Passing Events

An extraordinary meeting of the Assembly of the League of Nations on March 8, was decided on, Feb. 12, by the Council at Geneva, for the purpose of considering the application of Germany for membership. President Heber J. Grant and his secretary, Joseph Anderson, returned home, Jan. 19, 1926, after spending a week and a half in California. While there, President Grant dedicated a L. D. S. chapel in Virginia City, near Long Beach. The Teton Stake Tabernacle, Driggs, Idaho, was damaged by fire, Feb. 4, 1926. The blaze is supposed to have originated from an overheated furnace, and only the heroic work of the volunteer fire department and other citizens saved the building from destruction. Temperance with reservations is the attitude of the Catholic church. That church, according to Cardinal O'Connell, applauds "voluntary ab- stinence" but opposes "compulsory prohibition." How would that rule work if applied to other laws? Stealing for instance? Right Rev. Joseph F. Class, Roman Catholic bishop of Salt Lake, died Jan. 26, 1926, at a hospital in Los Angeles, 55 years old. His body was sent to Salt Lake City where elaborate funeral services were held for three days in the Cathedral of the Madelene. His body was returned to California for burial. Salt Lake City will become the great junction of airways, in western America, in the judgment of Major O. C. Morsley, vice-president of the Western Air Express. What Chicago was to the development of trans- continental railroad systems, Salt Lake City is to the present development in air transportation, Major Moseley says. Mrs. Kate Toponce, Ogden, passed away Jan. 19, 1926, 78 years old. She was the widow of Alexander Toponce, and one of the first white chil- dren born in Utah, having first seen the light of day in the old fort, Salt Lake City, four months after the arrival of the first party of Brigham Young. She was born in November, 1847. The allied occupation of the city of Cologne, in the Rhineland, came to an end on. Jan. 31, 1926, after having lasted for seven years. Bells were ringing, throngs were cheering, and torches were burning, while the message of liberation was carried to the world on the wings of radio waves. Cele- brations were held in every city, town and hamlet in the Rhineland. Commander Ramon Franco completed his trip from Palos, in Spain, to Buenos Aires, in the Argentine Republic, Feb. 10, at 12:20 p. m., making the distance of 6,232 miles in 62 hours and 52 minutes, actual flying time. He received an enthusiastic welcome and many congratulations, including a message of gratitude and substantial recognition from the king of Spain. The ancestral home of George Washington, which has stood in England for 200 years, arrived at Norfolk, Va., Feb. 9, 1926, packed in crates and so marked that it can be reconstructed at the birthplace of America's first pres- ident. The house had been taken apart and marked piece by piece. There were 15 cases of stone, 14 wooden beams and 350 tons of brick and stone work. American adherence to the Permanent Court of International Justice was approved by the U. S. Senate, Jan. 27, 1926, by a vote of 76 to 17. The vote was non-partisan, forty Republicans and thirty-six Democrats voting for, and fourteen Republicans, two Democrats and one Farmer-Labor

PASSING EVENTS 517 senator against. The two senators from Utah, Senator Reed Smoot and Senator Wm. H. King, voted in the affirmative. Blood diseases are to be cured by a new method, according to successful experiments by Dr. Bergel of Berlin. His method consists in artificially increasing the number of leucocites so that the "army of defense" is strong enough to deal with all invaders. This Dr. Bergel obtains by an organic extract taken from sick animals, which, injected into suffering bodies, create anti-bodies. His chief study has been of syphilitic spirochetes, which are composed of a fat shell and internal substances. Colonel Wm. Mitchell is well treated by the President. As generally known he was convicted by a court martial of transgression of certain military rules, and sentenced to suspension for five years with loss of pay. In reviewing the proceedings, President Coolidge thought the loss of pay was too severe, so he modified the sentence to the extent of allowing the officer practically $400 a month, while he is out of the service. Colonel Mitchell sent his resignation from the service to the President, Jan. 28, and on Jan. 29, it was announced that his resignation had been accepted. Lead has been turned into mercury by scientists at the university of Amsterdam, according to a report in the Scientific American, dated Jan. 24. 