Editor’s Table

Editors' (Table Our Jubilee The Improvement Era for June and July is and will be devoted largely to the organization, the past labors, present activities and visions of the future, of the Y. M. M. I. A., whose fiftieth anniversary is being celebrated, in the annual conference programs during June 6-10. The past, present and future of this splendid organization will also be vividly depicted in sermon, speech and song, and in pageant and parade. In reviewing the fifty years that are gone, we are grateful to the Lord for past achievements, for present advantages and for future prospects. The organization has had a steady growth, though at intervals its advancement has been retarded frequently by difficulties and indifferences placed in its way. However, we have overcome, thrived and grown. The fundamentals of the organization have been adhered to, and with faith in God and his great latter-day work, the membership has been enabled to work out their problems, and do a great deal of good among the youth of the Latter-day Saints. All through the West, today, there are thousands of people, many of them leaders in the Church and state, whose laudable ambitions were first awakened, who received their first inspiration of faith in God and his great latter-day work, and who were first given opportunity for expression, through the Mutual Improvement Association. It now numbers nearly nine hundred units. Membership in this organiza- tion has given the young people wonderful opportunities for advance- ment in obtaining knowledge, for self-improvement, and for learning the principles of the gospel. It has opened the way for them and given them great pleasure through association with their fellows, religiously, educationally, and socially. It has been a source of much enjoyment and progress to those who have taken part in its studies, exercises, and recreations. At present the membership, 50,000 in numbers, is greater and stronger, both in intellectual ability, and we trust in faith, than it has ever been before; and, while the activities are somewhat different, we are still holding up as our standards the fundamentals that were visioned to the organization by President Brigham Young, at its incep- tion; namely, faith in God, in the restoration of the gospel to Joseph Smith, the prophet, and in obtaining an individual testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ, of his gospel message, and of the truth and magnitude of God's great Latter-day work; furthermore, we seek to be faithful and staunch helps to the priesthood of the Church in further- ing its mighty mission.

782 IMPROVEMENT ERA Whatever may happen in the future, we are certain that, with the foundation laid, ready to be built upon, and with the faithful, staunch general and local leaders at their head, the obtaining of an individual testimony by the young people of the Church of the divinity of Jesus Christ, and of the truth of his restored gospel, will always be the leading and living light in all their activities. Nothing is more precious for eternal welfare and earthly success than such a testimony. The future of the Y. M. M. I. A. is bright with promise and indicates firmer growth, and greater achievement than in the past. The next fifty years give promise of a wonderful fruitage. In all the land, these organizations are entitled to exult with joy in the triumph of the past, to be delighted with and make the best of the present, and to behold glorious and inspiring visions of the future. God grant their utmost and happiest fulfilment. — A. "Unanswered Yet" Marshal von Hindenburg, the famous leader of Germany's de- feated armies during the war of 1914-19, was elected president of the German republic, on Sunday, April 26, 1925. He is the first president actually elected by the people of that country. He received, 14,639,399 votes, out of a total of 30,345,540 — considerable less than one-half, but as the opponents divided their votes between Marx, the centrist candidate, and Thaelmann, the communist, Hindenburg succeeded in obtaining a plurality. Opinions about the probable effects of the Hindenburg victory are divided. In official circles, both here and in Europe, there is a tendency to veil in optimistic phrases whatever apprehensions may exist; in France alone is the fear openly expressed that this election is the turning point of Germany back to- wards Kaiserism and Prussian militarism. The new president lost no time declaring his ideas. He said: "Let no one by any chance imagine that henceforth I shall take orders from any party." He also exclaimed, when informed of the result of the vote: "The real work has just begun." Time alone can interpret these oracular announce- ments. The circumstance of his coming into power reminds us of an incident, which illustrates the uncertainty of the situation. It is related by Alice Louise Reynolds, editor of the Relief Society Magazine, who has been touring Europe for nearly a year. In her travels in France, she took a trip, of course, to the war-stricken districts; in her com- pany was Professor and Mrs. Barker and their four-year-old son. She writes: "As we traversed the war-stricken country we were made sad by the revelation of the suffering and destruction. Perhaps the questions put by the little four-year-old son of Professor and Mrs. Barker are as illuminating as anything we can here include. Seeing the houses in heaps and sometimes

