--- 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: 20 number: 3 published: 1917-01 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* 20, no. 3 (January 1917): 279–283." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2003unse 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: improvementera2003unse start_page: 279 end_page: 283 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1917-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2003unse publication_year: 1917 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 1917, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Passing Events 1 frkfr'j ' I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 I I rTTTTT PASSING EVENTS David Lloyd-George was announced as the new British premier on Decomber 6, Premier Asquith having resigned on December 5. Dr. Henry Van Dyke, minister to Holland, was one of the three diplomatic resignations that were forwarded to President Wilson on December 4. The ninth annual governors' conference opened in Washington December 14, by Governor William Spry of Utah. The session for 1917 will be held in Salt Lake City. A Christmas gift to forty-nine thousand workers of the Santa Fe railroad, and the Western Union Telegraph company, and amounting to five million dcJlars, was announced by the companies December 5. In Mexico disturbances continue. Villa held Chihuahua city November 30. He evacuated and fled with two trains of loot on December 3 when the soldiers of Carranza again took possession of the capital. Francis Josef, emperor of Austria, died November 21. The Archduke Charles Francis was declared the new emperor of Austria, under the title of Charles VII. He was born in 1887, and in 1911 married Princess Zita of Parma. They have three children. The American steamship "Chemung" was torpedoed near Cabo de Gata, on the coast of Andelucia, near Spain in ths Mediterranean, and went down with the American flag flying, the captain having formally refused to lower tlie flag. The ship was owned by the Harbey Steamship Company of New lork. Alexander Tripoff has been appointed premier of Russia, to take the place of retiring Premier M. Sturmer. The reason of the change was a serious political crisis in the government of Russia and the change is said to imply a victory for the liberal elements of Russia over the bureaucratic regime. Jack London, noted author of California, died at Glen Ellen his California ranch,November 22. He would have been forty-one years old on January 12. The Call of the Wild brought him into literary prominence, in 1903. He was the author of forty books, several plays and many short stories. "Palermo," an Italian cargo ship was reported torpedoed off the Spanish coast December 2, with twenty-five Americans aboard. One was reported killed and three wounded, the remainder of the survivors being safely landed in Spain. The losses of the Allies in the great war, according to figures by a Copenhagen organization for research into the social consequences of the war, are fifteen million men of which Great Britain has lost 1,200,000: Russia 8,500,000 France 3,700,000 and the remainder Italy, Serbia, Belgium ; ; and Rumania. 2H0 IMPROVEMENT ERA The Utah Battery N. G. U. left Nogales on December 13 and arrived in Salt Lake City, December 16, where the boys were treated to a big dinner in the Hotel Utah, and went from thence to Fort Douglas where they were to be mustered out. President Wilson on December 3 read his message to Congress which called for railroad legislation, election reforms and new measures for Porto Rico. The Congress faces many bills including important railroad control and cost of living measures. The new kingdom of Arabia, with its capital at Mecca, has notified the state department of the United States that it has been established, and asks that this country formally recognize the new kingdom. Until peace is esfablished, and the permanency of the new government is tested, it is not likely that the United States will do anything in relation to the matter. The "Deutschland" left the United States on November 21 for Bremen. A damage suit in the sum of $162,000 was brought against the submarine company as the result of the accident in which the Deutschland sank the tug T. A. Scott Jr. which a few days before was piloting it out of the New London harbor, and on which occasion five members of the tug boat's crew were drowned. The wool industry in Utah has reached unprecedented proportions, according to the record of the secretary of the state board of sheep commissioners filed on the 13th of December with the governor. The clip for 1916 amounted to $3,500,000, and during the same period $4,500,000 was received for mutton shipped_to eastern markets. The year was one of the most profitable in the history of the state. The Adamson eight-hour law passed by Congress last summer has been attacked on its constitutionality. On November 22 one of these suits was heard immediately in the federal court in Kansas City, and it was decided that the law was unconstitutional. The case was promptly appealed, so that the supreme court may rule as socn as possible on the subject. A great medical school is to be established in connection with the University of Chicago. The general education board and the Rockefeller Foundation have appropriated two million dollars which is to be added to money and property worth nine million dollars already at the disposal of ihe university. It is said that the school will give special attention to advanced or post-graduate students and to offer them facilities heretofore obtainable only in Berlin and Vienna. Total prohibition throughout France on whiskey, brandy and other liquors, was decided upon by the government, December 14. Premier Briand declared that the solution of the liquor question involved the life of the country and its salvation, and for that reason declared in favor of the total suppression of the