--- 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: 22 number: 6 published: 1919-04 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* 22, no. 6 (April 1919): 551–557." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2206unse 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: improvementera2206unse start_page: 551 end_page: 557 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1919-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2206unse publication_year: 1919 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 1919, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Passing Events — PA&M A new L. D. S. chapel, at Brooklyn, N. Y., was dedicated by Elder Reed Smoot, of the Council of the Twelve, on Feb. 16, 1919. The total American casualties in North Russia, up to the 13th of March, 1919, was four officers, 71 men killed in action; one officer, 18 men died of wounds; 36 men missing; two officers, 67 men died of disease, and 11 and 241 men were drowned. officers Kurt Eisner, the Bavarian Premier, was murdered on February 12, by Count Arco-Valle, a nobleman and army officer. Civil war in that country was declared on the same date. The murder was a part of a reactionary compaign against the revolutionary government. — New Ward and Branch Organized Merrill ward, Portneuf stake, was organized in February, 1919, with Parley Morris, bishop, whose address is McCammon, Idaho; and the Pingree Branch was also organized in the Biackfoot stake, with Ezra S. Buchanan, Presiding Elder, whose address is Pingree, Idaho. Norwich Conference Reunion will be held in the Tenth ward amuse- ment hall, Fourth South and Eighth East streets, Salt Lake City, on Friday evening, April 4, commencing at 8 o'clock sharp. A good program has been arranged, all former missionaries and saints of Norwich conference are cordially invited. Fred L. W Bennett. . The German Merchant ship fleet is to be turned over to the Allies in payment for food shipments. A monthly ration for Germany of 370,000 tons of food stuffs was fixed by the Allied commission and accepted by the Ger- man delegates. Germany expects that the Allies will provide a food supply until August 15, the earliest possible date that flour from this year's harvest can be counted upon. Daylight Saving went into effect on Sunday morning, 2 o'clock, March 30, when every clock in the United States was turned one hour ahead, there to go on until the last Sunday in October, when the clocks will be turned back an hour. This changing the clocks is not a war measure, but a permanent law which will remain in force until Congress repeals it. The act is so generally satisfactory that it is hoped it may continue in force permanently. Spanish Influenza broke out in different parts of Utah during March. In the counties of Cache, Morgan and Summit, there were many cases; Wasatch county held no meetings of any kind on Sunday, March 16, and many cases were reported there with some deaths. Granger, one of the towns of Salt Lake county, had as high as 186 cases during the week, March 9 to 16, and different parts of the state suffered considerably from this per- sistent disease. Prince Utah, the baby elephant, born in Salt Lake City, April 29, 1918, died of hardening of the arteries, at his city home in Liberty Park, Salt Lake City, March 13, 1919. He was the only live elephant born in captivity. His hide will be stuffed and stretched over a frame, and the stuffed little elephant will be given a home in the new building which it is proposed soon to erect for the animals in Liberty Park, Salt Lake City. D. Stenzel, taxidermist, is in charge of the operation. : 552 IMPROVEMENT ERA James Russell Lowell, was the most beloved of American writers. He was born on Washington's birthday, 1819, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and died August 12, 1891. His powers as a poet, a scholar, a critic, as well as a man of public interest are well recognized by the American public, and in many cities his 100th anniversary was celebrated. Among the British notables, who came to the United States, to celebrate the hundredth an- niversary of the birth of Mr. Lowell, was Sir John Gallsworthy, author of the remarkable play "Justice." Bishop Joseph C. Bentley, of the Juarez stake of Zion, together with James E. Wheeten, counselor to the president of the stake, are prisoners of Villa's men, somewhere south of El Valle, Chihuahua, Mexico, according to information received by telegram from Juarez, Mexico. Elder Wheeten was in charge of the missionary work in the Juarez stake, and bishop Bentley went there during the week, March 9-15, to inspect the work being done by his men. He and Wheeten were made prisoners at Las Chuses, 26 miles south of El Valle, Mexico. Colonia Juarez was looted on Wednesday, March 12, by Villa's men who