Two Incidents of the Mexican Revolution

Two Incidents of the Mexican Revolution* The Five Masked Men By Armond Jackson A few days after all the "Mormons" were compelled to leave Mexico, Mr. Jackson and two of his sons were staying to take care of their flour mill near Casas Grandes. A company of "Mormons" were leaving from all the colo- nies in the mountains; not one American was staying behind; they were driving some cattle and horses out and therefore left secretly. Mr. Jackson had been tormented so much by the Mexicans that he finally decided to take his two sons and go with the com- pany to El Paso where his family had gone. He made arrangements with the mountain people to have them, send a man to notify him when they passed through the hills on their way to the states, so that he and his sons could go with them. But when they left they failed to notify Mr. Jack- son of their leaving. When he learned that they had gone he immediately hitched up the buggy and started with his sons, early one morning for the United States; but he was not successful in making their get-a-way, because along early in the afternoon, they were over- taken by a band of men who compelled them to return to the mill to grind wheat for them. One or two evenings after their return Mr. Jackson was sitting in the house reading a newspaper by the light of a lan- tern. His oldest son, who was a good-sized man, was at a Mex- ican friend's house, and the other boy was not present, eithei ; therefore, Mr. Jackson was alone in the house. After finishing a paragraph that he was reading Mr. Jack- son looked at his watch and seeing that it was ten o'clock, picked up the lantern to go and stop the mill for the night. On stepping through the door into the next room, he came face to face with a masked and armed man. Mr. Jackson imme- diately stopped and asked the Mexican what he desired. The man replied that he would like to see him outside. *These are composition exercises of the English C. Class, selected from a number of such given in the Juarez stake Academy, L. Meecham, Jr., principal — Editors.

908 IMPROVEMENT ERA "I am right here," said Mr. Jackson, "and if you want to see mje, you can see me as well here as outside." The man raising his gun, said, "Come out or die." Mr. Jackson thinking it just as easy to die inside as outside, refused again. The man then said that he needed some flour. So Mr. Jack- son consented to go and give him some; picked up the lantern, which the Mexican now said he could not take. Mr. Jackson remembering that he had a lantern in the mill, started out without a light. On reaching the outside door he found an- other man of the same type as the first, who stayed with him while the other went to one side of the house for another man, Two of these stayed with Mr. Jackson while the other went around to the other side of the house and brought two men, one from one side, the other from the rear. Then the man who seemed to be the leader said they were ready to go to the mill. On reaching the mill Mr. Jackson lighted the other lantern and saw that all five men were masked and well armed. They said nothing, and Mr. Jackson went to work and sacked them each fifty pounds of flour. They picked up the flour and started to leave, which made Mr. Jackson feel much better. But before reaching the door, their leader set his sack down and turned back to Mr. Jackson, the others following. "It is not flour we want," said the Mexican, "but we have orders from Casas Grandes to bring you in either dead or alive." "Let me see your orders," returned Mr. Jackson. They would not show any order, and therefore Mr. Jackson refused to go. After some arguing, they asked him for some money. Mr. Jackson said he had none. "We will search you and the whole place then," said the Mexican. Mr. Jackson had been over to Dublan that day thinking he could find a chance to go to the United States on the train, and still had on his body a belt of money that he was going to take. And being afraid that they would search him, he pulled from his pocket about 35 or 40 dollars in change, and began to count it out to them. While doing so William, his eldest son, and his Mexican friend, having seen the light in the mill, came over and entered just in time to see Mr. Jackson counting out the money. They both walked up to where Mr. Jackson was, with their hands in their back pockets, and as brave and big as they could. The men seeing them immediately picked up their sacks, took the money and left as soon as they could get out of the door. The next day Mr. Jackson went to Casas Grandes to see the President, who said he had given no such orders. Mr. Jackson

