--- 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: 32 number: 11 published: 1929-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, ““Mormons” Contribute to World Movements,” *Improvement Era* 32, no. 11 (September 1929): 953–954." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera32011unse 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: improvementera32011unse start_page: 953 end_page: 954 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1929-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera32011unse publication_year: 1929 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 1929, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # “Mormons” Contribute to World Movements "Mormons" Contribute to World Movements Members of the Churds at large will join with the General Board of Y. M. M. I. A. in its feeling of pride in the honor which has come to two of its members. Dr. Franklin S. Harris and Oscar A. Kirkham. Reference has al- ready been made in these columns to appointments which seem to have spe- cial significance. No people in the world, not even orthodox Jews themselves, have a stronger belief in the fulfillment of the promises made anciently to the Jewish race than do the Latter-day Saints. There is ample reason for this feeling, the promises made of old and recorded in the Bible having been reiterated, em- phasized and more clearly explained in the Book of Mormon. They are also supplemented and interpreted by mod- ern revelation, which declares repeated- ly that the Gospel is to be preached to the Jews until they "look no more for a Messiah to come who has already come." For centuries this race has been scattered. This is essentially a dispensation of gathering. It seems significant and fitting, therefore, that a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one thoroughly conversant with the ancient and modern predic- tions, should be invited to act as chair- man of a group of scientists and busi- ness men who are to investigate a plan whose aim is to "colonize a huge tract of land which has been set aside for them [the Jews] by the Soviet govern- ment in Southeastern Siberia, north of the Amur river." Dr. Franklin S. Harris, president of the Brigham Young University, is the man upon whose sturdy shoulders this unsought responsibility has fallen. His scientific, well trained mind, together with his practical judgment, and the further fact that he will doubtless ap- proach this task seeking humbly for divine guidance, fit him admirably for this place. His selection came about in the fol- lowing manner: During Leadership Week at the B. Y. U., in January, 1929, Mr. Ben- jamin Brown, selling agent of the Utah Poultry Producers' Association and a member of ICOR, which stands for Jewish colonization in Russia, mentioned to Dr. Harris the possibility of a commission going to Russia and asked him if he would consider becom- ing a member of it. Receiving a favor- able reply, Mr. Brown wired the in- formation to the head of the organiza- tion in New York. After cable communication with Moscow, the Soviet government gave permission for an investigating committee of experts selected by the ICOR. The chairman- ship was then offered to Dr. Harris and the responsibility accepted. Jews in America had been asked to help the Jews in Russia to colon- ize this tract. It is virgin coun- try, supposed to contain many natural resources, but will require a large amount of money to develop. To de- termine the feasibility of the whole project, the likelihood of success, and the amount of help needed, this com- mission was made up and sent to Russia. The personnel of the commission is as follows: Dr. Harris as chairman and chief agronomist; Mr. K. B. Sauls, also of the B. Y. U., as secretary; Prof. J. B. Davidson, of Iowa State College, as agricultural engineer; Mr. Kahn, 956 IMPROVEMENT ERA Sept.. 1929 commercial representative in America of the Soviet government, as road en- gineer; Dr. Kuntz, of Columbia Uni- versity, who is already at Bira Bid- zhan, as general adviser; Mr. Talmy, general secretary of the ICOR, as the official interpreter; and Mr. Benjamin Brown as marketing specialist and gen- eral farmer. Russia has never been looked upon as the ultimate gathering place of the Jews, but to have them come together into one cohesive group, or a number of groups, is an important step toward the fulfillment of prophecy. To the multitude of friends and ad- mirers of Oscar A. Kirkham, executive secretary of the Y. M. M. I. A. Gen- eral Board, it was no surprise to learn that, unsolicited and in the face of strong competition from influential communities which had favorite sons, he had been selected by the New York officials to go to the Scout Jamboree at Arrowe-Park, Birkenhead, England, from July 31 to August 13. It was a great compliment to him. However, it was not given as a compliment, but solely because these hard-headed execu- tives, having a difficult job to do, wanted a man who could do it well. His friends were delighted to learn that Oscar's commission was to be "in charge of general morale and to serve as the organizer of large religious ob- servances in the International Camp." He, associated with other leaders, is to "prepare and direct the opening re- ligious meetings in camp, and the clos- ing religious meeting in the Liverpool cathedral," one of the greatest gather- ings of boys in the history of the world. This is a duty which will require tact of an unusual order, for, be it remembered, he will be directing the religious activities of Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Mohammedans, Buddhists, men and boys of every re- ligion and of no religion. At this writing no detailed report of the Jamboree has been received, but we venture the statement in advance that our representative will perform this delicate task tactfully and impres- sively, will give no offense to the un- believer, but nevertheless will inject into the gathering the true spirit of re- ligion. Furthermore, of the 50,000 alert boys from 44 nations, the sons of all mankind, there will probably not be one who does not know that this genial, sympathetic and dynamic man is a "Mormon." There are many able men among those who are directing the Boy Scouts of America, but to find one who can lead in singing, in praying, who can direct their religious expression and at the same time be as much of a Scout as any of them, is not an easy task. This "Mormon," because of his mag- netic personality and the deep and sin- cere love he has for boys together with his comprehensive grasp of their prob- lems, will awaken respect for his own and for all religion. It fell to Oscar's assignment to di- rect the largest delegation to leave New York at any one time, 365 Scouts and Leaders. — C. New Hand Book Supplement Officers of the Y. M. M. I. A. will find it impossible to carry out the plans for the coming season's work as they should be carried out unless they are familiar with the "Supplement." The various committees have put in hours of painstaking labor in its preparation. Much time is wasted by officers who write to headquarters for information which is given in our publications. Not only is their own time lost, but that of the secretary as well. There is economy in preparedness.