---
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: 9
published: 1916-07
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Mutual Work," *Improvement Era* 19, no. 9 (July 1916): 849–852.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1909unse
  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: improvementera1909unse
start_page: 849
end_page: 852
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1916-07)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1909unse
  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.
---

# Mutual Work

<!-- page:849 -->

MUTUAL,
                         WORK
                    Athletics     and Scout Work

                   What was Done in 1915-16
    The Committee on M.   I. A. Scout Work gave a report to the
General Board, on May 31, showing the condition of this department
for the year ending that day.     It   shows commendable growth and in-
creasing interest. The great need now seems to be qualified and in-
                   —
terested leadership and even in this direction there is steady im-
provement:
    Troops registered,   148,   increase of 44; scout masters registered,

        M. I. A. SCOUT TROOP 2, PROVO, ON A HIKE TO THE LAKE

148, increase of 44; scouts registered at last report, May 31, 1915,
2,044; scouts canceled at expiration of their registration, on account of
scout masters moving away or unable to continue the work and no
one else found to date by ward authorities to take their places, 499.
This number of scouts canceled does not indicate a permanent or to-
tal loss,as many of these scouts are re-registered again by new scout
masters taking up the work.      Scouts re-registered during the year,
1,545; new scouts registered during the year 1,581.    This is only ap-
proximate as to its being the number of new registered boys, as scout
masters in re-registering seldom re-register every boy who formerly
belonged to his troop. This is due to some of the boys dropping out
of the work through lack of interest, some on account of age, others
going away to school, and others old enough to be used as leaders       m
other Church activities. The greatest loss, however, comes through
                                                                     or
the scout masters giving up the work either from lack of interest
inability to continue their labors. Total number of registered scouts
May 31, 1916, 3,126; total increase of registered scouts, 1,082. In ad-

<!-- page:850 -->

850                           IMPROVEMENT ERA
dition to the 3,126 scouts doing scout work as members of the na-
tional organization, there are perhaps from 1,500 to 2,000 boys who
are in touch with scout work in some of its phases, and through more
efficient stake and ward organization will be brought in harmony with
the complete scout program. The attached list shows the number of
registered scouts in each stake. The scouts are distributed in the dif-
ferent states as follows: Arizona, 65; Wyoming, 68; Nevada, 44; Idaho,
478; Utah, 2,471.
    Twenty-two stakes have no scout organization. This number in-
cludes Juarez and the two Canadian stakes. Up to date no report has

                      FIRST AID FOR SHOCK OR FAINTING
fcene   at   the Scout exercises onM. I. A. Day, May 16,     Richfield,   Utah, Troop   1,
                              Ray Chidester, Scout Master.

been received from the    latter as to whether they have or have not
scouts registered with the Canadian organization.        Twenty-three
stakes have registered deputy scout commissioners.
     There are six regularly organized scout masters' associations.
However, many stakes have a department for scout masters at their
regular monthly meeting.      Salt Lake Scout Masters' association is
made up of the scout leaders of seven stakes; the Ogden association
from three stakes. These associations have done very efficient work,
and have given the scout masters the necessary training to carry on
the work as leaders of boys. The Brigham Young University of Provo
has given an efficient six weeks' course in scoutcraft to seventeen of
their advanced students under the leadership of the stake deputy
scout commissioner, Le Grand Hardy.
     It is to be hoped that all of the Church schools that have the
necessary leadership will give the same course during the coming
year.
    Our relations with the national organization have been very cor-
dial. Any suggestions made to them that might assist us in handling
the work more advantageously have been accepted by them. Any as-
sistance that we have asked for has been very cheerfully given and
they have kept in close touch with us in carrying on the work.
    Practically in every place where the work has been organized the

<!-- page:851 -->

MUTUAL WORK                                     851

                                                      A BUNCH SIGNALING
 TUDGING SECOND CLASS COOKING
             TEST
   Troop 2, Provo, Utah.   L.   H. Hardy,
               Scout Master.

