Notes

Notes

The Red Cross Benefit

John McCormack, the celebrated Irish tenor, appeared in

the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Thursday evening, March 14, in a

benefit for the Red Cross. The occasion had been extensively

advertised, and it was generally known that what money would

be realized from the benefit would be given to the Red Cross,

25 per cent first to be retained for the benefit of the local Red

Cross, and the remainder to go to the general organization. The

total realized out of the concert was $10,102.00 representing the

net proceeds of the recital, no expense whatever being attached

tc the event. The committee stated that approximately seven

thousand persons paid admission to the concert. McCormack

EDITORS' TABLE 54J

was at his best, the charm of the singer was intense, and the

applause was most enthusiastic. He opened with a verse of the

"Star Spangled Banner," and then followed with his regular pro-

gram, except such pieces as were presented by him on encore.

The rendition of "The Lost Chord" was so notable that it is

difficult to imagine a musical combination that could. surpass it;

draw the picture : between seven and eight thousand people, in

the great tabernacle, John McCormack, the incomparable Irish

tenor, "The Lost Chord," with our own McClelland at the great

organ! The closing song was, "God Be With Our Boys Tonight

Wherever They May Be." This his only war song took the

people by storm. Thousands clapped their hands in rapturous

applause while tears rolled down many a cheek in an Amen of

heartfelt approval.

Priesthood Convention

The Weber stake of Zion held a priesthood convention at

Ogden on Sunday, February 17. It was a notable gathering, and

must have created great interest in priesthood work. Two

meetings were held, the one at 10 a. m. being a department

meeting, each of the six quorums meeting jointly for opening

exercises, consisting of remarks, songs and music, and then in

separate classes, where two speakers introduced two subjects

which were then considered in each class. The topics were:

"Relationship of Prophecy to Present day Events," and "The

Fraternal Spirit in the Priesthood." The ward clerks also, met

in a separate department. The discussions were lively, encour-

aging, and pertinent to those who listened and took part. To

see eleven hundred devoted and earnest men in one religious

gathering, is not only an unusual sight in the world, but a strong

indication of a live activity in the work of the Lord, and the

vitality of the gospel rightly applied. In the afternoon there

was a large gathering in the stake tabernacle where the visiting

speakers, who were members of the General Priesthood Com-

mittee, elaborated upon the topics under consideration. There

was splendid music by the stake choir.

Having an annual priesthood convention is a good idea. It

is worth a trial by other stakes.

Noted Anniversaries.

Mrs. Emmeline B. Wells, the veteran president of the won-

derful Relief Society organization of the Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter-day Saints, celebrated her 90th anniversary on Febru-

ary 28, just a week or two prior to the celebration of the 76th

544 IMPROVEMENT ERA

anniversary of the organization itself. A reception was held in

the Hotel Utah and hundreds of her close friends called to con-

gratulate her. She is one of the most remarkable women in the

world, and at her age stands with dignity and a clear brain as

the recognized leader, under the Priesthood, of one of the great-

est and the most useful and extraordinary woman's organiza-

tions in the world — notable in age, purpose and numbers. The

Era joins with her thousands of friends and well-wishers in

hearty congratulations upon the auspicious occasion, which

really marks an important epoch in the history of the Relief

Society, for she has been connected with the organization for

close on to sixty years.

The Relief Society of the Church celebrated the 76th an-

niversary of its organization by the Prophet Joseph Smith on

March 17, by special programs given in all the 800 or more

wards of the Church that day. These exercises contained pro-

vision for presentation of the history and scope of the great or-

ganization. Mrs. Emmeline B. Wells, the veteran leader of the

society, as well as the members of the General Board spoke in

different wards of Salt Lake City. A number of leading speak-

ers throughout the Church emphasized the accomplishments of

the Relief Society along philanthropic lines and war work.

The present enrollment is nearly 50,000 women.

Name Corrected

In the account of the hike of the descendants of the Mormon

Battalion, found in the Era, for February, 1918, page 329, under

the title Company D, the third line should read, "LaMar Barlow,

Battery E, grandson of Henry W. Jackson, musician in company

D," instead of "LaMar Barlow, Battery E, grandson of Wm. H.

Jackson, musician in company D." The persons interested in

this historical item have asked that the correction be made, and

we cheerfully comply with their request, so that the reader may

know that LaMar Barlow is the grandson of Henry W. Jackson

and not of Wm. H. Jackson.