Mutual Work

MUTUAL WORK 879 people. All who participated in this contest are good, live members of the M. I. A. and the Church. John T, Sorensen, first tenor, being the first counselor in the Y. M. M. I. A., Sunday School teacher, and secretary of the elders' quorum, also an active Junior in the University of Utah. M. Douglas Wood, second tenor, and who also won the public speaking honors, is a Clarence W. Brown M. Douglas Wood Sunday School teacher, has taken parts in many plays in the ward, is yell master at the University of Utah, took part in the school opera, is a member of the men's glee club, and is actively engaged in all school activities though only in his second year at the University. Elmer Poulton, baritone, has par- ticipated in nearly all the ward activities, especially dramatics, is a graduate of the L. D. S. high school, a basketball player, as well as a trustworthy, pro- gressive employee of the Deseret National Bank. Joel Bowen, bass, recently came from New Jersey where he has been living for some time, although a native of Utah, and is here with his uncle attending the University. He entered the M Men's debating contest but was defeated, is an active ward member and a member of the choir, University glee club, and was in the school opera, though this is his first year at the University. We are indebted to George G. Wood for the above information on the winning contestants. The members of the Logan quartet who competed with the winning one are young men of excellent character and ability and were worthy opponents, giving great delight to the large audience which heard them. This may also be said of the young men who took part in the public speaking contest — a contest of great value when we consider the great number of young men who have taken part in the units of the Church. The value of these Mutual activities can scarcely be computed. The M Men's work takes the young man at the most important period of his life and hence, should be given the greatest attention by the general and stake authorities. While young men at this age are anxious to do many things for themselves, it is still necessary that they

880 IMPROVEMENT ERA should be assisted and directed, a duty that devolves upon the class leaders who ought to be experienced so that they can render the most efficient aid. The M Men's work is helping the young man to receive the most valuable of all gifts, a strong, living testimony of the gospel. Having this thought in view the work cannot fail, hence, those who have a love for the gospel and for Winners in quartette singing; left to right: M. Douglas Wood. John T. Sorenscn, Elmer Poulton, Joel H. Bowen. the men of tomorrow, should be anxious to make this a most important and active work in the M. I. A. The general Superintendency and the General Board are pleased to ex- press their appreciation to every young man who took part in these contests. We only wish we had room to name all, in every ward and stake of the Church, who made an effort to win in these contests, both in singing and speaking, which we consider very important exercises. — A. Advanced Senior Class Reunion From Hurricane. Utah, we are informed that under the leadership of David Hirschi and Ellen S. Witwer the Advanced Senior class finished very successfully the 1923-24 course as outlined. Keen interest was shown by the members of the class in the work and each did his part in the preparation of the lessons. On the 16th of May the reunion was held in the ward hall in which over 150 participated. A program of songs, speeches, wit and humor, contests, an original poem and expressions of appreciation to the class leaders was presented, followed by a dainty luncheon and dancing. The following resolution was passed by the class: "Resolved. That we keep up the Mutual spirit during the summer months by encouraging the boy scout movement, by aiding and participating in the fathers and sons' outings, by lending our support to the Bee-Hive girls, and by taking part in the mothers and daughters' outings, and aiding to make the monthly joint programs of the M. I. A. a success, and that all members be determined to become real workers in the Advanced Senior class in the coming season." A Valuable Lesson The following chart gives the attendance for the year 1923-24 of the Eleventh ward of the Ensign stake. It represents the total attendance of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations com- bined, and does not include attendance on open evening or Sunday joint meetings. The accompanying explanation of the attendance is worth study- ing, as showing the reasons for variatipn in the attendance at the various ses-

MUTUAL WORK 881 sions of the year. The high points in the attendance were on January 29 and May 20. The latter on account of extra effort put forth on the part of officers and for the preparations for M. I. A. Day at Pinecrest. On the whole, the ward shows an excellent record during the whole season of twenty- two meetings. We congratulate the secretary, Otto Duke, on the splendid arrangement. He is a secretary who has the lines in hand which is a quality well worth the consideration of other secretaries of the M. I. A. P" mwm TJH .iDo : J94 tm il . .205 ■- mm wm—m:-- HMM IIIIMIIBIH III ■■■■win ; i io5 m :4S ■ ',: I Ml.O llpBEl mmwm:Z33 ill Mm : II: . m :165. ' "'-162. He gives the following notes on the diagram: — Dec. 1 1 — Low on account of missing two class periods and ward bazaar. £)ec ig — Low on account of examination week at the University, and Christmas near. Jan. 1 5 — Low on account of long time between class periods. Jan. 29 — High, on account of interest in basketball, and good season of year. Feb. 26- — Low on account of about twenty or more going to see our ward play in the inter-stake basketball tournament. March 18 — Low on account of examinations at University. May 6, 13, and 20 — High on account of extra effort on part of officers and preparations for M. I. A. Day at Pinecrest. Successful in Athletics The Brigham Young University, by winning state championships in basketball, wrestling, and tennis, and by winning conference championships in basketball and singles in tennis, second place in swimming, and third place in football, has completed its most successful year in athletics. Besides the championships it has wpn, the institution, for the first time in years, sue-

