--- 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: 11 published: 1919-09 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. 11 (September 1919): 1017–1024." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera22011unse 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: improvementera22011unse start_page: 1017 end_page: 1024 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1919-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera22011unse 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 mm The sundry civil appropriation bill, as passed by the House, July 17, provides $14,000,000 for the rehabiliation of wounded soldiers, sailors, and marines. Bolsheviki captured Ekaterineburg, July 14. The city is an important center of the Ural mine region. It was there that the Czar and his family v. ere murdered. Bolshevist rule was reported at an end in Hungary, August 4. On that day Roumanian troops entered Budapest. Bela Kun, former dictator of Hungary, fled to Austria. A republic was proclaimed, July 14, at Birkenfeld, a small German prin- cipality belonging to Oldenburg. The new republic has an area of 194 square miles and a population of 45,000. A Chinese Army, five million strong, is said to be training by German officers, under the leadership of Field Marshal Von Mackensen. If this is true, China's defiant attitude can be accounted for. The new Latter-day Saint Chapel, at Gridley, California, was dedi- cated on August 10, by President Heber J. Grant. President Joseph W. McMurrin, of the California Mission, also was in attendance. An Army plane, carrying a crew of five and commanded by Colonel R. S. Hartz, left Washington, July 24, for a flight around the rim of the country of about 8,000 miles. This is the longest flight ever attempted by the army air service. A triumphal Victory Parade was held in London, July 19, the most gorgeous that city has witnessed since Queen Victoria's jubilee in 1897. General Pershing, at the head of the American forces, had the honor of leading the procession. Elder George F. Richards, of the Council of the Twelve, arrived home, July 25, from Liverpool. He has presided over the European mission since September 1, 1916, succeeding the late Elder Hyrum M. Smith. Elder George F. Richards is succeeded by Elder George Albert Smith. Mob rule was reported from Luton, thirty miles from London, July 21. When soldiers and sailors were refused admission to a public park, for a peace celebration, a mob celebrated by attacking the City Hall and loot- ing stores and private residences, causing damage estimated at $1,250,000. The American Navy was welcomed, August 7, by Secretary Pacific Daniels and other notables, in the bay of San Diego. The western armada consists of thirtv-one war vessels. Admiral Hugh Rodman was in command. Secrteary Daniels with a convoy of cruisers later made a trip to Hawaii. Elder J. Wyley Sessions, of Burley, Idaho, has been appointed by the First Presidency of the Church to succeed President Nicholas G. Smith as president of the South African mission. Elder Smith, whom Elder Sessions will succeed, has for several years been the president of the South African 1018 IMPROVEMENT ERA Archduke Joseph has been recognized as the head of a new govern- ment in Hungary. He was commander of the Austro-Hungarian forces on the southern section of the eastern front during the firot two years of the war. In 1918, he headed a movement for the separation of Hungary from Austria. Cassia stake, Idaho, was divided into three stakes, at the quarterly con- ference held at Twin Falls, July 27. The two new stakes are nsmed Twin Falls and Burley, respectively. Boise stake was divided on August 3, and Blaine stake organized; Blackfoot stake was divided, and Lost River stake organized, August 17, 1919. For conscription. Secretary Baker has sent to Congress a bill provid- ing for an American war army of 1,250,000 men and general conscription of boys of the age of nineteen. European statesmen have been talking, re- cently, about the necessity of reducing armies, in the interest of peace, and the British workingmen are demanding the immediate repeal of conscrip- tion laws. Anti-trust suits against five great meat packing firms were announced August 6, by Attorney-General Palmer, as the first step in the campaign of the government against high prices. The English