1926. "The success of such experiments," says Orson D. Munn, editor and publisher of the Scientific American, "delights every physicist who is in- terested in the new science of atomic physics. Many scientists have been seeking to demonstrate that the only difference between the different ele- ments lies in the number and arrangement of the electrons in their atoms. Transmutation is the best kind of evidence in support of the theory." The work of breaking ground for the Federal bank building, corner of South Temple and State St., began on Jan. 25, 1926. Officials present included William Harmon, excavation contractor; H. M. Craft, assistant manager of the Salt Lake branch of the Federal Reserve bank of San Francisco; D. C. Young, Jr., architect; W. H. Hale, assistant cashier of the Federal Reserve bank at San Francisco; Ramm Hansen, architect; H. Tempest, Harry P. Poll, architect, and H. M. Walker, of the P. J. Walker company, construction manager employed by the Federal Reserve bank of San Francisco. Cardinal Mercier, primate of Belgium, died at Brussels, Jan. 23, 1926. He became world famous during the war, on account of the patriotic stand he took against the invaders of the country. His principal interest in life since the war had been his work to bring the high church of England and the Roman Catholic church closer together, and although nothing of a concrete character was ever accomplished, he had not altogether lost hope of eventually realizing his aim. Desire Joseph Mercier was born at Braine l'Alleud in the year 1851, studied theology and philosophy, and became archbishop of Maline in 1906, and cardinal in 1907. He has published works on logic and psychology. Mussolini, the Italian premier, succeeded in creating a ripple in European capitals, by a fiery speech in the chamber of deputies, Feb. 7, which is considered as a warning to Germany. Italy is trying to suppress the German language in South Tyrol. The Bavarian minister, Dr. Held, recently asked Germans to support the Tyrolians in their struggle for their language. To this Mussolini replied in part: "Fascist Italy can, if necessary, carry her flag beyond the Brennero frontier, but never backwards from where it flies now." Stresemann denied that the German government had carried on any agitation in South Tyrol, whereupon Mussolini replied by reiterating his charges, and threatening "reprisals," if necessary. Wilhjalmur Stefanson, the famous Arctic explorer, lectured in the As- sembly Hall, Salt Lake City, Jan. 20, to a large and interested audience, on his experiences in the Polar regions. Contrary to the general impression re-

518 IMPROVEMENT ERA garding the climatic conditions in the high northern latitudes, the countries within the Arctic circle, the explorer said, have delightful summers with as much as from 80 to 100 degrees of heat, and winters less rigorous than for instance, Montana, or Siberia. There were forests, several kinds of large animals, and humming insects flittering from flower to flower. He also maintained that it is perfectly feasible to travel and live comfortably off the animals that inhabit the Arctic. Civilization is in danger was the burden of an address delivered, Jan. 1 1, by the British Premier Stanley Baldwin at the meeting of the Classical Association. There came a time, he said, in the history of the Roman empire when there were not enough Romans to carry on the work of Rome. There were fears among those in responsible governments today that war, by the destruction of the best lives in such great numbers had left Britain with- out enough of her breed to carry on the work of the British empire. "Our task is hard enough, but it will be accomplished," he said. "Yet who in Europe does not know that one more war in the west and the civilization of ages will fall with as great a shock as that of Rome?" The silver anniversary of the Alpine Stake was observed in the Taber- nacle, American Fork, Jan. 20. Among the special visitors were President Heber J. Grant, Patriarch Hyrum G. Smith, Elder George Albert Smith, President Rudger Clawson, and Dr. George H. Brimhall. The members of the stake presidency, President Stephen L. Chipman and his counselors, James H. Clarke and Abel John Evans, were each presented with a large Bible, in recognition of their services the past 25 years. A banquet was held in the amusement hall with W. L. Hayes as toastmaster, and a general reception was held from 7:30 to 10 p. m., with Harriet R. Hayes in charge. At Lehi all business houses were closed at 1 p. m., to enable those who desired to attend the anniversary at American