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FEBRUARY,  1911 


IMPROVEMENT 


»M< 


ORGAN  OF  THE  PRIESTHOOD  QUORUMS  AND  THE  YOUNG 

MEN'S    MUTUAL    IMPROVEMENT    ASSOCIATIONS 

OF    THE    CHURCH    OF    JESUS    CHRIST 

OF    LATTER-DAY    SAINTS. 


Published  Monthly  a!  Salt  LakeCity  by  the  General 


Before  foe  SntoKe  Clears  flway 

On  your  fire-stricken  shop,  factory,office 
or  store,  you  can  resume  business  if  in- 
sured with  us.  No  long  unnecessary 
delays  in  adjusting,  no  haggling  over 
terms;  but  prompt  payment  of  losses 
every  time.  It's  to  our  interest  to  get 
you  set  up  in  business  again— we  can 
insure  you  again. 

Home  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Utah 
HEBER  J.  GRANT  &  Co.,  General  Agts. 

30-26  South  Main  St.,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


BOTH  PHONES.  351. 

Jos.  Wm.  Taylor 

Utah's  Leading  Undertaker 
anJ  Licensed  Embalmer. 


Fine    Funeral  Chapel,  Private 
Parlor,Show  Rooms  and  Morgue 

OFFICE  OPEN  DAY  AND  NIGHT 

21,  23,  25    South  West   Temple   Street 

SALT  LAKE  CITY.  UTAH 


Established  1889. 


Capital,  $200,000 


Utah 

Commercial  and  Savings 

Bank. 


A°fc 


Interest,  computed  semi-annually,   on 
0  Savings  Deposits. 

Commercial  Banking  in  all  its  branches. 
Accounts  of  Banks  and  Individuals  solicited. 
Customers  assured  the  best  accommodations 
consistent  with  conservative  and  safe  banking. 

Wm.  F.  Armstrong,  Byron  Groo, 

President.  Cashier. 

(Wh«n  writing'  to  Advertisers 


Scinic  Lint  of  Thi 
World 


THROUGH 
PULLMAN  AND 

TOURIST 
SLEEPERS  TO 

DENVER, 
ST.  LOUIS 
AND 
QHIGAGO 


For  Folders,  Booklets,  etc.,  ad- 
dress    I.  A.  BENTON,  G.A.P.D., 
8alt  Lake  City,  Utah 


The  STATE  BANK 
OF  UTAH"£££-r 


THIS  Bank  solicits  the  accounts  of 
banks,  firms  and  individuals,  and 
extends  to  such  customers  every 
reasonable  courtesy  and  facility. 

Joseph  F.  Smith,  Prist,  Chas.S.  Burton,Cashier 

Anthon  H.  Lund,V.Prts.     H.T .McEwan,Asst.Cash 


please  mention  the  ERA.) 


Send  for  the  AUTHORIZED  PORTRAIT  of  the  PROPHET  JOSEPH  SMITH 
(From  tho  Latest  Painting  by  L.  A.  Ramsey. 


It  is  finished  in  two  styles,  size  11x14,  ready 
for  framing  SEPIA  BROMIDE  STYLE— A 
RICH  BROWN  FINISH— EACH  $3.00. 

BLACK  AND  WHITE  BROMIDE  STYLE, 
AN  EXCELLENT  PRODQCTION— EACH  $2. 
Postpaid  at  above  prices. 

FREE— With  each  order  for  a  portrait  we 
send  absolutely  free  a  large  picture  in  colors- 
size  11x14.  These  pictures  sell  in  art  stores  for 
75c.  We  can  fill  your  order  for  frames.  WEST'S 
MAIL  ORDER  HOUSE,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 


ZOcfo  Discount 

On  all  Cotton  and  Wool  Knitted  Gar- 
ments—For  One  More  Month. 

Now  is  the  time  to  order  to  obtain  these 

prices: — 

$5.00  Wool  Garments,  No.  S3  for $4.00 

4.00  Wool  Garments,  No.  55  for 3.20 

3.00  Wool  Garments,  No.  51  for 2.40 

2.50  Wool  Garments,  No.  501  for 2.00 

COTTON  GARMENTS. 

$2.00  Bleached  No.   111B  for $1.60 

1.75  Unbleached  Fine  Weave,  No.  Ill, 

for 1.40 

1.75    Unbleached    Coarse    Weave,    No. 

58  for 1.40 

1.50  Bleached,  No.  57B  for 1.20 

1.50  Unbleached,   No.   901   for 1.20 

1.25  Bleached,  No.  52B  for 1  00 

1.25  Unbleached,  No.  57  for 1.00 

Send  20  cents  extra  per  pair  to  help  pay 
postage. 

For  size — give  height,  weight,  and  Bust 
measure,   and  we  guarantee  a  fit. 

We  can  supply  you  with  Silk  and  Wool 
Garments.  Samples  of  various  grades  oi 
garments  on  request.  We  ship  knitted  gar- 
ments daily  to  all  parts  of  the  world. 

Your  money  and  postage  both  ways  will 
be  returned  if  you  are  not  satisfied". 

WEST'S  MAIL  ORDER  HOUSE 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


HERE  IS  A  PRETTY  PETTICOAT  FOR  ONLY  59c 


It  is  made  of  mercerized  moreen. 


Color,  black  only.  The  matrial  is  firm  and  substantial  and 
has  good  wearing  qualities  The  14  inch  flounce 
is  trimmed  with  three  rows  of  shirring  and  e 
<5  inch  ruffle  at  bottom. 

OUR  PRICE  59c.    Postage  18c  extra 


No.  440-OUR  PRICE  59c 

fln^Vr£0-  53°-A.STYLISH  PETTICOAT  made  of 
tine  quality  mercerized  fabric.    The  18  inch  flounce  is 

nTi!".1™6  rows  of  shir"ng  and  three  two 
inch  ruffles.    A  skirt  that  will  please  you. 

_  OUR  PRICE  98c.    Postage  22c  extra. 

/.oQSend  f,or  ou/  eomP1ete  price  list  of  petticoats  and 
free  samples  of  material . 

West's  Mail  Order  House 

SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 


No.  530— OUR  PRICE  98c 


(When  writing  to  Advertisers,  please  mention  the  ERA.) 


Elder  John  I.  Benson  of  Ostersund,  Sweden:  "The  ERA  is  a  never  fail- 
ing friend  to  the  missionaries.  How  refreshing,  after  a  day's  tracting,  to  read 
the  ERA!" 

Elders  Jesse  Haws  and  Andrew  Schurink,  writing  from  Deventer,  Holland, 
appreciate  the  ERA  very  much  and  call  it  a  wonderful  missionary.  They  find 
it  a  great  help  in  their  missionary  work,  and  look  forward  to  its  coming  with 
eager  expectations. 

Elder  Wallace  B.  Preston,  of  the  Northern  States  Mission,  writes  from 
Fairmont,  Minn.,  that  the  missionary  work  in  his  district  is  progressing  nicely. 
He  concludes:  "The  ERA  is  one  of  our  best  friends,  in  the  cause  of  truth,  and 
we  feel  proud  to  leave  it  in  the  homes  of  the  people." 

The  Sixth  Annual  Review  of  "The  Railroad  Red  Book,"  a  valuable  refer- 
ence monthly  publication  issued  by  the  Denver  &  Rio  Grande,  has  just 
appeared.  This  magazine  is  an  exponent  of  irrigated  farming  in  the  Rocky 
Mountain  region,  and  the  Annual  Review  number  contains  no  less  than  103 
original  articles  specially  prepared  for  this  issue,  which  is  considered  the  best 
of  the  series,  on  agricultural,  mining,  commercial  and  industrial  subjects. 
Among  its  contributors  are  Governor  Shafroth  of  Colorado,  Governor  Spry  of 
Utah,  Governor  Mills  of  New  Mexico,  ex-Governor  Adams  of  Colorado,  C.  J. 
Blanchard,  Statistician  of  the  U.  S.  Reclamation  Service,  President  Lory  of 
the  Colorado  Agricultural  College,  Judge  Colborn  of  Salt  Lake  City,  Prof. 
Merrill  and  others  of  the  Utah  Agricultural  College,  and  W.  W.  McLaughlin, 
Irrigation  Engineer  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA,    FEBRUARY,  1911. 

Two  Dollars  per  annum  with  Manual  Free. 
Entered  at  the  Post  Office,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  as  second  class  matter. 


Joseph  F.  Smith,  1  ™;fnrH        Heber  J'  Grant>  Bu8iness  Manager 

Edward  H.  Anderson,      J  £jQllorB        Moroni  Snow,  Assistant 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Portrait  of  Erastus  Snow ;■•••;•■    ■    Frontispiece 

Tribute  to  Erastus  Snow President  Joseph  F.  Smith. . .  ^81 

From  Nauvoo  to  Salt  Lake  in  the  Van  of  the  / 

Pioneers.     The    Original   Diary   of   Erastus 

Snow   Moroni  Snow £°A 

Do  the  Thing  You  Know  is  Right.    A  Poem. . .   Alfred  Osmond  287 

The  Gospel  Preached  for  the  First  Time  to  the 

Ainu.     Illustrated    Elbert  D.  Thomas jflRj 

Apostrophe  to  Water.     A  Poem Joseph  E.   Robinson g* 

The  Nephite  Shepherd.  Ill Arthur  V.  Watkins &7 

Pen  Pictures  of  the  Holy  Land.  IV.     Illustrated  Hamilton  Gardner   J[W 

Zion,  Thou  Holy  One.     A  Poem Theodore    E.    Curtis 306 

The  First  Principle  of  the  Gospel J.B.  Tomhnson AW 

Ere  Life's  Fleet  Hour  has  Flown.     A  Poem Sarah  E.  Mitton AW 

President    Brigham    Young's    Excursion    Party. 

II      Illustrated             Solomon  F.  Kimball oil 

Joseph  Smith,  a  Prophet  of  God.  IV George  W   Crockwcll 322 

The  Worth  of  a  Boy John  T    Barrett am 

Take  Heart  Again.     A  Poem Grace  Ingles  Frost.     am 

The  Crown  of  Individuality.  XIV William  Georee  Jordan Ml 

The  Fate  of  the  Fords ■■• ••  •  •  •  •  •  • *g 

The   "Mormon"    Exodus Thomas  L.  Martin 34U 

A  Character  Test  James  G.  DuMn   j* 

Editors'  Table.— Peace  or  War *>* 

Messages  from  the  Missions ^t 

Priesthood  Quorums'  Table 

Mutual   Work.— Quarterly   Conjoint   Meetings— 

Questions    for    Debate ■g° 

Passing  Events   


Tribute  to  Erastus  Snow. 

BY  PRESIDENT   JOSEPH   F.   SMITH, 


My  earliest  vivid  recollection  of  Elder  Erastus  Snow 
was  in  the  fall  of  1848,  just  after  my  arrival  in  Salt  Lake 
valley.  I  had  the  privilege  of  listening  to  a  most  excel- 
lent discourse  by  him  in  the  bowery,  at  the  north  side  of 
the  old  Pioneer  fort.  This  discourse  so  impressed  itself, 
and  the  speaker,  upon  my  mind,  that  it  and  he  ever  after 
held  a  most  distinguished  place  in  my  memory.  As  an 
orator  and  profound  reasoner,  I  always  felt  impressed 
that  he  had  no  superior,  especially  when  he  warmed  up 
to  his  subject,  and  entered  into  his  discourse  with  the  full 
force  and  energy  of  his  active  and  vigorous  mind. 

As  a  counselor,  his  wisdom  was  manifest  from  every 
point  of  view. 

As  a  colonizer  and  builder,  from  the  pioneer  days  to 
the  completion  of  his  work,  he  was  equal  to  the  foremost 
of  his  associates.  In  point  of  endurance  and  persever- 
ance in  whatever  he  engaged,  he  was  untiring  and 
almost  inexhaustible. 

As  a  legislator  or  statesman,  he  was  the  peer  of  any 
of  his  associates,  among  whom  were  the  builders  of  this 
commonwealth.  One  of  the  marked  peculiarities  of  his 
character  was  continuity  and  perseverance  in  whatever  he 
undertook  to  do,  until  his  object  was  attained  and  his 
purpose  accomplished.  Nothing  could  turn  him  aside 
from  the  discharge  of  his  duty.  He  was,  without  doubt, 
a  chosen  and  an  effective  instrument  in  the  hand  of  God 
for  the  accomplishment  of  the  mission  assigned  him,  in 
which  he  always  concentrated  his  mind,  and  threw  the 
whole  force  of  his  vigorous  and  noble  spirit. 

As  the  head  of  a  numerous  family,  he  was  an  example 
to  all  mankind.  His  friendship  was  always  true  and  bound- 
less. I  esteem  him  as  one  of  the  great  men,  not  only  of 
the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints,  but  of 
the  world. — Joseph  F.  Smith. 


ERASTUS  SNOW. 
Born  November  9,  1818;  died  May  27, 


IMPROVEMENT   ERA. 


Vol.  XIV.  FEBRUARY,  1911.  No.  4 


From  Nauvoo  to  Salt  Lake  in  the  Van  of 
the  Pioneers. 


The  Original  Diary  of  Erastus  Snow. 

EDITED  BY  HIS  SON,  MORONI  SNOW. 


The  life  of  Erastus  Snow  is  too  well  known  to  need  elabo- 
ration here.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  he  was  born  at  St.  Johnsbury, 
Vermont,  November  9,  1818,  and  was  descended  from  old  New 
England  stock,  his  first  American  ancestor  being  Richard  Snow,  of 
Woburn,  Massachusetts,  who  is  supposed  to  have  left  England  in 
1635.  He  was  baptized  a  member  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ 
of  Latter-day  Saints,  February  3,  1833,  and  passed  through  all 
the  trying  scenes  of  the  Church  in  Kirtland,  Ohio,  in  Missouri  and 
Illinois.  He  was  closely  associated  with  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith 
and  the  other  leading  men  of  the  early  days  of  the  Church.  He 
was  pre-eminently  a  leader  and  organizer  of  men,  and  as  such 
took  part  in  the  great  exodus  from  Nauvoo  to  Salt  Lake,  being  in 
the  van  of  the  pioneers.  He  was  ordained  one  of  the  twelve 
apostles  at  Salt  Lake  City,  February  12,  1849,  and  from  that 
time  on  was  constantly  engaged  in  colonization  and  other  work 
of  the  Church.      He  died  at  Salt  Lake  City,  May  27,  1888. 

Before  proceeding  to  the  narrative  of  the  actual  journey  of 


284  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

the  exiled  Saints  across  the  plains,  from  Nauvoo  to  their  destined 
homes  on  the  shores  of  the  wonderful  salt  sea  en  the  Comb  of  the 
Continent,  it  may  be  well  to  go  back  and  consider  the  stirring 
events,  for  a  short  period,  previous  to  the  commencement  of  the 
exodus,  in  the  early  days  of  1846,  and  which  led  up  to  this  ever 
memorable  journey. 

Commencing  with  the  fall  of  the  preceding  year,  Erastus 
Snow  records  in  his  diary  the  following: 

Early  in  the  fall  of  1845,  the  spirit  of  persecution  and  mob- 
ocracy  began  again  to  rise  and  spread  itself  in  Hancock  and  the 
surrounding  counties,  and  our  enemies  were  determined,  at  all 
hazards,  to  route  and  drive  the  Saints  from  the  country;  and  they 
were  emboldened  in  their  reckless  course  from  the  fact  that  the 
murderers  of  the  Saints  were  cleared,  and  every  outrage  upon  us 
was  either  unnoticed  by  the  authorities  of  the  state,  or  if  they  did 
attempt  to  afford  us  any  protection,  they  were  not  sustained  by 
the  majority  of  the  people,  and  their  efforts  were  so  puerile  and 
ineffectual,  that  they  only  inspired,  the  mob  party  (or  anti-'  'Mor- 
mons," as  they  styled  themselves)  with  fresh  courage,  and  satis- 
fied them  of  the  willingness  of  both  the  people  and  the  rulers  to 
wink  at  their  proceedings. 

About  the  first  of  September,  they  assembled  in  large  bodies 
and  commenced  burning  houses,  goods,  stacks  of  hay  and  grain, 
killing  and  driving  off  cattle,  and  so  forth.  They  continued  burn- 
ing until  they  had  burned  out  nearly  all  the  branches  of  the 
Church  in  Hancock  County,  outside  of  Nauvoo. 

At  first  Sheriff  Backenstos,  who  was  a  friend  of  law  and  order, 
sought  to  raise  a  posse,  to  suppress  the  rioters,  from  the  inhabit- 
ants who  were  styled  by  the  Antis  (anti-' 'Mormons")  Jack 
"Mormons,"  because  they  sought  to  maintain  neutrality  between 
the  parties;  but  instead  of  succeeding  in  this  attempt,  he  was  pur- 
sued by  the  Antis  and  compelled  to  take  refuge  in  Nauvoo,  where 
he  summoned  the  inhabitants  as  a  posse  to  assist  him. 

Answering  immediately  to  his  call,  about  one  hundred  and 
sixty  of  us,  mounted  and  well-armed,  marched  forth  from  place  to 
place  until  the  rioters  were  entirely  routed  and  put  to  flight,  two 
or  three  being  killed  and  others  wounded;   and  the  brethren  who 


FROM  NAUVUO  To  SALT  LAKE.  2^5 

had  been  left  homeless  and  almost  friendless,  and  many  of  them 
sick,  were  gathered  up  and  brought  10  Nauvoo. 

When  the  inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  counties  saw  that 
the  Saints,  under  the  sheriff,  were  clearing  the  country  of  the 
rioters,  nine  of  the  surrounding  counties  were  assembled  by  their 
delegates  in  convention  and  pledged  the  aid  of  the  counties  repre- 
sented, to  assist  in  expelling  us  from  the  country,  giving  us  until 
the  following  spring  to  remove  voluntarily  and  avoid  the  further 
shedding  of  blood.  The  governor  also  sent  General  John  J.  Hard- 
ing with  a  company  of  militia  to  the  seat  of  war,  who,  with  his 
suite  of  officers,  instead  of  restoring  the  rights  of  the  oppressed, 
insisted  upon  our  entire  removal  from  the  country  as  the  only 
means  of  restoring  peace. 

Regarding  this  as  a  door  which  the  Lord  God  had  opened 
before  us  by  which  we  could  mak  j  a  peaceable  exit  *  *  it  was 
unanimously  resolved  in  the  councils  of  the  Church  to  adopt  the 
alternative  insisted  upon  by  our  enemies;  and  on  the  6th  of  Octo- 
ber it  was  presented  to  the  Church,  in  general  conference  assem- 
bled in  the  first  main  story  of  the  temple,  which  building,  being 
inclosed,  was  prepared  with  a  temporary  floor  and  seats  for  the 
occasion, and  it  was  voted  unanimously,  with  acclamation,  to  remove 
west  of  the  Rocky  mountains.  All  our  influence  and  means  should 
be  devoted  to  removing  this  entire  people  [or  all]  who  should  wish 
to  go. 

From  this  time,  increased  exertions  were  made  throughout 
the  Church  to  finish  the  temple,  that  we  might  enjoy  the  bene- 
fits and  attend  to  the  ordinances  thereof  during  the  coming  win- 
ter. About  the  first  of  December,  the  rooms  in  the  attic  story 
were  completed  and  prepared  for  the  washings  and  anointings, 
sealings  and  endowments,  and  dedicated  unto  the  Lord  for  that 
purpose. 

On  the  twelfth  of  December,  myself  and  wife,  Artimesia, 
received  the  first  ordinance  of  endowments,  and  were  called  to 
labor  and  administer  in  the  temple  from  that  time  forth;  and  I 
departed  not  from  the  temple,  day  or  night,  but  continued  in  the 
labors  and  duties  thereof — with  the  twelve  and  others  selected  for 
this  purpose— about  six  weeks.  Mrs.  Snow  continued  in  the 
female  department  about  a  month. 


286  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

January  23,  1846,  I  received,  with  Artimesia  and  Minerva, the 
sealings  and  further  endowments. 

The  Spirit,  power  and  wisdom  of  God  reigned  continually  in 
the  temple,  and  we  felt  satisfied  that  during  the  two  months  we 
occupied  in  the  endowment  of  the  Saints,  we  were  amply  paid 
for  all  our  labor  in  building  it. 

Persecution  and  individual  outrages  continued  to  be  practiced 
upon  us.  Numerous  attempts  were  made,  by  hatching  up  vex- 
atious suits  in  the  state  and  United  States  courts,  to  arrest  and  im- 
prison the  Twelve,  probably  with  the  intent  to  murder  them, as  they 
had  murdered  the  prophet  and  patriarch,  thinking  thereby  to  break 
up  and  scatter  the  Church;  for  by  this  time  there  began  to  be  a 
revulsion  of  feeling,  and  it  was  feared  and  rumored  that  an 
attempt  would  be  made  to  cut  off  our  retreat  to  an  Indian  country. 
It  was,  therefore,  resolved, about  the  first  of  February,  1846,  that 
the  authorities  of  the  Church,  and  as  many  brethren  as  could  be 
fitted  out  and  spared,  should  start  as  soon  as  possible  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Council  Bluffs,  via  Iowa  territory,  and  through  the  Pot- 
tawattamie nation  of  Indians,  and  that  the  balance  of  the  Saints 
follow  in  the  spring,  as  fast  as  they  could  get  ready. 

Accordingly,  the  work  of  the  temple — that  is,  the  endow- 
ments— ceased,  and  active  preparations  were  made  for  the  move. 
I  was  sent  to  Quincy  to  make  a  purchase  of  goods  for  the  trustees 
to  take  with  them  for  the  benefit  of  the  company.  On  my  return, 
being  directed  by  the  president  to  prepare  for  immediate  removal 
with  my  family,  I  effected  a  sale  of  as  much  of  my  household 
stuff  and  personal  property  as  possible,  at  a  great  sacrifice, 
gathered  up  what  teams  and  provisions  I  could,  and  started  on 
the  sixteenth  of  February,  leaving  my  building  and  real  estate  to 
the  amount  of  about  two  thousand  dollars  (as  did  also  the  most  of 
the  rest  of  the  company)  at  the  disposal  of  Brothers  Bobbett,  Hey- 
wood  and  Fullmer,  the  new  trustees,  elected  to  remain  and 
complete  the  lower  stories  of  the  temple,  attend  to  the  sale  of 
property,  and  wind  up  the  affairs  of  the  Church  in  Nauvoo;  and 
from  the  proceeds  of  such  sales,  to  assist  the  poor  in  following  us. 

The  place  of  rendezvous  for  the  company  was  in  the  timber  on 
the  bottoms  of  Sugar  creek,  about  eight  miles  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi river,  where  they  began  to  assemble  and  pitch  their  tents 


FROM  NAUVOO  TO  SALT  LAKE.  287 

about  the  sixth  of  February,  but  the  company  did  not  complete 
their  outfit  and  get  ready  to  start  until  the  first  day  of  March, 
during  most  of  which  time  we  had  quite  as  severe  winter  weather 
as  we  had  experienced  during  the  winter.  We  had  several  severe 
snow  storms,  and  the  weather  was  so  cold  that  the  Mississippi, 
which  had  been  open  so  that  most  of  the  company  had  ferried  it, 
closed  up,  so  that  the  last  of  the  teams  crossed  upon  the  ice. 

