Union Forever

Union Forever THE joining of the two young people's magazines, just now accomplished, is surely a step in the right direction. There is a profound 'significance in this action, far deeper than appears on the surface. When the M. I. A. organiza- tions were first projected, an effort was made to join the two in a single association. But Brigham Young, when he learned of the conjoint Mutuals which had been started, one in the 21st ward and one in Logan, objected strongly to that plan, saying that men had many opportunities of self-expres- sion in missions, quorums and public offices generally; while women had no such chance, and women didn't in those days, ex- cept through the Relief Society. So the young women were left alone to work out their own public problems, religious, social and ed- ucational. Let me here offer a tribute to three young men of those early pioneering, adventuring days, whose supreme influence, gallant and courteous appraisal of human values and relationships enabled them to sail their experimental ship through many rough waters and guide the vessel safely over hidden reefs and through some threatening storms; Junius F. Wells, Milton H. Hardy and George D. Pyper, were eminently qualified to pilot their vessel sailing side by side with the girls' own ship along the early journalistic waterways into safe harbor. At the same time that trio of unsurpassed women leaders carried the young women tri- umphantly past every danger, seen and unseen: Elmina S. Taylor, Maria Y. Dougall and Martha Home Tingey, always under the wise generalship of Zion's foremost women leader, Eliza R. Snow. The youthful voyagers who fol- lowed after were safe always when under the counsel of the presiding Church authorities, no matter how deep the channels nor how lower- ing were the clouds. By SUSA YOUNG GATES The Journal's Mission HPHE part which I played in the A founding of the Young Wom- an's Journal has been related in detail elsewhere and will not be repeated here. However, it may not be out of place to state that my sole motive was to strengthen the faith of our young women and increase their devotion to the work for which their parents had en- dured so much, and at the same time to give them an opportunity to develop later literary gifts. It is with real pride that I look back upon what has been accomplished in this respect. Through all the years of its existence, the Journal has never lost sight of its original pur- pose. Many people, who have since won distinction as writers found in the Journal their first opportunity of expressing their thoughts on paper. In this respect the magazine proved a real blessing to them. Upon learning of the proposed combination of the Era and Jour- nal, I remembered a letter written by President Joseph F. Smith to me while I was the editor and vir- tual owner of the last named magazine. This communication bears date of September 18, 1896, and the following paragraph is taken from it: "Sister Elmina Taylor called on me about the joining of the Con- tributor and the Journal. I think if it can be done on some plan mu- tually agreed upon and mutually satisfactory, it will be better for both in the future from a financial point of view. For as it is now, those who take the Journal do not take the Contributor and vice versa. The circulation of both will be increased if made one. But I do not advocate the destruction of the identity of either — that is, while the two may be merged into one, the sex of each should be preserved. A man and wife are one, yet they are two." Have Women Lost Their Poise <X JUS A YOUNG GATES, a daughter of President Brigham Young and the devoted wife of Jacob Gates, is the mother of thir- teen children, and all of those now living are of unusual ability, some of them well known internationally. With her husband she has filled mis- sions in Hawaii and New York. She has represented the women of the Church three times in Europe and seven times in the United States at National and International Con- gresses. When fourteen years of age she was assistant editor of the COL- LEGE LANTERN, a university publication, and has been writing ever since. For eleven years she was editor of the YOUNG WOMAN'S JOURNAL, of which she was the founder, and eight years editor of the RELIEF SOCIETY MAGA- ZINE, besides which she has always been active in civic and educational movements, temple and genealogical work. When "Aunt Susa," as she is affectionately called, ceases to be ictive the end will not be far distant. HTIMES have changed. Human conditions and relationships are chaotic today. Women in the world and here ,at home have at- tained their majority. Many of them are giddy with their new rights, so-called, and have lost their poise and balance. The occasional strident voices of dominant women in the market places of the world betray the fact that too many of them have in- terpreted liberty in terms of license. No one can blame them, for many men, who should be leaders, mor- ally, socially, and religiously have quite stepped out of their sphere, and have laid down the reins of moral, domestic and spiritual gov- ernment. I sometimes wonder if our own people are free from this cataclysmal condition? So I welcome this union of jour- nalistic interests between our voung people. I see in it growth and opportunities for increased devel- opment and hope that our dear sisters will avoid the confusion and anarchy which will follow a lack of obedience. Our men have ever given more real freedom of oppor- tunity for individual expression than has been asked for by the women. This new united project is both a prophecy and a testimony. There will be closer contacts, better team