government has also declared war against profiteering. The fear of revolution as a result of inflated prices prompts the leading governments of the world to look for a remedy against the present conditions. Wine for sacramental purposes may, according to regulations issued by the bureau of internal revenues, be made and distributed under clerical supervision, as long as the revenue tax is paid and a proper record is kept of the business. Wine-making is thus permitted in Roman Catholic mon- asteries, for instance. Mead may also be made, as usual, in Jewish homes, when intended for use in religious festivals. Serious riots occurred, August 2 to 4, in Liverpool, England. Scores of shops were looted and warehouses were robbed of stocks of food. Sol- diers were ordered to the scene of trouble, and warships were dispatched to the River Mersey. Arthur Henderson, British labor leader, predicts a "spasm of outrage and despair among the peoples of Europe in which the final remains of civilization may be totally annihilated." The world air altitude record was broken July 31 by Aviator Roland Rohlfs, chief test pilot for the Curtis Engineering Corporation, who, in his ""Wasp" triplane, equipped with a Curtis "Twelve" four-hundred horse power engine ascended thirty thousand feet over the Roosevelt Field, break- ing the world's altitude record. He was prevented from going higher by the intense cold which was twenty-five degrees below zero, chilling the engine. Breathing was so difficult at that height that he had to wear a helmet. Forest fires have been raging in northern Idaho, western Montana, and eastern "Washington. Thousands of acres of land have been swept by the flames, and millions of feet of timber have been destroyed. Forest ser- vice officials report that in some places labor troubles added to the serious- ness of the situation. In one district the men engaged to fight the flames laid down their tools, demanding fourteen hours' pay for twelve hours' work. Eamonn de Valera, president of the so-called Irish republic, passed through Ogden, July 16, on his way to the Pacific Coast. He was met at the depot by a number of friends, to whom he delivered an address on the Irish question. Mr. De Valera is in this country for the purpose of en- listing the sympathy of the American people in aid of Irish independence. July 25, he passed through Salt Lake City and was entertained by com- patriots at Hotel Utah. PASSING EVENTS 1019 Race riots are among the outstanding features of current events during the past month. Several men were killed and many wounded, July 22, in Washington, D. C, following alleged attacks on white women by negroes. Military forces were brought in to quell the disturbances. Similar riots %\ere reported from Chicago, July 28. On that date, for more than five hours, the five-mile area on the south side was the battle ground of scattered fights between white and colored rioters, and policemen who were fired on from housetops and dark allies. On July 30, thirty were reported killed and hundreds wounded. Of the dead, 17 were negroes. Lowest infant mortality is the record of Salt Lake City, three times out of five during the past twelve years. During 1918, the report shows that 213 babies under one year of age died in this city. This was an increase of eight deaths over 1917 and a decrease of sixteen under 1916. From 1906 to 1910 the infant mortality rate in Salt Lake was 96.4 per thousand. From 1911 to 1915 it dropped to 66.9 per thousand. In 1916, the third time a census of this kind was taken, Fort Wayne, Indiana, led with a rate of 62.2 per thousand. In 1917, Brockton, Massachusetts, had the lowest rate, 63.9 per thousand. In 1918, Salt Lake City won first place with a rate of 63.3 per thousand. Andrew Carnegie died, August 11, at his beautiful mansion in Berk- shire,near Lenox, Massachusetts, of bronchial pneumonia. He was born at Dunfermline, Scotland, November 25, 1835, and came to this country in 1848. He began his career as a bobin boy in a linen mill at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, but rose rapidly, and finally became a financier of inter- national fame. Carnegie gave millions to benevolent and educational in- stitutions, including public libraries, and devoted a great deal of time and energy to the promotion of international peace. He was very much af- fected