This  was  a  severe  time  for  the  women  and  children  at  the 
outset,and  would  have  staggered  the  resolution  of  any  other  people 
but  the  Saints;  but  theirs  was  the  fixed  and  immovable  trust 
in  the  Lord  our  God, and  rejoicing  all  the  day  long,  even  under  the 
most  adverse  circumstances.  When  crossing  my  teams  over  the 
river,  through  the  carelessness  of  the  boatman,  the  wagon  con- 
taining our  bedding,  clothing,  groceries  and  all  our  most  valuable 
articles,  was  capsized  into  the  water,  wetting  our  goods  and 
spoiling  much,  and  well-nigh  drowning  my  eldest  child,  who  was 
in  the  wagon  at  the  time;  but  I  made  the  best  I  could  of  the  matter, 
and  felt  glad  it  was  no  worse. 

(to  be  continued.) 


Do  The  Thing  You  Know  is   Right. 


(For  the  Improvement  Era.) 

Linger  not,  my  fallen  brother, 

In  the  dreary  vales  of  sin, 
Fires  within  thy  bosom  smother 

That  the  crown  of  life  may  win. 
Fan  these  fire  s  with  breath  of  purpoee; 

Turn  thy  face  toward  the  light; 
Try  again — the  Lord  will  help  you — 

Do  the  thing  you  know  is  right. 

0  my  brother,  be  not  weary 
Of  this  ceaseless,  raging  strife, 

Though  the  storm-cloud,  dark  and  dreary, 
Hover  o'er  thy  path  of  life. 


288  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

Far  beyond  the  darkling  storm-clouds 

Glows  a  brilliant  orb  of  light, 
And  the  God  of  all  the  ages 

Bids  thee  do  the  thing  that's  right. 

Sensuous  sins  have  robbed  thy  spirit 

Of  its  radiant  light  divine; 
Worldly  gods  torment  and  tear  it. 

Through  thy  worship  at  their  shrine. 
Awful  is  the  state  of  bondage 

That  thy  fondest  hopes  will  blight — 
You  can  never  be  a  freeman 

Till  you  do  the  thing  that's  right. 

Men  may  talk  of  worldly  glory, 

i^nd  the  dread  of  princely  power, 
They  may  fret,  and  fume,  and  bluster, 

Till  their  weaklings  cringe  and  cower; 
But  the  man  with  one  conviction 

That  is  born  of  truth  and  light, 
Leads  his  forces  on  to  conquer, 

When  he  wields  the  sword  of  right. 

In  the  name  of  all  the  heroes 

Who  have  fought  for  freedom's  cause, 
In  the  name  of  saints  and  sages, 

Who  received  God's  righteous  laws, 
In  the  name  of  bleeding  martyrs, 

And  the  hosts  of  angels  bright, 
I  demand  of  thee,  my  brother, 

Do  the  thing  you  know  is  right. 

Far  beyond  thy  ken  of  vision, 

Far  beyond  thy  fancy's  flights, 
Shines  the  sun  of  true  advancement 

O'er  a  vale  of  sweet  delights. 
Linger  not,  my  fallen  brother, 

In  these  dreary  vales  of  night — 
Burst  thv  fetters!  "Be  a  hero!" 

Do  the  thing  you  know  is  right. 

Alfred  Osmond. 

Pkovo.  U.ah 


The  Gospel  Preached  for  the  First  Time  to 
the  Ainu. 

BY   ELBERT  I).  THOMAS,  PRESIDENT  OF   THE  JAPAN  MISSION. 


Elder  M.  Stewart  Marriott,  of  Ogden,  Utah,  who  is  now 
presiding  over  the  Sapporo  field  of  the  Japan  Mission,  has  just 
completed  a  missionary  journey  which  is  indeed  unique  and  differ- 
ent from  the  average,  and  one  which  I  think  is  worthy  of  note  by 
those  who  are  not  with  us  here,  as  the  gospel  has,  during  this 
journey,  been  preached  for  the  first  time  to  another  of  the  world's 
peoples— the  Ainu. 

The  Ainu,  improperly,  but  perhaps  better  known  in  the  West 


AINU   GIRLS. 


290 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


as  the  "Ainos,"  are  a  very  peculiar  race, now  inhabiting  only  parts 

of  the  island  or  Yezo,  in  Northern  Japan.     Formerly,  just  as  our 

American  Indians  occupied  most  of 
America  in  a  way,  just  so  were  the 
Ainu  spread  over  most  of  the  Japan- 
ese archipelago.  They  are,  accord- 
ing to  the  best  authority  of  today, 
considered  the  aborigines  of  Japan. 
The  present  Japanese  race  had  its 
beginning  in  the  islands  in  the  south- 
eastern part  of  the  present  empire, 
and  they  have  gradually  pressed  the 
Ainu  back  toward  the  north  and  east, 
until  now  they  live  in  a  completely 
subjugated  condition  in  the  far  north 
of  Japan. 

The  Japanese  and  the  Ainu  kept 
up  a  continuous  war  for  many  hun- 
dreds of  years,   and  it  was  not  until 

the  eighteenth  century  that  the  Ainu  was  completely  conquered. 

Just  as  America  is  marked  from  coast  to  coast  with  Indian  names, 

to  a    certain  extent   have   the  Ainu 

left    their    names    in    the    different 

parts  of  Japan.      So  far,  however,  as 

blood  is  concerned,  the  Japanese  have 

been  but  little,  if  at  all,  affected  by 

the  Ainu  influence.  The  simple  reason 

is  that  the  half-breeds  die  out. 

The  Ainu  is  the  hairiest  race  of 

people  in  the  whole  world,   and  their 

heavy  black  beards  and  hirsute  arms 

and  legs  are  a  complete  contrast   to 

the   smooth,  hairless  bodies  of   their 

Japanese  masters. 

Chamberlain,     an    authority    on 

things  Japanese,  says: 


AINU  MAN  EATING. 

The  long  stick  is  used  to 
keep  his  beard  out  of  his  food. 


AINU   HUT. 


They  fthe  Ainu]  are  of  sturdy  build,  and  distinguished  by  a  flatten- 


THE  GOSPEL  PREACHED  TO   THE  AINU.  291 

ing  of  certain  bones  of  the  arms  and  legs  [the  "humerus"  and  the 
"tibia"]  which  have  been  observed  nowhere  else  except  in  the  remains  of 
some  of  the  cave-men  of  Europe.  The  women  tatoo  moustaches  on  their 
upper  lip,  and  geometrical  patterns  on  their  hands.  [All  that  I  have 
seen,  tatoo  their  lower  lip  with  a  like  mark,  but  Mr.  Chamberlain,  I  sup" 
pose,  would  rightly  object  to  calling  the  mark  on  the  lower  lip  a  mous- 
tache.] Both  sexes  are  of  a  mild,  amiable  disposition,  but  are  terribly 
addicted  to  drunkenness.  They  are  filthily  dirty,  the  practice  of  bath- 
ing being  altogether  unknown.  [Although  now  the  Japanese  cleanliness 
is  doing  much  to  overcome  this  bad  custom.] 

The  Ainu  were  till  recently  accustomed  to  live  on  the  produce  of  the 
chase  and  the  sea  fisheries.  But  both  these  sources  of  subsistence  have 
diminished  since  the  settling  of  the  island  by  the  Japanese.  Conse- 
quently they  no  longer  hold  up  their  heads  as  in  former  days;  and  not- 
withstanding the  well  intentioned  efforts  of  a  paternal  government,  they 
seem  doomed  to  disappear,  though  it  is  true  that  during  the  last  dozen 
years  their  number  has  remained  stationary  at  about  fifteen  thousand. 
Their  religion  is  a  simple  nature-worship.  The  sun,  wind,  ocean,  bear, 
etc.,  are  deified  under  the  title  of  kamui  [god],  and  whittled  sticks  are 
set  up  in  their  honor. 

While  Elder  Marriott  has  never  been  without  money,  and  has 
always  been  within  reach  of  the  Japanese  excellent  telegraph 
system,  which  reaches  every  village  in  the  most  sparsely  settled 
part  of  the  country,  and  by  means  of  which,  for  seven  and  a  half 
cents  (C.  0.  D.,  if  necessary)  he  can  communicate  with  the  mission 
office,  one  thousand  miles  away,  and  receive  money  by  return  wire 
in  less  than  two  hours,  still,  during  much  of  his  journey  he  has — 
in  practice,  at  least — traveled  without  purse  or  scrip.  I  must 
take  back  the  scrip  part  of  that  statement,  for  besides  his  bag,  he 
has  taken  with  him  a  magic  lantern,  with  a  full  set  of  life  of 
Christ  pictures,  pictures  of  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith,  and  some 
of  the  other  Church  leaders,  temples  and  scenes  from  Utah,  and 
hundreds  of  tracts  and  books. 

In  all,  he  has  traveled  about  eight  or  nine  hundred  miles,  and 
has  been  gone  about  six  weeks.  During  his  journey  he  has  trav- 
eled by  rail,  by  stage-coach,  on  horse,  in  jinrikisha,  by  boat,  both 
on  the  the  ocean  and  on  rivers,  and  walked  far  enough  in  some  of 
his  day's  journeys  for  some  of  us  to  call  to  mind  some  of  the 
experiences  in  President  Woodruff's  Leaves  from  my  Journal.    He 


292  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

has  eaten  the  foods  of  the  oriental,  the  occidental  and  the  barba- 
rian, and  in  his  letters  he  declares  that  all  have  been  feasts.  He 
has  stayed  at  country  houses,  fishermen's  villages,  and  slept  in 
good  Japanese  hotels.  At  one  hotel  he  stayed  for  a  night  and  a 
day,  ate  three  meals,  partly  foreign  and  partly  Japanese  food,  the 
foreign  part  being  beefsteak,  eggs  and  fish,  for  fifty  sen  (twenty- 
five  cents) — which  shows  (now  that  no  election  campaign  is  on) 
that  low  prices  do  not  necessarily  mean  a  low  scale  of  living. 
Fresh  fish,  good  beefsteak  and  fresh  egg  meals  during  the  day, 
and  at  night  a  bed  with  bedding  made  of  the  best  cotton,  and  cov- 
ered with  silk  instead  of  ordinary  quilting,  and  clean  sheets  every 
night,  for  twenty-five  cents  a  day  is  just  as  good  as  the  same  kind 
of  food  and  the  same  bed  somewhere  else  for  five  or  six  dollars 
a  day,  if  you  let  what  you  enjoy  be  the  standard  instead  of  what 
it  costs. 

But  to  let  Elder  Marriott  tell  his  own  story,  according  to  the 
letters  I  have  received  from  him: 

"I  suppose  you  will  wonder  what  I  have  been  doing.  I  will 
have  to  tell  you  about  last  week,  for  it  certainly  has  been  an 
interesting  one.  Brother  Matsuki  [a  young  Japanese  believer 
who  traveled  part  of  the  way  with  Elder  Marriott,  and  helped  him 
in  some  of  the  meetings  which  he  held — he  did  not  go  as  a 
regular  companion  to  Elder  Marriott,  but  went  on  business  for  his 
father]  and  I  left  Monday  morning,  and  stayed  in  Asahikawa  over 
night,  where  we  talked  with  several  of  the  friends  whom  Elders 
J.  Preston  Cutler  and  Robert  H.  Barton  have  made  there.  Then 
we  went  to  Nayoru,  where  we  met  Brother  Osaki.  In  that  town  I 
was  invited  to  play  the  violin  in  a  benefit  concert,  and  in  return 
for  this,  they  let  m^  speak  to  the  audience  and  give  out  tracts. 
In  this  meeting  alone  I  distributed  five  hundred  tracts,  and  had 
splendid  talks  with  many  of  the  people  afterwards.  The  next 
night  we  went  to  an  Ainu  village  and  showed  our  magic  lantern 
pictures  to  about  one  hundred  old  people  and  many  children, 
after  which  we  talked  with  them  for  about  two  hours  on 
religion.  We  had  a  wild  d^ck  supper,  our  breakfast  and  a  bed 
here,  and  it  cost  us  nothing.  We  held  meetings  in  the  school- 
houses  in  the  villages  around  here,  with  an  average  attendance  of 
about  two  hundred.  ***** 


THE  GOSPEL  PREACHED  TO  THE  AINU.  293 

"Tonight  I  decided  to  try  a  street  meeting,  so  I  went  down 
with  my  violin  and  played  it.  The  people  came  together  in  a 
hurry.  One  man  tried  to  get  them  to  go  home,  but  we  kept 
them  there,  though  it  was  very  cold.  P.rother  Matsuki  spoke 
first.  About  twenty-five  grown  people  were  there  when  1  spoke. 
They  came  from  all  over.  I  stopped  for  fear  too  many  would  come 
out.  I  told  them  about  the  Bible  and  God.  It  has  been  a- new 
experience  for  me.  I  believe  that  I  have  held  the  first  meeting 
among  the  Ainu  people  by  our  Church,  and  probably  the  first 
street  meeting  in  Japan.  1  believe  the  elders  could  go  out  preach- 
ing without  money,  and  have  good  success,  but  it  is  much  harder 
than  staying  in  Sapporo.  In  the  first  place,  a  person  cannot  get 
to  sleep  long  enough,  and  when  he  does  get  to  sleep  his  feet  stick 
out  on  the  further  end  of  the  bed,  giving  the  cold  breezes  a  good 
start  up  his  body.  *  *  *  * 

"We  got  in  Taikimura  tonight,  after  walking  twenty- seven 
miles.  We  were  pretty  tired,  as  the  roads  were  sandy,  and  we 
carried  our  grips  part  way.  Last  night  we  stayed  with  ten  or  fifteen 
fishermen.  The  floor  was  so  hard  that  my  bones  still  ache.  *  * 
I  have  been  here  six  days  now,  and  as  soon  as  a  boat  comes  I  will 
leave  for  Yubari.  The  boat  may  not  come  for  three  or  four  days, 
but  I  have  got  to  wait,  or  walk  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  or 
go  out  of  my  way  a  hundred  or  two  miles.  I  am  having  a  fine 
time  here,  I  am  staying  with  Sister  Kumagai  and  her  mother  and 
niece.  They  are  an  ideal  family.  *  *  *  I  have  tracted  the 
whole  town,  and  announced  meetings,  but  I  don't  know  how  they 
will  come  out  yet.  Brother  Matsuki  will  leave  me  here.  *  * 
I  am  quite  a  rare  man  up  in  these  parts,  that  is,  they  have  never 
seen  anybody  quite  so  large  before.  *  *  *  It  is  now  2:80,  and 
the  next  village  is  ten  miles  away,  so  1  have  decided  to  stay  here 
over  night.  I  came  twenty-three  miles  today,  but  rode  a  horse 
half  way.  I  decided  to  go  without  dinner  and  ride  a  horse,  and  it 
would  only  be  thirty-five  sen  difference  and  be  much  easier.  Any- 
way, breakfast  and  supper  are  plenty.  It  is  surprising  how  they 
feed  a  person  up  here.  I  was  surprised  at  the  cheapness.  Up 
Asahikawa  way  it  was  all  eighty-five  sen  a  day,  but  down  this 
beach  it  is  fifty  and  sixty  sen  a  day — fine  hotel,  too.  *  *  * 
This  is  a  pretty  place,  down  this  eastern  shore.     There  are  small 


294  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

towns  all  along,  and  the  people  seem  clean  and  have  quite  a  bit 
of  money,  by  the  looks  of  their  houses,  and  the  way  they  drink 
sake  (Japanese  wine).  About  one-third  of  the  people  are  Ainu. 
Talk  about  your  hairy  people — one  of  them  could  easily  spare  sev- 
eral of  us  sleek-faced  people  a  moustache  and  beard,  and  still  have 
enough  left  for  an  ordinary  man.  They  farm  and  fish  mostly.  The 
women  take  the  produce  to  market  on  dandy  little  pacer  horses. 
*  *  *  They  seem  a  lazy  people.  Last  night  I  rode  with  one  on 
horseback  for  several  miles,  and  tried  to  get  him  to  tell  me  all 
about  his  people,  but  he  would  not  tell  very  much.  However, 
he  told  me  what  they  did,  and  said  they  "nihonjin  wo  kirau,'' 
(hate  the  Japanese).  They  all  understand  Japanese,  and  they 
can  grasp  my  speech  better  than  the  Japanese  can.  They  all, 
without  exception,  speak  Japanese  as  well  as  their  own  language. 
They  even  use  Japanese  when  talking  among  themselves." 

Tokyo,  Japan,  November,  iqio. 


Apostrophe  to  Water. 

(For  the  Improvement  Era.) 

BY  ELDER    JOSEPH  E.  ROBINSON,    PRESIDENT    OF  THE    CALIFORNIA   MISSION. 


I. 

Water! 
Thou  nectar  of  the  immortals! 
Sustainer  and  purifier  of  living  things. — 
Upon  thy  face  first  moved  the  breath  of  God, 
And  the  world  was  born  of  thee, 
And  girdled  with  thy  swaddling  bands. 
Thy  mists  did  freshen  Mother  Earth 
And  make  her  fit  abode  for  man; 
And  when  he  grew  unfit  for  her, 
Thou  didst  wash  away  with  floods 
The  stubborn  race,  and  baptized  anew 
The  home  of  embryotic  gods. 


APOSTROPHE  TO  WATER.  295 

Thy  waves  did  lave  the  "Tree  of  Life,'' 

And  gladden  Eden's  garden; 

Whilst  Adam,  with  patriarchs 

Who  lived  a  thousand  years, 

Quaffed  thee  for  their  drink, 

And  asked  no  cups  beside. 

And  Noah,  with  the  mighty  ark 

And  all  its  precious  burden, 

Was  upborne  upon  thy  breast 

To  peace  and  safetv. 

Again,  when  death  did  threaten 

From  Horeb's  rock,  thy  gracious  flood 

Burst  forth  by  power  of  God 

And  saved  his  chosen  flock. 

Beneath  thy  crystal  tide, 

The  Christ  was  laid 

"All  righteousness  to  fulfil,"  and  Saints 

Were  born  anew  from  thy  chaste  womb, 

Their  sins  all  washed  away. 

By  thy  hand  the  mighty  king— 

The  ice— carves  out  the  continents, 

And  paints  pictures  on  the  window  pane. 

The  Niagara's  wondrous  force, 

The  dewdrop's  gentleness — 

The  Colorado's  deepest  chasm, 

And  the  lines  of  tears  on  baby's 

Face,  alike  are  thine. 

II. 

Thou  dost  crown  the  oldest  hills 

With  locks  of  hoary  snow, 
And  gladden  all  the  fruitful  fields 

And  kiss  the  flowers  that  blow. 
For  thee  the  wilderness  doth  sing. 

And  barren  places  bear; 
And  ships  upon  thy  billows  ride 

In  peace  and  safety  there. 
And  in  the  mists  of  tears  and  rain 

God  sets  the  "Bow  of  Promise"  bright; 
And  Hope  is  made  alive  again, 

And  Faith  renews  her  fight. 


296  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

Oh,  who  would  turn  from  thee  to  rum? 

Rum,  with  its  deadly  blight, 
That  binds  the  soul  for  aye  to  come 

In  chains  of  endless  night! 
No  nectar  of  the  gods  art  thou,  oh  rum! 

But  Satan's  fatal  draught — 
Brewed  by  the  cunning  of  his  hand 

And  by  his  minions  quaffed. 
Thou  dost  not  come  from  "Tree  of  Life," 

But  Sodom's  hated  plain, 
And  washing  not  men's  sins  away, 

Reneweth  them  again. 
Rum  giveth  not  to  soul  and  eye 

Glad  tears  of  joy  and  hope; 
But  breaketh  hearts  and  damneth  lives, 

With  fruits  for  hangman's  rope. 
And  so,  in  tears   of  bitterness, 

Steeped  down  in  wormwood's  gall, 
Both  Hope  and  Faith  are  crucified, 

And  Hell  would  conquer  all! 

III. 

Fell  demon  bold,  unloose  thy  hold 

From  my  loved  country's  throat! 
Break  loose  thy  bands, 
Let  fall  thy  hands — 

Nor  on  her  writhings  gloat! 
For  she  shall  be  among  the  free 

Who  put  their  trust  in  God, 
Who  drink  their  fill, 
Not  from  the  still, 

But  from  the  Rock  and  Sod. 

Los  Angeles,  California. 


The  Nephite  Shepherd. 

A  Book  of  Mormon  Story,  in  Two  Parts. 


BY    ARTHUR    V.    WATKINS. 


Part  Two. 
III. — Plans  of  the  Secret  Band  Revealed. 

The  next  day  the  city  was  more  in  an  uproar  than  ever.  The 
streets  were  thronged  with  people. hastening  to  the  temple  grounds. 
The  flat-topped  roofs  were  covered  with  spectators,  viewing  the 
strange  sight;  and  from  every  door  and  window,  insulting  taunts 
and  coarse  jokes  were  hurled  at  those  in  the  street. 

The  plans  of  the  secret  band  were  partially  revealed.  Lamoni, 
by  chance,  had  overheard  a  remark  of  one  of  the  captains,  to  the 
effect  that  a  slaughter  was  planned  for  those  who  believed  in  the 
tradition  that  Christ  should  be  born.  From  other  things  he  had 
seen  and  heard,  and  from  the  admission  of  officers  themselves, 
when  confronted  with  the  information,  he  knew  that  his  worst 
fears  would,  perhaps,  be  realized. 

Discovering  the  fact  early  in  the  morning,  he  had,  with  the 
assistance  of  other  officers  of  the  church,  warned  the  people  of 
God  of  the  impending  danger,  appointed  the  temple  as  a  gather- 
ing place,  and  hence  the  strange  sights. 

Families  were  torn  asunder — the  sons  and  daughters  of  some 
parents  turning  against  those  who  gave  them  birth.  No  pity  was 
to  be  shown  the  aged  and  infirm,  the  sick  and  the  helpless, nor  even 
the  infant  children  of  the  condemned — all  alike  were  to  suffer. 
The  believers  in  the  tradition  must  be  wiped  out,  root  and  branch. 

The  grounds  surrounding  the  temple  presented  a  pitiful  sight. 


298  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

Old  men  and  women,  almost  ready  for  the  grave,  were  there 
consoling  each  other.  Many  marvelous  instances  of  divine  inter- 
vention, in  their  younger  days,  were  related.  Middle-aged  fathers 
and  mothers,  with  crying  babes  in  arms,  were  there,  too.  Strip- 
ling boys  and  blushing  maidens,  caring  for  their  younger  brothers 
and  sisters,  added  confusion  to  the  scene.  Priests  and  teachers  of 
the  church  were  laboring  diligently  to  restore  order  out  of  the 
confusion.  They  comforted  and  gave  fresh  hope  to  the  despairing, 
pointing  thern  to  God,  as  their  protector. 

Meanwhile,  as  the  day  aged,  another  multitude  of  an  entirely 
different  nature  was  gathering.  Men, armed  with  axes  and  swords, 
and  wearing  masks,  were  assembling  in  front  of  the  Hall  of 
Justice.  Surrounding  these  men  was  the  remainder  of  the  popula- 
tion of  Zarahemla,  all  thirsting  for  the  blood  of  those  huddled  to- 
gether at  the  temple. 

