--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Eckersley, Joseph collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 21 number: 2 published: 1917-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Joseph Eckersley, "At the Soldier Boys’ Farewell," *Improvement Era* 21, no. 2 (December 1917): 144–145.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2102unse 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: improvementera2102unse start_page: 144 end_page: 145 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1917-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2102unse 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. --- # At the Soldier Boys’ Farewell 144 IMPROVEMENT ERA to Turkey under the new regime Mr. Nathan Hirsch who wielded a great influence for his people. When I re-read the words of the Lord to his people as to making the land desolate, I am mindful of a splendid article which I read recently in the National Geographic Magazine rela- tive to the plagues which frequent Palestine and have done so since the curse was placed upon the country. It was speaking of the last great locust plague which devastated the country about two or three years ago, when the sky was darkened with myriads of the destructive insects, some of them four and five inches long. How they would alight on an olive orchard and, in a night, the orchard was stripped not only of foliage and fruit, but of much of the bark as well. Then when I read how these con- ditions were being met by American methods, and how this periodical plague was being subdued through the agency of man, and from inspiration by Almighty God, I could not help but say, "God hasten the day when the prophecies are fulfilled and that the people which he has called out of the nations of the earth may live closer to him, and dwell only on the inwell- ing spirit of inspiration that comes to them by the still small voice, as well as the teachings of those splendid leaders in au- thority. That when that day comes, we shall all patiently, fer- vently and prayerfully look forward to the second coming of our blessed Redeemer, when all things shall have been consum- mated, and when the earth shall receive its pardisiacal glory, and we shall reign as one with the Prince of Peace. At the Soldier Boys' Farewell* By Joseph Eckersley, President of the Wayne Stake of Zion We come to bid farewell to our town-boys called to serve their country in the most extraordinary war of all time. Not before in the history of man has so colossal an attempt to en- slave the world by military rule been made, and never before has there been such united action on the part of so many liberty- loving nations to strike down the thing that threatens the liber- ties of mankind. We feel a just pride in our boys who go not with vin- dictive intentions against any people, but to wage war against military autocracy, and to fight to extend self-government to all nations, including the peoples who are now fighting under the banner of the German autocrat. The boys from our home-town have lived with us all their lives. For more than a quarter of a century, their pioneer *An address given to the soldier boys of Loa, at a testimonial in the Wayne stake, Sept. 1, 1917. AT THE SOLDIER BOYS' FAREWELL 145 parents have been in this place, and the citizens of Loa feel honored to be represented by stalwart sons of respected pioneers. No person, not in the situation of our soldier-boys, their wives, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and sweethearts, can appre- ciate their feelings of sadness at parting; they will part not knowing when, or whether ever, they will meet again. How- ever, we have a word of good cheer for our boys. For aside from serving God, no person can render greater service than to live, or if need be die, for his country. And, boys, if you go forth to battle for the rights of humanity, true to the faith which your loved ones at home cherish, true to the moral code of the Church in which you have been nurtured, true to the truth, and to the revealed gospel that will save all who believe and obey it, you need then have no cause to be concerned. If you live to return, great will be the rejoicing when you meet with loved ones; if you lay down your lives, you will take them up again in the coming kingdom and glory of the Lord. Those you leave to struggle on till life's battle is ended will have the happy memory that you lived and died soldiers of your country and of the Cross. Therefore, go forth with courage, hope, and good cheer, feeling the joy of the patriot who is willing to fight for his country and the rights of humanity. And, wife, mother, father, sister, brother of the soldier boy, think not that you are any less a patriot than he who goes to battle. A true patriot is one who loves his country. Greater love you could not show than to give your loved one in its defense. You will stay at home to carry on the work of the farm, and care for all things without his help, while he is away; and often your suffering from anxiety and loneliness will be more painful than the experience of the soldier in active service. Women who stay at home and struggle alone are as true patriots as their husbands and brothers who go to the battle front. If we do not envy you, who are called to make so great a sacrifice, of the priv- ilege that is yours to do so much in humanity's cause and to make richer and happier your country, we do honor you as brave patriots. Our hope is that you will take good cheer in the thought that our country will be better and nobler for the sac- rifice you make. Thank God! it shall ever be said that those we have met fight for to honor tonight were patriots, and honored the call to Let their example be an inspiration to all assembled, liberty. to serve well our country in whatever capacity Providence may determine. _ , Three cheers for our soldier boys of Loa; and a tond tare- well! Loa, Utah