--- 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: 6 published: 1917-04 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* 20, no. 6 (April 1917): 559–563." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2006unse 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: improvementera2006unse start_page: 559 end_page: 563 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1917-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2006unse 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. --- # Mutual Work — — 560 IMPROVEMENT ERA The above prizes have been forwarded to the winners, by Secretary Moroni Snow as per order of the General Board, February 21, with letters of transmission complimenting the boys for their efforts and industry. M. I. A. Boys' Industrial Contest Report Blank Here follows the report in full of the winner of the first prize: This report is to be filled in at the close of the contest, and when properly certified to is to be handed by the contestant to the Ward Vocation Counselor, who will forward it to the Committee on Vocations and Industries, No. 22 Bishop's Building, Salt Lake City, Utah: 1. — Name Kelsh Wheeler. „ Age— 17 years, 4 months. 2. — Ward South Cottonwood. — Stake Cottonwood. 3. — Kind of work Bridge carpenter's helper. 4. — By whom employed Utah State Road Commission. 5. What was the principal reason that you accepted this particular work?-— Because it offered the best opportunity for learning road and bridge construction from a practical basis. 6. — How many days did you work? 77 days, 4 hours. How many hours — each day? 8 for road, and 4 for home. 7. — What was the total amount earned? $189.86 in cash, and board and room, for chores. 8. How much did you spend? $68.26. — a. Gave to parents $100. — b. — Board Worked on farm and did chores. c. Donation d. Books and magazines e. Clothing— $23.25. f. Amusements— $9.15. g. Other things (list in full) — Wagon, $1.50; rope, 20c; watch repair, $2; duster, $1; whip, 35c; watermelon, 10c; tithing, $18.20; stamps, 5c; charity, 10c; materials, 25c; for getting breakfast by sister, $6; expense for trip to Alta, $1.25; money paid back, $2; ice cream, 45c; car fars, 85c. 9. How much did you save? — $121.60. Where did you place it? —First National Bank of Murray. Write a fifty-word essay on your season's work—"The learning of 10. road and bridge construction is a most interesting and beneficial subject. I have enjoyed it immensely. It not only offers the theory laid down by road builders and engineers, but the actual work of the theory. While my work has been largely with the bridgers, I have worked with the engineers andfound it very beneficial." I hereby certify that the above is correct: Kelsh Wheeler, Contestant. I hereby certify that the above report is correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. President J. W Moffat, . Jr., Ward Vocation Counselor. Following are condensed reports of the other four winners: The second prize was given to Carl R. Borg, age 16, of the 26th ward, Pioneer stake. He acted as helper in the Union Foundry and Machine Co., and baker at the National Biscuit Co. He reports that he earned $135.40 and did his work in order to earn money to get an education and to help his sister on a mission. The third prize was awarded to Edwin Kimball, age 12 years 10 months, of the Houston ward, Panguitch stake. He worked harrowing, plowing and MUTUAL WORK 561 clearing land for his father, Dell Kimball, and the Emery Valley Farm Co. He earned $40 and did outdoor work in order to develop a strong body and to help his father. Essay: "I worked 56 days for my father. I did not charge my father anything, because we are pioneering in a new country. I earned $40 driving three and four horses for Dell Kimball, and Emery Valley Farm Co. My nights I spent reading good books. While doing this team work I learned how to drive a team." The fourth prize was won by Earl Price, aged 13 years 6 months, of the 32nd ward, Pioneer stake. He worked as peddler and earned $40.25. Essay: "Concerning my summer work, I thought I ought to help earn my clothes, if nothing more. I liked my work pretty well, although at times it was rather hard. I also got pleasure out of it. I feel better to know I have saved something, than I would if I had loafed or spent all I made." The fifth prize was awarded to Philip Hurst, aged 15 years 4 months, of Blanding ward, San Juan stake. He worked on the farm and earned $149.10. Essay: "The first half of my season's work was done about twentyeight miles from home. Being the oldest in the family I wanted to help support it. I enjoyed my work very much and was very pleased to contribute to the support of our large family." Athletics and Scout Work Annual M. I. A. Scout Rally at Deseret Gymnasium On February 15 the annual M. I. A. Boy Scout rally was held at the Deseret Gymnasium by the seven stakes making up the Salt Lake Scout Masters' district, under whose auspices it was held. It was one of the largest gatherings of registered boy scouts ever held in Salt Lake City. Each stake scout organization marched around the gymnasium in patrol form, making indeed an inspiring sight. There were 557 boys with their scout masters and assistant scout masters. These were divided as follows: Pioneer, 64; Jordan, 22; Salt Lake, 94; Granite, 146; Liberty, 77; Cottonwood, 17; Ensign, 137. Assistant Superintendents Heber J. Grant and B. H. Roberts and twelve members of the General Board were also present. After the grand assembly the rally was opened with prayer by Lyman R. Martineau, chairman of the Athletic and Scout Committee of the General Board. B. H. Roberts gave an address on "The Flag," and. Oscar A. Kirkham sang "My Native Land." A merit badge pageant then took place, the Salt Lake stake representing poultry, carpentry and signalling; Ensign, photography, athletics, swimming and dairying; Pioneer, angling and agriculture; Liberty, scholarship, bugling, printing and plumbing; Granite, camping, and cyling, and they also gave a staff exhibition. Jordan stake supplied the music with a scout band. Cottonwood did some of the comedy work. The special exexhibition, hibitions