INCIDENTS OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION 909 had recognized two of the men by marks on their faces. These two were arrested and put in jail while the others were not found. An Answer to Prayer By Olive Done God hears each liule servant's prayer Who breathes it in his heart, And kindty drops an answer there To help each to do his part. "Grandma, there's two Mexican's out by the barn-yard gate calling for Grandpa." "Alright, Delia, you take Bessie into the bedroom and sit by the window where you can see what is going on, but don't let her get frightened if you can help it. I am going out there with grandpa to see what they want." As soon as Mr. Moffett reached the gate the natives de- manded entrance. So he opened the gate and let them in. They searched every building and place that they wanted to until they came to a small adobe building which was locked. "Open this door," they demanded. "I will not do it," answered Mr. Moffett. "Who told you to come here for hay or anything else, I'd like to know?" "Our major sent us here to get six bales of hay, and we intend to get into this building," they said, pointing their guns into Mr. Foffett's face. "Open it, or we shall shoot." "You will do no such thing," cried Mrs. Moffett, stepping between the men and her husband. One of the men then pushed the brave little woman aside and the other began to beat Mr. Moffett with his gun. But he would not open the door. He knew that if he did that his cattle would go hungry and that they would take his horse besides. Finally they decided to take him to Casas Grandes to the judge. As soon as they made this decision, Mis. Moffett went into the house, where she found the two little girls clinging to each other trembling with fear. "Be brave now, darlings, and lock the doors good, because I must go to Casas Grandes with Grandpa." "What will they do to you?" cried Bessie choking with sobs. "I don't know, but we'll soon be back. Goodbye," she said as she stooped to kiss them. "Be Grandma's little women." The children watched them as long as they could see them.

910 IMPROVEMENT ERA Then they locked the doors securely and began to talk. "Don't you think the Lord will help them, if we would pray to him, about it?" suggested Bessie. "Of course, he would," said Delia. So they knelt down side by side and offered up a simple petition to heaven. When Mr. and Mrs. Moffett reached the court, they told the judge what had happened. The judge seemed very impatient, and sent for the major who said that he had nothing to do with it, and that he had not told them to get hay from Mr. Moffett, or even gin en permission to go off. So the soldiers were punished severely, and Mr. and Mrs. Moffett were set free. When they reached home they found their dear, little grandchildren praying the second time for the welfare of their grandparents. NEW MASTERS Masters' Degrees were received by these students at the Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, June 8, 1923. Left to right: Willis A. Smith, Ernest A. Jacobsen, Delila Higgs, Maude Beeley Jacobs, Henry Ray Hatch, B. Glenn Smith.

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Mission Houses Dedicated At Dresden, Germany By Elder Richard P. Middleton An important event in the development of the Church in Dresden, Germany, April 22, 1923, was the dedication of a splendid new chapel. Visitors from all parts of the Dresden conference attended the ceremonies. There was a Sunday School convention in the morning followed by a sacra- ment meeting in the afternoon during which the dedicatory prayer was offered by Conference President Joseph Duran. Spirited gospel addresses were also made. In the evening a delightful program was presented, along with the reports from the officers of the various organizations of the Dresden branch. In recognition of his tireless efforts in purchasing the new home and directing its renovation and preparation, President Duran was presented with a bouquet of carnations by the members of the branch. The exercises were concluded Monday evening with a large dancing party featured by entertainment in the form of costume dances, a one-act playlet, and comic offerings from visiting missionaries from Chemnitz. The vis- itors at the meetings numbered between four and five hundred. Many of them expressed their satisfaction and joy in being able to partake of the spirit manifested. The lot is 75x120 feet, with the four-story building 45x75 feet. The new home might well excite the envy of many a ward in Zion. It was used for several years as a place for the production of concerts, theatricals and dances. It is familiar to most of the inhabitants of Dresden. Under the direction of President Duran who purchased the property, it has been completely renovated, freshly painted, and attractively decorated. The speakers' platform, and the sacrament table in front of it, have been built in a very attractive design. The motto, "The Glory of God is Intelligence" in neat letters of gold, greets the eye above the stand, with the bee hive below it. A canvas curtain separates the main hall from a well constructed stage which can be used for the production of amateur theatricals. The floor of the hall is of polished oak. The chairs have been finished in an attractive, deep brown color which harmonizes well with the decoration scheme. In addition to the main hall there is a smaller assembly room where congregations up to a hundred persons can be conveniently accom- modated. The class rooms are large, bright, and comfortable. The largest of them has been properly furnished and set apart for the meetings of the Relief Society and for the daily morning gatherings of the active mis- sionaries in Dresden. The building contains quarters for two mission- aries and for the caretaker and his family. After the long years of perse- cution before the war, during which the Saints were driven from pillar to post and compelled to pay fines for holding meetings, and after the following years of housing shortage in Germany, during which the branch has had to be content to occupy make-shift quarters, the opportunity of entering the imposing new home gives a sensation very much like that experienced on emerging from darkness into light. Members and mission- aries alike are overjoyed. The work of preaching the gospel message is going steadily forward. Eight missionaries are engaged and headway is more apparent every day. This year 43 baptisms have been performed so frr. Great interest has been