consumption of alcohol. The premiers remarks were greeted with loud applause. In France prohibition includes such beverages as absinthe, whiskeys, brandies and liquors, but does not include wines and beers. A constitutional amendment forbidding the manufacture and sale of liquor for beverage purposes in the United States is to be submitted, according to the resolution of the house judiciary committee, to the Congress of the United States. In order to carry, a two-thirds majority in both — PASSING EVENTS 281 houses is required. An influence is also being brought to bear on Congress to prohibit the use of the mails for the sending of liquor advertisements by unlicensed liquor dealers. Anthony W . Ivins lately returned from Mexico on a visit to the colonies of the Latter-day Saints. During his visit he was invited to dine with (Jeneral Pershing, and at the general's request addressed the troops stationed in proximity to headquarters. He took for his subject "Loyalty as Taught by 'Mormonism.' " On the 14th of December, Elder Ivins received from the General a photograph of the commander of the American expeditionary forces in Mexico. General Pershing expressed his appreciation of the address of Elder Ivins to the soldiers, and commented upon the warm welcome given him by the troops. Elder Ivins has sent a letter of appreciation 'o General Pershing. The German chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg announced on November 29, in an address to the Reichstag, that Germany is ready to end the war by peace which would guarantee the existence and future of the nation. It was the chancellor's sixtieth birthday. The peace proposal was sent through the proper channels to the Entente Allies, and neutral nations. It was generally unfavorably received among the warring nations. The new premier of England, Lloyd-George, spoke upon the subject in the House of lords on Tuesday, December 19. He said the peace proposals made by Germany, offered no basis for the solution of the war. Without reparation, negotiations could not be considered. Peace offers must include guarantees against Prussian Militarism disturbing the future peace of Europe. Donald Rosser of Price, Utah, died at Fort Logan, Colorado, November 9, He was the assistant scout master of the Hiawatha troop of M. I. A. 1916. Scouts at Price and enlisted in the army and was in Colorado at the time of his death. He was born January 21, 1898, and his burial took place in Price, Utah, November 15, 1916. He enlisted in the army in August. The flags of all the M. I. A. patrols in the Carbon stake were at half mast on the day of his funeral until noon, and all the scouts of his former troop and of Price attended the funeral in a body. Six of the boys acted as pall bearers. The casket was draped with the American flag. The troops marched in head of the hearse to the cemetery, thus paying due respect to their friend. Scoutmaster H. B. Goetzmann. — Idaho Stake Organized. At the quarterly conference of the Bannock stake held at Grace, Idaho, November 18 and 19, that stake was divided, and a new one organized out of the northern part, to be known as Idaho stake, and composed of the following wards: Bancroft, Chesterfield, Hatch, Ivins, Kelly, Lund, Soda Springs, Gray's Lake, and Meadowville independent branch. Nelson J. Hogan was sustained as president of the stake with Eeplar Sessions and Robert L. Redford counselors. The wards remaining in the old Bannock stake are: Cleveland, Bench, Central, Grace, Mound Valley, Thatcher 1st and Thatcher 2nd, Trout Creek, Turner, Gray and ^i ilson. Walter Hogan was sustained as clerk of the Bannock stake to succeed the late Joseph H. Bevins, deceased. His address is Thatcher, Idaho. Elders Hyrum M. Smith and Reed Smoot of the Council of the Twelve were present. — The Great War On December 1st the Teutonic allied forces joined in a mighty battle for Bucharest, extending along a six hundred mile front from Poland to the Danube. The battle continued until December 6, when the armies of the central powers cut off a large part of the defending army taking six thousand prisoners. The taking of the Rumanian capital com- — 282 IMPROVEMENT ERA pleted the conquest of fifty thousand square miles of territory which is a great record and victory for the Germans, it being now one hundred days — since Rumania entered the war. The deportation of Belgians continued in early December, and on the first, the American Government registered a new protest against these deportations, having learned that three thousand — are deported every week. Russia announced through Premier Tripoff, who spoke to the Duma, that by official agreement of the Allies, made in 1915, Russia is to have the Dardanelles and Constantinople at the end of the war. The Somme offensive, instituted by the Entente Allies, has been abandoned by them according to word sent from Berlin, December 3, being too expensive in lives. The report adds that the campaign has cost the allies between eight and nine hundred thousand men only to end in practical — defeat. Canadian casualties were reported, on December 4, in the great war, up to that date as being 55,680. William McLachlan, president of the Pioneer stake of Zion and a prominent Churchman, speaking to the High Priests' quorum of the Pioneer ttake on Sunday morning, December 3, said: "I wish I were as well pre7>ared for my salvation as is Brother James Leatham." He then seated himself and fell gasping into the arms of his first counselor Sylvester Q. Cannon. An examination proved that he had died of heart disease, and these words were the last he spoke on earth. Elder Leatham whom he had eulogized was one of those who came to President McLachlan's side in an endeavor to resuscitate him when he fell lifeless. He had appeared to be in the best of health during the service, and had come to the stake hall from the temple where he had presided over the usual Sunday morning prayer