--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Stone, Ivy Williams collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 33 number: 9 published: 1930-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Ivy Williams Stone, “Out of the Burning,” *Improvement Era* 33, no. 9 (July 1930): 637–638." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3309unse 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: improvementera3309unse start_page: 637 end_page: 638 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1930-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3309unse publication_year: 1930 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 1930, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Out of the Burning Out of {he Burning, very thing," he replied. "She is tired of her idle life. Says it is empty and meaningless. We're both going to work for a year, and then, if we're still interested in each other, it may be difFerent. You know, you gave me a jar. I had never before heard of a girl leaving a room while a man was asking her to marry him. I learned I wasn't so much. 1 learned that all girls are not mer- cenary. Good-bye, Pamela." Pamela did not resent his fa- miliar tone. She was glad to learn of his better nature, but still more happy over Portia's decision to work. If she could only learn to appreciate the happiness which a sense of 'independence would bring! At Harrison Home a real sur- prise awaited the arrival of nurse and patient. Doctor Locke and Dick, Steve and Abe were gathered around a fifth person whose dark blue blouse could not conceal the mountaineer's build. He was tell- ing an interesting story and the five heads nearly touched. Even Judge Harrison leaned over to hear. Why it was Bud. A changed Bud. No halting speech, no con- fusion, but straight-forward and smiling, with a friendly grip to his hand shake. "I'm proud to see youns again, Curly," he spoke with no trace of embarrassment, no hint of their last meeting. "I must thank you for being so good to little Steve." Jr ROM within came the women — Mother Echo all smiles over the new clothes she had procured for Millie and the store teeth which subtracted years from Casy's appearance. Aunt Eunice and Portia, both smiling and mysterious. Portia looked so much more satisfied and contented, now the decision was made, it would really be easy. "Oh, my boy!" cried Millie, unable to keep her face entirely free from tears, "Curly shore did drive away thet thar misery!" "He says he ain't goin' ter go home ter Crow's Nest no more. He says he nary wants ter live with weuns no more." Abe knew tears were feminine, but the mem- mory of that terrible afternoon had made an indelible mark upon him. (Continued from page 609) "Come over here, Pamela," beckoned Portia. "I've decided to go into business. I am not going to marry Spike Reeves until he can at least support himself. Dad has agreed to loan me the money, and I am going to open an art and antique shop. So the folks won't lose us both at once," she concluded. "You seem to be the only one who didn't know he was crazy about you, Pamela. How nice that must be!" "CURLY," Steve Tur- ner came forward and spoke in his heavy punctuated manner, "This hyar young doctor says thet thar boy would adied ef et hadn't a bin fur youns. Weuns can't pay youns no money, Curly, but weuns kin gev you another deed ter thet thar land o' ourns. We've kept them thar taxes took keer of." Pamela choked and cast a hopeless glance at Young Doc- tor Locke. Everyone seemed to want to find something to do; even Judge Harrison looked off at the sky. The needed diversion came from Doctor Dick, who produced a pair of crutches and cried gaily, "Come on, Steve, show the folks how you can walk, and go tell the nurse lady not to take Grand- pa's farm." A] XL eyes turned up- on the child, making his first effort to walk. Unsteadily, falteringly, he stood up and awkwardly put a foot to the floor. He grasped the crutches, felt their friendly support and became braver. Pa- mela and Millie both jumped to- ward him as he hesitated and seemed to lose his balance. One uncertain step, then another, and still another with a purpose and decision, straight toward Millie. "I'm a comin' back ter youns, Mammy," he mumbled, white from the exhaustive effort, "but Curly's acomin' some day ter bring me books. She's got larnin' ways, an' Doctor Dick likes her same as me." Millie cried unrestrainedly as her first-born reached the protection of her shoulder, and Doctor Dick hastened to add, "Yours was the first and greatest love, Millie, we all knew that. Pamela, you have to take second place with that young man; but I'm going to fill the void!" (The End). Jean Waschg,aw the Iron-Eater (Continued from page 621) But John is not the ony celeb- of remarkable talent. His record, rity in the branch, for living too, may be verified; for those with him is his uncle, only three who are fortunate enough to visit years older than he and red-headed the international exposition sched- too! This young man is an artist uled this coming summer in com- M. I. A. Drama in Belgium 638 The Improvement Era for July, 1930 memoration of the centennial of the foundation of Belgium's inde- pendence, may see a dozen of his designs and paintings conspicuous- ly displayed to the entire world. Recently this young man ar- ranged the stage of the new Church chapel just