882 IMPROVEMENT ERA ceeded in defeating the University of Utah in a dual track, and field meet. The "Y", though new in football, played such a splendid brand of ball for its second year that sport writers throughout the conference gave the team no little prominence in the columns of the papers. In swimming, though without a pool, the school finished second with Utah in the first position. The basketball race was the most spectacular of the season. The University of Utah held last year's championship, and the Utah Agricultural College had a full team of stars augmented with several first class freshmen. This array of teams made the race for basketball honors seem all but hopeless. The Cougar team, however, through conscientious training and unadulterated hard work succeeded in going through the eight games for the Utah champion- ship with but one defeat. By defeating the Greeley team from Colorado during the season, and the Colorado College team, champions of Colorado, in two out of three of the most thrilling games ever played in Provo, the Cougars won the undis- puted championship of the Rocky Mountain conference. The wrestling championship was won in competition with the Uni- versity of Utah and the Utah Agricultural College teams on the U. of U. gymnasium mats. Later the tennis team after playing the other college teams of the state to a tie, won the championship in decisive victories over the U. A. C. team. The conference championship in tennis in the singles division was won by Fred "Buck" Dixon after he had played up through the preliminaries without a defeat. The doubles team, composed of Dixon and Manson went to the finals where they were defeated for the doubles cham- pionship of the conference by the University of Utah doubles team. Officials of the Brigham Young University have been well pleased with the showing made by the various athletic teams that have represented the institution. — H. R. Merrill. The "M" We are in receipt of the 7th number, May 13, of The "M", the official publication of the Mutual Improvement Associations of the Maricopa stake of Zion, published in Mesa, Arizona, Frank V. Anderson, editor, with Elijah Allen, Bertha A. Kleinman and Beulah Standage associate editors. It is a neat publication of about twenty pages containing interesting matter concerning the work of the M. I. A. in the stake and its up-to-date activities. The periodical began last November and bids well to run on and on. The editors declare that they are proud of some of the contributions to The "M" , coming as they do from boys and girls heretofore silent. The editors like?

MUTUAL WORK 883 wise express the hope that the approval and encouragement given to their contributors may cause them to be schooled to attempt contributions to the Improvement Era. We wish the new magazine success. With one of the associate editors, Bertha A. Kleinman, the readers of the Era are familiar, since many of her splendid poetical contributions have appeared in the Improvement Era from time to time. Montpelier Stake Special Activities Superintendent A. J. Winters reports that most of the wards in Mont- pelier stake responded in fine manner to the request for preliminary tryouts in debating, and a stake series of debates was held. The question discussed was, "Resolved, That Idaho should adopt a state-wide tax for the main- tenance of public schools." Geneva, Wardboro, Montpelier Third and Fourth wards met in semi-finals; and the Third and Fourth wards of Montpelier contested for the finals on February 26, the Fourth ward winning the final contest. Third Ward, left: Winnifred Cruikshank, Helen Groo. Fourth Ward, right: Dick Shipley, Mary Shipley. Great interest was shown in the series of debates and all officers were unanimous in pronouncing this an efficient means of stimulating interest in this worth-while activity. The drama also was especially emphasized during April, most of the wards preparing a one- act play, and after presenting it in their own home ward, brought it to Montpelier where it was presented in the Rich theatre. Three or four of these plays, together with special features given by scouts, Bee-Hive girls, Senior girls, etc., provided wholesome entertainment for the public for several evenings. The plays were well patronized and met with public approval, the following wards participating: Bennington, Wardboro, Raymond, Montpelier, First, Second, Third, and Fourth.