The Improvement Era For November 9 1929 51 work and more intelligent progress in every direction. It also demon- strates the real harmony that shall mark similar efforts to break down barriers of selfish sex inhibitions and to preserve the glorious dual relationship which forms the basis of all group life and development on earth and in heaven. I am not afraid for the future except for myself and mine. I am tremendous- ly individualistic myself, as are all natural women, and the one ques- tion I ask of me and mine is: How shall I, how shall we, daughter and granddaughter, measure up to this symbolic compan- ionship ? Shall we be as loyal, as devoted and as true to truth in this combined journalistic inter- est as when we prided ourselves on our sex-independ- ence, our self-ex- pression in our newly discovered personalities? Confidence in the Future T^HE movement ■*• is i n s p i r e d, there is no doubt about that. Yet I ask myself will subscriptions be doubled, energies be redoubled and shall we all be doers of the word, not hearers only? Will our strug- gling girl - writers still keep the flame of inspiration burning, when they find the altar fires directed by a dual leadership and the pathways more crowded, the op- portunities more restricted to receive their own little contributions? Creative art is always attended with pain and sacrifice, especially so today when there are few who care to listen to the less trained efforts of amateurs and demand finished productions, though they come from uninspired sources. All this I wonder about. Yet I rest happily in the inspired Y. M. leadership of our three Apostles; wise and sympathetic George Albert Smith, courteous and cul- tured Richard R. Lyman and our magnetic orator, Melvin J. Ballard. These three are not more fitted for their task than are our three Y. L. presidents, gifted and thoroughly trained Ruth M. Fox, noble and beloved Lucy Grant Cannon, and that dynamo of human energy and executive power, Clarissa A. Beesley. I have the greatest confidence in the editors. Who wouldn't have when President Heber J. Grant himself stands at their head? His watchful eyes will not overlook any necessary change of policy. We all understand that the details of this work must largely be done by others. By inheritance and early training Hugh J. Cannon should be qualified for the place he occu- pies, and with him will be associ- ated that devoted wife and wise mother, Elsie Talmage Brandley, who will fill her new sphere, I prophesy, as nobly as she did when left alone to do her own ship piloting. Whatever Hugh may lack she will supply and will no doubt persuade him, woman-like, that he thought of it all first. At the same time Hugh is considerate and will divide honors. But he'd better watch out. The female- goblins will get him if he doesn't. Now, these are all personalities, I am a woman and therefore love personal news and study human values from an individual angle rather than as groups or classes. I defy either editor to change a word of this copy. I advise both of you to be mutually good and mutually unselfish; then natur- ally you may be very happy but not rich. It's only the selfish, greedy grafters who get rich, and Jeremiah says it's only the wicked who pros- per. You'll both be lonesome. Hence — Union Forever I WHEN I con- sider our present conditions I ask myself anx- iously, will my sons and grand- sons recognize the subtle menace in this new woman's age, and retain their priestly lead- ership in domestic, civic, and religious activities, as their fathers and grand- fathers did? Will they permit them- selves, through a mistaken mingling of courtesy and in- difference, to take second place to their women- folks? So many men in this mod- ern world have wishbones instead of backbones. Ask men today who is the boss in their homes, themselves or their wives, and they will counter, a very large number of them, with the joking reply, "Well, who is?" If they only knew how women, weak or strong, despise men who lack the strength and power of leadership in their own homes, men would meas- ure up to their responsibilities. Yes, indeed. Union Forever! Each in his or her own sphere, joined to- gether when life's adjustments per- mit Conjoint Mutual Work.