Mutual Work

182 IMPROVEMENT ERA ing brightly in the heart! of a great people. It makes the Church the hope of the world. Helps for Instructors of Deacons By P. Joseph Jensen LESSON 31 Aim (to only): Lesson thirty-four relates how- President instructor Jrdediah M. Grant allowed himself to be tested concerning the method that "Mormon" elders are taught to preach. He accepts a kind of challenge. He also accepts a challenge to debate. The aim of the lesson may be to help to make clear to the minds of the students that great wisdom needs to be used in accepting challenges. In order to give the deacons an opportunity to tell what they already know about it, ask such a question as the following: Under what circumstances may the Lord help us fulfil a challenge that we have accepted? Study the lesson. What did the people challenge President Grant to do? What was the result? Study the challenge Satan made to our Savior in the first and second temptations, according to Matt. 4.1-7. Help the students to understand that Satan desired Christ to use his divine power to no righteous purpose. Judging from the answers that our Savior gave to Satan, when should we not try to use the power of the Lord? Read and tell the meaning of Doc. and Cov. 121:41. Answer the question of the" lesson. LESSONS 35 AND 36 (The aim of these two lessons is the same; namely, to strengthen the determination of the students to remain true to the servants of the Lord, when opposite temptations come.) Problem: What do you think proves whether we are loyal to the servants of the Lord, or not? If a seatmate in school cheats, and you know it, what is the right thing for you to do, to be true to him? What tempts you to shield him? Study the lesson. What hardships did Porter Rockwell endure in the effort of his enemies to get him to turn traitor to the Prophet Joseph Smith? What temptations did they place before him, in the midst of these hardships? How did he treat those temptations? Answer the general question of the lesson. Note on Music Professor Evan Stephens, who is at present in New York, writes us that in the song, "The Cheery Smile," which appeared in the October number of the Era, the first notes in measures 1, 2, 9, 10, 25 and 26 (counting the full measure as No. 1), should have sharps before both alto and soprano; that is, it should read G sharp in the soprano and E sharp in the alto in each of the three places where this phrase occurs. Also that in measure 32 the soprano should slur up to A and the alto to F sharp on the word "day."

MUTUAL WORK Stake Committee Efficiency Reports The attention of stake superintendents and Y. M. M. I. A. officers in general is called to the efficiency report which begins in this number of the Era and will be printed each month for the season. The present report covers October, and it will be noticed by the officers that only four stakes throughout the Church were heard from for that month, namely, Alpine, Cache, Pioneer, and Salt Lake. It is of great importance that stake officers shall insist upon receiving from the wards these reports regularly by the first of each month. Each stake should then report promptly to Secretary Moroni Snow, no later than the 10th of each month. The report in the January number of the Era will cover the month of November, and we desire to hear from every stake in the Church. We congratulate the four stakes who have reported, and while their reports are not complete, for so early in the season they do well to show efficiency in four or five activities out of the ten. By next month we should have a complete report from the stakes that have no v reported, and at least a good showing from the other stakes of Zion. Blanks for ward and stake reports may be obtained on application to the Era office. Suggestive Preliminary Programs (As presented in late M. I. A. Conventions) General Topic, "Mountains." Song, "High on the mountain top." "Benefits Derived from the Mountains," talk (5 minutes). Duet and song, "Proud, yes proud of our home in the mountains." Reading from Tell's address: "I'm with you once again." Solo, "Thy will be done." Hymn, "On the mountain tops appearing" General Topic, "The Hawaiian People," talk (10 minutes). Song, Hawaiian. Hawaiian instrumental duet. Song solo, "Aloha Oe" General Topic, "The Cary Sisters." Sketch of the life of Alice and Phoebe Cary (10 minutes). Reading, "An Order for a Picture" and "Overpayment." Ladies' Quartet, "One Sweetly Solemn Thought." Special Activities List of Dramas These plays may be used for scoring points in special activities contest: "The Amazons," bv Pinero; 3 acts, 7 males, 5 females; 50c. W. H. Baker & Co., Boston, Mass. Royalty, $10.00. "A Rose o' Plymouth Town," by Dix and Sutherland; 4 acts, 4 males, 4 females; 50c. Dramatic Publishing Co., Chicago. Royalty, $10.00.