by the stakes were as follows: Jordan, a very fine flag showing how to raise and lower it, on different occasions, and a general the five boys history of the respect due to the flag, explained by one of who took part. The other four boys acted as the escort to the flag and rope attended to its proper folding and saluting. Salt Lake stake gave a exhibition in conjunction with the Liberty stake who did the signalling. A little plot was woven into this exhibition. An accident was supposed to have happened to some canyon people, one of the girls having fallen into a stream. "Some scouts were on the other side of the river and were sigof the cliff which naled to help. Their other companions were on the top They sigwas represented by the running track above the gallery seats. nalled the boys on the cliff who came down over the running track to the MUTUAL WORK 563 main floor on a rope which was fastened by a special knot. After all were down, the rope was loosened from its place by throwing a back loop on the rope. They then went to the other end of the gymnasium and one boy offered to swim across the river carrying the rope with him which, when he arrived on the other side, he tied to a tree. The boys on the other side also tied their end of the rope to a tree which enabled all the scouts to cross over the river on the rope. The Liberty stake did their part of the act by resuscitating the girl. The Granite stake gave an exhibition of building a signal tower of their staffs which when built rose about 17 feet in the air.A boy mounted this ladder and sent messages to his companions on the other side of the gymnasium. They also built a staff bridge which was very skilfully done. The Ensign stake furnished a chorus of 137 boys under the direction of their stake song master, John Kent. This chorus sang a medley of patriotic songs showing good training. Pioneer stake put on a first-aid act. They had two boys dressed up to represent a horse with another bov riding on its back.. The boy was thrown off the horse and injured, and the horse ran away. Two other boys tried to stop it, but not knowing how, were knocked over and injured. A scout then ran out and, through his experience in scout training, was able to stop the horse. Other scouts then rendered first aid to the boys who had been injured. This was done in an exceedingly fine and careful manner. Jordan stake furnished the music with a brass band and a string orchestra under the direction of Scoutmaster Peterson of Sandy. This music was a big help in making the rally a success. The Wilford ward scouts sang, "Loyal Scouts," a song composed for the scouts by Ida H. "White. A rubbing stick contest then took place with four boys entering the race. Scout Leonard Walton, of Miller ward, Granite stake, won the contest. All the scouts then formed a snake dance, and after winding up around the flag pole they were addressed by National Committeeman A. W. Ivins, after which their group picture was taken, and ihe rally was closed with prayer by President Heber J. Grant. The picture is given herewith, though it shows only a part of the assembly. I T The Mascot of the Eagle Patrol gin !l 1 1. II. I 'i. ,U.-z*l^mZ3*+.il HIHIIII.IHII I F»ASSING EVENTS Seven Dutch ships were ruthlessly destroyed by German submarines on the 23rd and 24th of February, involving a loss of vessels and cargos valued at $11,600,000. Prohibition won a victory in Congress when the amendment making the District of Columbia dry passed the Senate and the House, in the latter by a vote of 373 to 137. Mrs. Rhoda Ann Lyman, widow of the late President Francis M. Lyman, died on Monday morning, March 12, at her home in Salt Lake City. She was born near Sydney, Australia, on August 29, 1840, and is survived by one son and four daughters. She was buried in Tooele. Washington state has a bone-dry prohibition bill. It was signed by Governor Lister on February 19th in the presence of officers of the W. C. T. U. and other advocates of the measure. The law becomes effective in June, this year, unless referred by petition to the 1918 election. Major-General John J. Pershing, "the man who went after Villa," and of whom we presented a splendid photograph in the February Era, has been appointed commander of the southern department of the United States Army, the position left vacant by the death of General Frederick Funston. — Liquor sales prohibited in Denmark. A recent dispatch from Copenhagen announced that the sale of all alcoholic liquors has been prohibited in Denmark temporarily. In connection with the order for prohibition a call has been made for a return to be made on all stocks of spirits in the country. The Battle Creek monument, in commemoration of the early pioneer Indian fight of that district, in Idaho, is about to be erected by the patriotic citizens of the southern part of the state and valley. From statements in the Preston papers, it is learned that the unveiling will probably take place early in the summer. Utah has five supreme judges instead of three as heretofore, due to action of the legislature taken on the day of adjournment, March 10. On that day Governor Simon Bamberger appointed Samuel R. Thurman, former Democratic state-chairman; and Valentine Gideon, a leading attorney of Weber county, to the new positions. Both are competent and well known lawyers of the state. Wilford O. Freckleton, on a mission in England, died at Hull, February 27, 1917. He was the son of Wilford W. Freckleton of Eureka, Utah. He was twenty years of age and left Salt Lake City for England last October. He died of spinal menigitis, according to a cablegram from Elder George F. Richards, president of the European mission at Liverpool. The body will be sent to Utah for burial. A universal military service plan prepared for Congress was made public at Washington February 23. It calls for a seven months' training for all youths of nineteen years who are liable to call to the colors until they reach the age of thirty-two. It was stated that this measure would provide 500,000 soldiers in a single year, increasing the supply to about four million men with a year's intensive training.