Fork. Edmund M. McLatchie, of Kaysville, Utah, passed away at his home there, Feb. 4, 1926, 83 years of age. An attack of asthma was the cause. He was born in County Down, Ireland, Oct. 23, 1842. His parents were members of the Church at the time of his birth, being among the first converts in Ireland. He spent his early youth in Birmingham, England, where he en- gaged in local missionary work. He emigrated to America in 1862, coming direct to Utah, walking the entire distance across the plains. He spent a number of years working on the Salt Lake temple and was one of the first settlers in Kanosh and Beaver. In 1886 he moved to Star valley, Wyo., where he also was one of the first settlers and where he remained until 1913, when he moved to Kaysville, where he had since resided. He is survived by a widow, five children and a large number of grandchildren and great-grand- children. The death of Dr. Harvey Coe Hullinger, at the home of his son, Win- field Hullinger, Vernal, Utah, Jan. 27, 1926, was announced on that date. He is said to have been, at the time of his death, the oldest practicing physician in Utah, and, possibly, the oldest member of the Church inasmuch as he was 101 years old. He was also the chief "medicine man" of the Indians in the Uinta basin, having received that position, when he attended Chief Wash and successfully treated him for pneumonia. Dr. Hullinger was born in Ohio, December 2, 1824, and graduated from a medical school at Columbus, Ohio, in 1852. In 1859 he came to Utah and settled near the mouth of Mill Creek canyon. He did odd jobs until he enlisted in the service. After the Civil War he took up his practice as a physician and established his home on Big Cottonwood. Later he moved to southern Utah, where he practiced his profession. A military funeral was held for the doctor Jan. 31. The American Legion was in charge. He is survived by two daughters, a son, twenty-three grandchildren, eighty-two great-grandchildren and thirty great-great-grandchildren. Judge Edward Fenton Colbourn died at his home in Salt Lake City,

PASSING EVENTS 519 Jan. 14, after a week's illness of heart trouble. He was born at Modena, Ohio, practiced law in various places in Kansas and Colorado and came to Salt Lake City in 1888, and engaged in real estate business. Along about 1890 Mr. Colbourn purchased from Charles Popper the tract of land that is now known as Bonneville park, this being, old-timers say, the original Popper homestead. He named the tract "Popperton Place," and through extensive publicity and the expenditure of a large amount of money did much toward bringing about the modernizing of this section of the city, both in the matter of street improvements and the erection of desirable homes. He later disposed of his interests in this place to the Newhouse organiza- tion, and it became known as "Bonneville-on-the-Hill." The first six converts in South America were baptized Sunday, Dec. 13, 1925, by Elder Melvin J. Ballard in the La Plata river, Buenos Aires, Argentine republic. According to Elder Rulon S. Wells, these baptisms are the first in South America since the days of the Nephites. The mayor, or Intendente, of Buenos Aires has assured Elder Ballard and his fellow-laborers, that there would be no interference with their labors from the government. The six baptized converts were Germans, having been converted by the efforts of one Brother Wilhelm Friedrichs and other members from the old country. Owing to serious illness Elder Wells was forced to leave Buenos Aires on Jan. 14, 1926, landing in New York on Feb. 1, and arriving in Salt Lake City on Feb. 6. His health was considerably better, and his many friends all hope that his health will be restored speedily. Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Riter Young closed her mortal career, Jan. 19, 1926, at the family residence, Salt Lake City. She was born near Florence, Neb., June 3, 1847. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and were of Quaker descent. Levi E. Riter, the father, and his wife, Rebecca Dilworth, with their children, crossed the plains in the company of Jedediah M. Grant, arriving in Salt Lake in September, 1847. Mrs. Young, as a baby, was carried across the plains, most of the way in the arms of her aunt, Maria Dil- worth, later Mrs. George Nebeker. In 1867 Elizabeth Riter was married to Dr. Seymour B. Young and was the mother of twelve children, the following of whom survive: Seymour B. Young, Jr., Mrs. Melvin D. Wells, Mrs. Ada L. Arnold, Mrs. Orson M. Rogers, Mrs. J. T. Hammond, Jr., Levi Edgar Young, Clifford E. Young. Florence, Elma and Irene Young. One