Editors’ Table

ruiHij IV- Tobacco and the Public Schools When we take into account the fact that the tobacco habit lowers the moral nature and helps young men down the ladder of life to poverty, leanness of intellect, and shame, we may well agree that the tobacco evil is one of the greatest problems in America today. One of the remedies is the public school system. It may well be said that it is almost impossible to convert a tobacco user from the filthy habit after he has be- come addicted to the dirt of nicotine. One of the difficulties in the way of reform in the matter of the use of tobacco is the many men who are addicted to the habit, and who therefore stand as advocates of the evil. In their minds anyone who seeks to eliminate the evil is a fanatic and is held in contempt by them. This, with the amount of money that is at the com- mand of workers for nicotine, stands largely in the way of any effort that people who are not in favor of tobacco may exercise, to drive the stuff out of existence, or to compel the observance of law and decency in regard to smoking and other uses of tobacco in public places. One remedy at hand in the right direction is our public school system. Perhaps it is not generally known that every 'state in the Union has a law requiring scientific temperance in- struction in the public schools, which includes instruction con- cerning the nature and effects of tobacco. If all the educators of the land were in harmony with the elimination of tobacco and its non-use among the human race the proper training could be given in the schools to this desirable end. The use of tobacco would thus in time be abandoned by choice by new generations entirely familiar with its degenerating effects. We hope that all Latter-day Saints and all other good citi- zens of the land who love boys and girls, and who are interested in the future of their beloved America will do their best to have this remedy applied. In the Y. M. M. I. A. "We stand for loyal citizenship." "We stand for the non-use and the non-sale of tobacco." We notice that in the Y. M. M. I. A. report for January, only 34 out of the 83 stakes of Zion reporting were efficient

456 IMPROVEMENT ERA in work on the slogans. For March let us get busy looking into the actions of the public grade and high schools on the subject of tobacco. Let our officers enquire if the schools in their communities are giving the required instruction upon this subject. Also, if there are any teachers who use tobacco, and are thus dis- qualified from teaching its evil effects. Here is the opportunity for a special effort for the officers to promote the slogan by using personal appeal to school boards, teachers, and the press, to advocate and put into effect the remedy suggested. Petitions should be circulated, asking each school board that instructions concerning the nature and effects of tobacco be emphasized in every school in letter and in spirit. All good citizens should insist that the children shall know the truth about tobacco, and that they shall obtain this information in the public schools as provided by law. We are wholly convinced that one or two generations of well informed children would let the sun- light of truth prove the short cut to tobacco prohibition. — A. The Vacuum Tube Amplifier Notice that heading again. What is it? It is the greatest scientific wonder of the century in electricity. It is about the size of an ordinary incandescent light bulb, and may be smaller or larger. It is so arranged that a feeble energy coming in by one wire is increased to a shout coming out at another. A whisper is increased to a shout, a "still small voice," to an out- cry in clarity as well as volume. What will it do? The inventor, Earl C. Hanson, a Cal- ifornian, born some 29 years ago, says in the February number of the American Magazine that "it will help the deaf to hear; make the human voice audible across the continent— even around the globe; enable vessels to find their way through fog and darkness; save the lives of people in aeroplanes; make wireless telegraphy far more efficient; help to win wars; enable one person to talk directly to thousands in an ordinary tone of voice — just as it enabled President Harding to talk to 100,000 people at his inauguration, and on Armistice Day." One unit of electrical energy, it is stated, is increased ten times by means of the vacuum tube amplifier. By using sets of these tubes, the voice can be magnified more than a million times. Passing energy successfully through six of these tubes you will have amplified a million times the gentlest whisper of the spheres, and so "listen to sounds which no human ears have heard since