EDITOR'S TABLE 783 great holes gouged in their sides, he asked: 'Mama, why did the mans shoot the houses?' Finally, to his insistent query, his mother replied: 'Because they were naughty.' For some time he appeared to be turning the matter over in his little mind, then he put this question: 'Mama, will the naughty mans shoot the houses any more?' "The mother did not answer this last question, neither do those who are counted the most wise of the earth." "A little child shall lead them," and, too, shall -ask such questions as stagger the sages among men. — A. The Motive in Education Frequently the motive for obtaining an education is expressed by educators and others to be the fact that an educated person can make more money than one not educated. Emphasis is placed upon the making of money and that is held out as the purpose of higher educa- tion to such an extent that frequently young people seek a higher edu- cation because through it they believe they can obtain much greater annual income. The earning power of the individual is emphasized instead of the true purpose, which should be the building of sterling character and good citizenship. The youth should be taught that greater than making money and enjoying a higher standard of selfish living is character and good citizenship. To learn how to get ahead in the financial life is very commendable and praise-worthy, but a college education, especially when obtained largely by public taxation, as with us, should have a higher motive than mere money-getting, and all this for the safety of the commonwealth and maintenance of good government. The purpose of the public schools should be to teach boys and girls, not only the value of money and manners, but first and foremost, to impress them with their duty to God, morality, their country, and with service to their fellows. Higher education is not for the aggrandizement of the individual, but to the end that will serve the nation and the community. It is not for the purpose of devoting oneself selfishly to personal scholarship or to financial suc- cess in life. Religion, morals and knowedge are necessary for good government and the happiness of mankind, and to this end and by these means, young men and young women should be encouraged to obtain an education, and not for the reason that they can live better and make more money and selfishly fulfil their ambitions. Higher education is absolutely necessary, but those few who are privileged to obtain it from the sweat and labor of the people must spend their time, at least to a certain extent, for other than selfish purposes, and for the good of the community. The duty of the favored small percent of people who are given the college education should be to illustrate the blessedness of true leadership in religion, morals, and unselfish de- votion to the community and to the stability of our government and citizenship instead of placing emphasis on what a man can make

784 IMPROVEMENT ERA above those who have not had the privilege. He should dismiss from his mind that, as a concomitant of a higher education, he can make more money, have better privileges, so as to live high and furnish his home with luxurious bathrooms, fine furnaces, automobiles, elaborate lighting and other selfish luxuries and indulgences. These he should have enough of to make himself and his comfortable, but his real business is to be a leader in righteousness among the people, and to serve them diligently and sacrifice for them. — A. From Darkness to Light Standing alone on the brink of a mountain, Viewing with rapture the break of new morn, Drinking great draughts at morning's fresh fountain, Forgetful of raiment, though tattered and torn. 'Twas thus that I saw him, in deep contemplation Of beautiful sunrise — the birth of new day, His countenance beaming as new revelation Entered his soul, borne by each shining ray. Up through the suff'rings of deep tribulation, Mounted his soul, as the light of new day Bathed his spirit. The while his oblations Reached up to God, for thus did he pray: "Father of Life and Light! King of the universe! Long have I traveled in darkness below, Doubting thee, shunning thee, King of the universe, Shutting thee out, that my soul should not know. "Men of God talked to me. Hypocrites railed at me. Each one pretending to point out the way, But still I plodded — even yet could not see Thy great Divinity, thy infinite sway. "Sucr were the faults of men, such their hypocricies, Such was the service men gave to thy Name, My consciousness sensed that their words were but mockeries And filled my poor spirit with anguish and shame. "I had yet to learn thou hadst greater witnesses Than vain and fickle man, who tends to stray Far from the simple paths, away from the principles Of nature, her marvels, her lessons, her way. "This morning I saw thy hand lift a blade of grass, Yesterday saw, too, the birth of a dove. I've witnessed the passing of beautiful spirits — yes, Smiling and lovely, soothed by thy Love. "The hills and rocks, the forests and streams Held communion with me. And while I yet listened, Their still voices whispered, and I saw in my dreams All of thy handiwork, — all as if visioned. "Father of Life and Light! King of the universe! Long will I travel in light here below, And with nature's hosts, O! King of the universe! Thee will I worship here, thee will I KNOW!" Idaho Falls, Idaho LEWIS A. LEE