brother, Joseph B. Riter, also survives her. Remnants of an ancient civilization in the Arabian desert are reported to have been found by explorers, and according to their reports, it was a civilization comparable to that of the Babylonians and Egyptians. Dr. Ditleff Nielsen, the Danish historian, is about to issue a report of several years of study of the subject. He says, in part: "The Austrian astronomer, Dr. Glaser, 25 years ago, returned after spending 12 years in the Arabian desert, living the life of the Bedouins; he brought home 2,000 specimens of inscriptions, statues, and gold and silver coins which he had found in the sand-covered ruins of ancient cities, temples and palaces, giving evidence that a highly cultured people had lived in those parts. For lack of the necessary financial support Dr. Glaser was unable to do the necessary re- search work; and his collections were sold in 1908 by his heirs to the Vienna academy." Since that time the Bavarian professor, Fritz Hommel, the Austrian archaeologist, Rhodokanakis and Dr. Nielsen have worked hard to decipher the mass of inscriptions and the culmination of their researches has been the revelation of evidences of a great old Arabian culture. The anthracite coal strike was declared settled, in a dispatch from Philadelphia, Feb. 12, by an agreement between miners and operators. It is regarded as one of the greatest industrial struggles in the world's history of labor. Two million persons in the anthracite fields and near-by ter- ritory, including 150,000 mine workers, celebrated the event. The old wage scale, which expired last August, was readopted, but after Jan. 1, 1927,

520 IMPROVEMENT ERA either miners or operators will have the right at least once a year to propose wage changes. Arbitration, the principle which three times wrecked the peace negotiations, is provided for in the agreement if a dispute arises over wage adjustments, but it is only optional and is claimed by the union leaders to be a great victory for them. The word "shall," that has appeared in all the peace plans heretofore submitted by the operators in their arbitra- tion offers, today was changed to "may." The strike has lasted since Sept. 1, 1925. The men went out because they were refused an additional 10 per cent increase in wages. It has been calculated that the loss to the miners- was $1,150,000 a day in wages alone, and the loss of production amounted to 266,000 tons a day. Angus McKay — Funeral services for Patriarch Angus Mckay, who died in Huntsville, Jan. 13, were held in the ward meeting house, Jan. 17, 1926; Bishop William R. Mclntyre presiding. The speakers were: George Hunter, a missionary companion in Scotland; Patriarch Levi J. Taylor, a companion in settling Arizona; Joseph Ririe, of Mount Ogden stake presidency; Judge C. C. Richards, and Bishop Mclntyre. Appropriate music was furnished by the singers of the ward. The grave, in the Huntsville cemetery, was dedicated by Patriarch Edward A. Olsen. Elder McKay passed away in sleep. His whole life was devoted to energetic pioneering, agriculture, road building, educational and civic affairs in Utah and Arizona. He came from Edinburgh to New York in a company directed by Elder David M. Stewart, in 1863; and crossed the plains in the company of Thomas Ricks. He resided that win- ter with the family of Frank- lin D. Richards, and worked on the Salt Lake temple. He came to Ogden in 18 64, working for the first few months on the road in Ogden canyon. In 1865, he pur- chased land in Huntsville. He helped to establish there the first free school in Utah, serving as trustee for nineteen years. For twenty-one years he served as Justice of the Peace. He was a member of the second Utah State Legislature, serving as chairman of the committee on roads and bridges. He was an officer in the Sunday school for thirty-five years; became a Seventy in 1868, and was a member of the 75th quorum, serving for many years as one of its presiding officers. He was called by Brigham Young to Arizona in 1873, to colonize on the Little Colorado. This colony had to be abandoned, owing to lack of water; but in 18 76, he returned and aided in building several irrigation ditches, and in founding the settlement of St. Joseph. In 1882, he filled a mission to the Southern states, presiding over the South Carolina conference; from there he was sent to Scotland, where he labored in his native shire, and in the Isle of Skye, and later presided over the Scottish mission. He was ordained a Patriarch in 1916. Thus, all his days, he was a faithful laborer in the Church, and in the development of the country. — M.