meeting of his stake. Elder McLachlan was called to the stake presidency in 1904, and for forty years had been a diligent and faithful worker in the Seventh ward as first counselor to the late Bishop William Thorn. He was born May 30, 1840, in Scotland where he attended school until his thirteenth year. He became a member of the Church in 1859 at the age of nineteen. He was married November 6, 1860 to Caroline Filer, and came to Utah October 4, 1863, losing two little sons on the way. He was a school teacher, and occupied many other positions in the community and in the Church, and was treasurer of the Sunday School Union a number of years, until 1875. He filled a mission to New Zealand in 1875-77. Ho was ordained a High Priest on the 15th of June, 1877. He worked for nearly seven years in the construction of the temple at Manti, being by trade a carpenter and building contractor. He was true, upright, sincere, and a zealous worker for righteousness. — Died Orrin Redfield Grow, second lieutenant Battery B, in the war with Spain, Philippine Islands, died Sunday, December 3, in Salt Lake City. He won high honors for gallantry in the battle of Malate, July 31, 1899. Marvin E. Pack, for many years an employee of the business office of the Deseret Neivs, and the senior president of the 140th Quorum of Seventy, in the Granite stake of Zion, died Monday, December 4. He was born in Salt Lake City, September 25, 1860. He was a man of splendid integrity, a good Church worker, and highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends. Margaret Gledhill Duffin who joined the Church in 1843, in England, v here she was born, April 1, 1827, died November 27, at Gunnison, Utah. Mrs. Fred M. Houtz, the first woman born in Springville, Utah, February 9, 1852, died December 3 in the city of her birth. Stuart L. Reid, son of Porfessor Charles W. Reid of Provo, met an untimely death in the waters of Utah lake on Saturday, November 25, while sktaing with friends. He was born in the Samoan mission field about seventeen years ago. His mother died just four days after her return home from the mission field, his father remaining until some time later. PASSING EVENTS 283 John Phillips Meakin, author and lecturer, well-known in Utah, born July 9, 1852, in England, died in Washington, December 5. He came to Utah when he was nineteen years of age. He was the author of Leaves of Truth, Utah and the Mormons, From the Four Winds and Talks on Manhood. John A. Drakeford, custodian of the Tabernacle Choir, died at his home December 4, in Salt Lake City. He was born February 1, 1852 in England. He joined the Church in 1876 and came to Utah in 1885. Anna Folkner Taylor, widow of John F. Taylor, died in Salt Lake City November 27. She was born June 27, 1829, and came to Utah in 1856, being a faithful Church worker. Mrs. Mary Rose died at Richville, Morgan Co., Utah, December 3, 1916, 83 years of age. She was a native of Sweden, and passed through many trying scenes for the sake of the gospel. Mary E. B. Jones, born May 1, 1836, in Maine, died in Salt Lake City November 20. She came to Salt Lake City in 1855, and in 1857 married Nathaniel V. Jones. She was a faithful Church worker. Robert D. Wilson, an early settler of Ogden, died at the Dee Hospital November 20. He was born September 23, 1845, in Scotland and came to Utah with his mother in 1869. Bertie Walsh, born October 17, 1881, a well-known public school teacher of the state, died in Farmington, November 20. She was a faithful worker in the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association, and also filled a mission to the Western States in 1913-14, and later was a worker at the Bureau of Information, Salt Lake City. Joseph H. Bevins, born September 30, 1846, in New York, joined the Church in Minnesota in 1882, and came to Utah in 1883, and taught school in Weber county for a number of years. He died in Thatcher, Idaho, and his funeral was held November 16. He acted as stake clerk of the Bannock stake since 1898, when the stake was organized. Melvin E. Cummings died in San Francisco, November 27. He was born in Salt Lake City, January 14, 1855, and was well known in banking circles in this city until about twenty years ago when he removed to San Francisco. Hans Richter, the foremost Wagnerian conductor of his time, died recently at Beiruth, Germany, age 83. President Oleen N. Stohl, of the Box Elder stake of Zion, died November 28, at his home in Brigham City, Utah. President Stohl was born in Salt Lake City, February 19, 1865, and was the son of Ola N. and Christina Johnson Stohl. The family moved to Brigham City when Oleen was a year old. He filled a mission to Scandinavia in 1889-91, and was married to Sarah Peters, September 7, 1892. In 1888, he was made the president of the ward Y. M. M. I. A.; and in 1897, president of the stake board of Y. M. M. I. A., and counselor to President Charles Kelly of the stake, November 20, 1899. At the death of President Kelly, he was made president of the Box Elder stake, May 29, 1905. He was elected county clerk of Box Elder county in 1894, and filled other responsible civil positions. In business he wielded a wide and potent influence throughout his community, being manager and director in several institutions. As president of the stake he gained the respect and affection of the whole community, and throughout the state he was known in Church and business circles as an efficient man of sterling character who had the full confidence of both Church and civil authorities. The General Board of Y. M. M. I. A., December 13, sent the following tribute to the family, signed by the General Superintendency: — Dear Friends The General Board of Y. M. M. I. A. express to you their sincere sympathy in the sorrow which has overtaken you in the death of your husband and father, President Oleen N. Stohl. Not only do we express our sympathy to you, but we express the appreciation of the Gen-