by the world war. He leaves his wife and one daughter, the latter recently married to Ensign Miller. Mount Nebo was climbed August 6, by an enthusiastic party of hikers from Nephi and surrounding towns. Friends from Salt Lake City, Provo, and other parts of the state were also present, among whom were seven professors from the Brigham Young University. An interesting feature of the trip was an explanation of the geologic history of the mountain, by Prof. Fred Buss, of Provo. In addition, considerable enlightenment on the flora of the region was given by Profs. M. P. Henderson and W. E. Smart. The view from the top of Nebo is superb, and the people of Nephi hope to make the hike an annual affair. Without doubt the feat of August 6, marks the beginning of a new chapter in mountain climbing in Utah. Harvesting and threshing of wheat, rye and barley were, according to reports published July 16, progressing favorably in Utah, with fair yields generally, notwithstanding long-continued drought over a large area of the intermountain region, though in some of the drier western sections these crops have failed entirely. Oats, corn and potatoes were doing fairlv well. Alfalfa and tomatoes were growing rapidly where the water supply was adequate. Sugar beets have endured the hot and dry weather well. They are reported in excellent condition in Sanpete county; good in Millard, and fair in Utah, Weber and Cache counties. A good crop of peas has been canned in Cache and Wasatch counties. Fruits, also, have made excellent growth. On the high cost of living, President Wilson addressed a message lo Congress, August 8, in which he urged legislative measures to check illegal or unjustifiable inflation of prices on food and other necessaries of life. The President proved that the prevailing high prices were un- warranted, the supplies being larger now than they were a vear ago when prices were lower. He said: "They are in many cases artificially and de- 1020 IMPROVEMENT ERA liberately created by various practices which ought immediately to be checked by law." He added, "some of the methods by which these prices are produced are already illegal, some of them criminal, and those who employ them will be energetically proceeded against, but others have not >et been brought under the law and should be dealt with at once by leg- islation." The address was vigorously applauded by both Republicans and Democrats. The problem of the high cost of living has been taken up by Congress, for solution. Senator Smoot, August 4, declared that inflation of the cur- rency and exhorbitant profits of food distributors were responsible for the high prices. He added: "I look forward to trouble, not only in this coun- try, but all over the world, unless a change comes within a reasonable time." The seriousness of this problem can best be understood when the fact is known that, according to a statement issued, August 3, by the chil- dren's bureau of the labor department, from three to six million American children are not getting enough to eat because their parents are unable on their present incomes to buy sufficient food. These are the children, the statement said, who are often pronounced by parents and teachers to be "delicate," "ailing," "lazy," or just "plain ornery," although their true af- fliction is malnutrition. Graves of American soldiers, up to the end of June, numbered fifty- seven thousand nine hundred and nineteen, which have been registered by the fcrave service in Europe. They are distributed, according to the dispatches, in the following cemeteries: Americans in France, two hundred thirty cemeteries; forty-seven thousand two hundred and thirty-six graves; French local, five hundred and fifty-eight cemeteries, six thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine graves; Great Britain, ninety-three cemeteries, two thousand seventy-three ;Germany, thirty-one, one thousand fifty-three Belgium two, ; four hundred and three; Russia, one hundred eighty-nine graves; Lux- emburg eight, one hundred and ten graves; Italy, twelve centuries, seventy- six graves. The bodies in Italy will be concentrated in a cemetery at Genoa, the work being completed July 16. The bodies now in Russia, will be re- moved to a cemetery in France, which work will be completed about August 15, and it is hoped ultimately to remove the bodies