were under the command of Martin Lopez and Ramon Viga. As far as known, no one was harmed in Colonia Juarez. The Utah Legislature, the thirteenth biennial session, closed at 10:48 o'clock, Monday evening, March 17, 1919. By actual time, the thirteenth session, which began on the 13th of January, and officially ended on the 13th of March, thus continued with stopped clock just four days 10 hours and 48 minutes over the time allotted by law for the legislative session. During these days, and the last ten days of the session, much important leg- islation was passed. The laws enacted on educational, public highway, and health subjects, will tend largely to place Utah in the front rank of states v/ith up-to-date legislation on these particular subjects. The enactments pertaining to vocational education are said to have been particularly timely and important. New Bishops.—The following changes took place during February, 1919 Grant Ward, Cottonwood stake, Lawrence Myers succeeded Thomas M. Warnock, address Murray No. 5, Utah. Helper Branch, Carbon stake, Claudius Brown succeeded Charles H. Sorenson, address same. Paris Sec- ond ward, Bear Lake stake, Morris D. Low succeeded James S. Poulson, address Paris, Idaho. Coalville ward, Summit stake, Charles E. Jones sue- ceeded Franklin Pingree, address same. Ovid ward, Bear Lake stake, John T. Peterson succeeded J. Clarence Lindsay, address same. McCammon ward, Portneuf stake, Royal T. Hale succeeded Erban Green, address same. Maeser ward, Uintah stake, Joseph H. Bodily succeeded Byron 0. Colton, address Vernal, Utah. Pleasant View ward, Utah stake, Ezra B. Walker succeeded George S. Taylor, address same. Crescent ward, Jordan stake, Arthur C. Morris succeeded William Fairbourn, address Sandy, R. F. D. No. 2, Utah. Peter Matson, for many years a member of the presidency of the North Sanpete stake, and the first president of the Swedish missison which was made a separate mission in 1905, died at his home at Mount Pleasant, March 11, 1919, after a lingering illness. He was born in Horstofta, near Malmo, Sweden, March 3, 1851, embraced the gospel in 1864, labored three years in his native land as a missionary, came to Utah in 1873, in which year he married on July 28, Matilda Lijedahl of Malmo, Sweden, and made his home in Mount Pleasant. In 1885-87 he performed another mission to his native land, and also another in 1905, when he became the first presi- dent of the Swedish mission, returning in June, 1908. He served in the presidency of the Sanpete stakes from May, 1890, to September, 1914; as city councilman in Mount Pleasant one term, as county commissioner, as precinct justice, and in other offices civil and religious. A wife and PASSING EVENTS 553 seven children survive him. In every position he occupied, he worked faith- fully, and was ever devoted to the cause of truth. Frederick W. Schoenfeld, an early German convert to the gospel, who was baptized a member of the Church by his brother Edward Schoenfeld, May 23, 1856, in the presence of the late Dr. Karl G. Maeser, died in December, and funeral services were held in the Pioneer stake hall, Tues- day, December 31, 1918. He was born February 14, 1831, in Eilenburg, near Leipzig, Germany, emigrated to Utah, April 10, 1864, crossing the plains by ox team and arrived in Salt Lake, September 15, 1864. He took an active part in Church affairs, was ordained bishop of the Brighton ward, went on a mission, in 1883, to Germany, where he presided from 1884 to June, 1888, at Bern, Switzerland. He was an effective missionary and made many friends. He was called in 1899, by President Woodruff to revise the Book of Mormon in German, and began the work, January 1, 1893, complet- ing it a year later. He was ordained a Patriarch, March 13, 1912, having been released from the bishopric of the Brighton ward on the 10th. He was a sincere, kindly man, and an earnest Church worker. Major-General Frederick J. Strong, commander of the 40th Division, visited Salt Lake City, on March 17, enroute to Camp Kearny, his former station, having arrived from France, March 3, after seven months with his division overseas, he will assume charge of Camp Kearny while the 40th Division is being mustered out of service. General Strong was enthusiastic in his praise of the 65th Artillery brigade, particularly the 145th artillery. Brigadier-General Young showed him Salt Lake City. Gen. Strong said, as reported in the daily press: "We were sorry to lose the brigade when we arrived overseas, they were our best men and made remarkable records in all the training camps and on the target ranges. I understand that the 145th broke all records at their train- ing grounds in France. You should feel immensely proud of their work, and I wish to compliment General Young, former commander of the 145th and later of