--- 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: 10 published: 1919-08 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* 22, no. 10 (August 1919): 920–924.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera22010unse 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: improvementera22010unse start_page: 920 end_page: 924 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1919-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera22010unse 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. --- # Mutual Work 922 IMPROVEMENT ERA Regulations for Public Speaking Open to Seniors only. (10 minutes.) Points for judgment: 1. — The idea 20 per cent. 2. — The development 50 per cent. a. Introduction. Simple, direct, earnest, suggestive of material to follow. b. Body. Develop theme which should be persuasive rather than merely matter-of-fact. c. Summary. General conclusion taken from the body of address. II. Scoring Record. No individual record will be kept. The following association record will be used: Association Record 1. Ward Officers' Meeting. For each weekly officers' meeting held with order of business and 50 per cent or more of the officers present at the appointed time, 10 points. 2. Correlated Program. For each correlated preliminary program, 10 points. 3. Stake Officers' Meeting. For each ward officer present at stake monthly officers' meeting, 3 points. 4. Punctual Attendance. For every person present at time M. I. A. meeting should begin, 1 point. Sunday evening joint meetings are included. 5. Attendance at Sacrament Meetings. For every member of the M. I. A. present at the ward Sacrament Meeting, (including fast meetings), 1 point. Scoring begins June 15, 1919. 6. Reading of Lessons. For each person having read the lesson prior to the evening meeting, 1 point. 7.Reading Course. For each personal reading of book of the reading course, 3 points. For personal reading of twenty-five or more pages of current issue of Era or Journal, 1 point. (All who have read reading course books during the season 1918-19, or during the summer of 1919, should report in October.) 8.Public Speaking and Declamations. For each initial appearance, 3 points. For additional appearance, 1 point. 9. Junior Choruses. (Six or more members.) For initial appearance, 10 points, for additional appearance, 5 points. 10. The Fund. For each person paying the annual fund before December 31st, 10 points. — Notes. 1. Associations are to report separately, the points made by the young men and the voung ladies, in all cases, from items 3 to 10. 2. No points will be allowed for group reading. 3. Points for scoring will be allowed for Declamations, Public Addresses, and Choruses, but for no other musical or literary events. 4. Points will be allowed for attendance at Sacrament Meetings, the scoring to begin on June 15, 1919. 5. The following minimum standards of efficiency are adopted: for wards with population of 500 or over, 700 points; for wards with population of less than 500, 500 points. Wards which reach these standards of efficiency five months out of the six months will be considered efficient for the year. 6. Monthly reports are to be sent to stakes. On Decemhpr 31 and March 31, stakes are to send to the General Secretaries reports of the total number of points scored by the stake in each event, and also the number of wards reaching the efficiency standards during the preceding three months and five or six months respectively. MUTUAL WORK 923 Scoring for Attendance at Sacrament Meetings Officers will please note that scoring for attendance at sacrament meetings begins on the 15th of June. Arrangements should be made to keep a record of attendance of members from that date. Teacher-Training Classes Officers should study the instructions on this important subject contained in the article' in this number of the Era by Elder David O. McKay. Take up this matter now, and let it be said, "The mutual officers and teachers are always present at the classes." Sympathy Extended "We extend our sympathy to Supt. J. William Harrison, of Knightsville, Tintic stake, Utah, who recently passed through the most trying ordeal of his life, hitherto, in that he has lost his wife in death. His children at the same time were hovering between life and death for a long time, but the Lord has seen fit in his goodness to spare the children. Owing to these conditions it was impossible for Brother Harrison to attend the General conference, and the annual conference of the M. I. A. Brother Percell, represented the Tintic stake at the General M. I. A. conference ,and prepared a detailed report which was given to the M. I. A. stake and ward officers at their regular meeting in July. In a letter to Secretary Moroni Snow, speaking of the misfortune of losing his wife, Supt. Harrison thanked God for his goodness in sparing his children and said: "The gospel has certainly been a consolation to me in the hour of trouble. I want to work harder than ever in teaching it to the youth of Zion, and I want to get busy with my work again, and desire all the help I can get to obtain a grip on things once more." Working for 50,000 Membership The Y. M. M. I. A. are going to have a membership of 50,000 —the young ladies a like number — for 1919-20. As a beginning for the campaign General Secretary Moroni Snow, for the Committee on Organization and Membership, makes this appeal to association stake and ward