Mutual Work

MUTUAL WORK Stake Work A Live Ward in Summit Stake The Summit Self-Starter is a creditable local paper published by the Mutuals of the Summit stake. The issue for February 1, 1917, contains the efficiency report of the sixteen wards of that stake. While a number of the wards show splendid work, Oakley stands in the lead with a perfect record in all the activities, scoring also 390 points in special activities, and being efficient in all the other activities. The president of that ward, A. F. Richards, in explaining to the superintendent "how we got 100 per cent in efficiency" says among other things: "We asked ourselves the question, Ts Efficiency valuable?' In answer to the question, we have used our best judgment in the selection of officers backed by the bishop and united our best efforts to meet the requirements of the General Boards. "At the beginning of the season's work a meeting was called by the M. I. A. officers and resolutions were formed. All officers were determined to make ours the successful organization. 'In Unity There is Strength.' "The following committees were appointed: "An enlistment committee who, through faithful efforts, gained a good membership for the association, and, through the devoted interest of the class instructors, also the program committee, a good attendance has been maintained. "Special activity work has become so interesting that a second set of reading course books was necessary early in the season's work, to meet the demands of the interested readers. "Much credit is also due the members who have so willingly responded to the call made of them by the program committee. "The dramatic committee, without delay, set forth to accomplish their desires, and were successful in putting two interesting plays before the public which proved a success and were very entertaining. "Scout work is a leading feature with the boys of Oakley ward which has been in progress for more than a year. New applications are coming in quite frequently for the Tenderfoot examination, and those holding certificates of a Tenderfoot class are working hard to reach a higher rank in Scoutcraft. Weekly meetings are held and supervised by those commissioned to act by the National Organization of America. "We find the Era work very interesting, if soliciting for subscribers is begun early in September when the people have their summer's earnings coming in. As the Era is regarded as the leading Church publication, they are anxious to have it in their homes to read during the long winter nights. "The Annual Fund is easily obtained if a lively and spicy entertainment is given for that purpose. "The Counselor on vocations and industries is very busy along that line of work, watching his organization of boys, for we feel that he is interested in the welfare of the boys growing up to manhood. We sincerely believe he will be the means of guiding many of the boys into life's business which they are adapted for.

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"There are still opportunities confronting us for greater success in Mutual s\ ,rk. The success attained is due to promptness and faithful attendance u; ward officers' meetings. Our motto is: " 'Never Weary in Well Doing.'

Record for the "Era" Bishop J. H. Miller of Holbrook, Arizona, calling attention to the splendid record of the Era for volume 19, last year, in Glenwoodville, Alberta, Canada, namely 48 subscribers out of 279 population, or about 17 per cent, points to the fact that the Holbrook ward of the Snowflake stake has only 85 members, and that for volume 20 they have 22 subscriptions sent in by Brother L. M. Monson, and three subscriptions forwarded by subscribers themselves, making 25 in all, or 29 per cent of the population who are subscribers to the Era. We congratulate Brother Monson, our agent there, on his untiring efforts for this very enviable record in obtaining subscriptions for the Era. Brother Monson will hold the championship until some other agent can show a better record for Vol. 20.

Special Activities Stake Pennant Contest Check on the stake and church pennant contest this month. Church pennant blanks will be furnished for the stakes to report upon in due time. Please remember that in reporting for the stake pennant the General Board desires that the stake shall report the total for each of the activities for October, November, December, January, February, March and April 1, in order to show the number of points scored by all the stakes on each of these activities for the year. Some of the stakes last year reported only the total scores. This year we desire a seggregated report from each stake. In order to do this each ward must report the totals of each activity so that these may be added up to make the grand total for the stake. Stake report blanks will be furnished to the stake officers in time for the report to be made before the 25th of May, at which date every report should be in the hands of the General Secretary. You can see the need of the stake officers checking up the wards now, so that they may make proper reports to the stake officers on the blanks which are already furnished them for the stake pennant contest. Public Speaking Contests Superintendents will please immediately set definite dates for the ward, slake district, stake and church district meets, for senior public speaking contests, as per the convention folder and the Hand Book, page 92. Call attention to the fact that the name of the winner of the church district public speaking contest is to be forwarded, with his manuscript, no later than May 25, to the General Secretary Y. M. M. I. A. Set your date for receiving all data from the wards.

Summer Work What are you going to do for the summer? You should have a summer vacation program, and it is suggested that you take up some special activity in your stake for the membership to take part in during the summer months. Among these have been suggested the following: co-operation with the Church schools and other organizations for chautauquas; baseball leagues; reading course classes; interchangeable programs; biographical or other book studies, readings, etc.

466 IMPROVEMENT ERA

Please, also, consider how to hold your associations together during the summer months. In this connection the closing meeting instructions should be followed, as found on page 17, in the Y. M. M. I. A. Hand Book, in order that the associations during the summer may have a thorough organization. Superintendents should take stock now of the whole situation of the Y. M. M. I. A. work for the season. All activities should be rounded up, secretaries checked up, and arrangements made and instructions given for the annual reports, and for further summer activities. All information should be gathered and in hand before the young men and officers begin to scatter, at the approach of the close of the season. Please have no excuses for failure to report.