the entire brigade, who is one of the finest soldiers I have ever met. Colonel William C. Webb, his successor, also made a fine impression among the military leaders by his able work." President Woodrow Wilson, who sailed from Brest, France, on February 15, arrived in Boston, February 24, where he gave a speech to a large gather- ing of people, in which he stated that he had come back to report progress, and that he does not believe that the progress is going to stop short of the goal. The people are in the saddle in Europe, and they are going to see to it that if their present governments do not do their will, some other government shall. He stated that America is the hope of the world, and if America at this juncture were to fail the world, what would become of it? "If America does not justify the hope of the world, the results are unthinkable. All nations will be set up as hostile camps again, men at the peace conference will go home with their heads upon their breasts, knowing that they have failed." He said further that the arrangements of the present peace cannot stand a generation, unless they are guaranteed by the united forces of the civilized world. President Wilson left for Europe again just after the adjournment of Congress, March 4, to resume his work in the peace conference, arriving in France on the 13th of March, he having returned on the George Washington. The cost of the war to Germany, was recently stated before the National Assembly, by Doctor Schiffer, the minister of finance. He declared that the war had cost 161,000,000,000 marks, that the financing had been reckless, and that an immediate loan of 25,300,000,000 marks must be raised. The German Army is so far demobilized, that it consists at present only of 550,000 men.The Allies intend to limit the army of the Germans according — 554 IMPROVEMENT ERA to decision of the Supreme Council, March 10, to 100,000 men with 4,000 officers. Arms and munitions to be reduced to the needs of that many men; all else to be destroyed. Disorders have occurred frequently during the month of March in various parts of Germany, particularly in Berlin, where the Spartacans, made an effort in the early part of the month to overthrow the government, but were finally subdued by the government troops after a great loss of life and the destruction of much property. Two hundred Spartacans were lined up against a wall, and shot one by one, on March 10. Uprisings of the Spartacans were also reported from Nuremberg, Bavaria, Gelsenkirchen, Westphalia, and several towns in the Rhur district. In order to maintain peace, it was reported on March 15, that the British and French soldiers, had penetrated further into the country, the French having occupied the corporate limits of Frankfurt. Changes in the missions. It was announced by President Heber J. Grant on March 2, that Elder George Albert Smith, of the Council of the Twelve will relieve Elder George F. Richards, as President of the European mission, and will leave for Liverpool, about May 15. It has also been announced, that Bishop Heber C. Iverson, of the Second Ward, Liberty Stake of Zion, is appointed to succeed Elder Melvin J. Ballard, as president of the Northwestern States Mission; and that Elder Joseph W. McMurrin, of the First Council of Seventy, will succeed Elder Joseph E. Robinson, as president of the California mission; and that, Elder Elias Wesley Smith, son of President Joseph F. Smith, and who was born in Laie, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands, April 21, 1886, will succeed Elder Samuel E. Woolley, as president of the Hawaiian mission. Elder Junius F. Wells, left on March 14, 1919, for Liverpool, to re- lieve Elder J. M. Sjodahl, as associate editor of the Millennial Star, and to assist the President of the Mission, having been called to this work by the First Presidency. Other mission changes are contemplated, but had not been announced when this item was written. The Era for May, will contain further par- ticulars of these brethren who have been called to these missionary labors. The Sixty-fifth Congress ended March 4, with a 26-hour filibuster which ended only when the session itself closed. The Independent names some of the big things that Congress did: — Made two declarations of war one against Germany and one against Austria-Hungary. Raised by the enactment of a selective service act the largest army this country has ever known. — — Passed appropriation bills mostly for war purposes totaling approx- imately $57,000,000,000, the equivalent of $570 for every man, woman and child in the United States. Enacted the greatest tax law in parliamentary history, levying $10,- 000,000,000 in two years. It authorized bond issues to the amount of $22,000,000,000. Appropriated $2,884,000,000 to create an American merchant marine, the