Y. M. M. I.- A. EFFICIENCY RKPORT, MAY, 1924 STAKES Membership M c 9 c 5 E c 00 1 8 CO S B o 55 £ •o •9i S £ fifi CO « ** S •S3 3.9 s e A-, 89 ■ O ■6 feiH 11 i! ' Bear River 10 5 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 93 10 10 10 6 8 9 5 10 10 10 6 10 10 9 10 9 5 10 6 9 80 Box Elder 92 10 10 8 4 6 10 6 10 7 10 10 8 10 9 8 10 6 9 4 6 75 Gunnison 86 Kanab 10 4 5 5 10 10 8 8 6 56 Mt. Ogden — _ 10 8 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 7 94 North Weber 10 6 10 10 10 8 10 9 10 7 90 9 9 9 5 5 8 10 9 8 10 10 5 10 10 9 10 9 9 10 8 10 10 10 10 10 9 7 10 7 5 94 86 Roosevelt 80 Salt Lake 7 7 10 9 10 10 10 9 9 8 89 San Juan 8 8 6 4 6 6 7 8 8 5 66 Bingham 10 8 9 9 10 10 8 10 9 6 89 Burley 10 5 7 3 1 10 10 8 10 9 7 79 10 1 10 7 4 9 5 6 5 8 7 9 i 6 10 7 7 7 7 6 5 6 78 Minidoka 63 Pocatello 10 5 9 6 9 8 10 9 7 6 79 Shelley 6 5 10 2 10 10 7 10 5 65 Lethbridge _ 1 10 7 10 10 1 10 7 10 10 10 10 94 Star Valley . 9 6 9 9 1 io 10 10 9 9 5 86 Woodruff 7 10 6 4 6 6 4 10 2 2 57 Young 7 3 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 21 Calif. Mission 10 10 6 3 10 6 7 10 8 5 75 Y. M. M. I. A. STATISTICAL REPORT, MAY, 1924 STAKES ■°"S Q. 2la |1 Ed .£ | 3 c "■ i Cd wo 55 li Bear River __ Beaver Box Elder .. Deseret Gunnison Kanab Mount Ogden North Weber Ogden Pioneer Roosevelt Salt Lake San Juan Bingham Burley Idaho Minidoka Pocatello Shelley Lethbridge __ Star Valley .' Woodruff Young Calif. Mission 488 289 796 418 283 222 529 673 773 760 326 1078 220 304 322 21 1 412 350 109 353 425 102 378 12 5 13 11 7 6 6 17 10 10 1 o I 12| 5 J 12| 10| 12| 7] 1 0 1 8| 10| HI 8| 4| 291 104 43 106 80 47 45 53 134 82 93 78 132 29 49 73 72 37 99 45| 43 86 60 12 220 70 330 198 77 101 111 83 121 162 88 192 95 96 47 143 250 249 88|197 M 88 109 54 87 156 88 77 67 6 8 1 50 53 80 21 95 167 48 93 84 29 46 134 52 40 87 68 13 28 10911081125 193 119 277 143 93 81 219 306 299 259 113 349 65 121 124 86 83 126 74 51 94 95 25 104 679 320 905 516 313 274 526 783 751 637 3 74 757 196 350 437 275 243 426 239| 184 320 303 71 446 64 48 165 90 19 36 41 23 47 731 39 48 93 21 37 57 60 33 59 31| 28 53 40 4 43 52 29 49 72 52 32 32 35| 20 27 60 7 99 1011 8 55 43 84 75 34 11 73 90 103 89 47 68 31 33 39 13 17 58 19 20 55 60 4 2 77 257 90 97 93 48 57 113 105 148 130 59 199 28 44 53 44 26 79 41| 28 51 70 10 208 420 303 132 125 267 291 357 331 197 412 109 163 221 169 108 228 126 96 186 230 25 721354