EDITORS' TABLE 45? the world began. It may be that we shall actually be able to hear things growing, and to listen to the changes taking place in matter." It was not possible to telephone across the continent until the vacuum tube amplifier made it so. Now, by using the amplifier, one can talk over a telephone from New York to San Francisco, and, by using several, even around the earth. By the installation of proper instruments and the use of these ampli- fiers, it is possible to telephone by wireless so that one's voice may be heard distinctly by thousands long distances away. Al- ready, in this country, people are delivering their messages by means of the wireless telephone in connection with the amplifier in different cities, hundreds of miles away from the places where they are located. It is not impossible that, by 1925, or sooner, the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints may be able to deliver his sermons in the Salt Lake Tabernacle and be heard by congregations assembled in every settlement of the Church from Canada to Mexico, and from California to Colorado. There are a thousand thoughts that arise in the mind in contemplation of this most wonderful in- strument and the possibilities arising therefrom. One may well exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" In this connection, let us remember also that, if man can invent instruments to serve him in this wonderful achievement, how easy it is for God, with his greater knowledge, not only to communicate with man by his "still small voice," in case where man by righteousness has attuned his soul to receive his whisperings, but also for him to hear and answer man's earnest petitions sent out in prayer to God. — A. Books Official Announcement We have pleasure in announcing new issues of the Doc- trine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, with double- column pages, index and other helps, all conforming in gen- eral to the style and arrangement of the latest edition of the Book of Mormon. The text of the Doctrine and Covenants is preceded by an "Explanatory Introduction" comprising in concise form the es- sential facts relating to the history of this sacred volume of latter-day revelation. Another introductory feature is the "Chronological Order of Contents" in which the several Sections

458 IMPROVEMENT ERA are listed with date and place relating to each. Each Section is introduced by a comprehensive heading, in which are stated the circumstances under which the particular Sedition waa given, and a brief summary of its contents. An extended "Index and Concordance" is included. The Pearl of Great Price is also provided with a copious index and other helps not hitherto published. The books are issued in the following styles: 1. Doctrine and Covenants, Library edition, corresponding in typography, material, and workmanship to the Library edi- tion of the Book of Mormon. 2. Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price on thin paper, flexible leather binding, forming a companion vol- ume to the India paper issue of the Book of Mormon. 3. Combination edition, comprising Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price, on India pa- per, flexible leather binding. We recommend these new issues of the three distinctive standard works of the Church for thoughtful and prayerful study. Heber J. Grant, Charles W . Penrose, Anthony W. Ivins, First Presidency, Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec. 17, 1921. Messages from the Missions Change of Conference Presidents Elder John E. Hipwell, Melbourne, Australia, recently reported the release of Elder Milton B. Jensen, President of the Victorian conference for nearly two years last October. His faithfulness as a missionary has endeared him to the Saints, and investigators, and missionaries, who admired his unselfish service in the cause of truth. Elder Hipwell was chosen to succeed Elder Jensen as conference president last October. There are three other missionaries laboring in Melbourne, Alvin Engelstead, Doris Baker, and F. Dewey Fronk. Many of the 700,000 people in Mel- bourne were reported as indifferent in regards to religion, but as a rule, their hearts are "big" and they had treated the elders very nicely. The ciders had found a few who are willing to receive the glad tidings, and many homes had been opened to them in trading, and new members were being baptized quite frequently. Optimistic Regarding the Outcome Conference President E. W. Barber, writing from Palmerston, New Zealand, December 20, says: "Our work includes the cities of Palmerston North, Wanganui, and nearby towns. Among the white population, gen- erally speaking, we find the people quite indifferent to the gospel message

with no desire for religion. However, our efforts are beginning to show results in the accumulation of many friends and investigators. We are all optimistic with regard to the ou come of the 'spring drive.' " Top: Elders left to right: E. M. Stanger, H. J. Hymas, E. W. Barber, E. A. Fredricson, Taranaki conference. Front row: C. W. Clark, Mana- water conference; M. C. Stewart, R. G. Andrew, Taranaki conference; and R. H. Manning, all of Palmerston, N. Z. Bottom: Names of elders, top row: L. Ericksen, S. A. Archibald, E. R. Miller, F. W. Cowley, J. L. Pate, S. L. Tanner, P. W. Manwaring and J. N. Transtrum. Middle row: B. F. Grun, B. J. Allen, Conference President Werner Kiepe, President Winslow Farr Smith, Sister E. Smith, B. H. Reeve, J. F. Powell. Bottom row: H. F. Elder, G. L. Wa:son, C- A, Neusenschwander, R. Schaer, all of Northern Illinois conference.