largest in the world. Authorized the taking over of railroads and the telegraph and telephone systems of the nation as a war emergency. Created an American military air service and launched an aerial postal service. — Passed the largest army appropriation bill totaling $12,000,000,000 any country ever adopted. Placed on the statute books 300 public laws and forty.eight public reso- lution!. Passed the resolution for a national prohibition amendment to the Constitution. PASSING EVENTS 555 Defeated thewoman suffrage amendment. Conducted twenty-six congressional investigations. There were many important measures that Congress failed to pass, among them being the Army, Navy, Agricultural, and General Deficiency bill; the latter for $842,096,913, including $750,000,000 for the railroad ad- ministration. Bishop Ole H. Berg, for eleven years bishop of Provo First ward, one of the most active Church and civic workers in Utah county, and a mem- ber of the 12th legislature, died at his home in Provo, Utah, February 23, 1919. He was born at Frederickshald, Norway, September 12, 1840. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when a young man, spent two years as a missionary in Denmark, then came to America, reach- ing Salt Lake City in October, 1866, driving an ox team across the plains. That same year he married Anna Neilsen, settled in Provo, where he has made his home ever since. In 1889, he was called on a mission to Norway, and served as president of the Christiania conference until 1891. Return- ing home that year, he continued his business as contractor and builder, and for more than twenty years, was actively engaged in the undertaking business, being associated the past fifteen years with his son Wyman. Elder Berg was a very active, civic and ecclesiastical worker, and was held in high esteem by all. At the time of his funeral, 27th of February, all the business houses of Provo closed in his honor during the funeral services in the stake tabernacle, from two to four o'clock. Doctor George H. Brim- hall wrote the following eulogy of him: "The call of death that summoned Bishop O. H. Berg to the great be- yond has created a vacancy that can never be filled. It may be consist- ently said of him, 'There was but one O. H. Berg.'' His individuality was of a type that defied duplication, and this sturdy single-selfness in his make- up forbade any camouflage of character. "Through his purpose and proceedings he said to all the world: 'I am myself struggling to become my better self.' Along the trail of life he left the footprints of a man, a gentleman, a nobleman. His exit from the earthly existence retired a toiler from the ranks of industry; a scholar from the school of wide reading and extensive travel. When he stepped off, a lover of art left the platform. In his going there went forth from the home, a provider that kept the wolf of want ever away from the door, a husband whose fidelity was like the Rock af Ages, a father possessed of those rare qualities of parenthood which made of him a champion in the estimation el his daughters and a chosen comrade of his sons. "In Church affairs there will be missed one whose consistency of con- duct guided him safely between the dangers of fanaticism on the one hand, and skepticism on the other. His discretion never failed him, his faith never fled, nor did his religious fervor ever grow cold. "Our civic commonwealth will miss one of its best citizens, the state has lost a strong builder; from the nation has departed a patriot and from humanity a friend. "He has gone; sadness lingers over his departure, and yet there is a sweetness in that sadness, a joy side to our sorrow. "We are bereaved, but behind the cloud of grief there is the glow of his life and labors, a blaze so luminous and warm that none of us would call him back. His work is done. It finished well. He ripened sweet, and nature gathered him with gentle hands and passed him on to life and joys here unattainable." jmiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiimi iiiiiiilllliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilliiiiiiiiliiiinii iiiiiiiiiii niiiiiiiiiiiiiliii Iiiiliiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiilliiiiiiiiliiliiiiiillllliiii imiNHi'a The MEMORIAL MONUMENT of Joseph Smith the Prophet is made of Dark Barre Granite. It is the largest and finest specimen of that stone, all polished, in America. It was furnished by the BOUTWELL, MILNE & VARNUM CO., Montpelier, Vt. The many thousands of visitors that have seen it are unanimous in their ad- miration of the superb material and workmanship. a IIIIUnilllllllllllMUIIIIIIIMMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllUlinHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIHIIIIMHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIUIIM £