--- 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: 25 number: 1 published: 1921-11 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* 25, no. 1 (November 1921): 87–88.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2501unse 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: improvementera2501unse start_page: 87 end_page: 88 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1921-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2501unse publication_year: 1921 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 1921, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Mutual Work Committee Work for November Finance and Publications: — Three leading points for the committee: (1) The improvement fund. This should be raised during November — ■ 25c for each enrolled member for last year; ten life memberships in the stake at $5 each. (2) Improvement Era. Finish the canvass for the Era, giving every family in the ward an opportunity to subscribe. Make an earnest business of the canvass. (3) The Hand Book. Place a copy of the Hand Book in the hands of every president of an association. Secretaries: — See that the stake and ward efficiency reports are properly made up, sent to the stake secretary from the wards, and from the stake secretary to the general secretary at headquarters — the latter no later than the 10th of November. See that the first report is complete. If nothing has been done in any ward, let it be so stated. Membership and Organization: — Let the chairman see that all class leaders are provided with members to the limit,, and that, having been en- listed they are entertained and instructed in the classes. The chairman should be as much interested in one class as in another, but particularly in the Senior. Get the boys. Junior Department: — There should be a Scout troop in good working order, every member taking part also in class work during the allotted time. The scout master should be class teacher also. The Manual lessons must be given. Special Activities: — Are arrangements made for the monthly doings for November? It is a fitting and rousing entertainment for our fathers and mothers. Advanced Senior Department: — Have you a large joint class of inter- ested members? If not, why? The Senior Class Visits a Noted Scientist and Astronomer Elder Jack Coburn, President of the Mutual Improvement Association of the Auckland conference, Australia, writes under date of August 13 : "We are taking the regular prescribed course, namely, Joseph Smith as Scientist, and we are always on the lookout for things along scientific lines. Through the courtesy of Elder F. W. Schwendeman, the mission secretary and our class leader, an arrangement was made on the 10th inst., for the Senior Mutual class to visit Mr. Clement Wragge, F. R. G. S., etc., who is a well- known scientist and astronomer his headquarters being the Clement Wragge Observatory and Institute at Birkenhead. It may be mentioned to show that we received our lecture from a thoroughly competent man that Dr. Wragge has held some very responsible positions. He is a gold medalist of the Ben Levis Observatory, Scotland; director of the late government central weather bureau, Brisbane Australia; honorary member of the North Staffordshire Naturalists' Field Club; founder of the Wragge Museum, Stafford, England; and honorary correspondent of the Institute Solar International, of Monte Video, etc. Nineteen of us assembled at the Ferry 88 IMPROVEMENT ERA building, in the evening, and embarked on the Ferry steamer for an up- harbor trip of six miles to Birkenhead, on the beautiful and sparkling waters of the harbor. On arrival we were met by Mr. Wragge, who con- ducted us to the Observatory where his powerful telewcope was situated. After the telescope was focused we observed the moon; and, on viewing the northern portion, we could clearly see two large craters which were named Aristotle and Udoxus, and a large sea bed named the Sea of Serenity, It was explained that a sea had once existed on the moon but had evaporated ages ago. On the southern portion were several craters, the principal one being Clavius; next we saw Alpha Centauri, the next nearest sun to the earth. This sun is at least six times as large in diameter as our sun. The whole planetary system was explained. We then adjourned to the Ins- titute and heard a scientific lecture by Mr. Wragge, who said that true science and true religion are one; both inculcate, on scientific principles, the doctrine of loyalty, duty, and love to all mankind. Mr. Wragge, it may be stated knew President Brigham Young, as he had been entertained by him in Salt Lake City. He had also been presented with a copy of Joseph Smith as Scientist and was surprised at the scientific truths it contained, and the fact that they had been put forward so long ago. Ether, God's control of the universe, how the heavenly bodies are controlled, and other items pertaining to the Manual were discussed. Most of the scientific thoughts that he advanced were entirely in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith and were a testimony to us all. Elders present from Zion were: F. W. Schwendeman, H. D. Hall, W. L. Castleton, A. M. McFarland, G. C. Young, R. Layne, F. S. Merrill, and Sister Miriam Taylor. "Upon returning from our little experience we felt a greater desire to enter into our duties with more energy, knowing that we indeed had the truth in our Church. The Mutual in our Conference is growing and pros- pering, and all join in praying that the blessings of the Lord will be upon all the like organizations in Zion, and upon the Era which we all look forward to receiving through the mission office." A Live Ward in Bingham Stake We learn from Stake Secretary Sylvan Olsen, Idaho Falls, that the Dehlin ward, of the Bingham stake, has made a splendid record, due largely to the wonderful spirit shown by N. T. Winthers President of the ward Y. M. M. I. A. The Stake Secretary forwarded $9.25 to cover the fund of Dehlin for 1921-22, the first ward in the stake to pay the fund for this season. Dehlin is a little farming district, back in the hills east of Idaho Falls, and has a population of 131 persons. Last year it had an enrollment in the Y. M. M. I. A. of 28 per cent of its ward membership, and 98 per cent of the young men of mutual age. It had the highest percentage of Era subscriptions of any of the wards in Bingham stake (10 per cent). It also had an average attendance of 94 at their mutual meetings last season. We congratulate the ward officers upon their achievement, and the stake of- ficers upon having such a live organization. Important for Junior (Scout) Class Leaders It is a requirement of the General Board that, while a Scout organ- ization is required in each ward in the Junior department, it is also de- manded that the scout leader shall be a good Latter-day Saint and capable of teaching the Junior manuaL as well as the scout work. The lessons in the manual must not be neglected, and the spirit of the Church should underlie every teaching given, both in the lessons and in the scout work. Ethics are good, but religion is better