Palestine  had  her  slaughter  of  the  innocents,  France,  later, 
her  St.  Bartholomew's  massacre;  theNephite  republic  was  about  to 
have  the  two  in  one.  Never  before,  nor  since,  were  so  many  inno- 
cent lives  placed  on  the  altar  for  conscience  sake.  Will  the  blow 
fall?  Will  the  sacrifice  be  made?  The  history  of  the  next  few 
hours  will  tell! 

IV. — Zira  Entrapped. 

To  the  governor's  home  once  more.  Zira  was  at  home  anx- 
iously awaiting  her  father's  return.  Never  before  had  a  day 
seemed  so  long;  never  before  had  she  felt  so  much  the  absence  of 
her  father  and  Lamoni.  She  began  now  to  realize  her  position.  The 
only  hope  she  had  for  protection  was  from  Zemnarihah.  Until  now,she 
had  forgotten  the  appointment  in  the  garden,  so  overwhelmed  had 
she  been  with  the  events  of  the  day,  and  the  terrible  things  yet  to 
come.  The  sun  was  very  near  the  horizon,  so  she  ran  quickly  into 
the  garden,  and  as  she  came  near  to  the  meeting  place,  she  saw 
the  figure  of  a  man. 

"Zemnarihah!"  she  cried,  and  rushed  to  him.  Just  as  she  was 
throwing  herself  into  his  arms, he  quickly  stepped  to  one  side.  She 
fell  into  the  arms  of  another.  Quick  as  a  flash  a  hood  was  thrown 
over    her  head,    and    her   hands   were    tied    behind  her.      Two 


THE  NEPHITE  SHEPHERD.  299 

men  seized  and  carried  her  to  their  hiding  place,  Zemnarihah 
following. 

"Now,  my  good  fellows,"  said  he,  "the  difficult  part  is  over. 
Wait  here  until  it  is  dark,  then  make  haste.  Take  the  secret  pas- 
sage out  of  the  city  to  the  meeting  place.  Be  careful  with  her, 
and  see  that  she  makes  no  outcry.  Deliver  her  safely,  and  the 
gold  is  yours." 

Commanding  them  thus,  he  left  them  with  their  charge. 

V. — The  Plot  Thwarted  by  the  Strange  Light. 

Far  across  the  valley  of  Sidon,  the  sun  was  gradually  sinking. 
It  appeared  only  a  hand  high  to  the  hundreds  of  thousands 
watching  it,  and  there  it  seemed  to  remain  an  age,  as  if  fearing 
to  withdraw  the  light  that  held  the  demons  of  hell  in  check. 
Slowly  the  space  between  mountain  and  planet  grew  smaller,  until 
they  kissed.  Shadows  danced  across  the  valley.  To  the 
thousands  watching  breathlessly  from  the  temple,  these  very 
shadows  took  the  shapes  of  mocking  devils.  They  increased.  The 
wishful  sighs  of  more  than  ten  thousand  hearts  ascended  to  heaven. 
The  shining  planet  was  now  a  semi-circle.  Every  minute  seemed 
an  age.  The  rim  was  barely  visible,  the  shadows  grew  deeper  and 
darker.  It  faded  hy  heart-beats,  almost  audible,  so  still  was  that 
host.  It  was  gone!  Every  head  bowed  in  supplication;  not  a  sound 
escaped  the  multitude,  yet  the  prayers  ascended.  The  death-like 
stillness  continued  a  minute — five — fifteen — thirty. 

Like  a  thunderbolt  from  a  clear  sky,  the  blast  of  a  trumpet 
broke  the  grave-like  stillness.    It  was  the  signal  for  the  slaughter! 

A  mighty  shout  arose  from  the  oncoming  demons.  The 
trampling  of  feet  was  heard.  Instinctively  every  eye  in  the 
kneeling  multitude  turned  heavenward.  Glory  be  to  God  forever! 
Their  prayers  were  answered!  The  windows  of  heaven  were 
opened — everything  became  as  bright  as  noonday! 

On  a  sudden,  the  tramping  of  feet  ceased.  The  clanking  of 
steel  upon  the  pavement  rang  out,  and  that  mighty  host  of  would- 
be  butchers  fell  to  the  earth,  blinded  by  the  holy  light.  The  cry 
of  the  mob  died,  and  once  more  there  was  stillness. 

Faintly  at  first,  but  growing  in  volume,  rose  the  strains  of 


300  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

music  from  the  temple.  The  multitude  rose  to  its  feet,  with  the 
shout,  "Glory  be  to  God  forever!"  The  song  of  thanksgiving 
rose  and  swelled  as  the  waves  of  the  sea.  Many, overcome  by  their 
great  joy  and  the  Spirit,  were  carried  away  in  vision.  To  others 
the  heavens  were  opened,  the  glory  of  the  Almighty  revealed. 

And  thus  the  night  which  was  as  day  passed  rapidly. 

In  the  meantime,  while  one  multitude  was  rejoicing,  the 
other  was  lying  prostrate  on  the  earth.  The  fear  of  the  Lord, 
because  of  their  wickedness,  had  overcome  them.  After  the  first 
shock,  a  few  of  the  leaders  might  have  been  seen  sneaking  away 
from  their  fallen  companions.  Among  them  were  Giddianhi  and 
Zemnarihah,  instigators  of  that  terrible  plot  that  had  just  been 
thwarted. 

Fearing  that  the  vengeance  of  the  people  would  come  upon 
them,  these  wretches  quickly  departed  out  of  the  city,  making 
haste  to  get  to  their  mountain  dens  of  hiding  and  iniquity. 

VI. — Lamoni  Finds  and  Restores  Zira. 

Lamoni  was  almost  frantic.  He  ran  back  and  forth  among 
the  people, scanning  their  faces  on  his  way.  No,  she  was  not  there; 
no  one  had  seen  her  that  night.  Each  inquiry  brought  disappoint- 
ment.    Where  could  she  be? 

Returning  again  to  the  governor's  home,  he  searched  the 
house  from  roof  to  cellar;  but  all  was  as  still  as  a  tomb.  He 
called  loudly,  but  a  mocking  echo  was  the  only  answer.  Once 
more  he  determined  to  search  the  garden;  perhaps  he  might  have 
overlooked  some  secluded  spot.  He  hurried  here  and  there, 
searched  among  the  shrubs,  ran  through  the  flower  beds,  looked 
in  every  corner — but  all  in  vain. 

He  was  on  the  point  of  giving  up  in  despair,  when  a  glance 
over  the  hedge,  separating  the  garden  from  the  public  park, 
revealed  an  object  that  made  his  heart  leap  with  joy.  One  bound, 
and  he  was  by  her  side.  Tearing  the  covering  from  her  eyes,  he 
exclaimed, 

"Zira!" 

"Oh,  God!  why  must  I  be  tormented  by  these?"  She  gave  a 
start.    "Lamoni!" 


THE  NEPSITE  SHEPHERD. 


mil 


"Speak,  Zira!     Why  do  I  find  you  here?" 

"Oh,  but  the  light!" 

"Yes,  Zira,   God  is  merciful — the  prophecy  is  being  fulfiled!" 

"After  a  short  explanation,  he  led  her  to  the  house,  where  a 
joyful  surprise  was  in  store  for  them;  the  governor  had  just 
returned. 

"Father!"  she  exclaimed,  as  he  pressed  her  to  his  bosom. 
"Thank  God  you  are  safe!" 

VII  .—The  Nephite  Shepherd  Born. 

It  was  now  near  morning.  Lamoni,  the  governor  and  Zira 
wended  their  way  to  the  temple,  to  join  with  the  multitude  in 
songs  of  thanksgiving  and  praise.  At  the  top  of  the  marble  steps 
leading  to  the  temple  door,  they  stood,  side  by  side,  the  holy  light 
of  heaven  illuminating  their  faces. 

"Look!"  said  Lamoni,  pointing  to  the  east,  "another  day  is 
about  to  dawn — the  day  of  days,  when  Christ,  our  Nephite  Shep- 
herd— aye,  the  world's  Shepherd — shall  be  born!" 

All  faces  once  more  were  turned — not  to  the  west,  but  to  the 
east.     In  the  place  of  doubt,  there  was  now  a  living  faith. 

As  the  sun  rose  into  view,  the  3acred  strains  of  "Hosanna" 
came  from  the  temple,  the  gazing  host  took  it  up,  and  made  the 
earthring  with  the  joyful  shout  of  "Hosanna!  Hosanna!  Hosanna!'' 
And  the  voices  of  a  heavenly  choir  seemed  to  echo,  "Glory  to  God 
in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward  men!" 

[the  end.] 


*    * &   r^ 

J58S£?^?$* 

?k  ■ 

•            •  * 

Pen  Pictures  of  the  Holy  Land, 

From  Dan  to  Beersheba. 


BY   HAMILTON  GARDNER. 


IV.— Easter  at  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre. 

If  we  followed  the  route  taken  by  our  Master  after  his 
betrayal,  we  wouli  go  from  Gethsemane  to  the  Jugdment  Hall  and 
(omitting  the  visit  to  Herod)  follow  the  Via  Dolorosa  to  the  Church 
of  the   Holy  Sepulchre.     We  have  at  last  arrived  at   the   most 


THE  CHURCH   OF  THE  HOLY   SEPULCHRE. 
The   crowds  are  looking  down  into  the  courtyard  at  the  Holy  Fire. 

important  of  Jerusalem's  landmarks.  This  church,  which  was 
begun  by  Constantine,  and  has  been  destroyed  and  rebuilt  at  va- 
rious times  since,  is  supposed  to  occupy  the  site  of  the  garden  of 


PEN  PICTURES  OF  THE  HOLY  LAND.  203 

Joseph  of  Arimathsea,  Christ's  grave,  and  Golgotha.  Whether  it 
really  does  so  or  not  is,  and  has  long  been,  a  matter  of  dispute. 
But  it  is  the  i.nal  goal  of  all  Christian  pilgrims,  and  the  center  of 
the  religious  worship  in  the  Holy  City. 

The  courtyard  of  the  church  is  always  full  of  hucksters  and 
peddlers,  who  do  a  brisk  trade  in  crosses,  rosaries,  beads,  candles 
and  holy  pictures.  The  Church  properly  consists  of  two  main 
parts,  a  circular-domed  building,  covering  the  sepulchre,  and  a 
rectangular  church  built  over  the  garden.  The  exterior  is  any- 
thing but  beautiful.  The  stone  is  dull,  rough  and  weather-beaten. 
But  the  interior  more  than  makes  up  for  the  simplicity  of  the  outside. 
I  remember  it  as  a  mass  of  twinkling  candles,  gold  and  silver 
lamps  and  candelebra,  and  richly  decorated  pictures.  The  richness 
and  gorgeousness  of  the  decorations  are  amazing. 

Some  steps  lead  from  the  entrance  up  to  Golgotha,  the  place 
of  the  crucifixion.  A  marble  floor  now  covers  the  rock,  but  three 
holes  show  where  the  crosses  stocd.  Over  these  the  ceiling  is 
completely  covered  with  gold  and  silver  lamps.  Behind  them  is  a 
golden  sun  about  six  feet  in  diameter,  whose  rays  extend  in  all 
directions.  A  picture  image  of  the  Virgin  Mary  also  deserves 
mention.  She  wears  a  golden  crown  studded  with  jewels,  her 
breast  fairly  blazes  with  precious  stones,  and  her  fingers  are  cov- 
ered with  diamond  rings.  Thus  have  misguided  Christians  deco- 
rated the  place  where  their  Master  was  crucified  as  a  blasphemer 
and  a  criminal.  Never  did  precious  metal  appear  so  cheap  and 
so  gaudy. 

The  grave  of  Jesus  was  a  sepulchre — a  sort  of  rock  tomb, 
with  a  shelf  on  one  side  and  a  rock  to  cover  the  opening.  A  mag- 
nificent marble  structure  now  covers  the  burial  place.  One  passes 
through  a  little  room  called  the  Chapel  of  the  Angels,  and  stoop- 
ing through  a  low  door,  enters  the  sepulchre  proper.  On  one  side 
is  the  shelf,  where  it  is  supposed  Christ's  body  lay  for  three  days. 
Now  it  is  all  covered  with  marble,  and  ever  burning  lamps  of  gold 
and  silver  hang  above  it.  The  pilgrims  approach  this  shelf  on 
their  knees,  fervently  kiss  it,  spread  out  shawls  and  kerchiefs  on 
it,  and  the  priest  sprinkles  these  articles  with  holy  water  and 
henceforth  they  are  regarded  as  sacred  relics. 

There  are   many  other  traditional  sites  of  Biblical  events  in 


304  IMPR 0  VEM  EK  T  ERA . 

the  Church  of  the  Sepulchre,  but  only  a  few  are  worth  mentioning, 
and  that  merely  to  give  an  idea  of  what  is  told  to  the  pilgrims.  A 
part  of  the  pillar  to  which  Christ  was  bound  when  he  was  scourged 
is  shown.  It  is  encased  in  marble,  so  the  pilgrims,  being  unable  to 
kiss  the  pillar  itself,  touch  it  with  a  stick,  which  they  push 
through  an  opening  in  the  marble,  and  kiss  the  end  of  the  stick. 
In  one  part  of  the  church  is  a  stone  ball.  This  is  actually  stated 
to  be  the  center  of  the  earth,  and  the  poor,  ignorant  pilgrims 
devoutly  prostrate  themselves  before  it  and  kiss  it.  In  a  cave, 
below  the  Church,  Helena,  the  mother  of  Constantine  is  supposed 
to  have  found  the  true  cross.  Three  were  found,  and,  being  at  a 
loss  as  to  which  was  Christ's,  she  placed  three  sick  men  on  them. 
One  was  instantly  healed,  so  she  knew  the  cross  he  touched  to  be 
the  true  one. 

As  for  the  spirit  manifest  by  Christians  in  the  church,  it  is 
vastly  different  from  what  would  be  expected  in  a  place  they  should 
regard  as  sacred  and  holy  above  all  others.  Among  the  different 
sects  there  is  a  continual  wrangle  and  dispute.  An  example  of 
their  disunity  is  shown  in  a  certain  window  which  has  not  been 
cleaned  for  fifty  years, because  of  the  jealousy  the  attending  monks 
bear  toward  each  other.  So  it  was  necessary  for  the  Sultan  of 
Turkey,  a  Moslem,  to  arbitrarily  prescribe  the  rights  of  each 
church.  But  even  that  is  not  sufficient.  On  every  holiday  Turk- 
ish soldiers  must  be  stationed  In  the  church  to  preserve  order.  At 
Easter,  twelve  hundred  can  be  found  there,  armed  and  ready  for 
any  emergency.  I  saw  one  fight  break  out  in  the  crowded  court- 
yard, between  Greek  and  Russian  pilgrims,  and  the  soldiers  stopped 
it  by  simply  clubbing  both  factions  down  with  their  muskets.  It 
is  such  occurrences  that  make  the  Jews  and  Mohammedans  of  Jeru- 
salem look  down  on  the  Christians  with  contempt,  and  that  not 
unjustifiably. 

I  was  fortunate  in  being  in  the  Holy  City  during  Easter  week. 
At  this  time  the  most  important  religious  customs  are  observed, 
and  the  city  is  crowded  with  pilgrims.  Among  all  others  the  Rus- 
sians are  most  noticeable.  These  poor,  simple-minded  children  of  the 
steppes  realize  a  life-long  desire  in  spending  two  or  three  months 
in  Palestine.  All  their  journeys  are  performed  on  foot,  and  they 
suffer  untold  hardships  and  privations.      But  they  are  ever  willing 


PEN  PICTURES  OF  THE  HOLY  LAND.  305 

to  offer  their  hard-earned  means  to  the  many  shrines  throughout 
the  country.  Advantage  is  taken  of  their  ignorant  faith  and 
credulity,  they  are  told  the  most  absurd  and  ridiculous  stories, 
and  as  a  result  are  plundered  and  rohbed. 

On  the  Friday  before  Easter  I  witnessed  the  ceremony  of  the 
washing  of  feet.  On  a  raised  platform  in  the  courtyard  of  the 
Church  of  the  Sepulchre,  the  Greek  patriarch  washed  the  feet  of 
twelve  bishops,  in  imitation  of  Christ  washing  the  apostles'  feet. 
All  were  clad  in  richly  decorated  garments,  and  the  service  was  per- 
formed with  great  ceremony.  The  water  the  patriarch  used  was 
then  sprinkled  on  the  heads  of  the  pilgrims,  and  it  was  amusing, 
and  at  the  same  time  pathetic,  to  see  them  fight  for  this  holy 
water. 

But  the  great  event  of  Easter  week  is  the  Holy  Fire.  As 
early  as  the  afternoon  of  Good  Friday, pilgrims  begin  to  assemble  in 
the  Church  of  the  Sepulchre.  By  Saturday  noon  it  is  densely 
packed.  The  people  all  come  with  candles,  and  their  religious 
enthusiasm  and  zeal  have  reached  the  highest  point.  At  two 
o'clock  all  lights  in  view  of  the  pilgrims  are  extinguished  and  the 
Greek  Patriarch  enters  the  marble  structure  over  the  sepulchre  of 
Christ.  There,  amid  the  prayers  of  the  priests  and  the  suspense 
of  the  people,  he  is  supposed  to  receive  fire  from  heaven,  and  his 
lighted  candle  is  thrust  through  a  small  opening.  Immediately 
the  wildest  confusion  breaks  out.  Every  one  seeks  to  light  his 
candle  first.  The  crowd  becomes  a  pushing,  seething,  screaming 
mass  of  religious  fanatics.  The  heat  from  the  thousands  of  can- 
dles is  terrific.  People  lose  all  control  over  themselves  in  their 
religious  frenzy  over  the  possession  of  fire  from  heaven.  Women 
faint,  men  fight  and  many  are  often  injured.  Such  are  some  of 
the  scenes  enacted  in  what  to  the  Christians  should  be  the  Holy  of 
Holies— and  this  description  of  them  is  not  at  all  exaggerated. 

I  have  met  people  who  wished  they  had  never  seen  Jerusalem. 
The  hatred,  jealousy  and  sham  they  witnessed  there  was  so  differ- 
ent from  what  they  expected,  that  their  belief  was  seriously  shat- 
tered. And  that  is  only  perfectly  natural.  Very  little  of  the 
love  and  humility  of  which  Jesus  spoke  so  much  is  manifested  in 
the  actions  of  his  professed  followers  in  the  Holy  City  today.  The 
fact  of  an  apostasy  from  Christ's  simple  teachings  was  never  so 


306  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

strongly  impressed  upon  me  as  during  the  week  I  spent  in  Jeru- 
salem. In  order  to  have  one's  faith  strengthened  at  all  by  a  visit 
to  the  Holy  City,  one  must  be  able  to  look  through  the  actions  of 
these  misguided  people  and  try  to  view  Christ  and  his  teachings  as 
they  really  must  have  been.  On'  a  hillside  overlooking  the  city, 
away  from  the  quarrels  and  strifes  of  the  churches,  let  us  try  to 
imagine  the  lowly  Nazarene  preaching  doctrines  that  should  influ- 
ence the  world's  history  more  than  anything  else.  Picture  his 
suffering,  his  death,  his  resurrection,  the  struggles  of  his  early 
followers,  the  ultimate  triumph  of  his  teachings.  Who  would 
not  view  the  place  with  reverence,  where  such  events  occurred? 
Yes,  Jerusalem's  title  is  not  an  empty  one.  She  is,  and  ever  shall 
be,  the  Holy  City. 

(to  be  continued.) 

University  of  Utah. 


Zion,  Thou  Holy  One. 

'    (For  the  Improvement  Era.) 


Zion,  thou  holy  one,  bright  as  a  star,  . 
Lighting  the  nations,  thou  comest  afar; 
Thou  art  the  queenly  one  prophets  of  old 
Saw  the  far  future  divinely  unfold  ! 

Blossoms  of  virtue  spring  up  from  the  sod 
Into  the  path  where  thy  white  feet  have  trod. 
Oh,  may  thy  pilgrimage  here  never  cease; 
Hail  to  thy  purity,  hail  to  thy  peace! 

Soon,  in  the  midst  of  his  penitent  flock, 
Jesus,  the  risen  Redeemer,  shall  walk; 
Nations  shall  honor  thee,  crowned  at  his  side; 
He  is  the  Bridegroom,  and  thou  art  the  Bride! 

Theodore  E.  Curtis. 


The  First  Principle  of  the  Gospel. 


BY  J.    B.    TOMLINSON. 


What  is  faith?  Faith  is  belief,  with  a  hope  set  before  us. 
Example:  Jesus  said  to  his  apostles,  "Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and 
preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature ;  he  that  believeth  and  is  bap- 
tized shall  be  saved"  (Mark  16:  15,  16).  We  see,  then,  that  if 
we  believe  and  obey  the  gospel,  we  have  a  hope  set  before  us  that 
we  shall  be  saved.  Again,  (Hebrews  11:  6)  "But  without  faith 
it  is  impossible  to  please  him,  for  he  that  cometh  to  God  must 
believe  that  he  is,  and  that  he  isarewarder  of  them  that  diligently 
seek  him." 

Here  again  hope  is  set  before  belief,  which  makes  belief  faith. 
But  belief  without  hope  set  before  it  is  not  faith— no,  not  even  a 
dead  faith.  For  even  a  dead  faith  has  hope  set  before  belief.  But 
it  is  dead,  because  it  has  not  works. 

"For  faith,  if  it  have  not  works,  is  dead,  being  alone"  (James 
2:  17).  If  a  man  believes  the  gospel  and  does  not  obey  it  for  fear 
of  being  hated  by  the  world,  or  for  some  other  like  reason, his  faith 
is  dead,  because  it  has  not  works.  To  obey  the  gospel  makes  our 
faith  a  living  faith.  Faith  in  the  gospel  is  a  miraculous  faith, 
such  as  casting  out  devils,  speaking  in  new  tongues,  healing  the 
sick  (Mark  16:  17,  18;  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  Lecture  7:  3; 
Matthew  17:  20). 

Joseph  the  Prophet  said  we  must  have  some  knowledge  in 
order  to  have  perfect  faith.  We  must  know  from  strong  evidence 
that  Jesus'  promises  are  to  be  relied  upon.  If  so,  we  can  have 
strong  hope  that  if  we  comply  with  them  we  will  he  blessed 
as  he  has  promised  we  should  be.  For  his  promises  are  what  we 
build  our  house  of  hope  on,  and  they  are  the  rock  of  our  salvation; 


308  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

that  by  our  works  in  Christ's  name  we  may  cast  out  devils,  heal 
the  sick  and  remove  mountains,  if  we  doubt  not. 

