--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 30 number: 7 published: 1927-05 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, “Passing Events,” *Improvement Era* 30, no. 7 (May 1927): 663–666." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3007unse 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: improvementera3007unse start_page: 663 end_page: 666 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1927-05) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3007unse publication_year: 1927 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 1927, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Passing Events A new chapel in the East ward Moroni, Sanpete Co., was dedicated, April 10, 1927, by President Heber J. Grant. The new building has been erected at the cost of $21,000. Avard Fairbanks has received a scholarship of the Guggenheim Founda- tion, to enable him to go abroad and study sculpturing. He is at present connected with the University of Oregon, as a teacher of art. Mr. Fair- banks is a native of Utah. Percy S. Heath, widely known newspaper publisher and editor, died at his home in Washington, March 30, 1927, 69 years old. He was well known in Salt Lake City, where, in 1903, he started the Salt Lake Evening Telegram, which he disposed of a couple of years later. Reading of the Bible in public schools in Colorado is not in conflict with the state constitution, according to an opinion rendered by the supreme court, March 28, 1927; but the reading must be without comment by the teacher, and children whose parents or guardians object to Bible reading may absent themselves during the reading. The Utah Agricultural Experiment Station has just issued Circular 63 — Tomato Culture in Utah; Circular 64 — Onion-growing in Utah. The circulars are interesting and instructive publications covering these subjects, and may be obtained without charge upon request to the Publications Division,, Utah Experiment Station, Logan, Utah. Soft coal miners to the number of 200,000 became idle, March 31, when the Jacksonville agreement concerning wages expired. The strike affects miners in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, western Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Missouri. Kansas, Arkansas, and some other districts. The strike, it was said, will continue until another agreement can be accepted. Television is said to be an accomplished fact. According to a New York dispatch dated April 7, Secretary Hoover on that day spoke over the telephone in Washington, and was seen as well as heard in the Bell telephone laboratories in New York. The combined telephone and television instru- ments were set in cabinets shrouded from the outer light by heavy maroon curtains, cabinets reminiscent of those in which the stage magician places the woman who is mysteriously to disappear. President and Mrs. Charles W. Nibley celebrated the 58th anniversary of their marriage and the 76th birthday anniversary of Mrs. Nibley, by a family dinner at Hotel Utah, en March 30, 1927. The marriage was solemnized in the old Endowment House 58 years ago. After the dinner the esteemed couple attended a performance in the Salt Lake Theatre, as they did on their wedding day. Mrs. Nibley was born in Salt Lake City, in the old Neibaur home, Second South and Second East, March 30, 1851. Judge George W. Bartch passed into the Great Beyond on March 15, 1927, on the 78th anniversary of his birth. For a number of years he has been a prominent figure in Utah, having been chief justice of the supreme court during a stormy period of the history of the state. He resigned from the bench in 1906, and has since then devoted some time to the claims of American citizens against Mexico, growing out of their loss of property during the numerous civil conflicts of that country. He was a native of Pennsylvania. Henry Ford was the victim of an automobile accident, on March 27, and was taken to the Ford hospital for treatment. According to a statement 664 IMPROVEMENT ERA by Mr. Fred L. Black, business manager of the Independent, Mr. Ford was forced off the south drive of Michigan Avenue and plunged down a steep embankment into a tree. The car that caused the accident came upon him from behind. After a period of daze or unconsciousness, Mr. Ford walked with difficulty to his estate, where the gate keeper summoned Mrs. Ford. There is a suspicion that a deliberate attempt was made upon his life. A new ward was organized in Ogden, March 20, at a meeting held in the Thirteenth ward chapel. Stake President Thomas E. McKay was present. The new ward, the 20th, embraces the territory north of Twenty- second street to Ogden river and east of Monroe avenue to the mountains. Of this section, that territory lying between Monroe and Quincy avenues, north of Twenty-second street, is taken from the Fourth ward and the remainder from the Thirteenth ward. Arias G. Belnap was chosen bishop of the Twentieth ward. Edward T. Saunders was made bishop of the Fourth ward. The four-continental flight of Francesco de Pinedo, the Italian, came to an end, April 6, at Roosevelt dam, Arizona, when his plane, Santa Maria, was totally destroyed by fire. The aviator had been refueling and was making ready to take off, when somebody was lighting a cigarette and threw the match into the dam. The