--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Unknown collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 27 number: 6 published: 1924-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Unknown, “Passing Events,” *Improvement Era 27, no. 6 (April 1924)*: 579–583." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2706unse 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: improvementera2706unse start_page: 579 end_page: 583 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1924-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2706unse publication_year: 1924 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 1924, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Passing Events PASSING EVENTS 579 Abdul Medjed will go down into history as the last Turkish head of Islam, unless the Angora act should be reversed. On March 7 a dispatch from Jeru- salem announced that the Mohammedans of Mesopotamia, Trans-Jordania, and the Hedjaz, had offered the Caliphate to King Hussein of the Hedjaz, and that he had accepted the position. The new British parliament convened Jan. 15. In his speech from the throne the king pledged the British empire to continue to support the League of Nations. The king touched upon a great many subjects, including the prohibition question in its bearing upon the relations between Great Britain and the United States. It was an unusually long speech for an opening address to the parliament. Ramsay McDonald irreverently characteried the «peech as a "collection of odds and ends." Another severe earthquake occurred in Japan, Jan. 14, in which Tokyo and Yokohama suffered further destruction. The fact that breakfast fires had not been started probably saved reconstructed Tokyo from another disastrous fire. Kitagata, near Yokohama, is reported to have suffered severe damage. Advices from Osaka and Tokyo put the dead in the Tokyo district at four and the injured at 20. The Yokohama casualties were estimated at 10 killed and 200 injured. Fire broke out at Yokohama, destroying 600 houses. The Shenandoah broke away from her mooring mast, Jan. 17, in a seventy-two mile gale, and floated away in the storm. Those on board had a fight with the elements that lasted seven hours, and then the big airship was returned to the hangar. It was found on examination that her nose was torn away, and part of her sides were ripped to shreds. It will take a month to repair the damage that was apparent, but every part will have to be examined before the total damage can be estimated. The Shenandoah is the largest airship afloat. The coffin of Tutankhamen was uncovered, Feb. 4, and stood forth in all its beauty for the first time in 3200 years. It is described as massive in construction and chastely simple in design. It was, the dispatch says, an emotional moment for the excavators when they first gazed upon this royal coffin, unseen by mortals since the undertakers of ancient Thebes set about their long, difficult task of inclosiag the sarcophagus in its four ornate, florid casings. Further labors were postponed owing to differences with the Egyptian government. Impressive funeral services for the remains of the two patrolmen, B. H. Honey and Nolan W. Huntsman, who were shot down by a bandit on Main Street, Salt Lake City, Feb. 15, were held in the Assembly Hall, Feb. 20, Mayor C. Clarence Neslen presiding. There was a large concourse of people, and the dead officers were honored by profuse floral offerings, military salute by the Salt Lake post of the American Legion, by beautiful singing and music, and eloquent eulogies. A fund of some $9,000 has been raised by the people for the bereaved families. A temple, supposed to be 6000 years old, is reported discovered by a joint expedition of the British Museum, London, and the University Museum, Philadelphia, at Tell-El-Obeid, Babalonia, four miles from Ur, the Chaldea of Biblical fame. This was announced by Dr. George B. Gordon, director of the museum. This building is 6,000 years old, it is, probably, the most ancient structure made by man, still standing. It would date from a period as far removed from that of Tutankhamen in the past, as the present genera- tion is removed from him in known history. Bok's peace plan progaganda is to be investigated by a senate committee. The members of the committe are: Moses, New Hampshire, and Greene, Ver- mont, Reps. ; Reed, Missouri, and Caraway, Arkansas, Dems. ; and Shipstead, Minnesota, Farmer-Labor. Under the resolution the committee is "authorized 580 IMPROVEMENT ERA and directed immediately to investigate and report to the senate whether there is any organized effort being made to control public opinion and the action of Congress upon legislative matters through propaganda or by the use of money, by advertising, or by control of publicity." James Pingree, of Ogden, a widely known banker and business man, was laid to rest Feb. 26, 1924. Funeral services were held in the Ogden tabernacle, Bishop Charles A. Halverson of the Fifth ward presiding. Elder Richard R. Lyman characterized James Pingree as a man of enterprise, and dwelt upon the fine traits of his father, Job Pingree, Sr., one of the first Utah pioneers, still living. Other speakers who had knows Mr. Pingree prac- tically all his life were James H. Douglas, Samuel G. Dye and C. J. A. Lindquist. These men recalled the good traits of Mr. Pingree. John Gallacher, 74 years of age, died, Feb. 29. He was one of the pioneer restaurant-keepers of Salt Lake. He had been confined to his bed for eight weeks. He was born at Sanquar, Dumfries, Scotland, and joined the Church when 18 years of age. Leaving his family in Scotland, he came to the United States; he crossed the plains to Utah, where he arrived in the fall of 1868. In 1876 he entered the restaurant business in Salt Lake, with a cafe on Main street. From then until 1910 he was engaged continuously in that business. He retired in 1910 and spent his time since then in Church work at the Salt Lake temple. Railroad to Uintah is materializing. Construction has begun by the Salt Lake and Denver Railroad Company on its line through the Uintah basin. Notice was served on the public utilities commission Saturday by H. J. Price, secretary of the railroad company. About ten miles east of Springville, a crew under J. C. Mulville, chief engineer, is preparing the railroad bed up Hobble creek. Construction is begun during the winter under the certificates of con- venience and necessity held from the interstate commerce commission and the utilities board which required it be started, according to Simon Bamberger, former governor and president of the company. Herman Bamberger died at the home of his brother, former governor Simon Bamberger, Salt Lake City, March 2, at the age of 80 years. He was born in Eberstadt, Germany, November 10, 1843, and fifteen years later found him landing in America, a poor immigrant boy. He was the elder of the three brothers who survive him, Simon and J. E. Bamberger of Salt Lake, and Louis E. Bamberger of Venice Calif. When the Civil War broke out young Bamberger enlisted in Missouri. Following the war he came west and located in Salt Lake and has been a resident here ever since. He served as city commissioner during the construction of the City and County building. George S. Taylor of Provo, died suddenly at his home in that city, the 16th of January. In 1919 he had an attack of influenza which resulted in heart trouble, and last August he found it necessary to go to a hospital for treatment. Deceased was born in Salt Lake July 16, 1860, the son of George H. and Elmina Shepard Taylor. For many years he has been one of the leading business men of Provo. In 1882 he married Annie Christine Smoot, a sister of Senator Reed Smoot. She passed away in 1903. His second wife, Priscilla Smith, died in 1907, and his third wife, Amy Smith, in 1910. His fourth wife, Ida Alleman of Springville, and six children survive him. Members of the Reclamation Commission arrived in Salt Lake City, Jan. 16, in order to hear western farmers on the reclamation project. Among the members are Gov. Thomas E. Campbell, chairman, Dr. John A. Widtsoe, and James R. Garfield. The hearing commenced Jan. 17 at the Hotel Utah. Delegations from Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, Washington, Nebraska and various districts of Utah, all interested in irrigation, arrived on the 1 6th, prepared PASSING EVENTS - 581 to meet the commission. The sessions closed Jan. 27, after an address by Gov. Campbell, who summed up the work of the conferences in this city. A set of resolutions adopted by the representatives of a number of reclamation pro- jects were read. Judge William H. Dickson died at Los Angeles, Jan. 17, at the age of 77 years. He was born August 29, 1847, in Kings county, province of New Brunswick, the son of William A. and Theresa Earle Dickson. He received his early education in St. Johns, New Brunswick, and practiced law in that city. In 1875 he came west and settled in Virginia City, Nev. In March, 1882, he decided to cast his lot with the state of Utah, coming here from Reno. While still in Nevada, Mr. Dickson had entered into a law partner- ship with C. S. Varian. The law firm of Dickson 8 Varian was continued in Salt Lake City until March, 1884, when Mr. Dickson was appointed United States district attorney, Mr. Varian being made his assistant. Hycum Smith Harris, z grandson of the patriarch Hyrum Smith, and a son of William Jasper and Martha Ann Smith Harris, passed away at Spring- ville, Utah, Feb. 25, after a prolonged illness. He was born in Salt Lake City, Aug 15, 1863. In early life he was engaged in contracting in Missouri, Texas and New Mexico. He had lived in Provo and later in Tintic, returning to Springville some years ago. He had filled an L. D. S. mission to the Hawaiian Islands. In addition to his widow, Mr. Harris is survived by one daughter, Julina Harris; three brothers, William J. Harris of Springville, F. H. Harris of Texas, and John F. Harris of Payson; also four sisters, Mrs. Mary