completed in Seraing, and for the first drama, the ever popular, "Peg of my Heart," was played in the new edifice, and the players, all members of the branch M. I. A., enjoyed a superb back- ground and setting. Everything was constructed and arranged by members of the Church, for in this branch there happens to be an elec- trician, a carpenter and a genuine artist, whose hearts as well as their skill were put into this worthwhile endeavor. HTHE author was describing the *■ beauty of the stage to a friend of the Church who has the ir- ritating habit of making facetious remarks about Americans, and in part he said: "Is it as good as those which you have in Ameri- ca?" He was given the reply that it was as fine and even finer than many which are to be found in the famous Beehive state, and the answer was not at all exaggerated. Wherever these inspired auxili- ary organizations of the Church have been put into operation there real progress may be found, not only in the promulgation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ but also in the application of its morale — in teaching people how to live together happily and hopefully. The beauty and efficacy of the Savior's plan takes definite form in the lives of all those who abide by its teachings and participate in the fruits of such a desirable tree. These two young men, Jean and Joseph Waschgaw, are giving daily to hundreds of people a testimony of what the Gospel may do for all the honest-hearted people to be found in this battle-scarred, but ever-thriving little nation of Bel- gium. The Historicity of Jesus (Continued from page 610) granted that our chief evidence is the gospel narratives and the writ- ings of Paul. These, however, stand a most rigid test. Says Hop- kins,7 "Within almost a genera- tion of his death, the words and activities of Jesus and his im- mediate followers were committed to writing. This account is too near the event to justify doubt as to the historicity of Jesus." But there is supporting testi- mony worthy of consideration — extra Biblical evidence that cannot be well gainsaid. Clement of Rome, writing near the end of the first century declared, "The apos- tles received the gospel for us from the Lord, Jesus Christ." Of course the Christian tradition generally accepted Christ without question. Heretics, against whom Ignatius and others warned the followers, did not question at all the actual appearance of Jesus on earth. "THAT this Christian tradition ■*• was accepted by Roman writers who at least casually mention Christ is of vital importance. Pliny in a letter to Trajan (112 AD) asks anxiously about his duties with reference to Christians in his province of Bithynia. He seems to think there is little danger from them, that the superstition is dy- ing out. He found some, he said, who offered incense to Caesar and cursed Christ. He writes as though the actuality of Christ's life is well known. He tells us nothing in particular about him, but finds that the center of Christian wor- ship is Christ to whom they sing hymns of praise. Suetonius, in his lives of the Twelve Caesars (Ca. 120 AD) twice apparently refers to Christi- anity. While there is considerable vagueness about his reference to one Christus who created a dis- turbance among the Jews in Rome, it is fair to presume that he knew there were followers of a character named Christ. "RE that as it may, Tacitus,8 a Roman historian of great note, refers explicitly and definitely to Christ after whom the Christians whom Nero persecuted were named. Moreover, he gives the information that Jesus (clearly the Jesus of gospel history) was put to death by Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Tacitus lived in the latter part of the first century and the early second cen- tury. His Annals date about 115 AD. Here then are three Roman writ- ers who may be cited in support of the gospel story of the historic Jesus, viz., Pliny, Suetonius, and Tacitus. For Jewish writers — extra Biblical — Josephus is now pretty generally accredited as a supporting witness as set forth by Elder Sjodahl in the March Era. In the face, then, of a well ac- credited historical Jesus, the la- bored effort of some great scholars to give a legendary account of him falls to the ground.9 7Hopkins, E. W., "The History of Religions," p. 552. Cf. Drake, Durant, "Problems of Religion," pp. 63-64. 8Tacitus, Annal XV — 44. :>For a thorough discussion of this whole question, see Case, S. J., "The Historicity of Jesus." Freed om COMEONE has said "There is no ^ more conclusive argument against bondage, whether physical or intellectual, than that man be- comes satisfied with such thrall- dom. Even the nightingale will not sing in its cage unless you first put its eyes out. And man's eyes must be put out before he can sing in a cage!" "That's the Berries!" (Continued from page 620) "I'll help," Marianne said, fly- ing from the look she saw on Da- vid's face. "No you won't," said David. "I want ito talk to you, right now." He slipped an arm about her shoulders and led her away, unresisting. Alice had the dishes filled and was standing thoughtfully when begging for reassurance. Jimmie came bounding up the (Continued on page 642) stairs with a bottle of triple X cream. "Where are they?" he said, at- tempting to push by her. l\LICE stopped him. "Give 'em a chance," she said. "You didn't mean that about Kent, did you?" Jimmie asked,