M. I. A. Reading Contests in Denver A very successful evening was enjoyed on January 30, under the auspices of the Mutual Improvement Associations of Denver, Colorado, under the direction of Marie Pitschke, president of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association of the Western States Mission. It was a reading contest held in the mission auditorium, over one hundred people being present. There were readings from the junior girls and boys, the first division being humorous and the second division serious. In the first division Inez Geisking read, "Maggie at the Beauty Parlors," and Lester J. Herrick, "What William Henry Did Next," an escapade of a mischievous boy. In the serious readings Leila Hensley read "Snakes, the Soldier;" and Howard Christenbury, "The Letter from the Man Without a Country." Then followed two musical selections from the junior choruses "Rejoice, O Bethlehem," by the girls; and "My Kentucky Babe," by the boys, six in each chorus, the girls being Lucile Call, Inez Geisking, Arlene Mortensen, Dora Smith, Leila Hensley, May Vivian; and the boys, Barlow Call, Howard Christenbury, Lester Stillman, Lester J. Herrick 5 Forest Lowen, and Norman Robinson. Readings, humorous and serious, were then given by the senior girls and boys. The first humorous reading was by Syvil Smith, "Aunt Melissa Raves on Boys," and "Pro and Con" by Angus Mortensen of the senior young men. The serious readings followed, Mary Call with, "The Man who Opened Eyes," a story of a blind boy's faith in the power of Christ and the resurrection. Howard Sabin gave "An Old Sweetheart ot Mine." Elder Benjamin Goddard of the Bureau of Information, Salt Lake City, spoke for a short time expressing his interest in the association, and congratulating the members on the success of the evening. Mission President John L. Herrick gave some encouraging suggestions both to the officers and the members. We congratulate the young people of Denver upon having an organization of this character.

Class Study Planning Lessons In a recent meeting of the class-leaders of the Salt Lake City and Cottonwood stakes Dr. George H. Brimhall, advised teachers always to plan their lessons. Since such a course would make it much easier for a teacher, and he would thus have a definite end or aim in view. Among the requirements or steps for such a plan he named the following: 1. Name the main topic of the lesson, preferably by problem or question. 2. List the materials that you need for an intelligent presentation of the lesson, for example: the manual, illustrative stories, confirming evidences. 3. Selection specific or leading aim for the evening out of the topics

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in the lesson, and impress its value upon the student during the lesson. 4. In the presentation of the lesson lead up to the aim by asking pertinent questions and discussing them. 5. Make the application. In this division the stories should be given, and illustrations of the subject in the form of personal experiences should be presented by the teacher, and required also from the class. 6. Assign the new lesson, and in so doing state its leading problem.

Efficiency Report

Stake and ward officers are asked to inspect the efficiency report for January, 1917, opposite page 472. How does your stake show up? Some superintendents complain that ward presidents do not report. We can only say that a president who does not do so is either indifferent or grossly neglectful of his duty; and we feel the same about stake officers. The report is so simple that the ward secretary need only spend five minutes in making it out, and the compilation by the stake secretary is a matter of small moment. Wake up, brethren, and give us a full report from every stake for February, by the dates required.

Books Thoughts on Business, a book by Waldo P. Warren, Forbes & Company, 433 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, formerly published in two volumes, but now condensed into one, 260 pages, each with a business thought well developed and well worth while. "Starting Points" is a special topic in the contents, under which there Business are the following sub-headings: "What is Success," "The Greatest Maxim," "Be a Man First," "Looking Ahead," "Opportunities That Wait, "Where the Trouble Lies," "How to Acquire Tact." Among^other general "Self Improvesubjects in the contents, each with many subdivisions, are: ment," "About Methods," "Buying and Selling," "Types of Men, Policies,

"Observation," "Byproducts," and many others. Under each one of these are a large number of subdivisions, one on a page, and each designed to stimulate and develop thought and action by both workman and proprietor. business life. The book is especially valuable for young men starting out in From one of the pages, the following is quoted: change. "What is success? The definition of success is undergoing a wealth The publicity given to the methods and practices of many men of the better nature in every and business control has done much to arouse validity of such success. The ridiculous utterances man to question the theory has warped their common of certain specialists, whose devotion to a sense, have made plain to the practical man that specialism m^ become the man who thinks so much about his busines reduction to absurdity. The also losing cast. And the man who 'hat he cares nothing about literature is life that he has no practica ist deeply schooled in the theoretical side of regarded as out of the race point of contact with the world may also be f0f "By ^observation of extreme types men are being forced to the conclusion that moderation in all things is essential to a true J^ent of is the well-rounded life, with broad views all things; and that ideal life and broad purposes for good-the ability broad culture broad sympathies, and activity^ In the bad in all lines of though, t ^Teparate the go'd from this broader view business loses rank as an an end-a means for making a ^^f^^TeTome wholesome activity livelihood, a field of activity,

character and mental vigor. and a school for the development of