E. Corbett, Mrs. Zina C. Dennis, Mrs. Martha Startup and Sarah L. Passey. The J. Pierpont Morgan library has been turned over to a board of trustees who will maintain it for the use of scholars and students, according to an announcement made, Feb. 17, by Mr. J. P. Morgan, the son of the late banker. The library which is to be designated "the Pierpont Morgan library," was first assembled in 1905, and housed in a building the following year on a tract of land extending from East Thirty-sixth to East Thirty- seventh street between Madison and Park avenues. With the additions which have been made by Mr. Morgan since the death of his father in 1913, it contains 25,000 books and manuscripts, of which 10,000 are rare or unique. The collection, believed to be the best in private hands in existence, was estimated by Mr. Morgan to be worth in the vicinity of $7,000,000. With it he gave an endowment of $1,500,000. Rev. Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick was exonerated, Jan. 14, of the charge of heresy, in a report by the special committee of the New York presbytery, which has investigated the charge. The Rev. Dr. Fosdick, one of three pastors of the First Presbyterian church, has drawn the fire since last January, when he began a series of sermons condemning literal acceptance of the Articles of Faith and questioning the virgin birth and "deity of Christ." The presbytery of Philadelphia, already had cited charges against him in October, 1922, and it was reported he was tried before the general assembly of the church at Indianapolis in May, 1923. But Dr. Fosdick's own con- gregation, reinforced by votes of confidence taken among several eastern col- leges, stood so solidly behind him that no steps to try him were taken. The Rev. John F. Robinson of Cincinnati resigned from the church because of Dr. Fosdick. The dismissal of the secretary of the navy, Edwin Denby, was demanded Feb. 11, by the U. S. Senate, in a resolution passed by a vote of 47 to 34. The resolution set forth that the evidence taken by the committee on public lands and surveys showed that certain leases had been made for the government by Albert B. Fall, secretary of the interior, and Edwin Denby, secretary of 582 IMPROVEMENT ERA the navy, to an oil company, and also that certain contracts had been made with other concerns, and that these leases and contracts were entered without authority on the part of the officers mentioned, and contrary to the well known policy of the government. President Coolidge replied that he can take no official recognition of the senate resolution, as the matter of the dis- missal of cabinet officers belongs exclusively to the Executive. If the leases were illegal, he would, however, take such action as he deemed necessary. Mr. Denby resigned on March 10. David Arza Empey, one of the oldest pioneers of Moab and the valley, and the oldest survivor of the confederate army residing in this state, died Jan. 16, 1924, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Andrew Taylor. "Grand- pa Empey," as he was affectionately known by young and old in Moab, was born in Hancock county, Illinois, March 31, 1840, the son of Levi and Margaret Empey, natives of Canada, who emigrated to Nauvoo, 111. He accompanied his parents on the journey across the plains to Salt Lake. Until 1857 the family remained in Salt Lake, in which year they removed to Texas. When the Civil war broke out, Empey enlisted in A Troop, Sixth Texas Cavalry, commanded by Captain John Hardin, and fought until the autumn of 1864. Of the original membership of A Troop only seven men returned, all the others having been killed in battle. Two years after the close of the war Mr. Empey married Margaret Hayes and in 1884 he and his family came to Moab. Three of his grandsons served in the world war, one being killed in action during the fighting in the Argonne. The death of John W. Young in New York was reported Feb. 11. He was a favorite son of Brigham Young and Mary Ann Angell Young, born Oct. 1, 1844, in Nauvoo, 111., and arriving in Utah with his parents, in 1847. The beginning of his career as a railroad man began in 1867 when he became a sub-contractor under his father during the construction of the Union Pacific railroad through Echo canyon. Mr. Young was one of the organizers of the Utah Central railroad, a branch line connecting Salt Lake with the Union Pacific at Ogden. He was one of the organizers of the Utah Northern railroad, another branch line connecting Ogden with Franklin, Idaho, by way of Logan. Work was commenced on this line in 1871 and it was completed in 1874. In 1872 Mr. Young became presi- dent of the board of directors and general superintendent of the Salt Lake City railroad, Salt Lake's first street car line, then operated by horse power. When the Salt Lake chamber of commerce was organized in 1887, Mr. Young was one of its early members, taking an active part in its enterprises. Mr. Young was possessed of a personal magnetism and fire of spirit that made him immensely popular