-ers. There is a little awakeningamong- the people and more in-terest is being taken in religion.Our meetings are well attendedand many strangers are present.Quite often our choir is invitedto attend the different temper-ance societies, on which occa-sions we get a chance to speaka few moments on the principlesof the gospel. Many love tohear our choir sing the songs ofZion. Their singing has a tend-ency to draw many people to ourmeetings. Elders, left to right,back row: Orville H. Larson, Brigham City; Andrew Mollerup, SaltLake City; front row, Alvin D. Stoker, Clearfield, Utah, conferencesecretary; Peter M. Lundgreen, Monroe, conference president.