184 IMPROVEMENT ERA "Mr. Boh," by R. E. Baker; 3 acts, 3 males, 4 females; 15c. "A Box of Monkeys," by Grace Furness; 2 acts, 2 males, 3 females; 15c. "Daddy," comedy in 3 acts, 4 males, 4 females; 25c. "The Old New Hampshire Home," by Dumont; 3 acts, 7 males, 4 females; 25c. "Rebecca's Triumph," 3 acts, 16 females; 25c. "The Neighbors," by Zona Gale; written for the Wisconsin Dramatic Society, in behalf of a better dramatic art; very good; 1 act, 2 males, 6 females. See also list of dramas in Y. M. M. I. A. Handbook for 1915* These may be used for scoring points. — (Note. The first two plays listed above are royalty plays. Ward associations desiring to present them must write to the publishers, asking permission to do so and paying the royalties named. All of these plays are carried by the Deseret News Book Store, Salt Lake City, Utah.) Eliminate the smoking in "A Box of Monkeys." Books of Reference for Declamations. The Special Activities Committee does not urge any association to purchase books specially for declamations. Many can secure the books listed (see October Era and Journal) in school or public libraries; those who cannot obtain them thus easily may substitute other selections than those suggested. No better ones can be found than "Paul's Defense Before Agrippa," the "Twenty-third Psalm," and others from the Bible. Athletics and Scout Work To Scout Officials The Scout activities are a part of Mutual Improvement work, and are under the direction and supervision of the Y. M. M. I. A. stake and ward officers. All Y. M. M. I. A. officers should know in a general way what Scout work is. A Stake Deputy Scout Commissioner should be appointed to look after the work in the stake. The following literature is recommended: The Y. M. M. I. A. Hand Book, second edition, price 25 cents single copy, $2.40 per dozen, postpaid; on sale only at the Era Office. Hand Book for Boys, 15th edition, price 35 cents, postpaid, Hand Book for Scout Masters, price 60 cents, postpaid. American Red Cross, abridged text-book on First Aid; price 35 cents, postpaid. The last three books mentioned may be obtained through your local book stores, The Deseret News Book Store, The Deseret Sunday School Union Book Store, Salt Lake City; Boy Scouts of America, No. 200 Fifth Ave., New York. On request, the National Headquarters will mail catalogue of other scout Uterature. Troop Registration The minimum registration fee of $3 is required from each troop, even though there are less than twelve boys enrolled. However, when there are less than twelve boys enrolled, additional boys may be registered at any time within one year from the date of registration up to twelve boys, without the payment of additional dues. If there are more than twelve boys, 25 cents additional to the $3 must be paid for each boy to be enrolled. This fee is entirely independent and separate from the M. I. A. annual 25-cent fund.

MUTUAL WORK 185 See Hand Book, M. I. A. The fees must accompany the scout master's national application blank. Checks or money orders should be made payable to John fi. Taylor, M. I. A. Scout Commissioner. Under no circumstances can a boy be enrolled as a member of a troop who has not passed his twelfth birthday. Cost of Registration for Scout Officials The stake deputy scout commissioner pays one dollar annually, which amount also entitles him to Boys' Life and Scouting. The ward scout master is not required to pay for his registration, and receives Boys' Life and Scouting free. The assistant ward scout master must pay 25 cents annually, and will receive Scouting free. The Boy Scout plan is not military. It teaches, however, patriotism, chivalry, and advocates universal peace. Commence with the tenderfoot requirements. Do not undertake at the beginning to give the boys everything in scoutcraft. Work into the program games, hikes and other outdoor activities. Finish tenderfoot requirements before taking up second and first class requirements. Emphasize the Scout promise, the Scout law, the Scout motto, "Be Prepared," and the "Daily Good Turn." These are the big things in scoutcraft. Examinations should be both written and oral. Never let a boy slip through; make him come up to a high standard. For Tenderfoot examination questions see M. I. A. Hand Book, second edition. These examinations should not be given by the scout master to his own troop, but should be given under the direction of the stake deputy scout commissioner. See instructions in M. I. A. Hand Book. Write to Dr. -John H. Taylor for further information on scout work. M. I. A. Scout Rescues Burning Child M. O. Maughan, Scout Master, Troop No. 4, American Fork, Utah, and J. M. Walker, president of the Y. M. M. I. A. there, sent the Era an account of the personal experience of a boy scout named Francis Hutchings. The young man was on his way to a Hallowe'en party with a number of other boys. As the company passed a home where five or six children were playing, they heard a shrill scream from a child, and looking back they saw a mass of flames issuing from the house. Hutchings jumped the fence shouting, "There is a child on fire!" He pulled his coat off as he ran, and when he reached the little one she was about to fall. He threw his coat about her to smother the flames, and carried her into the house and stripped the clothing from her body. Mrs. Binns, a neighbor, threw a bucket of water on the child wetting Hutchings all over. Two doctors were summoned who found the mother crazed with grief and fear. Hutchings did all he could to help the child and the mother, and then went to the party where it was discovered that his hands were hurt slightly with bad burns. On Sunday he returned to visit the home where the little girl died, just five minutes after he had entered. The flames started in this way: the little girl had an Indian suit on, with the sleeves decorated with cotton fringe. The jacko'-lantern in her hand held a lighted candle. The blaze from the candle caught the fringe and set her clothes afire. The doctors said she would hnve died within three minutes after the fire started, had there not been — someone to douse it. She lived twenty-four hours after the accident heart trouble from the shock, and not the burns, having killed her. Young Hutchings lost four days' from work, until his hands and arms were well.