officers: — Dear Brethren: Under the new and enlarged plan for the M. I. A. work, the Young Men's General Board has organized new committees. One of these committees is that on Organization and Membership. Its duties are to see that all stake and ward organizations are complete, to assist in increasing efficiency among officers, to increase and maintain membership, to supervise missionary work, and to carry on the campaign for 50,000 members in the Y. M. M. I. A. In order to carry out these duties, the committee feels that it is necessary to have similar committees organized in all stakes and wards with the superintendent as chairman of a committee of three, in the stake; and the ward president as chairman of a committee of three, in each ward, on Organization and Membership. Will you please see that such committees are organized immediately in your stake and report to the general office. In the matter of the membership campaign and missionary work, the committee would like to have a list prepared in each ward of the names of all male members of the Church above the age of twelve. This list can be copied in perhaps less than one hour's time from the records of the ward clerk. After compiling this list each name should be checked with the roll of the Y. M. M. I. A., to obtain information as to whether or not the name is on the M. I. A. roll, and whether or not the member has been active in the Y. M. M. I. A., at any time during the past two years. These lists, when completed, will give the name, age, and M. I. A. activity of each member. The list should be made in triplicate, one copy to be retained in the — 924 IMPROVEMENT ERA ward association, one copy to be sent to the stake board, and one copy to be forwarded to the general office. We hope with this brief outline you will go ahead Immediately and tarry out the suggestions without any further word from us or any further emphasis of the importance of this work. M. I. A. Conventions 1919 — Big Horn, San Juan August 16-17. — Young August 23-24. — Panguitch, San Luis August 30-31. — Kanab, Morgan, Oneida September 6-7. Alberta, Bingham, Cassia, Hyrum, Montpelier, Sevier, Woodruff Sep- — tember 7. Bannock, Bear Lake, Benson, Liberty, Malad, Salt Lake, Shelley, South — Sanpete, Taylor, Tooele, Yellowstone September 14. Star Valley, Union—September 20-21. Box Elder, Cottonwood, Deseret, Jordan, Pocatello, Rigby, Summit, — Teton, Utah September 21. — Carbon, Duchesne, Parowan September 27-28. Alpine, Blackfoot, Cache, Idaho, Nebo, Pioneer, Tintic; Ogden, North — Weber, and Weber, in tri-stake meetings September 28. — Bear River, Ensign, Granite, No. Davis, So. Davis October 12. Fremont, Juab, No. Sanpete, Portneuf, St. George, Uintah, Wasatch October 19. After October General Conference Beaver, Boise, Curlew, Emery, Millard, Maricopa, Moapa, Raft River, Si. Johns, St. Joseph, Snowflake, Wayne, Juarez. The convention circular will be in the hands of the superintendents early in August. Conventions with two dates are held in connection with quarterly conferences; with one date, separate. How to Prepare for M. I. A. Conventions To Stake M. I. A. Officers: A successful convention presages a successful year's work. To make your convention an auspicious one: 1. —Advertise it. Every officer, class leader, stake president, bishop and counselor, should receive a convention circular. Announcements should be made in all public gatherings and in the local press. Convention circulars will be ready early in August, and furnished by the General Boards for circulation. 2.—Become familiar with the outlined work. Convention subjects should be thoroughly discussed with stake officers, and those appointed on tbe program. 3.— Plan to secure 100% attendance. Every association in the stake should be fully organized and completely represented. On cards provided by the General Boards, a record of attendance of each officer and class leader will be made. All M. I. A. officers and class leaders are excused from Sunday School to attend this convention. 4.—Attend to details. Everything should be in readiness for meeting. Check on assignments. Move promptly and to the point. Notify the General Secretaries at least ten days prior to the convention that all preliminary arrangements have been made; also give information regarding the route to be taken by Board members. Note: If it is deemed wise to change the hour of any meeting of the convention from that noted in the circular, due notice should be given in ample time to all the wards. Earthquakes in Italy, on June 29, were severe in Tuscany. Many towns and villages were damaged, and at least one hundred and twenty-five persons are known to have lost their lives. War time prohibition went into effect in the United States on July 1. By it the traffic in intoxicating liquors, except for medicinal, industrial, or similar purposes is abolished in the country. Dr. E. G. Gowans, for some years state superintendent of public instruction in Utah, was succeeded, July 1, in that office by G. N. Child, assistant superintendent of the Salt Lake City schools. A Resolution ratifying the peace treaty was adopted by the German national assembly at Weimar, July 9, by a vote of 2,008 to 115. The president of the assembly protested against the. surrender of Alsace-Lorraine. President Ebert signed the bill. General Pershing was honored, July 18, by London, with the freedom of the city and given a gold mounted sword of honor; and President Wilson, on the same day, recommended to Congress that he be given permanent rank of General in the regular army. Utahcarbon is to be the name of a new government vessel to be launched al Oakland, Cal., July 31. It is to be named by Miss Margaret Horsley of Price, Carbon co., Utah, which county had a greater percent of oversubscriptions to the Fourth Liberty loan, than any other in the twelfth district. Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, honorary president of the National American Woman's Suffrage Association, died at her home in Moylan, Pa., at the age of 75 years, as announced, July 2. Memorial services in honor of the noted worker for women were held in Salt Lake City by leading women of the State. Zion National Monument, in Washington county, Utah, will be made a national park. The change, Mr. D. S. Spencer says, is especially important, because national parks are more widely advertised and more liberally supported than national monuments. The monument has an area of 76.800 acres. Bad drought was reported on July 1, from numerous sections of the State and the West generally. The farmers in many localities were anxious for their crops on account of the prolonged dry and hot weather. Later reports indicate that Idaho and the western part of Washington suffered also from drought and very severely from forest fires. The Flag of Abyssinia was unfurled in Washington, D. C, on July 7. Abyssinia has one of the oldest governments in the world. Its rulers claim to be the lineal descendants of King Solomon and the queen of Sheba. The Abyssinians came to Washington to congratulate President Wilson on the victory of the allies over the central powers, of Europe. — 926 IMPROVEMENT ERA One million sheep and a hundred thousand cattle, government reports of July 15 say, have been drowned in floods in the southern part of Buenos Aires provinces. From Valparaiso comes the report that eighty-seven per- sons were killed and that property was damaged to the estimated value of $200,000,000 by a hurricane that swept that part, July 12 and 13. Mr. De Valera, president of the Sinn Fein republic of Ireland, made public appearances in New York, Boston and elsewhere, in early July, and was received by enthusiastic crowds. He announced that the republic would honor the bonds sold in this country by the Fenian organization in 1866 The "Irish Dominion League," of which Sir Horace Plunkett, Mr. T. P. O'Connor and other eminent Irishmen are leaders, has issued a manifesto proposing self-government for Ireland within the British Empire, much after the pattern of the Canadian system. The British dirigible, R-34, left East Fortune, Scotland, at 1:48 a. m., Greenwich time, July 2, for a flight across the Atlantic. The great flyer ar- rived at the Roosevelt flying field, near Mineola, N. Y., on July 6, at 9:45 a. m. (1:54 p. m. Greenwich time), having made the aerial voyage of ap- proximately 3,600 land miles in 108 hours and 12 minutes. When the ship arrived, her supply of petrol was almost exhausted. The dirigible returned leaving this country July 9, and arrived at Pullman airdome, England, at 7:02 Greenwich time, July 13, just 3 days, 3 hours, and 6 minutes after taking the air at Roosevelt. Congress passed big appropriation bills by July 1. The naval bill calls for $616,000,000, $35,000,000 of which is for aviation. The army bill provides for an army of 325,000 men, and the House insisted on reducing the aviation appropriation to $15,000,000. The agricultural bill contained a provision repealing the daylight-saving act, which the President later vetoed. The sundry civil bill creates a commission to prepare a budget system for adoption by Congress. The appropriation for the Shipping Board was fixed at $356,000,000. — The House committee on judiciary reported a bill providing means for enforcing both war-time and constitutional prohibition. The American Day of Independence, July 4, was observed in France, as well as in the United States. In Paris, the Place de la Concorde was packed with people to watch the parade of French and American troops. The president of the Republic and other high officials viewed the pageant. A solemn note was given to the brilliancy of the scene by the appearance of some old standards of French regiments that fought with the American forces in the War of Independence. In the United States the day was observed with enthusiasm and old-time patriotism. Many speakers discussed the proposed League of Nations. The texts of the treaties beteween the United States and France, and Great Britain and France were published July 2. The United States agrees, considering that an unprovoked attack by Germany on France would menace the peace of the world, to come immediately to the aid of France in case such a contingency arises. The treaty will remain in force only until, upon the demand of one of the parties to the treaty, the Council of the League of Nations finds that the League itself assures sufficient protection. The treaty with Great Britain is similar, but imposes no obligation on any of the dominions of the empire, until it is approved by the respective governments of the dominions. Report of Changes, in Ward and Stake officers for the Month of June, 1919. — — New Ward and Branch. Hawthorne ward, Granite stake, Harold A. LaFount, bishop, address 1486 South 11th East, City. — Clarion Branch, South Sanpete stake, Peter L. Frandsen, P. E.