There  is  another  kind  of  faith—  one  that  removes  mountains 
by  pick  and  shovel,  instead  of  words  only.  I  have  faith  that  I 
can  raise  a  crop  of  corn,  for  1  have  the  substance  of  a  crop  of 
corn  which  is  the  seed-corn— and  the  ground  such  as  raises  good 
corn— and,  besides,  I  know  just  how  to  do  it.  Therefore,  I  have 
faith  that  I  can  raise  a  good  crop  of  corn.  Again,  I  believe  that 
I  can  make  a  loaf  of  bread,  for  I  hav^e  the  substance  of  a  loaf  of 
bread — which  is  the  flour—  and  the  water  to  mix  the  flour  into 
dough.  I  have  the  salt  to  season  it,  the  yeast  to  raise  it,  the  fire 
to  bake  it,  and  I  know  just  how  to  do  it.  Paul  may  well  say  that 
faith  is  the  "substance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things 
not  seen;"  for  without  the  substance,  we  cannot  have  any  faith 
that  we  can  have  the  things  that  we  desire.  For  the  substance 
is  our  evidence  and  our  hope.  It  is  our  assurance  of  the  thing  we 
hope  for,  and  without  the  substance  we  cannot  have  any  assurance 
of  the  thing  we  desire  in  our  hearts. 

What  is  the  substance  of  eternal  life?  It  is  what  we  build 
our  hopes  upon,  which  is  the  promise  of  Jesus  Christ  to  us  of 
eternal  life,  through  obedience  to  the  gospel  (Mark  16:  16).  Life 
is  in  us,  if  we  believe  Christ;  for  he  declares  that  "he  that  believ- 
eth  on  the  Son  hath  everlasting  life"  (John  3:  36).  Jesus  says 
again:  "Verily,  I  say  unto  you,  he  that  heareth  my  words,  and 
believeth  on  him  that  sent  me,  hath  everlasting  life,  and  shall  not 
come  into  condemnation;  but  is  passed  from  death  unto  life"  (John 
5:  21).  Therefore  Jesus'  promise  to  us  through  the  gospel  is  our 
only  hope  of  eternal  life,  and  is  the  substance  of  eternal  life.  We 
know  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  for  Jesus  has  proved  himself  by 
signs  and  wonders;  and  the  fulfiling  of  the  prophecies  of  the 
holy  prophets  concerning  him,  which  is  sufficient  proof  to  us  that 
he  is  the  Son  of  God.  Therefore  his  promise  to  us  of  eternal 
life  is  a  sure  foundation  upon  which  to  build  our  house  of  hope, 
of  life  and  salvation.  The  Holy  Ghost  beareth  record  of  the 
Father  and  the  Son. 

Salt  Lakh  City,  Utah. 


Ere  Life's  Fleet  Hour  Has  Flown. 

(For  the  Improvement  Era.) 


Let  us  make  the  pathway  brighter, 

Strive  to  make  the  burden  lighter 
For  the  hearts  that  beat  so  closely  to  our  own; 

Let  our  life's  work  be  a  lesson, 

And  to  others  prove  a  blessing; 
Let  us  strive  for  this  ere  life's  brief  hour  has  flown. 

Let  us  trust  in  God  to  guide  us, 

And  in  times  of  danger  hide  us 
From  the  storms  that  might  assail  us  when  alone; 

For  his  mercy  faileth  never, 

And  bis  power  endures  forever. 
Let  us  think  of  him  ere  life's  fleet  hour  has  flown. 

Let  us  plant  for  future  reaping, 

Then  to  trust  in  God's  great  keeping 
Every  furrow  that  enwraps  the  seed  we've  sown; 

For  the  planting  time  is  with  us, 

But  the  reaping  God  will  give  us; 
Let  us  think  of  this  ere  life's  brief  hour  has  flown. 

Even  though  the  way  be  dreary, 

And  our  feet  sometimes  grow  weary, 
As  we  travel  on,  and  step  from  stone  to  stone; 

Yet  above  life's  mountains  rugged, 

With  their  peaks  and  cliffs  so  jagged, 
There  is  peace  and  rest  when  life's  fleet  hour  has  flown. 

Sarah  E.  Mitton. 


Logan,  Utah. 


President  Brigham  Young's  Excursion 
Party. 


BY  SOLOMON   F.    KIMBALL. 


II. 

The  party  attended  one  of  the  most  glorious  two-days'  con- 
ferences (September  14-15,  1864)  ever  held  in  Southern  Utah. 
Besides  this  spiritual  enjoyment,  they  feasted  upon  everything 
that  could  be  desired  in  the  shape  of  food.  The  younger  members 
of  the  president's  party,  at  the  close  of  this  spiritual  and  temporal 
feast,  were  up  and  doing.  The  first  thing  on  the  docket  was  a 
visit  to  the  Sugar-loaf,a  huge,  square  elevation  on  the  hills  back  of 
St.  George.  On  the  evening  before  the  visit,  a  picnic  party  was 
organized,  and  by  sunrise  the  ascent  was  made.      The  tug  of  war 


MOUTH   OF   JOHNSON'S  CANYON,  NEAR  ST.  GEORGE. 


312 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


GEN.    K.    T.  BURTON. 

Born    October  25,     1821. 
Died  November  11,  1907. 


came,  however,  after  the  summit  of  the  hill  was  reached. 
On  the  north  side  of  this  monster  rock,  some  enterprising 
individual  had  chiseled  out  from  the  base  to  the  top  of  it,  niches 
sufficiently  deep  to  allow  one  to  get  a  finger-  and  foot-hold.  The 
men,  with  considerable  difficulty,  managed  to  scale  the  summit,  but 
the  ladies  required  help.  Ropes  were  low- 
ered to  the  base,  some  forty  feet  below,  for 
this  purpose.  These  were  then  securely 
fastened  under  the  ladies  arms.  As  they 
climbed  up,  one  by  one,  the  men  above 
gently  pulled  on  the  ropes,  and  in  this  way 
the  ladies  were  assisted  to  the  summit. 

A  number  of  field  glasses  were  soon 
brought  into  requisition,  and  some  time 
was  spent  gazing  over  the  desolate  valley  of 
the  Rio  Virgen,  and  in  viewing  the  distant' 
craggy  peaks  surrounding.  It  was  plainly 
seen  from  this  eminence  that  St.  George 
is  really  and  truly  an  oasis  in  the  desert. 
While  contemplating  this  remarkable 
scene,  peculiar  feelings  passed  through  the 
mind.  One's  thoughts  naturally  reverted 
back  to  the  terrible  hardships  through 
which  the  Latter-day  Saints  had  passed  for 
the  cause  of  Zion,  and  a  spirit  of  sadness 
seemed  to  sink  deep  into  every  soul.  After 
several  songs  had  been  sung,  and  a  prayer 
offered, the  company  enjoyed  their  luncheon. 
The  Sugar-loaf  visitors  then  returned  to 
St.  George  in  time  to  accompany  the  presi- 
dent's party  to  Santa  Clara,  six  miles  west.  Here  a  Swiss  colony 
of  Saints  were  building  substantial  homes  and  surrounding  them- 
sslves  with  the  comforts  of  life.  Tables  were  spread  beneath  a 
cool  bowery,  and  a  late  dinner  occupied  the  time  of  the  company 
for  the  next  thirty  minutes  or  more.  After  an  interesting  talk  by 
President  Young,  all  returned  to  St.  George. 

At  night  a  grand  ball  and  banquet  was  given.      Brother  John 
T.  Caine  acted  as  master  of  ceremonies,  and  all  had  a  good  time. 


COL.    JOHN    R.    WINDER. 

Born  December  11,  1821. 
Died  March  27,  1910. 


PRESIDENT  BRIGHAM  YOUNG'S  EXCURSION  PARTY.     313 


JOHN    T.     CAINE. 

Born  January  8,  1829. 


It  was  a  splendid  social  affair,  and  a  good  spirit  prevailed.  The 
Provo  band  furnished  the  music,  which  kept  the  dancers  busy 
until  a  late  hour. 

Strange  to  say,  the  spirit  of  merriment  which  permeated  the 
party  on  its  way  south  had  disappeared 
to  some  extent,  and  a  more  serious  feel- 
ing prevailed.  Probably  this  was  due  to 
the  great  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
that  was  fflt  by  the  multitude  during 
the  two  days'  conference  which  had  just 
adjourned.  President  Young  remarked 
several  times  that  nothing  like  it  had 
been  experienced  south  of  Salt  Lake 
City.  It  may  be  that  at  this  very  time 
the  authorities  decided  to  build  the  St. 
George  temple,  the  first  house  of  the 
Lord  to  be  erected  in  the  valleys  of  the 
mountains.  Wednesday  morning,  at  ten  o'clock,  the  Presi- 
dent's party  bade  farewell  to  the  good  people  of  St.  George  and 
turned  their  faces  toward  the  north.  Arriving  at  Rocky  Ridge, 
three  miles  northeast  of  St.  George,  they  faced  one  of  the  steepest 
and  rockiest  pieces  of  road  encountered  during  the  whole  trip. 
There  was  no  road  to  speak  of  over  the 
ridge,  and  all  but  the  drivers  were  com- 
pelled to  walk. 

A  mile  or  two  farther,  and  the  com- 
pany came  across  an  old  gentleman  with  a 
heavier  load  than  his  team  could  pull  over 
a  bad  place  on  the  road.  President  Young 
stepped  out  of  his  carriage,  and  with  a 
wave  of  his  hand  cried  out,  "Come  on,  boys, 
let's  help  this  good  old  farmer  out  of  his 
troubles!"  In  a  few  moments  the  old  gentleman  was  on  his  way 
again,  with  a  smile  playing  on  his  countenance  that  could  be  seen 
afar  off. 

President  Young  never  passed  any  one  in  trouble  without  lend- 
ing him  a  helping  hand.  He  was  not  only  great  in  big  things,  but 
was  a  remarkable  man  in  small  matters.      He  was  extremely  fond 


MARY    YOUNG. 


314  IMPR0VEMEN1  ERA. 

of  children,  and  was  ever  ready  to  give  wise  counsel  to  both  the 
weak  and  the  strong  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  Many  a  time 
he  stopped  his  company  long  enough  to  investigate  children's  little 
troubles,  and  never  failed  to  send  them  on  their  way  rejoicing. 
He  generally  carried  some  trinkets  along  with  him  for  this  very 
purpose.  One  day  he  spied  some  little  boys  playing  marbles  with 
pebbles.  He  stopped  his  carriage  and  gave  them  a  full  set  of 
genuine  marbles.  Even  the  Indians  were  not  long  in  discovering 
the  noble  traits  of  this  kind-hearted  man,  and  they  often  laid  their 
troubles  before  him.  He  dealt  with  them  a  good  deal  as  he  did 
with  the  children,  and  they  generally  went  their  way  admiring 
"Peup  Captain  Bigkum"  the  man  who  never  talked  two  ways. 
The  company  arrived  at  Washington  at  12:30,  and  remained 
there  until  the  next  day,  being  feasted  upon  the  good  things  of 
Zion.      Orchards  and  vineyards  everywhere  were  loaded  with  the 


ROCKY    RIDGE,    EAST   OP     ST.    GEORGE,    UTAH. 

choicest  kinds  of  fruit,  and  hundreds  of  tons  were  spoiling  for 
want  of  help  to  take  care  of  it.  The  Lord  had  surely  blessed  the 
Saints  throughout  this  whole  region  of  country,  so  that  a  spirit  of 
rejoicing,  over  temporal  blessings,  prevailed  everywhere. 

At  supper,  the  lady  of  the  house  asked  President  Young  if  he 
would  have  a  cup  of  tea  or  coffee.  He  said,  "Neither;  just  give  me 
a  little  hot  water  in  a  cup,  and  I  will  fill  it  with  cream.  With  a 
little  sugar  in  it,  this  will  suit  me  better  than  any  other  drink  you 


PRESIDENT  BRIGHAM  YOUNG'S  EXCURSION  PARTY.     315 


DAVID    O.     CALDER. 

Born  June  18,  1823. 
Died  July  3,  1884. 


can  give  me."  President  Young  was  naturally  a  temperate  man,  but 
was  not  unreasonable  with  others  in  relation  to  such  matters,  and 
did  not  consider  it  unwise  for  feeble  old  people  to  indulge  in  a  cup 
of  tea  or  coffee  when  in  real  need  of  it.  He  was  a  great  stickler 
on  the  subject  of  order  and  cleanliness. 
Many  a  quiet  lesson  he  gave  the  Saints 
upon  these  important  themes. 

The  next  morning,  after  prayers, 
the  president  instructed  the  teamsters 
to  get  ready  for  a  mountain  drive.  After 
breakfast,  he  led  the  way  over  a  hilly, 
sandy  country,  until  he  came  to  a  steep 
mountain  called  Hurricane  Hills.  The 
summit  was  finally  reached  without  acci- 
dent, where  an  hour  or  more  was  spent 
viewing  the  rugged  mountain  scenery. 
As  a  diversion,  stonas  were  rolled  down 
the  rock-ribbed  mountain  sides.  The  east 
side  was  almost  perpendicular,  about  a 
thousand  feet  high.  It  was  an  interesting 
sight  to  watch  the  stones  as  they  went 
bounding,  crashing  into  the  big  boulders 
below.  It  was  also  amusing  to  the  young 
people  to  observe  President  Young  and  the 
apostles  taking  just  as  much  interest, 
apparently,  in  the  lively  sport  as  the 
younger  members  of  the  company.  The 
president  and  his  brethren  believed  that 
healthful  recreation  is  a  part  of  religious 
work. 

As  Apostle  Wilford  Woodruff  was  in  the  act  of  lifting  a 
large  stone  from  its  place,  a  big  scorpion  drove  its  poisonous  sting 
full  length  into  his  middle  finger,  causing  a  painful  sensation  to 
extend  the  whole  length  of  his  arm.  A  crowd  soon  gathered 
around,  prescribing  all  kinds  of  remedies,  but  none  of  them  had 
the  medicine  they  recommended.  Some  advised  the  drinking  of 
liquor  to  kill  the  poison,  and  others  the  use  of  tobacco.  A  search 
was  made  for  both,  but  not  a  drop  of  liquor  could  be  found.    They 


MRS    ANNA  H     (ALDER. 

Born  18o9. 
Died  December  2.  1901. 


M       ° 


PRESIDENT  BR1GHAM  YOUNG'S  EXCURSION  PARTY.     317 


were  successful, however, in  finding  a  man  who  used  tobacco.  A  chew 
of  this  remarkable  herb  was  bound  on  Brother  Woodruff's  finger, 
and  in  a  short  time  the  poison  was  killed.  The  company  then 
drove  on  to  Toquerville,  where  the  remainder  of  the  day  was  spent 
in  getting  ready  for  a  hard  jaunt  up  the  Rio  Virgen. 

The  next  morning,  at  9  o'clock,  the  president's  party  began 
its  journey  up  the  river.  After  a  hard  drive  over  a  rough  road 
they  reached  Grafton  in  time  for  a  late  dinner.  The  scenery  along 
the  route  was  grand  beyond  description.  At  Grafton  the  company 
remained  until  morning.  A  meeting  was  held  in  the  afternoon  and 
evening.  The  discourse — a  synopsis  of  which  was  taken  by  George 
D.  Watts— delivered  by  President  Brigham  Young,  here  appears 
in  print  for  the  first  time: 

Brethren  and  sisters,  we  have  again  visited  you  for  the  purpose  of 
teaching  you  and  cheering  your  hearts.  We  certainly  need  to  be  taught 
in  things  both  temporal  and  spiritual;  but  almost  everything  is  temporal 
that  we  have  to  do  with.  This  has  been  the  case  with  the  Saints  in  all 
ages.  When  we  read  the  history  of  the  City  of  Enoch,  we  find  it  a 
beautiful  city.  So  will  it  be  with  the  Zion  of  God  in  the  last  days,  which 
we  are  called  upon  to  build.  *  *  *  This  cannot  be  done  without 
temporal  labor.     We  have  been  here  but  a  short  time,  and  .yet  you  want 


From  a  photograph  by  H.  L.  A.  Culmer. 

TRIASSIC  TERRACES   OF   THE    VIRGEN    RIVER   VALLEY. 


318 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


HAMILTON 


to  see  Zion  in  its  glory,  but  it  will  take  the  whole  people  to  build  up 
Zion.  The  presidency  and  twelve  apostles  cannot  do  it  alone.  We 
should  learn  how  to  build  a  home,  if  it  is 
nothing  more  than  a  log  cabin.  Zion  will  be 
composed  of  cities,  farms,  orchards  and  vine- 
yards. There  must  be  a  place  for  everything, 
and  everything  in  its  place.  This  is  Zion.  North 
and  South  America  is  Zion.  We  want  to  adorn 
this  place  first,  for  it  is  a  good  hiding  place. 

I  want  you  to  build  on  higher  ground, 
above  the  stream,  so  that  you  will  not  be 
washed  out.  *  *  *  By  and  by,  when  we 
come  to  visit  you,  we  shall  come  via  the  Sevier 
river.  You  will  soon  have  plenty  of  grain, 
potatoes  and  fruit.  I  wish  you  to  cultivate 
here  everything,  and  make  the  earth  as  beautiful  as  the  Valley  of  the 
Nile.  When  I  saw  the  Illinois  prairie,  I  rejoiced  in  the  Lord  to  see  what 
God  had  done;  so  I  feel  about  this  moun- 
tainous region.  I  thank  God  for  the 
rugged  mountains  and  barren  hills,  as  a 
defense  for  the  Saints  of  God. 

I  want  you  to  pray  that  you  may 
have  the  Spirit  of  God  to  be  with  you.  I 
have  not  been  in  a  house  or  a  congrega- 
tion in  the  South,  but  what  I  have  felt  a 
good  spirit  there.  If  it  were  my  lot  to 
live  here,  I  could  be  happy.  I  hope  that 
I  shall  live  to  see  the  day  when  we  shall 
not  have  sin  in  our  midst.  If  it  were  not 
for  the  foothold  that  we  have  in  this 
strong,  mountainous  country,  our  enemies 
would  drive  us  out;  but  the  country  is  so 
barren  and  rugged  that  our  enemies  find 
no  place  to  get  a  foothold.  The  Saints 
have  taken  up  most  places  fit  for  cultivation.  How  Brother  Joseph  Smith 
would  have  rejoiced  if  he  could  have  been  with  us!  If  we  are  the  people 
and  the  kingdom  of  God  that  Daniel  saw,  we  are  in  the  place  the  proph- 
ets said  we  would  be.  How  could  we  be  a  stone  cut  from  the  mountains, 
if  we  were  not  in  the  mountains? 

I  do  wish  that  you  would  go  to  work  and  build  some   good   stone 
houses  for  meetings,  schools,   and  a  theatre,  if  you  want  it.    But  in  all 


AGNES     PARK. 


Photo  by  H.  L.   A.  Culfner. 

THE   ORGAN,    IN   LITTLE  ZION    VALLEY. 


from  a  photograph  by  H    L.  A.  Culmer. 

TOWER   OP   ROCKVILLE,    FROM   CRAWFORD'S   RANCH    IN    LITTLE 
ZION  VALLEY. 


From  a  photograph  by  H    L.  A.  Culmer. 
THE  NARROWS,    IN   LITTLE   ZION   VALLEY. 


PRESIDENT  BRIGHAM  YOUNG'S  EXCURSION  PARTY.     321 


your  recreation,   do  not   commit  sin. 
which  will  be  useful  to  you. 

Learn  architecture  and  mechanics, 
how   to 


Seek  to  obtain   that   knowledge 


PETER    HORROCKS. 


Where  is  the  man  who  knows 
lay  the  corner  stones  of  the 
walls  of  Zionf  Any  man  who  wants  to 
leave  this  country,  and  not  fulfil  his  mis- 
sion, let  him  do  it;  and  any  man  who 
wishes  to  come  and  settle  here,  let  him 
do  it. 

I  have  a  great  deal  of  temporal  busi- 
ness to  transact,  and  when  any  business 
comes  before  me,  I  attend  to  it.  I  know 
what  to  do  all  the  time,  and  when  I 
transact  my  business,  I  let  it  go  out  of 
my  mind.  Then  I  take  up  the  next  thing 
that  comes  along,  and  after  it  is  done,  I  do 
not  think  of  it  any  more. 

I  shall  be  glad  to  see  the  day  when 
labor  will  be  classified,  and  we  will  all 
fare  alike.     1  shall  not  live  to  see  it,  but 

the  time  will  come  when  this  order    of  things 

will  be  established.  We  are  still  in  the  school  of 

learning.  All  the  blessings  we  obtain  are  the 

gifts  of   God.     It  is  the  Lord  who   gives   the 

wheat,  and  not  man;  we  cannot  make  a  blade  of 

grass  grow.     I   have  never  sold  fruit  of   any 

kind  from  my  trees,  but  have  given  it  away, 

and  my  orchards  have  never  failed. 

I  know  how  you  feel  in  these  small  settle- 
ments.     You  do  not  wish  to  go  to  meeting  to 

hear  those  preach  who  live  with  you.    You  say, 

"I  know  as   much  as  he  does;"  but  if  you  will 

come  in   the  Spirit  of  God,  and  bring  it  with 

you,  you  can  edify  the  people,  and  all  can  par- 
take of  the  Spirit  together.  May  God  bless  you, 

in  the  name  of  Jesus.     Amen. 

[TO    BE  CONTINUED.] 


CATHERINE    D.     H<>KK<n'K> 


Joseph  Smith,  a  Prophet  of  God. 

BY  ELDER  GEORGE  W.  CROCKWELL. 


IV. 

Let  us  continue  to  glance  at  history  to  see  whether  war  has 
been  poured  out  upon  all  nations,  beginning  at  South  Carolina. 
We  have  already  named  some  of  the  wars  from  1861  to  and  in- 
cluding 1873: 

1874: 

Japan  sent  an  expedition  to  the  Island  of  Formosa  to  chastise  the 
natives  for  outrages  upon  Japanese  sailors  wrecked  on  their  shores. 

1875: 

A  Russian  army  under  General  Kaufnan  invaded  Khokand,  defeated 
thirty  thousand  Khonand  troops,  and  captured  the  capital.  At 
the  same  time  the  Kahn  of  Khiva  was  defeated  and  was  forced  to  cede 
the  entire  eastern  coast  of  the  Caspian  Sea  to  Russia. 

The  British  became  involved  in  hostilities  with  some  of  the  natives 
of  Malacca.     The  hostile  tribes  were  soon  reduced  to  submission. 

The  Khedive  of  Egypt  was  generally  successful  in  several  wars  which 
he  waged  with  Abyssinia. 

1876: 

Conquests  of  Prussia  in  Central  Asia  ended. 

There  was  rebellion  in  Bulgaria.  It  was  subdued  by  Circassian 
troops. 

The  war  cloud  hung  over  Russia,  Turkey,  Austria-Hungary,  Ger- 
many, Italy,  France  and  England.  Peace  could  not  be  obtained,  and  the 
Russo-Turkish  war  began  in  Asiatic  Turkey,  in  which  Bosnia  Herzego- 
vina, Roumania,  Montenegro  and  Servia  were  combined  against  Turkey. 
The  Hungarians,  Greece,  and  the  provinces  of  Epirus,  Thessaly  and 
Macedonia  also  became  involved  before  the  close  of  the  war. 


JOSEPH  SMITH,  A  PROPHET  OF  GOD.  323 

1877: 

The  Zulus  invaded  the  Transvaal  in  South  Africa.  Great  Britain 
sent  in  troops  and  the  Zulus  were  defeated. 