914 IMPROVEMENT ERA aroused by the imposing showing we are able to make in our new home, and we are expecting wonderful opportunities in the near future to make friends and find investigators for our cause. The breaking down of the influence of sectarianism as a result of the delusions of war days makes the people especially ready to listen to new ideas in the religious line. Following the dedicatory exercises the missionaries and visiting elders from Chemnitz availed themselves of the opportunity of going to Meissen, a famous old German city, to visit the famous porcelain factory where the so-called "Dresden China" is manufactured. The process of making china ware is most fascinating, and the products of the factory are exquisite in their beauty. Meissen boasts one of the most famous old cathedrals and castles of Germany. This city has an especial interest for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, because it is the city where the gifted educator, Dr. Karl G. Maeser, was born and spent his boyhood. The missionaries inquired as to the location of his old dwelling, but were merely able to ascert in the street on which he had lived. An old cemetery surrounding an ancient church in the city contains two grave stom j bear- ing the name "Maeser" — perhaps brothers or sisters. The story of the conversion and baptism of Dr. Maeser, in 18C5, in the cilv cf Dresden is one of the interesting incidents in the Listory of the Church. Those who have access to' old volumes of the Era should read it, as it appeared from his own pen in the year 1899. His baptism, along with seven others marked the opening of the missionary work in Germany, a work which his since grown to such proportions that one c?.n now find branches of the Church in practically every city of importance in the German nation. Dresden, Germany At Pesega, Samoa By John Q. Adams, President of the Samoan Mission As the three accompanying illustrations tell their own story we need write but a brief paragraph concerning the occasion they represent. One of the appreciated results of the month's visit here in 1921, of Elders McKay and Cannon, was the opening of the way for the erection of some of these buildings at headquarters. In June, 1922, we commenced to raze the old Pesega building which had seen service for a quarter of a century as a combined church, mission home and school house. From then until April of this year a busy ten months of building ensued. The best material from the old building, together with sufficient new lumber and so forth, was utilized in constructing a commodious school house at the rear, facing east. It is open, has wide eaves and proves to be cool and perfectly fitted to its purpose, being of a new and somewhat novel style of tropical architecture. The new Church building stands on the exact site of the old one and the Mission Home is the building formerly owned by the Ah Mu estate. It is in a good state of preservation, is a seven-room building and has been painted and repaired so that it is now pretentious and comfortable. It and the acre lot on which it stands were purchased six months ago, and as the Church holds an unlimited lease on the adjoining acre lot, these two well-situated lots combined form an ideal site for mission headquarters. The school house measures 75 by 28 feet, and is divided into four class rooms. The Church building is 60 by 32 feet. The view of this group of buildings as one approaches from Apia is an excellent one that will impress everyone and arouse inquiries. The heavy labor of these ten months was all done by

MISSION HOUSES DEDICATED 915 TOP: SCHOOL HOUSE; CENTER: ELDERS QUARTERS: BOTTOM* CHURCH, ALL AT PESEGA, SAMOA.

