--- 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: 23 number: 7 published: 1920-05 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, \"L. Hula Greene Richards,\" *Improvement Era* 23, no. 7 (May 1920): 611." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2307unse 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: improvementera2307unse start_page: 611 end_page: 611 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1920-05) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2307unse publication_year: 1920 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 1920, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # L. Hula Greene Richards — PURPOSE OF THE AMERICAN LEGION 611 The "red" agitator, if allowed to spread his pernicious doc- trine unchecked, places in jeopardy the very principles for which the war was won. Will you not back up the service man in his fight for the absolute extermination of the teaching of anarchism, Bolshevism, sovietism, I. W. W. ism, or any other kind of "ism" except a 100 per cent Americanism? We were told repeatedly during the period of hostilities that this was a young man's war. If that be so, then this criti- cal period succeeding it is likewise a young man's era. Here is — The American Legion an organization of young men anxious to perform its patriotic duty. It asks the good will and coopera- tion of every patriotic citizen. Will you not permit us to strive with you, shoulder to shoulder, towards achieving a greater and better America? Let Us be Near to Thee We would be near to thee, our Father, God, So near we shall not feel the heavy stroke Of indignation in the chastening rod. We choose thy burden light, thine easy yoke. Help us to keep the straight and narrow way Which thou hast marked and said, "Come, follow me," Doing our varied duties, day by day, With thankful gladness, being near to thee. We cannot close our eyes to others' woe; With pity for all pain our hearts are torn; The good thou grantest us we would bestow Freely, and help to comfort all who mourn. In all things we would still confess thy hand That with us thou mayst never angry be While judgments sweep the earth, how blest to stand In holy places, safe and near to thee. Help us to build thy temples, and therein Perform the saving works which thou hast shown, Repentant dead, and living cleansed from sin, That thou mayst justify and claim thine own. With grateful zeal fulfiling every part, That all who will may be redeemed and free, Let us, oh Lord, with all the pure in heart, Behold thy glory and be near to thee. L. Lula Greene Richards