boys have taken an active part
          welfare of the com-
in the civic
munity and have assisted in
ward and stake affairs. They
have also done a wonderful
amount of good in their indi-
vidual and community "good
turns."  The work, when it has
been handled properly, has re-
ceived the endorsement of ward
and stake authorities. Unfortu-
nately, some of the scouts and
scout leaders have obtained the
wrong idea regarding scout
work, and the result has been
detrimental to the movement.
These evils are rapidly being                  THE MOST ANXIOUS MOMENT
overcome through our scout                  Second Class fire-making. Troop 2, Provo.
masters'   associations,        schools,           L. H. Hardy, Scout Master.
etc.,  and the labors of Seoul
Commissioner Dr. John H. Taylor and Assistant Scout Commissioner
Oscar A. Kirkham, in their visits to the different wards and stakes.
     Several troops have scout bands. Permanent summer camps in
some places are being provided f" r ih" scouts, and as a whole the
work is in a favorable condition. We shall endeavor during the com-
ing year to have every stake take up scout work in conjunction with
the rest of their M. I. A. work, to build up the now existing troops
and organizations, so that every boy will have the benefit of the ex-
cellent training and development that the scout movement affords.

<!-- page:852 -->

852                             IMPROVEMENT ERA
                    LIST OF REGISTERED SCOUTS IN             EACH STAKE
                                Asst.                                                         A sst.
Stake         Troops     Scout Scout Scouts   Stake           Troops                 Scout   Scout      Scouts
                        Masters Masters                                              tasters Ma sters
Alpine              7      7      4     170   North Davis. 1                             1        1         19
Bear Lake ... 2            2      2      45   North Sanpete 4                           4                  107
Rear River ..3             3       3     47   North Weber ... 2                         2                   31
Benson        3            3       2     49   Ogden                            2        2                   39
Big Horn            1      1       1     24   Oneida                           4         4       5          70
Bingham             2      2       1     37   Panguitch       ...              1         1                  12
Rlackfoot     ...   2      2       1     36   Parowan                          1         1                  16
Box Elder           2      2       2     29   Pioneer                          2         2       2          29
Carbon              4      4       4     80   Portneuf                         1         1       1          10
Cache               8       8      5    146   Rigby                            1         1        1         37
Cassia              5      5       2     75   Salt    Lake    ...              4        4        6         107
Cottonwood      .1          1            15   Sevier                           4         4       3          52
Curlew              1       1      1     12   South Davis.. 2                            2       2          83
Deseret             3      3             64   South Sanpete 5                            5       4          84
Duchesne            4      4             69   Star Valley   2      .       .
                                                                                         2        1         44
Emery               1       1            17   St. George... 2                            2        1         63
Ensign    '         4       4      3     89   Summit                           1         1        1         27
Fremont             4      4       6     80   Tooele                           2         2                  39
Granite             8      8       8    179   Uintah                           4         4       5          48
Jordan              4       4      6    118   Utah                             8         8       2         183
Juab                3       3      3     65   Wasatch        ....              3         3        3         68
Liberty             7       7      4    154   Wayne                            1         1                  20
Malad               2       2      2     63   Weber                            3         3        3         55
Maricopa            1       1            65   Yellowstone      .       .       1         1                  13
Moapa               1       1            44
Nebo                4       4      3     98                            148            148      104        3126

                            Reading Course for 1916-17

    Begin now to make points for your association and stake                                             in the
reading course. Here are the books and the points for each:
   The New Testament, 7 points.
   "Tales from Shakespeare," Lamb, 2 points.
   Shakespeare's Plays:  "Hamlet," "Midsummer Night's Dream,"
"Henry VIII," "King Lear," "Romeo and Juliet," 2 points for each
play.
     "Little        Women," Alcott, 2 points.
         "How We Got Our Bible," Smyth, 2 points.
        "Sandsy's Pal," Hunting, 2 points.
        "Wild Animals at Home," Seton, 2 points.
        "Jacob Hamblin," Little, 2 points.
        "Wild Roses," Driggs, 2 points.
        "Under the Country Sky," Richmond, 2 points.
         "Speeches of the Flying Squadron," 2 points.
         Any of the book stores will gladly furnish you the prices.                                        See
lists    and prices in this number of the Era.

                                         Infinity

         O, how I love the vast, unblemished plains,
         That lose themselves in heaven's azure vaults;
         Moulded and clothed by God, they beauteous lie
         Before me, and I stand amazed in the presence of Infinity!
         A weak and groveling thing! Man, how vain and foolish!
         Boasting fancied strength and wisdom deep.       A conqueror
         Of heaven, of earth, of sea, and scorning
         The Power that gave thee breath, the Creator of thine home.
         Go thou alone into the silent night. Behold the wondrous picture!
         'Twill teach thee well.
 RAYMOND, ALBERTA                                                                  FRANK C. StEET.E