from Germany and Lux- emburg, to French cemeteries. Heinrich Haeckel, professor of zoology at the university of Jena, Ger- many, died in that city, August 9, 1919. Professor Haeckel is famous for his firm adherence to the so-called Darwinian theory of evolution at a time when most of the prominent scientists found themselves compelled to abandon it, in the interest of truth. From his imagination he con- structed a "missing link" between man and monkey, and called it Pithe- canthropus, and when Du Bois, some years later, discovered in Java, a small, incomplete skull, a diseased femur (thigh bone), and two molar teeth, the conclusion was jumped at that these were the remains of one of the "missing links," and it was called Pithecanthropus Erectus. But whatever hopes the disciples of Haeckel may have built upon these frag- ments, have fallen, for scientists have declared that as the "femur is that of a mm," the one-time owner of it cannot have been a "missing link." Even Haeckel was aware of the fact that scientists, as able and as famous as he, found that his philosophv was so much vain imagination. His work on God and the Immortality of the Soul only shows how utterly helpless even a student of nature is when he tries to comprehend things divine by means of philosophical reasoning alone. God is known through revela- tion, and not alone through human reason. Anna K. Widtsoe. mother of President John A. Widtsoe, of the Uni- versity of Utah, and Professor Osborne J. P. "Widtsoe, also of the Univer- PASSING EVENTS 1021 sity of Utah, died at her home, in Salt Lake City, Friday, July 11, 1919. She was born in Titran, Norway, June 4, 1849, the daughter of Peter Olson Gaarden and Berit Martha Haavig. Their daughter Anna, received a good education, and in 1870 married John A. Widtsoe, a leading professor in the schools. He died in 1878, leaving his widow and the two sons named. Mrs. Widtsoe continued as teacher in a leading industrial school at Namsos. In 1881, she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and came to Utah, 1883, with her two sons, settling in Logan. Twenty years after, in 1903, she undertook a mission with her sister Petroline Gaarden to Nor- way, where she remained for four and a half years, performing a wonderful work among the native people of that land. She took great interest in the Scandinavians' progress in Utah, and was a leading spirit in the Jubilee in 1900. She took great interest in womans' suffrage and was an enthusiastic worker in the Relief Society wherever she settled. Returning from her mis- sion in 1908, she busied herself principally with temple work and her lit- ary productions, being a good writer in her own language. Funeral ser- vices were held on the thirteenth of July from the Nineteenth ward meet- ing house, where leading speakers spoke of her virtue and her integrity, among them Pres. Heber J. Grant, Joseph Fielding Smith, Andrew Jenson and Arnt Engh. They dwelt upon her faithfulness, her strength of will and her noble character, which were an inspiration to all who knew her. Report of changes in stake and ward officers for the month of July, 1919.— — New wards and branches Buhl ward, Cassia stake, Asael H. Dixon, bishop; address, Buhl, Twin Falls county, Idaho. Wells ward, Granite stake, Francis D. Higginbotham, bishop; 662 East 21st South street. Hamer branch, Bingham stake, Ezra P. Jensen, presiding elder; address, Hamer, Idaho. Orion branch, Taylor stake, Edwin Fullmer, presiding elder. Oneida branch, Millard stake, Fred Gledhill, presiding, Holden, Utah. — Stake Presidency Ensign stake, John M. Knight, 1st Counselor, re- leased. B. F. Grant appointed as 2nd Counselor and Frank R. Snow as 1st Counselor, in the presidency of the stake. — New Bishops Aetna ward, Alberta stake, James Henry Tanner suc- ceeded Nathan W. Tanner, address same. Elsinore ward, Sevier stake, Joseph L. Staples succeeded Ernest M. Greenwood, address same. Joseph ward, Sevier stake, Joseph William Parker succeeded Arnfred Christensen, address same. Monroe South ward, Sevier stake, James R. Ware succeeded Jecob Magleby, address same. Richfield Third ward, Sevier stake, Hans J. Hansen succeeded James Anderson, address same. Sugar House ward, Granite stake, LeGrand Richards succeeded William L. Hansen, address 1064 Hollywood, Sugar Station, City. Marsh Center ward, Portneuf