This  year  was  the  beginning  of  the  Chinese-Japanese  war  which 
lasted  until  April,  1895. 

1878: 

Revolt  against  the  Turks  in  the  island  of  Crete.  Afghanistan  he- 
came  involved  in  a  short  war  with  England. 

1879: 

Zululand  was  at  war  with  England  over  the  invasion  of  the  Trans- 
vaal Republic  in  South  Africa. 

There  was  trouble  between  Chili  and  Bolivia.  Peru  formed  an  alli- 
ance with  Bolivia. 

The  Egyptian  army  forced  the  Khedive  to  abdicate. 

1880: 

The  Boers  were  at  war  with  Great  Britain  for  their  independence; 
after  a  few  battles  it  was  granted  under  the  suzerainty  of  Queen  Vic- 
toria. 

Russia  was  at  war  with  the  Turkomans  in  Central  Asia. 

1881: 

There  was  civil  war  in  Afghanistan. 

Chili  vanquished  both  Peru  and  Bolivia  in  a  bloody  war. 

1882: 

The  Egyptians  mobbed  the  Europeans  at  Alexandria.  Great  Brit- 
ain sent  in  troops  and  India  seized  the  Suez  Canal. 

There  was  a  revolt  in  Herzegovina  against  Austria-Hungary. 

There  was  civil  war  in  Zululand. 

1883: 

Rebellion  throughout  the  Egyptian  Soudan. 

France  had  war  with  the  Queen  of  Madagascar,  also  with  the  em- 
pire of  Anam. 

The  French  invasion  and  conquest  of  Tonquin  during  their  war  with 
Anam,  brought  on  a  war  between  France  and  China  in  1884. 

1885: 

Servia  waged  war  in  Bulgaria. 

The  Anglo-Indian  army  conquered  Burmah  and  it  was  annexed  to  the 
British-Indian  empire. 


324  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

1887: 

There  was  war  in  South  Africa.  The  British  and  Egyptians  were 
fighting  the  followers  of  El  Mahdi. 

Osman  Digna  was  defeated  by  the  Abyssinians.  Italy  also  took  part 
as  England's  ally. 

1888: 

Thibet,  a  tributary  of  China,  sent  a  military  force  of  10,000  into 
the  small  Hindoo  state  of  Thibet. 

During  the  entire  year  the  British  and  Egyptians  were  besieged  by 
the  Mahdists  at  Suakim.  They  were  severally  defeated  in  five  battles, 
January  17,  July  4,  22,  August  3,  and  December  20. 

1890: 

An  uprising  occurred  in  the  small  native  state  of  Mainpur,  in  north- 
east British  India.     This  was  quelled  by  the  British  in  September,  1891. 

Great  Britain  was  also  engaged  in  hostilities  in  upper  Burmah,  and 
had  trouble  during  the  year  1890  to  1892  in  western  and  southeastern 
Africa. 

A  formidable  military  revolt  in  Buenos  Ayres  which  forced  Presi- 
dent Celman  of  the  Argentine  Republic  to  resign. 

1891: 

There  was  a  struggle  between  the  Egyptians  and  Dervishes  in  Nubia. 

A  bloody  civil  war  took  place  in  Chili. 

There  was  also  a  civil  war  in  Brazil. 

In  the  years  1891  and  1895  there  was  a  number  of  uprisings  and 
outbreaks  in  Venezuela;  5,000  men  were  banished  for  treason. 

1892: 

President  Palacio  of  Venezuela  was  overthrown  after  a  bloody  civil 
war  of  many  months. 

18 

There  was  war  between  France  and  Siam. 

Great  Britain  was  involved  in  war  in  southeast  and  west  Africa. 

A  revolution  took  place  in  the  Sandwich  or  Hawaiian  Islands  which 
resulted  in  the  overthrow  of  the  native  Queen. 

1894: 

The  year  opened  with  a  violent  outbreak  in  the  island  of  Sicily  which 
was  crushed  by  Italian  troops. 


JOSEPH  SMITH? A  PROPHET  OF  GOD.  325 

Korea  was  involved  irTa'civil  war. 

France  was  at  war  with  the  Hoovos  and  Malagasys. 

Argentine,  Peru,  Colombia  and  Venezuela  had  civil  war. 

1895: 

In  January  there  was  a  revolutionary  outbreak  in  Colombia,  South 
America,  which  was  quelled  in  March. 

In  April  there  was  a  revolution  in  Ecuador  which  resulted  in  the 
overthrow  of  the  Government  in  September. 

A  revolution  occurred  in  Peru,  in  May.  After  two  days  battle, 
terms  of  peace  were  made  and  a  new  government  was  established. 

A  number  of  small  rebellions  occurred  in  San  Domingo. 

1896: 

The  Armenian  massacres  occurred  in  Turkey.  Between  5,000  and 
6,000  Armenians  were  killed. 

In  September  the  Chilian  government  sent  a  squadron  to  the  island 
of  Juan  Fernandez  to  reassert  ownership  of  that  island. 

1898: 

War  between  the  United  States  and  Spain  in  which  Cuba  and  the 
Philippine  islands  were  freed  from  Spanish  dominion. 

1900: 

United  States  had  war  in  the  Philippine  Islands. 

China  had  internal  war  with  the  Boxers. 

There  was  war  in  South  Africa  between  England  and  the  Boers. 

Russia  and  China  were  involved  in  war.  Japan  was  Russia's 
ally. 

1905-1906: 

Russia  and  Japan  had  a  terrific  conflict  in  which  Japan  was  victor- 
ious.    Manchuria  was  also  involved. 

My  time  being  limited,  I  have  been  compelled  to  give  the  ac- 
count of  the  wars  that  have  been  poured  out  on  the  various  nations 
since  1861,  in  a  very  brief  manner.  For  a  more  complete  and 
perfect  history  of  the  same,  I  would  refer  my  readers  to  the 
Library  of  Universal  History,  volume  8.  The  list  which  I  have 
given  you  comprises  ninety-three  nations,  as  follows: 


826 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


Abyssinia 

Epirus 

Madagascar 

Acheen 

Egyptian  Soudan 

Montenegro 

Argentine 

France 

Nubia 

Armenia 

Great  Britain 

Poland 

Austria 

Germany 

Paraguay 

Austria-Hungary 

Greece 

Philippine  Islands 

Asia 

Herzegovina 

Peru 

Afghanistan 

Hungary 

Prussia 

Anam 

Hindoostan 

Roumania 

Bolivia 

Holland 

Russia 

Bulgaria 

Holstein 

Republic  of  Laplata 

Bosnia 

Hawaii 

Servia 

Brazil 

Hesse 

Soongaria 

British  Indian  Empire 

;  Hoovos 

San  Domingo 

Burmah 

Italy 

Spain 

Buenos  Ayres 

Island  of  Sicily 

South  Africa 

Baden 

Island  of  Formosa 

Siam 

Bockham 

India 

Saxony 

Bavaria 

Island  of  Crete 

Sicily 

Colombia 

Japan 

Tonquin 

Chili 

Juan  Fernandez 

Transvaal  Republic 

Cuba 

Korea 

Turkey 

China 

Khiva 

Turkey  in  Asia 

Corea 

Khokand 

Turkoman 

Central  Asia 

Mexico 

Thessaly 

Circassia 

Mainpur 

Thibet 

Darmstadt 

Mahdisto 

Uraguay 

Denmark 

Malagasys 

Venezuela 

Egypt 

Manchuria 

Wurtemburg 

England 

Malacca 

Younan 

Ecuador 

Macedonia 

Zululand 

By  this  list  we  learn  that  war  has  been  poured  out  on  many 
countries  since  the  war  starting  at  South  Carolina.  You  will  note 
that  all  the  great  nations  are  included.  I  do  not  admit  that  the 
end  has  come  and  that  there  will  be  no  wars  in  the  future,  but  I 
contend  that  a  sufficient  number  of  the  nations  of  the  earth  have 
been  involved  to  justify  the  belief  that  the  other  nations  which 
have  escaped  thus  far  (and  they  are  few)  may  be  reasonably  ex- 
pected to  be  added  to  the  list,  and  thus  fulfil  the  prophecy  to  the 
very  letter  of  the  word,  "and  war  be  poured  out  on  all  nations." 

Portland  Oregon.  (TO   BE   CONTINUED.) 


The  Worth  of  a  Boy. 

BY  JOHN   T.    BARRETT. 


I  cannot  weigh  in  the  same  balance  with  him  the  paltry  metal 
of  silver  and  gold;  he  is  far  more  valuable  than  the  mind  can 
comprehend.  He  is  worth  your  full  confidence.  Let  him  know 
that  you  trust  him  fully,  with  all  that  is  consigned  to  him. 

Let  the  boy  have  responsibilities  about  the  place,  and  know 
that  he  is  trusted  in  the  work  of  running  the  government  of 
home.  He  will  sense  it.  Speak  kindly  to  him,  and  I  venture  to 
say  he  will  be  faithful  to  his  trust.  No  matter  how  little  it  is  in 
the  start,  let  him  begin  early  in  life,  and  then  increase  his 
responsibilities  year  by  year.  Let  him  know  that  he  is  progressing, 
as  his  capacity  for  managing  increases.  You  will  be  surprised  at 
his  growth,  and  need  have  no  fears  as  to  his  capability  of  manag- 
ing a  home  when  grown  up,  nor  fear  his  neglecting  you  when  sil- 
ver crowns  your  brow.  You  will  have  a  boy  who  honors  his 
father,  for  the  father  honored  the  son.  Remember  you  do  not  get 
too  old  to  "reap  as  you  have  sown."  Sow  confidence,  love  and 
mercy,  obedience  to  right  government  and  restraints,  among  your 
children,  and  you  will  reap  like  blessings  from  your  field  of 
human  souls. 

The  boy  is  worth  your  love — the  only  thing  that  will  ever 
knit  two  hearts  together,  or  a  community  of  hearts.  If  you  can- 
not win  by  love,  the  case  is  hopeless. 

But  I  know  love  will  win,  for  it  is  the  only  true  way.  You 
can't  force  the  child;  there  is  a  grand  instinct  there  that  will  not 
be  forced.  Compel  him  while  young,  and  when  he  grows  up  he 
will  tread  your  aching,  bleeding  heart  underneath  his  feet.  If  you 
ever  think  to  break  his  spirit  with  blows  or  force,  you  have  mis- 


328  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

judged  your  material.  You  cannot  make  him  love  you  by  force; 
you  must  cultivate  love,  and  supply  the  proper  soil  in  which  it 
thrives. 

Love  is  not  a  soft  yielding  to  all  whims  and  notions,  grant- 
ing the  child  all  it  wants.  A  thousand  times  no!  Love  is  firm 
f  >r  the  right,  as  experience  in  obedience  to  law  has  taught  you  the 
right;  but  very  long-suffering  toward  all;  resting  securely  in  the 
knowledge  that  all  hearts,  no  matter  how  hard,  must  finally, 
ultimately  be  touched. 

Rest  assured  that  a  boy  who  goes  out  from  a  home  where 
love  reigns,  longs,  like  the  doves  in  the  evening,  to  fly  back  to  his 
window  for  rest. 

Never,  while  the  sun  shines  or  the  seasons  come  and  go,  tell 
the  boy  that  your  door  is  closed  to  him,  but  far  rather  say, 

"Remember,  my  son,  you  go  out  with  your  parents'  love  and 
their  name.  To  whatever  depths  you  sink,  you  take  two  others 
with  you.  What  stain  is  traced  to  you,  or  is  upon  you,  is  upon 
us.  When  you  are  tempted  to  go  wrong,  before  yielding,  remem- 
ber that  you  take  with  you  two  other  bleeding  hearts.  If  you  are 
dishonored,  we  are.  But  remember,  when  entirely  satisfied  with 
sin,  wherever  in  life  you  are;  when  dreary  and  lonely;  when  as  low 
as  you  care  to  go;  when  all  forsake  you  and  turn  a  cold  counte- 
nance upon  you ;  when  you  are  left  cold,  naked,  bleeding  and  for- 
saken by  all  your  pretended  friends,  remember  this  solemn  prom- 
ise of  two  hearts  that  love  you:  This  resting  place  is  for  you,  our 
flesh  and  blood  and  bone.  Here  you  will  find  sunshine  from  all 
the  shadows,  a  love  to  start  you  anew,  and  willing  hands  and 
hearts  who  will  yet  trust  you." 

Ah,  have  no  fears  for  a  boy  who  leaves  a  loving  home!  All 
has  been  done;  we  can  rest  assured  at  any  rate,  to  win  his  heart  to 
you  and  right.  Time  will  bring  him  back,  as  sure  as  time  is  bring- 
ing the  world  back  to  honor  and  love  Him  whom  they  once  hated 
and  despised,  but  who  loved  them.  Love,  given  time  to  work,  will 
surely  win;  there  is  no  doubt — no  other  way. 

It  is  a  rare  case,  if  ever,  when  he  needs  a  blow;  for  when  he 
gets  one,  it  is  when  the  man   is   red-faced  with  anger,    saying, 

"What  did  you  do  that  for?     You  knew  better  than  that!" 

"What  is  the  matter,  father?" 


THE   WORTH  OF  A  BOY.  329 

But  the  boy  is  not  given  time  to  explain  why.  You  are  angry 
with  him.  You  are  not  yourself.  Wait  until  you  are  cool,  and 
know  what  you  are  doing. 

Suppose  some  giant  with  a  telephone  pole  in  his  hand  should 
ask  you,  "Why  did  you  dull  that  scythe?  What  did  you  talk  to 
Neighbor  Brown  for,  when  you  should  be  sowing  your  own  fields. 
or  cutting  your  own  hay?" 

What  would  you  do?  Nine  to  one  you  would  try  to  lie  out  of  it. 
Then  don't  blame  the  boy  when  you,  giant  like,  tower  over  him 
with  the  flame  of  anger  in  your  face,  demanding  of  him  "Why?" 
and  saying,  "Didn't  I  tell  you?"  Control  yourself  first,  then  you 
may  hope  to  attend  to  the  boy  God  gave  you. 

Now,  what  is  he  worth  in  the  house?  What  right  have  you, 
mothers  and  fathers,  to  build  a  home  and  lock  the  boy  out?  Why 
put  him  in  the  attic  to  sleep,  using  the  best  rooms  for  faddy 
fancies  of  society?  Why  lock  up  the  best  rooms  and  live  in  the 
shanty  with  your  families?  What  is  the  house  for?  What  are 
those  beautiful  carpets  for?  What  is  that  organ  or  piano  for? 
What  that  beautiful  case  of  books?  Those  landscape  paintings  on 
the  walls?  Those  closed  and  darkened  rooms  where  "Don't!" 
meets  the  boy  at  the  door,  and  "You  mustn't!"  ere  he  enters? 
Why  those  costly  draperies  and  curtained  windows?  Or  that 
upholstered  furniture?  If  anything  is  too  good  for  the  children, 
throw  it  out  at  the  back  door,  and  let  the  children  be  afc  home  in 
the  house;  and  do,  for  the  love  of  souls,  let  them  be  free  to  have 
the  best  the  home  can  afford.  No  matter  what  shadows  may 
come  to  them  away  from  home,  let  the  home  be  the  sunshine  of 
life  to  them.  Let  no  gilded  hall  of  sin  be  half  so  enticing.  Chil- 
dren so  brought  up  have  no  taste  for  such  places  or  such  a  life  of 
confusion, hate  and  sin,  as  they  perceive  in  such  gilded  places.  The 
outside  of  them  is  close  enough  for  them.  Home  to  them  is  like 
the  wings  of  a  mother  hen  to  the  brood  at  night,  or  on  chill  days  - 
the  warmth  of  love  and  oneness  is  there. 

Latter-day  Saint  parents,  you  must  rear  these  boys.  If  you 
doubt  the  value  of  this  responsibility, leave  home  for  a  few  months, 
travel  with  two  thousand  of  your  boys  in  the  world.  Go  with 
them  among  a  thousand  winds  of  doctrine,  individual  ideas  and 
community  notions,  the  popular  fancies  and  creeds  of  men,  the  sin 


330  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

and  shame  to  the  right  and  to  the  left  of  them,  behind  and  in 
front  of  them— then  say,  if  you  can,  this  is  not  an  all-worthy  mis- 
sion you  have! 

How  marvelous,  how  much  to  be  wondered  at,is  it  that  so  few 
are  led  away,  or  even  fall!  They  come  back  to  you  men  of  expe- 
rience and  character,  polished  by  the  contact,  but,  like  the  rough 
granite  from  the  quarry,  the  native  beauty  brought  out  by  the 
polishing:  holding  aloft  the  banner  of  the  gospel  truths;  most  all 
of  them  with  belief  transformed  into  a  knowledge  of  that  which 
they  teach. 

You  are  producing  the  world's  redeemers.  Do  you  sense  the 
responsibility?  Many  do— more  should.  What  is  the  worth  of  a 
boy?  Where  shall  we  begin  to  tell  of  his  responsibilities  and 
worth  from  a  savior  of  souls'  standpoint?  "What  shall  we  give  in 
exchange  for  his  soul?' ' 

Humbly,  but  with  all  the  power  behind  the  right  of  it,  let  us 
ask,  demand,  the  rights  of  the  boy!  Confidence,  love,  companion- 
ship, consideration— he  is  worth  it  all!  From  the  very  day  you 
invest,  you  draw  dividends.  Happy  should  he  be  who  has  so 
invested! 

Providence,  R.  I. 


Take  Heart  Again. 

(For  the  Improvement  Era.) 


Waterloo,  Utah. 


Take  heart  again,  think  not  that  all  is  lost  to  thee, 
However  great  thy  burden,  rough  thy  way; 

The  Master  knows  thy  utmost  need,  and  he 
Will  strength  and  comfort  give  for  every  day. 

Take  heart  again,  the  storms  may  wage  a  little  time, 
The  lowering  clouds  their  shadows  dark  may  cast, 

And  then  for  thee  the  golden  sun  will  shine, 
Thy  pathway  brighter  seem  for  darkness  past. 

Ah,  yes;  take  heart  again,  my  friend,  do  not  despair! 

Each  life  doth  broader  grow  from  touch  of  sorrow, 
If  it  accepts  and  graciously  doth  bear, 

Whate'er  God  sends,  and  trusts  him  for  the  morrow. 

Grace  Ingles  Frost. 


The   Crown  of  Individuality. 

BY   WILLIAM   GEORGE  JORDAN. 


XIV. — Power  of  Individual  Purpose. 

Purpose  gives  a  new  impulse,  a  new  impetus,  a  new  interpre- 
tation to  living.  Purpose  is  the  backbone  of  a  life  of  courage. 
It  shows  that  the  highest  justification  for  living  is  love — in  some 
form.  It  may  be  for  a  cause,  a  country,  an  ideal,  a  family  or  an 
individual.  Purpose  at  its  best  means  our  kingship  over  condi- 
tions, our  mastery  over  self,  our  dedication  to  something  higher 
than  self.  Fighting  for  the  right,  and  fighting  it  to  the  end. 
Were  we  able  to  follow  even  a  great  purpose  from  its  highest 
flights  of  effort  we  might  find  its  nest  of  inspiration — in  the  heart 
of  some  one  of  whom  the  world  knew  nothing. 

Purpose  makes  man  his  own  second  creator,  and  by  it  he  can 
make  himself  largely  what  he  will.  He  can  choose  his  own  realm: 
he  can  live  contentedly  in  the  mud  of  low  desires  like  a  lizard,  or 
sweep  boldly  high  in  the  pure,  inspiring,  bracing  air  of  noble 
ideals,  like  an  eagle  rightfully  claiming  the  mountain  tops  as 
its  own. 

If  our  aim  be  low,  mean  and  selfish,  bringing  out  all  that  is 
weakness  in  our  nature,  an  ambition  that  betrays  its  method  in 
the  despicable  things  employed  to  attain  it,  it  is  unworthy  of  our 
crown  of  individuality. 

Low  purpose  makes  us  expert  in  petty  sophistries;  it  kills 
natural  sweetness  and  kindness;  it  raises  the  moral  temperature  to 
a  fever  heat   of  "don't  care,"  and  lowers  the  vitality  of  all  our 


*  From  The  Crown  of  Individuality.      Copyright,  1909,  by  Fleming 
H.  Re  veil  Company. 


332  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

higher  living.  This  is  not  the  purpose  of  which  we  speak ;  it  is 
individuality  at  a  discount,  not  at  a  premium— as  we  should 
hold  it. 

Purpose  makes  a  man  a  crusader— for  something.  He  seems 
to  grow  greater  before  our  eyes  in  his  efforts  to  reach  and  grasp 
the  cross  of  some  ideal — though  it  may  seem  to  us  unattainable — 
when  the  inspiration  and  glow  of  the  struggle  itself  means  more  to 
him  than  even  a  crown  of  victory.  Purpose  is  conscious,  continu- 
ous concentration  to  attain  an  end.  Before  it  can  be  greatest 
there  must  be  union  and  unity — body,  mind,  heart  and  soul  acting 
together,  as  the  essence  of  many  flowers  may  be  fused  into  a  sin- 
gle perfume. 

To  many  of  us  the  eagles  of  purpose  of  the  world's  exalted 
great  ones  may  be  impossible  to  us  in  our  present  conditions.  We 
may  be  bound  by  duties,  cares,  burdens,  the  daily  problem  of  mere 
living  that  make  great  deeds  difficult.  But  we  can  all  have  pur- 
pose, and  should  have  it,  and  we  should  live  to  it  at  its  best. 
We  must  finally  be  judged  not  by  attainments  but  by  the  ideals 
and  motives  that  inspired  them.  There  is  one  purpose  that  no  one 
is  too  humble  to  live  by.  It  is — "faithfulness  in  little  things." 
It  may  be  only  a  new  impetus  of  loyalty,  trustfulness  and  watch- 
fulness in  our  daily  duties. 

Employers  find  great  difficulty  in  getting  this  very  faithful- 
ness in  little  things.  Many  of  those  paid  for  services  are  only 
eye-servants.  They  are  listless,  lazy  and  irritably  languid — except 
when  off  duty.  They  regard  the  repeated  instructions  as  to  how 
certain  simple  work  should  be  done  with  an  airy  nonchalance  that 
is  indifferent,  imprudent  and  impertinent.  They  forget  everything 
except  some  trifle  of  personal  interest;  this  is  tatooed  into  their 
memory.  They  collapse  under  the  slightest  strain  of  responsibility, 
like  an  intoxicated  man  leaning  against  an  imaginary  post.  They 
are  a  bundle  of  excuses— where  their  own  failures,  foibles  or  flaws 
are  under  discussion. 

Workers  such  as  these  consider  merely  getting  a  maximum 
pay-envelop  at  a  minimum  expense  of  mental  or  physical  energy. 
They  wonder  why  some  other  worker  is  retained  or  promoted 
while  they  are  sure  they  have  worked  just  as  long  as  he  has  each 
day.     They  forget  they  have  not  worked  as  wide  or  as  deep — they 


THE  CROWN  OF  INDIVIDUALITY.  333 

overlook  these  two  other  dimensions.  It  is  the  plus  of  purpose 
consecrated  to  doing  daily  one's  best  with  a  constantly  added  in- 
crease of  ability  that  makes  the  real  difference.  This  simple 
phase  of  purpose  may  change  the  life  of  an  individual  and  inspire 
ever  higher  purpose. 