Harry Thaw is set free, after seventeen years of intermittent confine- ment in jails and asylums, after he had slain Stanford White and been de- clared insane. President Heber J . Grant addressed a large audience at the commencement exercises of the B. Y. College, Logan, June 1. Elder George Albert Smiih delivered the formal address to the graduates. President A. W . Ivins presided at the commencement exercises of the Utah Agricultural College. Logan, May 31, when 143 graduates received degrees — the largest graduating class in the history of the institution. The Soldiers' Bonus Bill was passed by the U. S. Senate, May 19, by a vote of 59 to 2 6. The measure now becomes law, notwithstanding the veto of the president, the House having taken similar action on May 17. Angus J. Cannon, wife and daughter, left for South Royalton, May 1 3. where Elder Cannon will take charge of the Smith Memorial Cottage, suc- ceeding Heber C. Smith, who has presided there for the past six years. Premier Poincare tendered his resignation, June 1, to President Millerand. He has been the prime minister of France the last two and a half years. In the chamber of deputies, the radicals raised a storm against the president, hoping to force him to resign. Sir Edward Coschen died at his home in London, May 20. He was the British ambassador in Germany when the war broke out, and it was to him that the German chancelor, Bethmann-Hollweg, said the treaty with Bel- gium was only "a scrap of paper." The cornerstones of the Twentieth ward chapel, Salt Lake City, were laid with appropriate services. Sunday, May 18, on the corner of G St. and 2nd Ave. Elder James E. Talmage officiated. About 5 00 persons were present, and the ward bishopric had charge of the services. Samuel F. Carpenter died at his home in Salt Lake City, May 24, at the age of 64 years. He was formerly a guard at the Utah state prison. He was born in London. England, and emigrated to Utah when a child. For the past 1 9 years he has served as a peace officer in various Utah communities. Russia is now "Ussr", according to a notice published June 6 by the French postal administration. France has been advised, it seems, that the Russian government has changed the name of the country to "Union of Socialist Soviet Republics", and that this unwieldly name can be abbreviated to "Ussr". General W. A. Lukhomlinoff fixes the responsibility for the World War on Poincare, the Grand Duke Nicholaeivitch, and the then Russian Minister Sasanoff. He says these three agreed among themselves to leave nothing undone to make a peaceable solution of the problem that caused the conflict impossible. One hundred and twenty-five Indians became citizens at once, when President Coolidge, June 5, signed the bill which makes every Indian born in the United States a citizen. There are about 200,000 Indians citizens before. The property rights of the Indians are not affected. They arc still the wards of the government.

886 IMPROVEMENT ERA At the B. Y. U., Provo, Commencement exercises, June 1, Elder Orson F. Whitney of the Council of Twelve, delivered the baccalaureate sermon in the Utah Stake Tabernacle to an audience of more than 2,000. He reviewed the history of the Church school system from the time of the establishment of the Church until the beginning of the B. Y. U. President Coolidge signed the immigration restriction bill, May 26, expressing regret that Japanese exclusion had been made part of it. "There is," he said, "scarcely any ground for disagreement as to the result we want, but this method of securing it is unnecessary and deplorable at this time. If the exclusion stood alone I should disapprove of it without hesitation if sought in this way at this time." A celebration at Ironton in which Utah and California joined, was held June 8, marking the official recognition of the opening of the Ironton plant of the Columbia Steel Corporation. Mr. Wiggington E. Creed of San Francisco, president of the concern, was applauded by Utahns from all over the state. The plant has been in operation for a month, producing ap- proximately 300 tons of pig iron a day from Utah ore and coke. A chapel is to be built by the Church in Washington, D. C, at the cor- ner of Sixteenth Street and Columbia Road, according to a statement made at the Church office, May 14. The lot has been purchased by Senator Reed Smoot for the Church and is valued at about $25,000. According to re- ports in Washington, the building will cost in the neighborhood of $200,000. The finest legation buildings and some of the most impressive residences are located along sixteenth St. Serious irregularities are charged in the report adopted by the U. S. senate committee which has been investigating the Sinclair and Doheny oil leases. The report holds that the leases were wasteful and had been nego- tiated secretly in disregard of the statutes and on the basis of a presidential order illegally issued; the payment of $100,000 to Albert B. Fall was "reprehensible," the reports say, but there was no evidence of an "oil con- spiracy" at the Chicago convention of 1920 or of speculation by public officials in Sinclair and Doheny oil stock. Adhesion by the United States to the World Court is urged in a resolu- tion reported by the senate foreign relations committee, May 24. The report brings the matter of the World Court technically before the senate, but, owing to opposing measures introduced by Senators Lodge and Pepper, no vote on it is expected during this session. On the same date, the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church at Springfield, Mass., adopted a resolution condemning war as the suicide of civilization and advocating a world conference of churches to conduct a campaign for peace. President Coolidge signed the tax reduction bill, June 2. It provides, he says, a certain amount of tax reduction, but it adds some undesirable features to the present law. He refers especially to the fact that it invites men with large inherited or accumulated capital to withdraw from productive business and invest in tax-exempt securities. It provides for a 25 per cent reduction in income taxes payable this year. Those who have paid the full tax for the year will receive a refund from the revenue office. Those who pay in installments can deduct the reduction from the part of the tax that is still due. Getting a stand of sugar beets. The long spell of dry weather this spring caused much trouble in the stand of sugar beets. However, there are a number of farmers who have obtained perfectly satisfactory stands, according to Professor George Stewart of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station. The chief reason is that they supplied them well with organic