water, however, was oil-coated and the flames almost instantly enveloped the plane. The commander was not aboard at the time, but the crew had to jump for their lives. D. Pinedo will endeavor to raise the engines from the bottom of the lake and, if possible, rebuild the plane. President Rudger Clawson of the Council of the Twelve, attained the 70th anniversary of his birthday on March 12, 1927. To commemorate the event, members of his prayer circle, with their ladies, met in the audi- torium of the Bishops' building, March 15, and enjoyed a fine program. A. Wm. Lund, who served as toastmaster, presented President Clawson, on behalf of the members of the circle, with a gold signet ring, and President Clawson, in a neat little speech, expressed his appreciation of the love and respect shown him, and related some wonderful experiences he had had during a long and useful life. The University of Utah Summer School has been arranged with the chief interests of the state in mind. Last Summer it had the largest registra- tion of any school in the state. The University is devoted to improvement of Utah's schools, through higher scholarship and better professional standards in teaching and supervision, which is the main purpose of the summer session. The recent United States Survey of the Utah school system will be specially emphasized and points brought out by leading educators of the country identified with the faculty during the summer session. The first term will begin June 13 ; and the second, July 26, lasting till August 31. J. H. Eversoll passed away February 22, 1927, at San Diego, California, He was in his 78th year. He came to Utah in 1892 and located at Rich- field. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1897, and for several years was a member of the Richfield choir. Removing to Salt Lake City, he became a member of the Tabernacle choir, in which he sang for six years. He removed to Provo and was a member of the tabernacle choir there for twelve years, prior to his moving to California. After going to California he did not take an active part on account of cataracts on his eyes, but he loved to sing in his home. He leaves his widow and five children, all grown. Mrs. Sarah Ann Taylor, 92 years old, passed away at her home in Harrisville, near Ogden, Utah, March 18, 1927. She was the widow of Pleasant Green Taylor. On November 13, 1926, she observed the 92nd anniversary of her birthday amid the felicitations of 3 1 0 descendants. Mrs. PASSING EVENTS 665 Taylor was born in Mississippi, Nov. 13, 1834. She started for Utah in 1849. Enroute to Utah Mrs. Taylor met and married Bailey Lake shortly after her sixteenth birthday. .The trip to this state was made by ox-team. Mr. Lake was called to help establish the L. D. S. mission at Fort Lemhi, Idaho. He was ambushed near Malad and killed by Indians. A few years later she married Pleasant Green Taylor. The Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution was debated in Sym- phony Hall, Boston, April 8, 1927, by Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Columbia University, and William E. Borah, U. S. Senator from Idaho. The question was, "Shpuld the Republican national platform of 1928 advocate repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment?" President Butler defended the affirmative side and Senator Borah, the negative. About 3,000 persons were present. Dr. Butler contended that the amendment in question is in no way germane to the Constitution. It represents, he asserted, the worst possible way of attempting to deal with the evils of the liquor traffic. Senator Borah held that you cannot ask the Republican party to advocate the repeal of the amendment, unless you present something in the nature of a program to take the place of it. The National Summer School of the Utah Agricultural College, Logan, will have two special features, according to recent announcement of Dr. James H. Linford, director of the summer session. The department of competitive athletics will have famous coaches as directors. The department of music will conduct an institute of school music. Guest teachers include Mrs. Emma Lucy Gates Bowen, Clarence J. Hawkins, William Spicker, Miss Eleanor Kelley. Mrs. Walter Welti and Miss Gwendolyn Smith, who will assist the regular music faculty. Though these two features are receiving particular attention, other departments of collegiate work will not be neglected. Special lecturers will be Prof. Clayton Hamilton. Prof. Edward Howard Driggs, Prof. Samuel McCord Crothers, and Prof. Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The summer session opens June 13. The city of Shanghai fell into the hands of the Southern, or Cantonese, army on March 21, 1927, and looting and rioting began in the native area of the city. The foreign settlement with its 37,000 inhabitants, is guarded by 15,000 troops and numerous battleships in the Whangpoo river. Among the foreign forces landed are 1,500 American marines. One of the most serious of the day's incidents occurred when a band of Chinese soldiers, presumably attached to the retreating Northern army, broke through the barrier to the north of the international settlement and began looting. Two British armored cars sped to the scene in response to calls from the police. Lieutenant Newman, Corporal Ainslie and two soldiers were wounded by machine-gun fire which was directed at the first car. The second car towed the leading one away under heavy fire, at the same time returning the fusilade. Their seventieth wedding anniversary was celebrated recently at Magna, by Patriarch and Mrs. H. T. Spencer, pioneers of that prosperous Utah community. At the party held in their honor, over 45 guests were present. Mr. Spencer is a pioneer of 1847, and was one of Lot Smith's men, who, ten years later, went on an expedition of reconnaissance, on the approach of Johnston's "army." Mr. Spencer was born in West Stockbridge, Berkshire county, Massachusetts. November 13, 1835. His mother died when he was three years old. His father then moved to Nauvoo, where he worked on the Nauvoo temple. Mr. Spencer says he was well acquainted with Joseph Smith the prophet, because he visited his home quite often. Mrs. Spencer is the daughter of James Young and Janet Carruth Young. She was born in Glasgow, Scotland, May 19, 1841, and emigrated to Utah in 1848, with her parents. She married Mr.» Spencer March 31, 1857, being sixteen years old at the time. Romanism is assailed in an open letter to Governor Smith of New York, 666 IMPROVEMENT ERA , by Charles C. Marshall, an Episcopalian, published in the Atlantic Monthly for April. Mr. Marshall shows from Roman Catholic authorities that the pope claims supremacy in all the world, by virtue of his position as the "vicar of Christ," and he asks how this claim can be reconciled with patriotic loyalty, as there cannot be two sovereignties in one state. Gov. Smith replied that he did not recognize any "power" in the institution of his church to interfere with the operation of the constitution of the United States, or in the enforcement of the law of the land. But that is not the issue. The Roman church has, of course, no "power" to interfere with the operation of the laws in the United States, but does she teach that the pope has the God- given right to interfere? If so, what would happen if the power to do so should be delegated, by the voters, to his representatives? Gov. Smith does not discuss that issue. The governor's reply was written, he says, with the assistance of a Roman priest, Father Francis P. Duffy. American and British residents of Nanking, China, were killed, March 24, 1927, by Cantonese troops, when the Northern forces had left the city. The American destroyers, "Nova" ,and "Preston," and the British cruiser, "Emerald," immediately bombarded the Cantonese positions. At the same time the naval commanders sent an ultimatum to the Chinese commander, demanding immediate protection for all foreigners and foreign property and that negotiations be entered into regarding reparations for outrages com- mitted. Additional naval forces are being rushed to China by the American and British governments, and the naval commanders are given absolute authority to take whatever steps they deem necessary for the protection of life and property. The Chinese casualties during the bombardment are estimated at 6 killed and 15 wounded. Fifty houses, it is said, were destroyed. The American consulate flag at Nanking was hauled down and torn to shreds by a mob, and the archives of the consulate were destroyed. On April 11, the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan protested in identical but separate notes to the Cantonese government. M. Alexis Rykoff, on April 10, president of the Russian "council of commissars." warned the powers not to suppose that Russia's peace policy is a sign of weakness. Alfred William McCune passed away at Cannes, France, March 28, 1927, according to a dispatch received by President Heber J. Grant, from Mr. McCune's son, Raymond. Mr. McCune was one of the biggest mining operators of the country. He was born at Fort William, Dum Dum, Calcutta, East India, July 11, 1849, the son of Major Matthew and Sarah E. S. Scott McCune. His father was an officer in the British army, who joined the Church in early days and, with his family, emigrated to Utah in 185 6. The son, Alfred, turned his attention to the lumber business, mining, and railroad construction, and accumulated a large fortune. One of his friends and close business associates once said of him, that nothing was too big for him to undertake. This was shown in his latest gigantic venture, the development of the Cerro de Pasco mines in Peru, at the cost of $20,000,000. Hearing of this property and assuring himself of its great value, he interested J. B. Haggin, J. Pierpont Morgan, H. C. Frick, W. H. Vanderbilt and Mrs. Phoebe Hearst, widow of Senator George Hearst, in it. Returns, when they came, were enormous. Like other successful men of the West. Mr. McCune married at the opening of his career. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Ann Claridge of Nephi. He had known and admired her from his boyhood years. They were married in 1872, when he was about 23 years of age. Nine children blessed this union. Five still are living. Mrs. McCune died in 1924. Mrs. McCune's interests were wide and her gifts to education, church and charity were numerous. About 1919. Mr. and Mrs. McCune gave their home at Main and First North Streets to the Church, and it is now occupied by the McCune L. D. S. School of Music and Art. Funeral services were held in the Assembly Hall, Salt Lake City, April 15.