in Utah and wherever else his multifarious activities carried him. His life was full of the adventures that stand out most lovingly in the pioneering development of the western country. Nikolai Lenine died, Jan. 21, at his country villa near Gorky. One day last June he was stricken with paralysis, and since then the end has been expected. Lenine, or Vladimir Illitch, as his real name was, was born, 1870, at Simbirsk of a family with Tartar blood in their veins. From his earliest days he imbibed revolutionary tendencies. His brother Alexander was hanged for an attempt upon the life of Czar Alexander II, and a desire for revenge became the ruling passion of the younger brother. Many times he was arrested for revolutionary agitation, and at one time deported to Siberia. It was while there that he wrote books on socialism under the pen name of Nikolai Lenine. After his term in Siberia, he went to Switzerland, and then visited Germany, England and France. In 1905 he returned to Russia, but had to flee to Finland. The czar was overthrown in 1917, and Lenine and his crowd returned to Russia. There were forty of them, and PASSING EVENTS 583 they passed through Germany from Switzerland under German guard, aided by the German general staff, in the hope that they would disrupt the Rus- sian army and turn Russia from the entente. After many adventures and perils, Lenine, with the aid of Trotsky and others, became, practically, the dictator of Russia. No actor in the sanguinary world drama of this century has had a greater influence for evil upon the world than this modern "scourge of God" of partly Tartar origin. The funeral took place in Moscow Jan. 27. There were no speeches, no imposing ceremonies, but cannon were fired, and soldiers with bristling bayonets and drawn sabres were in evidence. Elder George F. Gibbs died, March 10, at his home in Salt Lake City, after an illness of several months. For fifty-six years he has been connected as recorder and secretary of the office of the First Presidency, and has served in that capacity under all the presidents of the Church, except the Prophet Joseph. He has hardly been absent from his desk, and he has served with real ability. Elder Gibbs was born at Haverford-West, South Wales, in 1846, his parents being George Duggan Gibbs and Ellen Phillips Gibbs. They joined the L. D. S. Church when he was seven years of age. He was the only "Mor- mon" in a school of 176 boys in his home town and was awarded a prize by the mayor of the city for diligence and scholarship. When fifteen years of age he began a two-years' mission for the Church and at seventeen began earning his livelihood at Liverpool, where he worked as a clerk in the Liverpool conference. He emigrated to Salt Lake in 18 68, being employed on arrival by President Brigham Young and living with his family for several years. He was called on a mission to England in 1871, laboring under Joseph F. Smith, at that time conference president. Returning to Salt Lake, Mr. Gibbs worked at Z. C. M. I. for a short time and then was made the Church reporter by President Young. Under the administration of President Wilford Woodruff, Mr. Gibbs was appointed secretary to the Church. He was one of the pioneer members of the Twentieth ward, and served twenty-six years in that bishopric. He leaves five sons and three daughters. Funeral services were held in the Twentieth ward chapel, Wednes- day, March 12, at 1 p. m. One hundred and seventy-three coal-miners were entombed, March 8, in the Utah Fuel Company's No. 2 property at Castlegate, Utah. The calamity plunged the little mining town in grief and mourning, and as word of the disaster reached other parts, the people of the entire state felt drawn towards the stricken community with bonds of sympathy and sorrow. Immediately the officials of the company proceeded to the place with medical assistance. Rescue crews from the mining camps started immediately for the scene, and the U. S. mine rescue cars from Butte, Mont., and Dawson, N. M., were also ordered to proceed to Castlegate. On Sunday seven bodies had been discovered, two of which were too mutilated for identification. Bishop Benjamin F. Thomas of the Castlegate ward was one of the men entrapped by the explo- sion. The disaster is the worst in Utah since the Scofield horror, May 1 , 1900, when 225 men were killed. Utah has been singularly free from great mining disasters. Most of the entombed men leave families to mourn their death. President Heber J. Grant and Elder Richard R. Lyman, of the Council of Apostles, arrived at the scene of the disaster on March 1 1 , to see what could be done to render aid to the stricken families. About fifty of the victims were connected with the Church. Bishop Benjamin F. Thomas of the Castlegate ward was one of them. On the 13th 131 bodies had been found, many of them horribly mutilated. Funeral services were held for some of the bodies, but many were being shipped to be buried by their relatives. On March 17, all the bodies but one had been recovered.