916 IMPROVEMENT ERA elders and Saints without one cent of cost to the Church, and the Relief Society sisters took turns by families in each day supplying workers with a big basket of native and purchased food, one family sometimes bringing in as much as $6 or $7 worth in one day. They also contributed cash, to- gether with Saints at large, as well as people outside of the Church, to the extent of hundreds of dollars. Impressive dedicatory services were held April 6, 7, and 8, but as an account of this will appear in The Deseret News we shall let this suffice. We here are all appreciative of these three necessary buildings at mis- sion headquarters, and it will prove an impetus to the work here, which is satisfactorily aggressive. Elders and Saints are well, happy and busy and the outlook is promising. Apia, Samoa. Affirmative Negative Vessie Carver Leslie Nuha E van Murray Vernon Obray J. Ceeil Bott Manager BRIGHAM YOUNG COLLEGE DEBATING TEAMS, WINNERS OF THE CHURCH JUNIOR COLLEGE TITLE Debating in the Junior Colleges of the Church By Ernest L. Wilkinson, of Weber College, President of the Church Debating League The year 1921-22 was the first year that our Junior colleges debated wifh one another as a league. The League had its inception at the Church School Convention, held in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1921. Prof. Herbert B. Maw, of the L. D. S. U. was named President of the League with four schools entering. The B. Y. U. won over Ricks College, and Weber College was bested by the L. D. S. U. No final contest was held. At the annual Church School Convention last October, it was decided to carry through a six-team Junior College League to be composed of Ricks College, the Brigham Young College, the Weber College, the Latter-day Saints High School, the Snow Academy and the Dixie College. Two tri- angles, a northern and a southern, were formed and it was decided that the winners, both affirmative and negative of these two triangles, should meet to decide the Church Junior College title. Ernest L. Wilkinson was elected president of the I eague. President F. S. Harris generously responded to the

DEBATING IN JUNIOR COLLEGES 917 efforts that were made by the League Chairman and others, to obtain some substantial award for the successful debaters, by offering each of them a year's scholarship at the Brigham Young University. Considerable interest arose early in the season in the Northern triangle; hence, when the team representing the Ricks Normal College journeyed to Logan to meet the Brigham Young College affirmative teams on the League question — "Resolved, that for the United States the Parliamentary system is a better form of government than the Presidential System" — the large auditorium in Nibley Hall was filled. Unusual insight into the ques- tion, and a ready grasp of the problems involved made the discussion well worth while. Tbe judges declared the B. Y. C. winners by a two-one vote. More fortunate were the Ricks affirmative team, the same day at Rexburg, where, before a large audience, they defeated the Weber College negative team by a two-one decision. The B. Y. C. negative team fared better still in the debate with the Weber affirmative team at Ogden where, on the same date, they won a three judge decision. These debates gave the B. Y. C. the Northern Division title with a clear record. In the Southern triangle which was composed of the L. D. S. University, the Snow Normal, and the Dixie Normal, the debates were postponed, until Friday, March 30. In the debate at Ephraim, the L. D. S. U. negative team triumphed over Snow's debaters, but her affirmative team was less fortunate in the contest with Dixie's negative team at Salt Lake City. This contest was won by the southern team by a two-one verdict. The affirmative team of Dixie in the St. George contest with Snow's negative team equalled B. Y. C.'s record in the Northern triangle by winning a three judge decision. Dixie had thus come through the triangle contests with a clear record in debate decisions and had won by the same margin as had the B. Y. C. in the North, that is, they had won five out of a total of six judges. On Friday, April 6, both the affirmative and the negative teams of the winners in the two triangles, met at Barratt HalL in Salt Lake City, with the Church School Junior title at stake. Commissioner of Education John A. Widtsoe, Doctors Andrew L. Neff and Raymond D. Harriman of the Uni- versity of Utah, and Prof. Ernest L. Wilkinson, of Weber, acted as judges in the first contest, while Attorneys Preston D. Richards and D. A. Skeen, both of Salt Lake, and Dean W. H. Leary of the University of Utah, acted in the same capacity during the second one. The judges of the first debate handed in their decision at the close of the debate but the announcement of the result was withheld until the close of the second debate. In both, the Brigham Young College was adjudged the winner by a two-one vote. These debates marked the culmination of the series and in point of excellence were undoubtedly the best. Certainly they were of an order to reflect high credit on the system. Clean sportsmanship characterized the Church School debates through- out the whole season. The friendly and generous attitude of the different schools was illustrated by response to the suggestion of the League Chair- man that each school bear its portion of the entire expense of two leagues. In this way, although the expense of Dixie amounted to practically three hundred dollars, the Dixie student body had to pay about one hundred dol- lars, the same as borne by the other student associations. With such a friendly spirit as a basis, it is not too much to expect that in the future these debates will grow in number and increase in interest. Logan, Utah. .,