460 IMPROVEMENT ERA Twenty New Converts Elder Werner Kiepe, conference president Northern Illinois confer- ence, January 25, says: "The missionaries of this conference have enjoyed I heir work for the past year most thoroughly. Our efforts have not been in vain. Right from the very towns and surrounding country from where the Saints were driven westward we have been able to make friends and converts. At Galesburg, sixty miles from Nauvoo, a branch was started this year, and over twenty converts were obtained, increasing the number to over forty, each nerson active and desirious of spreading the truth. California Mission Front row, left to right. Anna B. Quist, Mission Matron; William B. Hawkins; Marion Cutler, Corresponding secretary; Axel A. Madsen, Con- ference President; Jos. W. McMurrin, Mission President; Claude C. Corn- wall, Superintendent of Sunday schools and M. I. A.; William G. Brown, Mission Secretary; Margaret Gardner; Gustive O. Larson; second row, sitting: Geo. C. Peterson; Rulon H. Cheney, Editor of Mission paper, The Calimis; Wayne C. Gardner; J. Cheney Willis; third row: Gwendolin Woolley; Ruth Tanner; Grace Cheever; Alexander F. Schieiner; Thomas N. Price; Victoria Campbell; Keith Murdock; Gecoza McRae; Edna Love- less; fourth row: Melvin Freebairn; Florence Peck; Arthur S. Woods; Archie F. Clifford; Henry Luthi; Orlando F. Peterson; Ralph J. Mellor; Melvin J. Clark; fifth row, back: Gilbert B. Lewis; Walter Knell; Parley G. Hall; Oscar W. Evans; Clarence A. White; Irving Jenkins; Rulon P. Keetch; Leland J. Gammon; Vernal J. Stimpson. Nine Baptisms for Each Missionary Elder Harold B. Lee, president of the Denver conference, Western States mission, writes under date of January 16: "The work of God has progressed wonderfully in this conference. During 1921 we have had 71 baptisms, making an average of 9 baptisms for each missionary who has labored here. In Denver, Boulder, Greeley, Fort Collins, and wherever

462 IMPROVEMENT ERA our missionaries have labored, we have found people who had been watching and waiting for years for a more definite and positive way to serve God than what they had possessed. At this distance from Salt Lake City we meet hundreds of people who have either been interested in, or embittered against, 'Mormonism' by the actions of men whom they met there, who professed to be Latter-day Saints. How well it would be for the cause we represent if we could always remember, as the Savior said, 'To be as a light set upon a hill.' Our chief opposition, at present, comes from Hale Smith, a descendant of the Prophet, and a leader of the Reorganites in Denver, who is becoming alarmed at the serious inroads made by missionaries in his following, in this vicinity." Top row, left to right: Henry H. Stokes, Dawson Lindsay, Esdras Finlinson, Ralph Anderson, Olin H. Jeppson, Urban S. Madsen, Geo. S. Pond, Lyman A. Kartchner, Cornell Knight, Claudius Winget. Third row: Albert L. Thomas, E. Roy Erickson, Nellie Porter, Zenna Worthen, Abraham T. James, Leah McKell, Caroline Adams, Ruby Nielsen, Andrew Hood, William N. Thomas, Robert A. Leatham. Second row: Earl H. Shumway, Lorenzo J. Cummings, Owen H. Martin, Mission Secretary, Vernal A. Bergeson, Sadie Winmill, Matron, Florence R. Knight, President of Mission Relief Societies, John M. Knight, Mission President, Minnie Knight, Harold B. Lee, Conference President; Daniel Petersen. First row: Richard, Ralph, Rodney, and Newell Knight. "The Power of God is in the Church" President Nephi Jensen of the Canadian Mission writes under date of January, 20: "Missionary work in Canada is progressing very satis- factorily. During the year, 1921, our elders baptized ninety-three con- verts. Our Church reports for last year show that we have over two hundred people in the mission who are converted, but who have not yet joined the Church through baptism. The power of God has been made manifest in the ministry of our companions. In one instance a man who had not been able to hear for nine years was given the ability to hear the gospel message through the faith and fasting and prayers of our missionaries. Recently, on the way to Toronto I had a conversation with a man, not a member of the Church, who told me that his little child was given up by the doctor to die, last November. The elders came to his home by solicitation at one o'clock in the morning and administered to the child. The next day the child sat up in bed and played. Our com- panions are obtaining daily witnesses of the fact that the power of God is in the Church of which we are members. Our missionaries greatly enjoy the Era"