The  conquest  of  a  weakness  in  character,  the  acquirement  of 
a  new  language,  a  concentrated  attempt  to  be  of  greater  useful- 
ness to  others  in  some  way,  to  prove  equal  to  our  possibilities  as 
they  progressively  grow  larger  under  attainment  these  may 
be  but  purpose  in  a  small  way.  Purpose  unites  the  separate  days 
of  our  living  by  the  thread  of  continuity — as  scattered  beads  from 
a  necklace  by  the  golden  strand  running  through  them.  A  mother 
may  make  even  the  care  of  her  home  and  her  family  a  real  pur- 
pose if  she  puts  into  her  labors  the  best  that  is  in  her,  ever  real- 
izing she  has — her  crown  of  individuality  she  must  never  forget. 

Many  men  in  this  life,  men  of  position,  power,  wealth,  and 
opportunity,  are — merely  drifting.  They  are  not  victors  of  their 
course  but — victims  of  the  current.  They  live  but  have  no  defi- 
nite purpose  in  living.  In  easy-going,  careless,  free  way  they  are 
carried  along  by  the  tides  of  life,  with  no  self-consciousness  that 
they  are  drifters.  Some  of  them  do  no  defined  great  evil,  but  no 
real  good.  If  they  were  to  do  some  great  evil  or  fall  before  some 
great  sorrow  or  trial  it  might  be  the  means  of  startling  them  into 
realization,  shocking  them  into  vivid  consciousness  of  their  lack  of 
purpose.  Man  does  not  drift  into  goodness — the  chance  port  of 
an  aimless  voyage.  He  must  fight  ever  for  his  destination,  ready 
to  battle  with  calmness  and  constant  courage,  against 
fog,  darkness  and  adverse  winds,  and  dangers  that  should  only 
inspire  to  greater  efforts. 

There  is  hardly  any  peril  of  the  sea  more  dreaded  by  mariners 
than  a — derelict.  It  carries  no  lights  on  bow  or  stern,  no  pas- 
sengers, no  rudder,  no  pilot,  no  crew.  It  is  bound  nowhere,  car- 
rying no  cargo  to  no  port.  Helpless  in  itself  it  is  a  menace  to  all 
others.  Human  derelicts  are  those  ignored  as  hopeless  by  others, 
but  they  were  first  deserted  by  themselves.  Lack  of  definite,  real 
purpose  is  the  royal  road  to  drifting,  desertion  and  derelict. 

In  seeking  material  success  it  may  be  necessary  to  grasp  a 
low  rung  of  the  ladder;  but  on  the  ladder  of  purpose  begin  with 


334  IMPRO  VEMENT  ERA . 

the  highest  rung  your  outstretched  hand  can  clasp  and  hold  on  til 
you  reach  the  next.  Purpose  takes  man  out  of  the  orchestra  of 
life  and  puts  him  on  the  stage  of  real  action.  It  makes  him  part 
of  the  real  spectacle,  not  a  mere  spectator.  It  gives  him  a  real 
part  to  play,  one  no  other  could  play,  in  the  great  drama  of 
humanity. 

The  great  thing  in  life  is  not  in  realizing  a  purpose,  but  in 
fighting  for  it.  If  we  feel  the  possibilities  of  a  great  work  loom- 
ing large  before  us  and  impelling  us  to  action  it  is  our  duty  to  con- 
secrate ourselves  to  it.  Failure  in  a  great  work  is  nobler  than 
success  in  a  petty  one  that  is  beneath  our  maximum  of  possibility. 
We  have  nothing  to  do  with  results— they  do  not  belong  to  us, 
anyway.  It  is  our  duty  to  do  our  best  bravely  and  then  to  rest  in 
the  comfort  of  this  fact  alone.  But  be  our  work  great  or  small 
let  us  have  real  purpose  in  life  and  battle  for  it  undaunted  to 
the  end. 

Purpose  at  its  best  must  be  above  and  beyond  us  like  the 
polar  star  that  guides  and  inspires  the  compass  of  the  mariner. 
The  world  needs,  more  than  talent,  genius,  wealth  or  power,  men 
of  simple,  earnest  purpose,  men  consecrated  to  daily  living  in  the 
inspiring  illumination  of  an  ideal;  men  who  make  each  day  count 
directly  for  something  real,  who  face  each  day's  sunset  with  new 
harvests  of  good  for  those  around  them  and  for  the  world. 

Being  good,  merely  good  in  a  pale,  anemic,  temperamental 
way,  is  not  enough.  If  the  world  is  not  daily  better  because  we 
have  lived,  if  the  little  circle  of  those  around  is  not  brightened, 
strengthened,  heartened,  helped,  and  some  way  made  happier,  by 
our  direct  effort  in  our  conscious  living,  we  are  not  true  to  pur- 
pose or  possibilities.  We  cannot  all  be  Lincolns  and  save  a  nation, 
but  we  can  put  the  spirit  of  Lincoln  into  every  trifle  of  our  living — 
his  simplicity,  courage,  kindness,  love,  conspcration,  justice.  The 
greatest  good  to  the  world  is  not  the  magnificent  power  of  a  few 
great  men  manifesting  it  on  a  colossal  scale,  but  these  same  qual- 
ities in  a  smaller,  humbler  way,  manifested  in  millions  of  simple, 
unknown  lives  throughout  the  world. 

(The  next  chapter  in  this  series,  "When  we  Forget  the  Equity," 
will  appear  in  the  March  number  of  the  Era.) 


The  Fate  of  the  Fords. 


[In  a  recent  settling  of  an  estate,  the  demand  for  proof  of  the  death 
of  the  Ford  boys  recalled  to  the  town  of  Wellington,  Kansas,  the  days 
of  the  horse  thief,  as  well  as  the  fate  of  Governor  Ford's  sons.  The 
Ford  boys,  were  "Prairie  Riders,"  and  fell  the  victims  of  Kansas 
Viligantes.  They  were  sons  of  Governor  Thomas  Ford,  of  Illinois,  through 
whose  perfidy  the  Prophet  and  Patriarch,  Joseph  and  Hyrum  Smith,  were 
cruelly  murdered  in  Carthage  jail,  June  27,  1844.  Mr.  Ford  acted  as 
governor  in  1842-46,  and  died  in  Peoria,  Illinois,  Novembers,  1850.  The 
following  dispatch,  dated  Wellington,  Kansas,  October  15,  1910,  and 
printed  in  the  Kansas  City  Star  of  Sunday,  October  16,  1910,  describes, 
with  pictorial  effect,  what  it  calls  the  "finish"  of  the  Fords.— Editors.] 

Could  the  occupant  of  a  grave  on  a  lonely  hill  on  the  Chi- 
kaskia  river,  a  few  miles  north  of  Caldwell,  speak,  or  would  the 
years  roll  backward  and  lift  the  veil  that  shrouds  the  mysteries  of 
an  impromptu  execution  of  three  men  for  horse  stealirg,  and  let 
these  men  rise  from  their  resting  places  in  the  old  graveyard  in 
Wellington  and  talk,  the  identity  and  the  fate  of  two  sons  of  the 
late  ex-Governor  Ford  of  Illinois,  about  whom  there  has  been  a 
lot  of  questioning  recently,  would  be  explained. 

In  the  one  instance,  a  lone  horse  thief  known  as  Tom  Smith 
was  overtaken,  while  being  brought  to  Wellington  by  a  pcsse  from 
Caldwell,  and  hanged  to  a  tree  in  Ryland's  Grove,  then  a  favorite 
resting  place  for  travelers,  on  the  banks  of  the  pretty  Chikaskia 
river.  He  was  Tom  Ford,  an  alleged  son  of  the  then  ex-governor 
of  Illinois.    He  was  positively  identified. 

In  the  case  of  the  other  Ford,  who  was  christened  Sewell, 
and  who  was  Charley  Smith  among  his  acquaintances,  there  was  a 


836  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

triple  lynching  at  the  south  limit  of  Wellington,  Bill  Brooks,  an 
outlaw,  and  Charles  Hasbrook,  a  young  attorney,  being  hanged 
with  him.  This  lynching  was  done  by  men  from  Wellington,  and 
at  least  one  is  alive  and  living  here,  a  wealthy  man.  Another 
died  in  the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Leavenworth  a  short  time  ago.  The 
trio  was  hanged  for  stealing  horses,  and  Smith  was  positively 
identified  as  Sewell  Ford.  He  was  a  younger  brother  of  the  man 
who  had  been  hanged  alone.  The  Ford  boys  were  members  of  a 
band  of  ruffians  and  thieves,  known  as  "Prairie  Riders,"  which 
stole  cattle  and  horses  at  will.  The  Vigilantes,  organized  in  this 
county  in  1871,  and  led  by  Jim  Hamilton,  later  state  treasurer, 
broke  up  the  horse  stealing  for  awhile. 


The  Sons  of  a  Governor. 

Relatives  have  been  writing  to  early  settlers  in  Wichita  to 
know  of  the  "finish"  of  the  Fords,  Some  estate  has  fallen  to 
the  heirs  of  ex-Governor  Ford,  and  affidavits  as  to  the  sons  are 
necessary.  These  can  be  supplied  by  Frank  Henderson,  a 
former  sheriff.  The  letters  have  found  their  way  into  the  papers, 
and  have  been  given  wide  circulation,  reviving  the  tales  of  the 
border  days  when  Wellington  was  a  stage  headquarters,  and  Cald- 
well was  filled  with  a  dangerous  and  reckless  bunch  of  men. 

The  Fords  found  their  way  into  Wichita  and  joined  the 
"Prairie  Riders."  They  rode  wild  over  the  country,  stealing  cat- 
tle and  horses  and  driving  them  to  the  railroads,  where  they  sold 
them.  The  elder  Ford  strayed  as  far  as  Caldwell,  in  1871,  and 
stole  a  horse.  He  was  caught  and  was  given  into  the  hands  of 
Constable  George  Freeman,  who  started  for  Wellington  with  him. 

As  they  passed  "Curley"  Marshall's  saloon,  Ford,  who  had  a 
few  dollars,  said: 

"Let's  go  in  and  spend  this  for  drinks.  I  won't  live  to  spend 
it  for  anything  else." 

He  knew  that  no  trial  was  necessary  to  convict  him.  He  had 
been  an  old  offender,  and  he  realized  that  his  time  had  come. 
Freeman  accommodated  his  prisoner,  who  w£s  in  irons,    and  Ford, 


THE  FATE  OF  THE  FOHDS.  337 

with  the  nonchalance  of  a  wine  agent,  waved  everyone  to  the  bar. 
He  had  no  trouble  spending  his  few  dollars. 

Taken  from  the  Officer. 

The  departure  from  Caldwell  was  in  the  evening,  a  buckboard 
being  the  mode  of  conveyance.  Four  miles  out  from  Caldwell,  a 
rattle  of  hoofs  behind  told  of  the  approach  of  the  Vigilantes. 

"They're  coming!"  said  the  horse  thief  lo  his  guardian. 

The  team  was  not  fast  enough  for  the  fleeter-footed  bronchos. 
After  a  chase  of  a  mile,  and  the  exchange  of  several  shots,  the 
officer  and  his  prisoner  were  told  to  alight.  While  the  two  men 
stood  over  Freeman  with  drawn  Colts,  about  two  dozen  took  Ford 
to  Ryland's  grove  and  lynched  him.     The  ceremony  was  brief. 

At  dawn  the  next  day  Ford's  bodv  was  buried  across  the  river 
from  where  it  was  hanging,  a  distinction  very  seldom  granted 
the  horse  thief.  For  years  the  mound  was  distinguishable,  but  the 
rains  have  leveled  it.  Ford  was  described  as  a  good  looking 
young  man,  about  thirty  years  old,  and,  like  many  of  the  others, 
would  not  have  been  taken  for  a  horse  thief. 

Tried  to  Delay  the  Mail. 

On  the  night  of  July  29,  1874,  Sewell  Ford,  Tom  Ford's 
brother,  followed  him  to  a  horse  thief's  fate.  He,  with  Brooks 
and  Hasbrook,  were  strung  from  a  tree  on  the  Hunnewell  road,  at 
the  south  edge  of  Wellington.  They  stole  horses  from  a  stage  barn 
near  Caldwell.  They  had  been  in  jail  in  Caldwell,  and  were  brought 
to  Wellington  to  jail  to  await  a  preliminary.  Preliminaries  in  those 
days  of  swift  justice  seldom  were  carried  out  according  to  the 
program.  Monday  night  the  three  men  were  brought  to  Welling- 
ton, and  Wednesday  night  they  were  hanged.  The  preliminary 
was  to  have  been  held  Thursday  morning.  Instead  of  the  prelim- 
inary, it  was  a  rough  burial  in  one  grave  the  men  were  given. 

The  lynching  of  Ford,  Brooks  and  Hasbrook  was  the  culmina- 
tion, it  is  said,  of  a  fight  between  rival  stage  companies  for  the 
mail  contract  between  Caldwell  and  Ft.  Sill.  One  company 
had  had  it,  but  the  Vail,  Williamson  &  Co.  concern  had  outbid 
hem  for  it,  and  were  to  have  taken  the  mail  the  first  time  under 


338  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

the  new  contract  July  1,  1874.  The  night  of  June  30,  there  was 
a  wholesale  theft  of  horses  in  the  south  part  of  the  county.  All 
of  the  Vail-Williamson  horses  were  stolen,  and  nearly  everyone  in 
Caldwell  and  vicinity  lost  horses.  The  gang  had  planned,  it  was 
claimed,  at  the  instigation  of  the  old  stage  company,  to  render  it 
impossible  for  the  new  company  to  take  the  mail  out  July  1,  and 
thus  invalidate  its  contract.  It  would,  under  the  circumstances, 
revert  to  the  old  company. 

The  raid  failed  in  its  purpose.  A  stage  driver  took  a  pony 
and  took  the  mail  out  in  a  gunnysack.  Riders  were  sent  in  every 
direction  to  rouse  the  people.  Pursuit  was  not  easy,  because  of 
the  scarcity  of  horses,  but  finally  one  man  was  sent  to  Wellington 
to  notify  Sheriff  John  Davis,  who  racruited  a  company,  among 
whom  was  J.  M.  Thralls,  once  sheriff,  now  wealthy,  retired,  and 
the  trail  was  taken  up. 

One  man  near  Wellington  could  not  join  the  posse  because  his 
mare  had  been  stolen  the  night  before.  She  was  found  seven 
days  later  tied  in  some  trees  almost  starved  to  death.  The  Cald- 
well horse  thieves  had  planned  to  stop  pursuit.  Many  people  found 
their  horses  staked  in  out-of-the-way  places.  At  Caldwell,  the 
trail  of  the  horses  and  mules  led  south.  Pat  Hennessey,  who  was 
found  dead  by  his  freighting  train  about  this  time,  was  killed  by 
this  gang  of  horse  thieves,  the  old  settlers  say.  A  few  days  after- 
wards, near  Garfield,  Kansas,  the  Wellington  posse  came  upon  the 
Vail-Williamson  horses  and  mules,  and  one  man  called  "Red" 
herding  them.  He  was  killed  in  an  interchange  of  shots.  Two 
others,  Granger  and  Williams,  escaped.  They  had  a  wagon 
belonging  to  Hennessey  with  a  big  load  of  provisions.  He  had 
been  headed  towards  Colorado  to  dispose  of  the  stolen  stock. 
Granger  and  Williams  never  were  caught. 

The  Trio  Was  Watched. 

When  the  posse  returned  to  Caldwell  and  told  of  its  success, 
the  people  began  to  watch  Brooks,  Ford  and  Hasbrook,  who  had 
been  known  to  associate  with  Granger  and  Williams.  All  had 
claims  near  town.  Hasbrook,  and  a  man  named  McClain,  ran  a 
dug-out  saloon  and  eating-house.      It  was  decided  to  arrest  and 


THE  FATE  OF  THE  FORDS.  339 

prosecute  them.  Hasbrook  and  Ford  were  taken  easily.  Brooks 
was  troublesome. 

The  three  men  were  kept  in  jail  at  Caldwell  until  they  could 
be  brought  here.  They  were  given  a  promise  of  fair  preliminary. 
Hasbrook,  the  attorney,  said  he  could  prove  an  alibi.  However, 
he  was  known  to  have  been  in  other  bad  deals,  as  had  his 
companions. 

There  were  two  nights  of  intense  excitement  in  Wellington, 
preceding  the  lynching.  Everyone  knew  it  was  coming,  and 
stayed  up  two  nights  to  watch.  The  third  night  the  town  had 
quieted  down.  Thi  Vigilantes  were  called  together,  and  a  hasty 
trip  made  to  the  old  frame  jail. 

It  was  the  work  of  a  few  seconds  to  get  possession  of  the 
prisoners.  Silently  the  mob  did  its  work,  but  a  crowd  soon  gath- 
ered, following  the  mob  to  Slate  creek.  It  was  a  dark  night. 
The  road  to  the  scene  of  the  hanging  was,  and  is,  a  much  traveled 
one.  Pickets  were  posted  to  keep  the  curious  back.  Brooks  was 
hanged  first.  When  the  crowd  voted  on  him,  there  was  a  multi- 
tude of  ''ayes."  He  died  without  a  word.  Ford  came  next,  and 
he  died  game.  But  Hasbrook  put  up  an  eloquent  appeal  for  his 
life.  He  said  he  was  not  guilty,  and  asked  for  a  hearing.  The 
vote  was  taken.       "Aye,  aye!"  came  feebly  from  several  throats. 

Afraid  to  Vote  to  Save  Him. 

"Any  one  in  favor  of  not  hanging  this  man  say  'no,'  "  came 
the  hoarse  voice  of  the  Vigilantes'  leader.  There  was  no  response, 
and  Hasbrook  was  told  he  must  die.  Had  there  been  a  dissenting 
voice  that  night  Hasbrook  might  have  lived.  He  said  if  he  ever 
got  out  he  would  leave  Wellington  and  vicinity  and  never  come 
back. 

Hasbrook  was  asked  if  he  had  any  word  to  send  to  his  rela- 
tives, and  he  replied  that  he  had  not. 

"I  would  not  have  them  know  this  for  the  world!"  he  said. 

"Pull  away!"  said  the  captain  to  the  men  who  had  hold  of 
the  rope.     And  shortly  the  young  lawyer  was  dead. 


The  "Mormon"  Exodus. 


BY   THOMAS    L.    MARTIN. 


[For  years  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  of  the  Alpine  Stake  of  Zion  have 
held  an  annual  oratorical  contest.  The  ward  associations  have  try-outs 
which  culminate  in  the  selection  of  two  or  more  of  the  best  speakers  or 
orators,  who  are  chosen  for  the  stake  contest.  In  the  spring  of  1910,  the 
author  won  tin  first  prize — a  silver  loving-cup — over  several  others. 
The  contests  grow  in  usefulness  and  interest  each  season. — Editors]. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  subjects  of  study,  in  these  days, 
is  the  Anglo-Saxon  people.  Drifting  back  over  the  pages  of  his- 
tory, into  the  dawn  of  the  life    of  that  people,  we  find   a   spirit 

manifested  worthy  of  admiration. 
Under  the  leadership  of  King  Alfred, 
while  still  in  their  infancy,  they  de- 
manded their  freedom  with  heroic  de- 
termination. Again,  following  up  the 
pages  of  history,  we  see  them  at 
Runny mede, frustrating  the  tyranny  of 
their  king,  and  making  their  rights 
more  stable.  A  little  further  along, 
and  their  descendants,  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers,  forsake  all  that  is  dear  to 
them,  that  they  may  have  freedom  of 
conscience  and  liberty  of  action  in 
the  highest  degree.  Again,  we  see 
the  offspring  of  that  same  people 
assert  themselves,  in  the  year  1776, 
with  the  dignity  of  kings,  in  the 
What  is  grander?     Where  do  you 


THOMAS   L.     MARTIN, 

Winner  of  the  Silver  Loving 

Cup. 

Declaration    of  Independence. 


THE  "MORMON"  EXODUS.  341 

find  a  race  of  more    determination,  more  integrity,    more   self- 
sacrifice  than  the  genuine  Anglo-Saxon? 

But  we  shall  yet  see  a  people  more  determined  than  the  follow- 
ers of  Alfred;  more  grateful  than  the  Pilgrim  Fathers;  more  heroic 
than  the  intellectual  giants  of  1776.  I  say  we  are  to  see  a  people, 
descendants  of  the  Anglo-Saxons,  grander,  more  noble,  and  whose 
mission  is  even  greater  than  that  of  any  other  people  who  ever 
existed— it  is  the  people  commonly  called  "Mormons." 

In  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century,  a  child,  who  was 
to  usher  in  the  dispensation  of  the  fulness  of  times,  was  born.  He 
became  the  founder,  through  the  Lord,  of  their  religion.  When 
fourteen  years  of  age,  he  startled  the  world  with  the  declaration 
that  he  had  been  visited  by  an  angel.  He  was  called  a  dreamer,  a 
visionary;  his  best  friends  turned  from  him,  but  he  still  held  to  his 
declaration.  Choice  characters  of  the  nation  quickly  came  to  his 
assistance,  and  they  formed,  by  command  of  God,  an  organization 
called  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints. 

The  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  which  they  represented  was 
preached  to  the  nations  of  the  earth.  The  command,  "Come 
out  of  her,  0  ye  my  people,  and  be  not  partakers  of  her  evil  deeds, 
that  ye  receive  not  of  her  plagues,"  was  quickly  complied  with, 
and  in  a  few  years  the  "Mormons" — for  so  they  were  nick- 
named—comprised many  of  the  sturdy  men  and  women  of  the  old 
countries.  They  settled  in  the  state  of  Missouri,  minding  their 
own  business,  and  worshiping  God  according  to  the  dictates  of 
their  own  consciences. 

Little  did  the  people  of  the  world  know  of  the  greatness  of 
this  heroic  few.  Little  did  they  know  that  they  formed  the  nucleus 
of  one  of  the  greatest  organizations  of  people  that  ever  existed . 
Little  did  they  know  that  the  Saints  were  to  fulfil  the  prophecies 
uttered  by  the  prophets  of  Holy  Writ. 

It  was  not  destined  that  this  little  band  of  people  should  live 
without  molestation.  Satan  was  determined  to  frustrate  the  plans 
of  God.  He  inspired  the  neighboring  people  with  the  spirit  of 
persecution.  Their  prophet  was  taken,  on  false  charges,  before 
the  courts.  The  people  were  falsely  accused  of  theft  and  other 
crimes.  -  Persecution  became  so  unbearable  that  they  were  com- 
pelled to  flee  for  their  lives.     Judges,  governors,  and  a  president 


342  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

were  appealed  to,  without  avail.  The  answers  to  their  pleadings 
may  be  summed  up  in  the  reply  of  one  of  them:  "No;  your 
cause  is  just,  but  we  can  do  nothing  for  you."  Their  only  alter- 
native was  exile  to  a  neighboring  state. 