Preaching ■ By Nephi Jensen, former President of the Canadian Mission While on a mission in Canada, I had occasion to examine carefully the passages in the Doctrine and Covenants on preach- ing. In this examination I found that the Lord has given rather definite and comprehensive instructions on all important phases of preaching the gospel. These revelations speak of (1) Prepara- tion for preaching; (2) The qualifications of the preacher; (3) The correct spirit and manner of preaching: (4) What to preach; and (5) The effect of divine preaching. In the following paragraphs these divine instructions are arranged under the five heads here mentioned, with the words bearing dlirectly on the subject italicized. Preparation for Preaching "Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; "Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the .earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms." — Doc. and Cov. 88:78-79. "And the Spirits slwll be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit, ye shall not teach." — Doc. and Cov. 42:14. "And ye are to be taught from on high. Sanctify yourselves and ye shall be endowed with power, that ye may give even as I have spoken." — Doc. and Cov. 43:16. Qualifications of Those Who Minister for God "And no one can assist in this work, except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be intrusted to his care." — Doc. and Cov. 12:8. Spirit and Manner of Preaching "He that speaketh, whose spirit is contrite, whose language is meek and edifieth, the same is of God if he obey mine ordinances." — Doc. and Cov. 52:16. "Remember that that which cometh from above is sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit; and in this there is no condemnation, and ye receive the Spirit through prayer; wherefore, without this there remaineth condemnation." — Doc. and Cov. 63:64. "And thou shalt do it with all humility, trusting in me, reviling not against revilers." — Doc. and Cov. 19:30. "And let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness and in meekness." — Doc. and Cov. 38:41. "Wherefore, go forth, crying with a loud voice, saying: The kingdom

PREACHING 919 of heaven is at hand; crying, Hosttnna\ blessed be the name of the Most High God."— Doc. and Cov. 39:19. "And after thou hast come up unto the land of ?ion, and hast pro- claimed my word, thou shalt speedily return, proclaiming my word among the congregations of the wicked, not in haste, neither in wrath nor with strife" — Doc. and Cov. 60:14. Wlutt to Preach "And that which doth rJot edify is not of God, and is darkness. — Doc. and Cov. 50:23. "And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism and by fire, yea, even of the Holy Ghost." — Doc. and Cov. 19:31. "Say nothing but repeittance unto this generation ; keep my com- mandments, and assist to bring forth my work, according to my command- ments, and you shall be blessed.'' — Doc. and Cov. 6:9. "And they shall observe the covenants and church articles to do them, and these shall be their teachings, as they shall be directed by the Spirit." — Doc. and Cov. 42:13. "And let them journey from thence preaching the word by the way, saying none other things than that ivhich the prophets and apostles Jiave written, and that which is taught them by the Comforter through the prayer of faith."— Doc. and Cov. 52:9. "And thou shalt do it with all humility, trusting in me, reviling not against revilers. "And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost." — Doc. and Cov. 19:30-31. Effect and Consequences of Didine Preaching "And whatsoever they shall speak when moved by the Holy Ghost, shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto Salvation." — Doc. and Cov. 68:4. "Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto convincing of men." — Doc. and Cov. 11:21. "For this is a day of warning, and not a day of many words. For I, the Lord, am not to be mocked in the last days." — Doc. and Cov. 63:58. Life Eternal Though thy temple has departed The winning of life eternal, And must return to clay, The goal thou now hast won; Thy spirit, dear, lives ever on Reward of tender faithfulness, Illumining thy way. When mission here is done. Amid the blackened, dreary hours Oh darling one, I love you so; Of sorrow, strife, and sin, God bless you ever, dear — The eyes of love still beckon me Though thy temple be departed, And urge me on to win. I know thou'rt very near. Nephi, Utah. Richard Insoore.