Gems from the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants is the title of a sixty-four page brochure by William A. Morton, 661 Wilmington Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah. This is a collection of gems, as stated, from the Book of Mormon and from the Doctrine and Covenants, on a variety of subjects of importance to the student of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is a splendid collection for obtaining topics for addresses on gospel themes. The only criticism we have of the book is, that it has no index; a page or two of index would enhance its value very much. For sale at the Deseret Book Company, 44 East South Temple Street; the Seagull Press, 25 Richards Street; and at the residence of the author, 661 Wilmington Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah; price, 25c. IMPROVEMENT ERA, MARCH, 1926 Two Dollars per Annum Entered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, as second class matter Heber J. Grant, \ £ ,. Melvin J. Ballard, Business Mgr. Edward H. Anderson. f Moroni Snow, Assistant. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Section 1 103. Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July Z, 1918 CONTENTS Lanutoo, a Wonder Spot in Samoa Frontispiece Our Golden Wedding. A Poem Joseph Longking Townsend- 399 Oratory, Poesy and Prophecy — I Orson F. Whitney 401 Our Constitution and Government J. M. Sjodaht 405 Holding Your Overcoat. A Poem Olive F. Woolley Burt 409 The Pioneer Use of Electricity in Utah Dr. Richard R. Lyman 410 My Boy. A Poem Flattie Jensen 412 A Garland of Verse — Little Things Ellen L. Jakeman 413 The Greatest Prize Lula Greene Richards 414 Our Savior Maud Chegividden 415 The Turn in the Road Grace Ingles Frost 415 March A. O. Nutter 416 Greetings to Loved Ones at Home R. Michelsen 416 My Poor, Rich Friend O. E. Howell 417 The End of the Trail Henry F. Kirkham 4 1 8 Lights of the Firmament Ora Haven Barlow 418 The Compact. A Story J. Arthur Home 419 Our Richest Treasure. A Poem Ethel R. Lilywhite 428 Melitone Gonzales Trejo Tressie M. Post 429 The Mystery Above the Boots Carter E. Grant 431 An Alleged Relic 434 Up Timpanogos Lloyd O. Ivie 435 Answered Ora Haven Barlow 438 A Career of Repentance. A Story Orville S. 'Johnson 440 A Noble Pursuit Joseph S. Peery 453 The Hermit. A Story Ruth Fishel, Fred McLaughlin 455 My Guide. A Poem Kershaw N. White 462 History of Old Bruno r Joseph J. Porter 463 The Passing of Martin Harris William Harrison Homer 468 The World Court J. M. Sjodaht 473 Joseph Smith, and the Great West — VII 1. K. Russell 476 Washington. A Poem Lamont Johnson 483 Easter . George D. Kirby 484 The Modern Denial of Jesus Christ Dr. Frederick J. Pack 486 Winter. A Poem Allen Fifield 491 The Thing that Counts. Male Chorus George H. Durham 492 Messages from the Missions. Illustrated 494 The Home — XVII-XIX 500 Editor's Table — The Way to Happiness 504 Attendance at Sacrament Meeting .... 505 Priesthood Quorums . _. _ 506 Mutual Work 508 Passing Events 516