Falsely  branded  with  the  name  criminal,  the  whole  people  were 
driven  from  their  homes,  in  the  dead  of  winter.  And  this  in 
civilized  America! 

The  sick  were  dragged  from  their  beds  into  the  midnight  air, 
and  forced  to  seek  shelter  in  some  neighboring  forest.  The  shiv- 
ering children  were  homeless,  except  for  the  tender  arms  of  a 
suffering  mother.  Thus  this  little  band  of  exiles  was  pursued  by 
merciless  oppressors.  They  left  the  tracks  of  their  bleeding  feet 
upon  the  snows  of  their  pathway.  Plundered,  shivering,  homeless 
and  h>art-broken,  they  sought  refuge  in  the  neighboring  state  of 
Illinois. 

This  friendless,  bewildered,  downtrodden  people  built  the  city 
of  Nauvoo,  where  for  a  number  of  years  they  prospered  and  wor- 
shiped God  in  peace.  But  Satan  saw  that  his  plans  were  again 
threatened,  and  into  the  hearts  of  the  people  of  Illinois— their  one- 
time friends— he  awakened  a  murderous  spirit.  His  determina- 
tion to  destroy  this  religion  led  to  the  martyrdom  of  the  prophet 
and  leader. 

But  did  the  enemy  accomplish  his  purpose?  No!  Did  chat  act 
have  any  effect  upon  the  Saints?  Yes!  Their  resolution  to  con- 
quer was  redoubled;  their  Anglo  Saxon  spirits,  upheld  by  Almighty 
God,  created  in  them  a  more  vigorous  determination.  Another 
leader,  as  true  as  the  martyred  prophet,  was  raised  up  to  lead 
them  onward,  and  to  show  that  the  work  of  the  Lord  would  flour- 
ish in  spite  of  all  opposition. 

But  persecution  still  continued — banishment  seemed  inevitable. 
Their  only  refuge,  therefore,  was  to  flee  into  the  trackless 
deserts  of  the  West,  beyond  the  reach  of  their  oppressors. 

And  so,  while  Missouri  was  dividing  the  property  of  fourteen 
thousand  people  recently  expelled;  while  Illinois  was  trying  to  cover 
up  the  blood  of  the  murdered  prophets;  and  the  people  of  the 
country  were  looking  on  with  silent  indifference,  this  wonderful 
people,  undimmed  faith  in  God  their  only  stay,  were  wending 
their  way  westward  beyond  the  pale  of  civilization.     Bare-footed, 


THE  "MORMON"  EXODUS.  343 

with  scant  food  and  meagre  clothing,  they  trudged  onward,  trust- 
ing in  the  providence  of  their  Maker  for  assistance  and  protec- 
tion. Their  food  was  often  roots  and  thistles,  their  only  bed  the 
hard,  cold  ground. 

During  their  pilgrimage  in  the  wilderness,  war  broke  out 
between  the  United  States  and  Mexico.  The  president  of  our 
country  sent  a  messenger  to  President  Brigham  Young,  asking 
for  five  hundred  volunteers.  In  spite  of  the  fact  that  these  people 
had  been  thrust  out  of  two  states  iito  exile;  in  spite  of  the  fact 
that  their  appeal  in  sore  affliction,  to  governors,  judges  and 
president  had  been  ignored;  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  they  were 
marching  through  a  country  full  of  uncounted  dangers,  acd  were 
enduring  hardships  which  at  times  threatened  their  very  exist- 
ence, yet  came  their  country's  call  for  five  hundred  of  their  strong 
men  as  volunteers  for  war.  They  had  sufficient  cause  to  turn  a 
deaf  ear  to  that  appeal,  but  their  patriotism  overruled  their  out- 
raged feelings,  and  Brigham  Young  cheerfully  granted  the  request. 
In  doing  so,  he  said  that  if  he  could  not  find  enough  young  men 
to  fill  the  ranks,  he  would  call  upon  the  old  men,  and  if  there 
were  not  enough  of  them,  he  would  call  upon  the  women!  Think 
of  these  people  forgetting  their  wrongs  and  thus  kissing  the  rod 
that  would  seem  to  smite  them.  You  may  search  the  records  of 
the  ages  as  far  back  as  you  may,  but  never  find  an  example  of 
patriotism  its  equal. 

The  five  hundred  volunteers  proceeded  to  the  front,  and  the 
remaining  pilgrims  continued  their  weary  journey,  until,  after 
months  of  toil  an  1  hardship,  they  were  rewarded  by  looking  from 
the  mountain  tops  over  the  sleeping  Salt  Lake  valley — seemingly 
an  eternal  desolation,  yet  a  home!  A  home  where  they  could 
live  in  peace,  unmolested,  and  worship  God  according  to  the  dic- 
tates of  their  own  consciences— a  home  that  would  henceforth  be 
an  asylum  for  the  poor  and  oppressed. 

In  a  short  time  a  new  civilization  was  brought  forth;  water  in 
abundance  moistened  the  parched  desert,  and  this  poor  and  driven 
people  began  life  anew.  Brigham  Young,  their  able  leader,  planned 
a  city.  By  the  united  efforts  of  the  pioneers,  upheld  and  strength- 
ened by  Providence,  a  city,  surrounded  by  these  mighty  hills,  was 
founded. 


344  IMPRO  VEMENT  ERA . 

Do  we  find  them  now  settling  down  in  idleness?  No!  The  hands 
of  both  men  and  women  were  made  active  through  resolute  deter- 
mination, and,  as  the  city  grew,  a  line  of  thriving  settlements 
began  to  radiate  throughout  the  land.  They  soon  formed  the 
Territory  of  Deseret. 

They  have  for  generations  continued  to  live  together,  attend- 
ing to  their  religious  duties,  full  of  devotion,  industrious,  called 
by  their  enemies  the  filth  and  dross  of  the  world,  but  willing  to 
bear  the  contumely  for  the  sake  of  their  religious  ideals.  Unjustly 
called  by  every  despicable  name  imaginable— low-bred,  deluded, 
fanatical— yet  these  gray-haired  men  and  women,  stooping  through 
incessant  toil,  have  proved  themselves  heroes  and  heroines,  full  of 
religi  jus  faith  and  morality.  Chosen  from  the  ranks  of  the  meek 
and  lowly,  like  the  apostles  of  Christ,  through  their  humility,  and 
by  the  exercise  of  virtue,  they  have  exalted  true  manhood  and 
womanhood,  which  should  compel  the  civilized  world  to  bow  to 
them  in  reverence.  Built  upon  such  foundations,  the  rising  gener- 
ations, partaking  of  that  same  spirit,  should  today  uphold  the 
highest  ideals  of  righteousness,  virtue,  integrity,  that  the  world 
has  ever  known. 

Their  work  is  not  going  to  vanish  as  the  pioneers  leave  us. 
No;  the  rising  generations  are  proving  to  the  world  that  they  are 
well  worthy  of  such  noble  ancestry.  The  work  of  God  is  going 
onward.  Hundreds  and  thousands  of  noble  young  men  and 
women  are  traveling  over  the  world  with  the  message  of  life  and 
salvation,  and  finding  joy  in  their  missions,  even  though  they  find 
rest  upon  the  grass  by  the  wayside,  and  their  roof  be  the  starry 
firmament. 

I  said,  to  begin  with,  that  we  were  to  see  a  people  more 
determined  than  the  followers  of  Alfred;  more  grateful  than  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers;  more  heroic  than  the  intellectual  giants  of  76. 
Now,  what  people  have  shown  more  determination  than  the 
"Mormon"  pioneers  in  their  enforced  march  across  the  plains? 
Who  show  more  gratitude,  today,  than  this  people  who  are  send- 
ing out,  year  after  year,  hundreds  of  young  men  to  give  to  the 
world  the  saving  doctrines  of  the  gospel  of  Christ?  Search  the 
world  for  a  band  of  people  more  unselfish,  more  desirous  for  man's 
exaltation!     You  cannot  find  them.     They  are  without  an  equal  in 


THE  "MORMON"  EXODUS. 


345 


this  world's  history;  they  are  the  Lord's  chosen  people — chosen  to 
establish  the  work  of  God  in  these  last  days.  They  are  being  rec- 
ognized by  the  people  of  the  world,  and  will  continue  to  be 
recognized  until  they  establish  the  standard  of  Jesus  before  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  earth. 

Let  us  ever  take  advantage  of  the  heritage  which  this  noble 
band  of  pioneers  have  left  us.  May  we  prove  to  the  world  that  we 
are  well  worthy  such  noble  ancestry.  May  the  ideals  and  char- 
acter of  this  people  ever  be  so  embodied  in  our  lives  that  all  men 
who  come  in  contact  with  us  may  be  elevated  to  a  higher  plane  of 
morality,  and  have  a  clearer  vision  of  the  purpose  of  human  life. 

American  Fork,  Utah. 


•     %    is    a   ^ 


4     Mri 


ELDERS   OF  THE  RHODE   ISLAND  CONFERENCE,  INCLUDING  THE  STATE 
OF   CONNECTICUT. 

Back  row -left  to  right:  Heber  C.  Foulger,  Ogden,  Utah;  A.  Rowley 
Babcock,  Lost  River,  Idaho;  Heber  C.  Tippetts,  Lowell,  Wyoming; 
Edw  V  Snow,  St.  George,  Marcellus  Johnson,  Ranch,  John  N.  Smith, 
Granger,  Utah;  George  L.  Hhtch,  Safford,  Arizona.  Front  row:  A.  Le 
Roy  Staker,  Teton,  Idaho:  Charles  T.  Marsden,  Cardston,  Canada;  H. 
Edwin  Johnson,  Goshen,  Idaho;  President  John  T.  Barrett,  Salt  Lake 
City,  Ross  Bartlett,  Vernal,  James  C.  Glover,  Farmmgton,  Utah. 


k  Character  Test. 

BY   JAMES  G.  DUFFIN. 


"We  believe  in  being  true." — Articles  of  Faith. 

True  to  what?  True  to  ourselves.  He  that  is  true  to  him- 
self is  true  to  his  God,  he  is  true  to  his  family,  he  is  true  to  his 
country,  he  is  true  to  his  brethren,  he  is  true  to  every  principle 
revealed  from  heaven.  Be  the  call  from  his  church,  or  demand 
from  the  state,  the  man  of  integrity  can  always  be  depended  upon 
to  give  full  measure  to  any  requirement  made  of  him.  In  time 
of  trouble  his  first  thought  is  not  of  himself,  but  the  good  or  pro- 
tection of  others.  No  thought  of  disloyalty  finds  a  resting  place 
in  his  mind,  no  traitorous  feeling  finds  expression  in  his  soul.  Not 
only  does  he  "believe  in  being  true,"  he  is  true. 

It  is  said  that  talent  is  developed  in  time  of  peace;  character, 
in  storm.  The  character  that  makes  the  traitor  possible  is  not 
developed  in  the  storm — the  storm  but  furnishes  opportunity  to 
give  expression  to  that  which  is  in  the  heart.  "In  all  your  kick- 
ings  and  flounderings,"  said  Joseph  the  prophet,  "see  to  it  that 
ye  betray  not  Jesus  Christ,  that  ye  betray  not  the  revelations  of 
Jesus  Christ,  that  ye  betray  not  your  brethren.  All  other  sins, 
save  that  of  shedding  innocent  blood,  are  not  to  be  compared  to 
that  of  being  a  traitor." 

Troubles  have  come  upon  the  Latter-day  Saints  in  the  past; 
they  will  come  again.  Those  who  will  be  true  to  that  which  God 
has  revealed  will  be  assailed  from  without,  and  it  is  not  improbable 
by  many  from  within, the  Church.  It  is  not  among  the  improbabil- 
ities that  the  strong  hand  of  government,  misguided  by  evil  hands, 
again  will  be  raised  against  them.  During  such  trying  times  who 
will  be  true   to   the   revelations  of  God,  to  those  whom  God  has 


A  CHARACTER  TEST.  347 

placed  to  direct  his  work,  to  the  glorious  government  under  the 
protecting  care  of  which  this  Church  was  organized?  Those  who 
have  been  thoroughly  grounded  in  the  eternal  truth  that  principles 
are  greater  than  men,  and  must  be  adhered  to  even  under  the 
severest  persecution.  Look  back  over  the  history  of  the  Church. 
With  what  admiration  we  view  the  lives  of  its  great  earthly  lead- 
ers! Never,  even  during  the  severe  trials  through  which  they 
were  forced  to  pass,  were  they  disloyal  to  their  country.  Contend 
against  wickedness  and  tyranny  in  high  places  they  did,  but  ever 
were  ready  to  fight  the  battles  of  their  country,  or  defend  the 
principles  upon  which  its  government  is  founded. 

As  they  stood  heroically  in  defense  of  political  freedom,  so 
they  never  wavered  in  their  devotion  to  those  eternal  principles 
revealed  from  heaven.  Nor  fear  nor  favoritism  could  swerve  them 
from  that  which  thev  knew  to  be  heaven-appointed.  Nor  did 
their  brethren  ever  stand  in  jeopardy  of  being  delivered  into  the 
hands  of  their  enemies  by  them.  Under  all  conditions  they  were 
true. 

God  chooses  his  own  way  of  testing  men  and  preparing  them 
for  the  work  he  designs  them  to  do.  "Many  are  called  but  few 
are  chosen."  The  chosen  ones  are  those  upon  whom  he  can  rely 
under  the  most  trying  conditions.  Tests,  in  themselves  apparently 
trifling,  may  determine  the  integrity  of  those  thought  of  for  more 
important  work.  It  is  related  of  the  Prophet  Joseph  that  when 
he  was  making  up  his  company  to  go  West,  to  find  a  suitable  loca- 
tion for  his  suffering  people,  where  they  could  worship  God  with- 
out being  molested  by  mob  violence,  one  day  he  invited  a  number 
of  brethren  to  take  a  horseback  ride  with  him.  As  the  prophet 
led  his  little  company  along  the  road,  he  came  to  a  large  pool  of 
water,  around  the  edge  of  which  the  road  made  a  curve.  With- 
out hesitating,  the  prophet  plunged  his  horse  through  the  water. 
A  number  of  those  with  him  followed  without  saying  a  word, 
while  others  followed  the  road  around  the  pool.  It  is  related  that 
when  he  made  up  his  company,  Joseph  selected  every  man  who 
followed  him  through  the  pool  of  water,  and  not  one  of  the  others 
was  chosen.  "Blind  obedience,"  says  one.  The  key  is  this: 
intelligent  beings  moved  by  the  same  spirit  act  in  unison.  Had 
the'  prophet  not  laid  down  his  life  at  Carthage,  he  would  have 


348  IMPRO  VEMENT  ERA . 

taken  that  journey  of  exploration,  and  the  men  chosen  to  go  with 
him  would  undoubtedly  have  been  true,  even  unto  the  death. 

There  has  been  planted  in  the  heart  of  every  intelligent  beiDg 
a  feeling  of  loathing  for  the  traitor.  He  may  be  used  by  the 
enemies  of  his  country,  or  his  people,  to  further  their  purpose, 
but  after  they  have  gotten  out  of  his  loathsome  service  all  they 
desire,  the  enemies  of  his  people  will  avoid  him  as  they  would 
one  afflicted  with  a  foul  and  contagious  disease.  When  Judas  was 
made  to  comprehend  the  enormity  of  his  crime  in  the  betrayal  of 
his  Master,  he  went  to  the  chief  priests  and  elders  and  said,  "I 
have  sinned  in  that  I  have  betrayed  innocent  blood."  They 
replied,  "What  is  that  to  us?  See  thou  to  that."  When  the 
British  had  paid  Benedict  Arnold  the  debt  they  contracted  with 
him  for  the  betrayal  of  his  country,  he  was  cast  out  from  among 
them  as  being  too  vile  for  their  association.  Many  years  ago, while 
the  writer  was  living  in  southern  Utah,  he  had  a  conversation  with 
a  certain  deputy  U.  S.  marshal,  who  had  become  somewhat 
notorious  because  of  the  success  he  had  met  with  in  bringiDg  good 
men  before  the  courts  for  their  infraction  of  a  law  that  was  aimed 
at  one  of  the  principles  of  their  faith.  During  this  conversation 
the  writer  said,  "I  understand  that  you  have  employed,  to  assist 
you  in  your  work,    what  among  us  are  known  as    'spotters.'" 

"Yes,"  he  replied. 

"How  do  you  look  upon  these  men?"  the  writer  inquired. 

"Just  as  you  do,  but  we  have  to  use  them,"  was  his  reply. 

In  their  work  as  missionaries  our  young  men  and  young 
women  go  to  almost  every  nation  under  heaven.  They  are  sub- 
jected to  all  manner  of  temptations,  ridicule  and  abuse.  But, 
notwithstanding  all  of  this,  the  number  who  prove  recreant  to  the 
sacred  trust  committed  to  them  is  remarkably  small.  Undoubtedly 
their  constancy,  under  the  trying  conditions  incident  to  the  mis- 
sionary's life,  is  largely  due  to  the  splendid  training  by  God-fear- 
ing fathers  and  mothers,  and  through  the  organizations  of 
the  Church. 

Never  shall  I  forget  the  words  spoken  by  President  Joseph  F. 
Smith  to  a  number  of  missionaries  and  members  of  the  Church  in 
Kansas  City,  a  number  of  years  ago.  President  Smith  and  party 
had  been  to  St.  Louis  to  attend  the  dedication  of  the  grounds  on 


A  CHARACTER  TEST.  349 

which  the  buildings  for  the  world's  fair  were  to  be  built.  On  their 
return,  the  party  visited  Independence  and  Kansas  City.  At 
mission  headquarters  short  services  were  held,  and  it  was  at  these 
services  that  the  words  above  referred  to  were  spoken.  After 
speaking  of  the  generous  treatment  he  and  his  party  had  received 
at  St.  Louis,  he  said,  "But  as  we  associate  with  the  wealthy  and 
the  eminent  of  the  world,  we  must  not  forget  that  we  are  God's 
people— that  we  must  be  a  light  to  the  world.  We  must  not  for- 
get that  it  is  our  mission  to  uphold  the  high  standard  required  by 
the  gospel.  When  a  man  holding  the  priesthood  begins  to  eat  and 
drink  with  the  drunken,  to  engage  with  the  vile  in  their  evil  prac- 
tices, he  cuts  the  cord  which  binds  him  to  heaven.  ...  If 
any  man  is  untrue  to  his  wife,  he  cannot  keep  the  spirit  of  his 
calling." 

He  who  is  true  to  his  brethren,  true  to  his  family,  true  to 
the  government  under  which  he  lives,  will  be  true  to  his  God.  He 
who  is  true  to  his  God  will  be  saved  eternally  in  his  celestial 
kingdom.     "We  seek  after  these  things." 

Pbovo,    Utah.  

Nannie  L.  Richards,  widow  of  Franklin  D.  Richards,  died  Janu- 
ary 7,  1911.  She  was  born  in  Arncliff,  Yorkshire,  England,  April  15, 
1828,  and  became  a  member  of  the  Church  in  1839.  With  her  parents, 
she  left  Liverpool  for  America,  February  5,  1842;  she  lived  in  St.  Louis 
for  two  years,  and  later  moved  to  Nauvoo,  Illinois.  On  January  25, 
1846,  she  was  married  to  President  Willard  Richards,  in  the  Nauvoo 
temple,  and  with  him  came  west  over  the  plains,  in  1848,  sharing  all 
the  hardships  of  the  pioneers.  On  August  4,  1860,  she  settled  in  Farm- 
ington  with  her  family,  where  she  resided  for  more  than  thirty  years, 
much  of  the  time  under  extremely  diverse  financial  circumstances.  She 
moved  to  Nephi,  June  1,  1891,  and  resided  with  her  daughter  until 
1894,  when  she  came  to  Salt  Lake  City  living  with  her  daughter  Mary 
A.  Grover.  After  the  death  of  Dr.  Willard  Richards,  March  11,  1854,  she 
married  Franklin  D.  Richards,  March  6,  1857.  She  has  three  childron 
with  Dr.  Willard  Richards— Alice  Ann  Smith,  Mary  A.  Grover,  and  Dr. 
Stephen  L.  Richards;  and  three  with  Franklin  D.  Richards— Minerva  E. 
Knowlton,  George  Franklin  Richards  and  Frederick  W.  Richards;  and 
adopted  three  children  of  her  sister  Sarah's.  Her  posterity  numbers 
one  hundred  and  seven  persons.  She  was  a  patient,  gentle,  and  kind 
mother,  untiringly  devoted  to  her  children,  a  staunch  and  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Church,  and  a  worthy,  upright  citizen. 


Editor's  Table. 


Peace  or  War? 

Will  the  sound  of  war  ere  long  be  silenced  in  the  land?  Will 
disputes  arising  among  the  nations  be  settled  by  an  authoritative 
court  of  justice?  Surely  there  are  events  almost  daily  occurring 
that  would  confirm  a  belief  in  an  affirmative  answer  to  these 
questions. 

There  was  no  war  to  speak  of  in  the  year  just  past,  but  many 
events  occurred  that  argue  for  peace.  Among  them  is  the  recent 
gift  of  ten  million  dollars  by  Andrew  Carnegie,  the  interest  of 
which,  amounting  to  half  a  million  annually,  is  to  be  used  for  the 
abolishment  of  war.  And  when  that  is  accomplished,  the  income 
is  to  be  used  for  the  wiping  away  of  the  earth's  next  greatest 
evil.  Then,  there  is  the  proposal  to  establish  at  The  Hague  an 
international  court  of  arbitral  justice.  It  is  called  to  mind  also 
that  war  between  Peru  and  Chili  and  Peru  and  Ecuador  was  avoided 
by  peace  treaties.  The  threatening  friction  between  Great  Britain 
and  Germany  disappeared.  The  formation  of  the  South  African 
Union,  and  the  signing  of  a  peace  treaty  between  Russia  and  Japan 
on  July  4,  were  events  tending  to  stimulate  and  encourage  peace 
workers.  Congress  last  spring  authorized  the  appointment  of  a 
commission  to  study  the  problem  relating  to  the  limitations  of 
armaments  and  kindred  subjects.  Other  nations  will  perhaps 
appoint  similar  committees,  and  these  problems  will  doubtless 
receive  a  thorough  study  before  the  third  Hague  conference  shall 
be  convened,  four  years  hence. 

All  these  and  many  other  signs  of  the  coming  of  the  hour 
when  deliverance  from  the  curse  of  war  is  at  hand,  are  commend- 
able movements  in  the  right  direction,  and  should  increase  the 
faith  and  energy  of  the  friends  of  peace  everywhere. 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  351 

On  the  other  hand,  there  are  many  opposite  tendencies. 
Preparations  for  war  in  all  the  nations  are  vigorously  pushed  every 
day,  and  there  is  no  abatement  in  the  building  of  dreadnaughts, 
the  drilling  of  armies,  and  in  the  expenditure  of  untold  millions, 
wrenched  from  the  masses,  for  these  and  other  accoutrements  of 
war.  The  United  States  alone  has  expended  in  the  past  ten  years, 
in  preparations  for  war,  according  to  Representative  Tawney  of 
Minnesota,  over  two  billion  one  hundred  and  ninety-two  million 
dollars — enough  to  cover  all  the  fire  losses  of  the  country  from 
1820  to  1905,  or  enough  to  build  five  Panama  canals.  These  facts 
argue  a  serious  postponement  of  universal  good  will. 