stake, Andrew James Shumway succeeded Nathan S. Coffin, address same. Mt. Emmons ward, Duchesne stake, Ira B. Cannon succeeded Jesse L. Smith, address same. Baker ward, Union stake, William A. Roundy succeeded William J. Wale, address same. Ramah ward, St. Johns stake, Richard H. Bloomfield succeeded Alex F. Bloomfield, address same. Bluewater ward, St. Johns stake, F. P. Nielson succeeded F. G. Nielson, address same. Paris First ward, Bear Lake stake, Ezra S. Stucki succeeded H. Edward Sutton, address same. Beaver East ward, Beaver stake, C. Dennis White succeeded Robert B. White, address same. Adamsville ward, Beaver stake, Willard A. Rees succeeded Wm. U. Stewart, address same. Beazer ward, Alberta stake, George E. Peterson succeeded George A. Duce, address same. Hawk- ins ward, Portneuf stake, Daniel Brown Woodland succeeded George ^ Z. Hodowal, address same. View ward, Cassia stake, Henry J. Bodily, acting in lieu of Angus C. Woodbury, address same. Burdette ward, Taylor stake, Job Llewelyn succeeded A. W. Fletcher, address same. Mural ward, Duchesne stake, Utah, has been renamed Ioka, which is the post office address. — — President Joseph H. Stimpson, of the Japan mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, writes June 21, 1919: "In regard to the Era, let me just say, it seems that every number we receive gets better than the one before. For a person who wishes to obtain a library filled with good books for his children to read, I can suggest nothing better than the Era, neatly bound and preserved. Ever pray- ing for your success in the good work, I am your brother, Joseph H. Stimpson, Mission President." — Era for March is an excellent number. The Mutual Improvement Era for the month of March, 1919, is an excellent number and all subscribers to this splendid magazine will take much pleasure in reading the invigorating articles it contains. And speaking of the Era, one cannot help being forcibly struck by its fitting selec- tion of those subjects that are elevating, how its coterie of writers seem to be en- dowed with that peculiar characteristic of not only teaching the people the truth pertaining to the things of this earth, and the things of the hereafter, but it is brim- ful of good advice, which, if heeded by old and young, will make them better men and women. We feel to congratulate President Heber J. Grant and Elder Edward H. Anderson, editors of the magazine on the excellence of the production. All mutual workers, and those who are not, will easily get their two dollars' worth from one issue of the magazine. Franklin County Citizen, Preston, Idaho. Improvement Era, September, 1919 Two Dollars per Annum Entered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, as second class matter Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 2, 1918 Address, 20 Bishop's Building, Salt Lake City, Utah Heber J. Grant, ) Edward H. Anderson, Business Mgr. tjdltors Edward H. Anderson, ) Moroni Snow, Assistant TABLE OF CONTENTS Portrait of Elder David O. McKay Frontispiece Will You Set the Example? 931 Home Building Elder David O. McKay 933 Sacramental Hymn ..Susa Young Gates _ 937 Help Thou Mine Unbelief William A. Hyde _... 938 Victory. A Story Will Dobson 947 A Nature Spectacle Alfred Lambourne 952 For Thee We Pray. Part Song Evan Stephens 954 A Man More Precious than Gold Dr. James E. Talmage 956 True Prohibition. A Poem Guy C. Coleman 964 Two Home-Makers. A Story John Garrett O'Brien 965 Arrival of the R-34 at Mineola „... 977 "Am I My Brother's Keeper?" Ernest D. Partridge 978 The Future of the N. E. A N. Alvin Pederson 980 Mission Leaders. With Portraits Edward H. Anderson 984 A Memory. A Poem Minnie Iverson Hodapp 987 Regulate Amusements from a General Committee....Josep7i S. Peery 988 The First Commandment C. L. Olsen, M. D 989 Baby's Eyes. A Poem Henry C. DeWitt 990 Axes to Grind Erza J. Poulson 991 Victory. A Poem Bertha A. Kleinman 994 Y. M. M. I. A. Fundamentals 995 How Do You Stand on this Subject? 1016 Editors' Table—Home 1000 Messages from the Missions 1003 Mutual Work 1007 Passing Events 1017 Over Fifty Positions Went Begging More than two positions were open for every 1919 graduate of the Utah Agricultural College. Every state in the West sought graduates from the School that gives the Efficient Education. The U. A. 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