Many  events,  too,  according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord,  must  yet 
happen  before  the  daydawn  of  permanent  peace.  The  wickedness 
of  nations  must  be  eliminated,  the  burdens  of  the  oppressor  must 
be  lifted  from  the  backs  of  the  oppressed,  sin  must  be  smothered, 
and  the  love  of  Christ  find  a  place  in  the  individual  hearts  of  men. 
The  power  of  darkness  must  cease  to  prevail.  The  gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ  must  be  more  widely  adopted. 

The  Lord  has  said,  "The  hour  is  not  yet,  but  is  nigh  at  hand, 
when  peace  shall  be  taken  from  the  earth,  and  the  devil  shall  have 
power  over  his  own  dominion;  and  also  the  Lord  shall  have  power 
over  his  Saints,  and  shall  reign  in  their  midst,  and  shall  come  down 
in  judgment  upon  the  world"  (Doc.  and  Cov.  1:  35).  To  this  end, 
the  Lord  is  making  known  his  will,  his  marvelous  designs,  to  all 
mankind,  and  has  declared  that  the  day  of  judgment  shall  speed- 
ily come.  We  are  told  further  that  those  who  will  not  hear  the 
voice  of  the  Lord,  in  other  words,  who  refuse  to  adopt  in  their 
lives  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  fail  to  listen  to  his  servants, 
"shall  be  cut  off  from  among  his  people:" 

For  they  have  strayed  from  mine  ordinances  and  have  broken  mine 
everlasting  covenant; 

They  seek  not  the  Lord  to  establish  his  righteousness,  but  every  man 
walketh  in  his  own  way,  and  after  the  image  of  his  own  God,  whose 
image  is  in  the  likeness  of  the  world,  and  whose  substance  is  that  of  an 
idol,  which  waxeth  old  and  shall  perish  in  Babylon,  even  Babylon  the 
great,  which  shall  fall  (Doc.  and  Cov.  1:  15,  16). 

The  days  will  come,  we  are  further  told,  when  war  will  be 
poured  out  upon  all  nations: 


852  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

And  thus,  with  the  sword,  and  by  bloodshed,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
earth  shall  mourn;  and  with  famine  and  plague  and  earthquakes,  and  the 
thunder  of  heaven,  and  the  fierce  and  vivid  lightning  also,  shall  the 
inhabitants  of  the  earth  be  made  to  feel  the  wrath,  and  indignation,  and 
chastening  hand  of  an  Almighty  God,  until  the  consumption  decreed  hath 
made  a  full  end  of  all  nations  (Doc.  and  Cov.  87:  1,  2,  6;  112:  24-26). 

It  appears  clear  from  these  predictions  that  peace  will  come 
to  the  earth  when  men  shall  have  come  to  a  full  knowledge  of 
Christ,  and  shall  have  adopted  his  precepts— his  message  of 
peace.  That  very  condition  will  put  an  end  to  warring  nations, 
and  establish  in  their  stead  one  universal  brotherhood  of  man. 

That  this  may  be  dene,  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ — the  mes- 
sage of  peace — must  be  taught  to  all  nations,  kindreds,  tongues 
and  people — a  work  now  being  extensively  done  without  price  by 
the  Latter-day  Saints; — and  when  the  righteous  shall  have  adopted 
its  teachings,  then  shall  the  end  of  conflict  come.  Then  shall  the 
Lord  have  power  over  his  Saints,  and  shall  reign  in  their  midst. 
The  sound  of  war  shall  be  silenced,  and  justice  shall  be  dispensed 
in  righteousness  by  divine  authority  among  the  peoples  of 
the  earth. 

In  the  meantime,  all  these  efforts  tending  to  the  establish- 
ment of  peace  are  encouraging  manifestations  of  the  influence  that 
the  gospel  is  having  upon  mankind;  but  nevertheless,  before  the 
sun  of  universal  peace  shall  arise  over  the  world,  we  may  yet  look 
for  many  serious  conflicts. 


Messages  from  the  Missions. 


Elder  John  I.  Benson,  of  Ostersund,  Sweden,  writes  that  the  work  of 
the  Lord  is  progressing  in  his  district,  with  prospects  for  new  additions 
to  the  Church  in  the  near  future.  The  missionaries  are  well  and  enjoy- 
ing their  labors. 

President  C.  Alvin  Orme,  of  the  Australian  mission,  writes,  under 
date  of  November  22,  1910,  that  copies  of  the  Era  which  reach  their 
mission  are  read  by  the  elders,  and  then  loaned  to  Saints  and  friends,  one 
magazine  being  used  in  several  homes.      They  hear  favorable  comments 


EDITORS  TABLE. 


on  the  articles,  and  feel  that  much  good  is  being  accomplished  by  this 
free  distribution  of  good  magazine  literature.  "We  welcome  the 
Improvement  Era  to  the  six  conferences  in  this  mission,  and  wish  con- 
tinued success  to  our  magazine." 

LaPriel  Gardner  and  Zella  V.  Farrer,  writing  from  Zion  City,  Illi- 
nois, call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  eyes  of  the  critical  world 
are  turned  upon  the  "Mormons,"  and  speak  of  the  need  there  is 
of  being  true  to  ourselves  and  to  the  King,  our  Savior.  "Often  the  entire 
people  are  judged  by  the  unbecoming  acts  of  only  one  or  two  among 
us;  so,  also,  if  every  member  of  the  Church  is  humble  and  becoming 
in  his  actions,  it  is  a  force  for  good  to  all  who  become  acquainted  with 
him.  Our  missionary  work  is  thus  not  confined  to  the  field  alone,  but 
to  the  lives  and  acts  of  every  person  who  belongs  to  the  Church  at  home. 
Our  every  act  is  either  a  light  or  a  stumbling  block  to  the  world." 
These  sisters  spend  the  morning  hours  tracting,  and  in  the  afternoon 
visit  with  friends.     Good  results  follow  their  labors. 

Elders  Jesse  Haws  and  Andrew  Schurink,   writing  under  date    of 

November  28,  from  Deventer,  Holland,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  his- 
toric Dutch  cities,  say:  "Deventer  is 
situated  on  the  banks  of  Ijsel,  one  of  the 
largest  tributaries  of  the  famous  Rhine, 
It  has  about  thirty-five  thousand  inhabit- 
ants, and  the  most  interesting  people  in 
the  world.  They  are  of  the  good  old 
freedom-loving  Dutch,  with  their  quaint, 
old  houses,  dykes,  wooden  shoes,  and 
wonderful  wind  mills.  The  gospel  is 
making  rapid  headway,  and  this  nation, 
which  battled  eighty  years  for  the  privi- 
lege, of  serving  God  according  to  the  dic- 
tates of  its  people's  own  conscience,  now 
has  the  privilege  of  hearing  the  fulness 

Jesse  Haws,  Provo;  Andrew      0f  the  gospel  preached.      The  people  are 
Schurink,  Salt  Lake  City.        open-hearted  and  good,  and  so  far  as  the 

great  command,  'Love  thy  neighbor   as    thyself,'    is    concerned,    the 

people  of  the    United  States  could    learn   a  great  lesson  from   them. 

This  year  is  a   record-breaker  on    baptisms  for  the  Netherlands,    and 

the  Saints  and  missionaries  are  abundantly  blessed.'' 

Elder  J.  A.  Vernon,  writing  from  Larned,  Kansas,  December  20, 

1910,    says:    "We  are  meeting  with  success  and  enjoying    our  work. 


354 


IMPRO  VEMENT  ERA . 


We  recently  received  some  phonograph  records  containing  songs  and 
solos  by  the  Tabernacle  choir  and  organ.  On  hearing  them  played,  the 
people  become  inquisitive,  which  gives  us  many  opportunities  to  explain 
the  principles  of  the  gospel,  and  many  comments  are  made  on  them, 
especially  on  the  song  entitled  "0  my  Father!"  The  Era  is  a  great 
help  to  us  in  preaching  the  gospel,  and  the  elders  look  forward  with 
longing  for  each  issue.  We  wish  the  publishers  and  readers  a  Merry 
Christmas  and  a  Happy  New  Year." 

Elder  0.  T.  Harmon,  writing  from  St.  Johns,  Kansas,  December 
15,  calls  attention  to  the  Latter-day 
Saint  Sunday  school  at  Poe,  Kansas, 
organized  March  9,  1909,  of  which  he 
encloses  a  photograph.  The  majority  of 
the  members  are  not  Latter-day  Saints, 
but  are  strong  investigators,  who  are 
studying  the  Book  of  Mormon  in  their 
classes.  The  photo  shows  himself  and 
Elder  A.  Dallen,  of  the  St.  Johns  Con- 
ference, tracting  at  Ellsworth,  Kansas. 
The  elders   enjoy   their   work,   and  sold, 

TRACTING,  ELLSWORTH,    KAN.        during     ^      ^^     Qf      q^^       rRe 

hundred  and  thirty-eight  Books    of  Mormon. 


L.    D.   S.    SUNDAY  SCHOOL,    POE,    KANSAS. 


CD  .. 

i—  3 

CD    ra  _ 

t-ts  CD  O 

K  o 


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Wcd  -    ?  d 

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356  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

Writing  from  Allegheny,  Pennsylvania,  December  12,  1910,  Elder 
HeberD.  Clark  says:  "We  have  eighteen  elders  located  in  seven  differ- 
ent districts.  In  each  of  three  of  these  centers  there  is  a  Sunday  school, 
a  regular  sacrament  meeting,  and  a  Mutual  Improvement  Association,  all 
well  equipped  with  officers,  and  each  with  a  good  attendance.  In  the 
other  four  districts,  where  halls  are  not  available,  meetings  and  classes 
are  held  at  the  homes  of  the  people.  In  all,  we  have  three  hundred  and 
twelve  members  of  the  Church;  twenty-one  of  these  joined  this  year. 
Thirty  local  brethren  hold  the  priesthood.  The  branch  at  Fairview,  in 
Franklin  county, is  presided  over  by  Elder  A.  E.  Stanger,  aided  by  Elder 
Martin  Martinsen.  The  stone,  L.  D.  S.  meetinghouse  there  is  the  only 
one  of  its  kind  in  the  state.  Nine  new  members  were  added  to  the 
branch,  by  baptism,  this  summer,  which  gives  them  a  total  membership 
of  over  forty.  During  the  season,  twelve  branch  conferences  were  held 
in  different  settlements  of  the  Saints,  and  the  local  newspapers  generally 
made  favorable  mention  of  the  work.  The  people  are  very  friendly  and 
hospitable.  The  elders  have  effective  conversations  upon  the  gospel  with 
nearly  all  who  accept  literature.  The  prejudice  of  some  of  the  minis- 
ters, in  localities  where  the  elders  labor,  has  been  aroused,  and  in  a 
number  of  cases  their  sentiments  have  been  "hot  against  us,"  but  in 
nearly  every  instance,  for  our  immediate  good,  and  ultimately  for  our 
good  probably  in  every  case." 

Elder  H.  R.  Merrill  gives  an  account  of  the  lectures  of  Mr.  Hans  P. 
Freece,  who  recently  paid  Belfast,  Ireland,  a  visit  to  warn  the  people 
against  the  dangers  of  "Mormonism,"  and  to  gain  the  co-operation  of 
the  people  in  placing  the  "Mormon"  question  before  the  Home  Secre- 
tary, requesting  him  to  prohibit  them  from  preaching  or  distributing 
literature  in  the  United  Kingdom.  He  says  that  the  lectures  were  well 
attended  and  that  the  ministers  near  Belfast  gave  the  movement  their 
hearty  support.  A  number  of  those  who  attended  the  lectures,  however, 
expressed  themselves  as  being  very  much  disappointed  in  them.  They 
expected  to  hear  something  new  from  this  man,  who  claims  to  have  been 
born  in  the  Church,  of  polygamous  parents,  but  instead  he  had  only  the 
same  false  stories  that  have  been  retold  so  many  times  by  Mr.  Jarman 
and  others.  Among  other  things,  he  said  that  he  had  investigated  con- 
ditions in  Ireland,  and  had  discovered  that  a  number  of  girls,  but  not  one 
man,  had  been  shipped  out  to  Utah  by  the  "Mormon' ;  Church.  Needless  to 
say,  he  produced  no  evidence  to  this  effect,  nor  did  he  give  any  name. 

At  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  lecture,  a  vote  was  taken  as  to  whether  or  not 
a  petition  should  be  placed  before  the  Home  Secretary  requesting  him  to 
take  hold  of  this  matter.       Eighteen   hundred   liberty-loving   British 


EDITOR'S  TABLE. 


357 


subjects  voted  for  the  petition  to  be  forwarded.  Only  seven  voted  against 
the  measure,  and  four  of  them  were  "Mormons."  The  Belfast  Evening 
Telegraph,of  December  5,  contains  a  correspondence  from  a  gentleman  in 
which  he  takes  issue  with  the  eighteen  hundred  advocates  of  religious 


ELDERS  OF  THE  BELFAST  CONFERENCE. 

Top  row:  D.  P.  Williams,  Murray,  W.  S.  Beatie,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah; 
T.  C.  Jones,  Byron,  Wyoming;  J.  M.  McMurdie,  Paradise,  Utah;  V.  J. 
Danielson,  Independence,  Missouri;  W.  H.  Bolton,  Paris,  Idaho;  L.  S. 
Miles,  Smithfield,  Samuel  Campbell,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  Second  row: 
Jesse  Crosby,  Cowley,  Wyoming;  G.  M.  Bybee,  Jr.,  Tropic,  James  W. 
Randall,  Ogden,  Utah;  I.  M.  Osborn,  Rexburg,  Idaho;  W.  W.  Freckleton, 
Eureka,  Utah;  L.  L  .  Harris,  Cardston,  Canada;  J.  A.  Beck, 
Spanish  Fork,  J.  A.  Smith,  J.  W.  Fitches,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  Third 
row:  A.  A.  Ellis,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  H.  R.  Merrill,  Preston,  Idaho, 
President;  W.  W.  Osborn,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  Mrs.  Rudger  Clawson 
and  President  Rudger  Clawson,  S.  N.  Lee  (Liverpool  office)  Brigham 
City,  Elijah  Davis,  Salt  Lake  City,  William  Johnson,  Randolph,  Utah. 
Bottom  row:  T.  F.  McDonald,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  A.  H.  Powell,  D. 
M.  Powelson,  Raymond,  Canada;  S.  L.  Corbridge,  Preston,  Idaho;  J.  M. 
Jones,  Mt.  Sterling,  Utah. 


liberty  (for  themselves),  and  advises  them,  in  this  fashion,  to  take  a  bet- 
ter way  of  exposing  the  "Mormon''  people: 

Let  us  fight  error  with  truth,  with  the  word  of  the  spirit.  If  we 
cannot  overcome  it  by  this  weapon,  our  public  resolution  will  not  do  so. 
If  we  adopt  this  bigoted  and  narrow-minded  policy,  how  can  we  object  or 
complain  if  Hindoos,  Mohammedans  and  others  follow  our  "enlightened" 
example  and  expel  our  missionaries  from  foreign  lands?  I  am  glad  to 
find  that  seven  friends  of  liberty  were  present,  as  against  eighteen 
hundred  bigots  who  will  not  allow  others  the  same  liberty  they  claim  for 
themselves. 


358 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


Elder  Merrill  adds:  "So  much  for  Mr.  Freece  and  the  little  ripple 
he  made  when  he  dropped  his  little  vitriol  into  the  hearts  of  an  honest 
and  warm-hearted  but  impulsive  people.  The  reaction  has  already  set 
in,  and  we  are  confident  that  "Mormonism''  will  get  a  more  thorough 
investigation  than  it  has  yet  received  in  this  country.  We  are  all  for 
Ireland  and  her  people.  Her  ever-green  fields  are  an  object  lesson  in 
growth.  There  is  no  drying  up  or  withering  away  here — it  is  grow, 
grow,  grow.  We  have  come  here  to  plant  the  gospel  seed  among  the 
shamrock,  which  has  for  so  many  years  been  used  to  illustrate  the 
trinity— three  in  one — and  we  hope  it  will  grow  and  bear  fruit  after  its 
kind.  God  bless  Ireland  and  her  people!  We  elders  are  pushed  and 
pulled  and  misrepresented  by  those  who  do  not  know  us,  but  those  who 
are  acquainted  with  us  show  us  the  sunny  side  of  the  warm  Irish  char- 
acter. An  Irish  friend  is  one  upon  whom  you  can  depend — as  the  old 
gentleman  used  to  say  at  home,  'He  will  fight  for  ye  at  the  drap  of  the 
hat,  and  will  drap  it  himself.'  " 

Elders  Walter  A.  Hancock  and  George  C.  Rounds  write  from  Lowell, 
Massachusetts,  December  16,  that  the  first  conference  of  the  Lowell 
branch  had  just  been  held  by  the  elders  laboring  there,  assisted  by  Con- 
ference President  John  C.  Tolton,  and  Elder  James  B.  McQueen,  of  the 
Lynn  branch.  The  work  in  Lowell  was  opened  by  the  writers  on  Octo- 
ber 11,  1909.    They  have  now  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  investigators* 


ELDERS   OF   LOWELL,  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Back  row:  James  B.  McQueen,  Preston,  Idaho;  Conference  President  John 
C.  Tolton,  Beaver,  Utah.  Front  row:  Walter  A.  Hancock,  Mor.tpelier, 
George  C.  Rounds,  Iona,  Idaho. 


EDITOR'S  TABLE.  359 

and  five  members  of  the  Church,  one  of  whom,  Sister  Reed,  joined  the 
Church  sixty-four  years  ago,  when  the  first  branch  was  established 
there.  She  has  remained  true  to  the  faith  through  all  these  years.  A 
hall  is  engaged  in  which  they  hold  meetings,  and  they  hope  to  have  a 
successful  campaign  during  the  present  winter,  and  for  the  coming 
years. 

President  Lewis  M.  Jensen,  of  the  Fairmont,  West  Virginia  confer- 
ence of  the  Eastern  States  mission,  writes,  December  17,  1910,  that  the 
missionaries  there  are  meeting  with  good  success  and  making  many 
friends.  A  Sunday  school  of  twenty-five  members  is  organized,  and 
meets  every  Sunday  morning,  on  which  day,  also,  a  sacrament  meeting  is 
held.  The  Mutual  Improvement  Association  meeting  is  held  every 
Tuesday  evening,  and  singing  practice  on  Thursday  evening,  with  great 
success.  At  each  practice  a  short  gospel  address  is  given,  and  it  is 
found  that  the  songs  of  Zion  preach  sermons  to  people  who  could  not  be 
reached  in  any  other  way.  From  three  to  five  cottage  meetings  are 
held  e/ery  week  among  Saints  and  friends.      A  larger  number  of  Books 


NORTHWEST   VIRGINIA   CONFERENCE. 

Back  row:  Ambrose  B.  Kessler  and  wife,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  Front 
row  left  to  right:  Frank  M.  Johnson,  Springville,  Utah;  Presi- 
dent Lewis  M.  Jensen,  La  Grand,  Oregon;  Abram  Jones,  Adamsville, 
Utah. 

of  Mormon,  and  other  smaller  books,  are  sold  weekly.  In  the  past  ten 
months  forty-one  baptisms  were  performed  in  that  conference.  A  Sun- 
day school  is  also  conducted  at  Churches  Fork,  Wetzell  county,  at  which 


360  IMPRO  VEMENT  ERA . 

seven  or  eight  families,  who  are  not  members  of  the  Church,  but  who 
are  very  much  interested  in  the  gospel,  take  part.  All  the  elders  are  in 
good  health,  and  feel  that  God  is  blessing  them  in  their  labors. 

In  Belfast,  Irland,  Mr.  Hans  P.  Freece,  an  anti- "Mormon"  lecturer, 
held  forth  in  several  lectures  against  the  Latter-day  Saints,  with  a  view 
to  getting  the  Home  Secretary  to  prevent  the  "Mormons"  from  having  a 
right  to  distribute  literature  in  the  United  Kingdom.  Some  of  the  native 
Latter-day  Saints  were  very  much  put  out  over  the  lectures.  Elder  H. 
R.  Merrill  states  that  one  old  gentleman,  who  has  served  the  royal  navy, 
and  who  has  been  a  member  of  the  Church  for  years,  was  aroused  to  boil- 
ing point,  and  said,  in  a  testimony  meeting,  that  the  past  month  had  been 
the  happiest  month  of  his  life,  for  he  had  had  an  opportunity  to  defend 
the  faith  before  friend  and  foe.  Another  of  the  aged  members  of  the 
Church  tells  of  a  man  who  came  to  him  and  asked  if  he  had  been  to  hea 
the  Freece  lectures. 

"No,  I  have  not,''  Brother  Stewart  replied. 

"Why  didn't  you?     Man  dear,  we  got  good  value!" 

"I  can  hear  lies  enough  about  the  'Mormons'  without  going  to 
hear  him,"  Brother  Stewart  replied. 

"Are  you  a  'Mormon?'  "  the  man  asked  surprisedly. 

"Indeed,  and  I  think  I  am!"  was  the  reply. 

"Man,  you  should  hear  the  minister  of  the  mission  hall  tell  of  them! 
He  can  tell  some  queer  things  about  the  'Mormonites.'  " 

"Indeed,  an'  he's  been  to  my  house,"  was  the  reply. 

"An'  what  did  you  say  till  him?" 

"I  was  out  in  the  yard  sawin'  a  bit  of  a  stick,  when  he  came  to  my 
house.  My  wife  goes  to  the  mothers'  meetin'  that's  held  there  occasion- 
ally. She  came  to  the  door  and  says,  'John,  come  in;  the  minister  is 
here.'  'Has  he  any  message  for  me?'  says  I.  'Come  in  and  hear,'  says 
she.  So  I  went  in.  When  I  got  inside  the  house,  the  minister  said, 
'Where  do  you  go  to  church?'  'I  go  to  the  'Mornnns,' '  says  I.  'Hell  will 
be  your  portion  if  you  continue  to  go  there!'  says  he.      Says  I  (may  God 

forgi'  me  for  it!)  'You're   a  d d  liar!'     Says  he,    'I  think  I'll   be 

goin'.  'Indeed,  an'  you  could  ha'  gone  long  ago  had  ye  asked  me!' 
says  I." 

"You  shouldn't  ha'  said  that  till  him,"  the  man  said. 

"I  know  I  shouldn't,"  said  Brother  Stewart,  "but  when  the  de'il's 
in  the  house,  1  had  to  be  able  wi'  him!" 


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Priesthood  Quorums'  Table. 


Concerning  the  Course  of  Study  in  1911.— To  the  Presidents  of 
Stakes  and  Bishops  of  Wards:  Dear  Brethren.— Recent  inquiry  of  the 
presidencies  of  the  stakes  disclosed  the  fact  that  a  large  number  of 
quorums  in  the  Church  have  not  yet  completed  the  courses  of  study 
already  published,  and  which  have  been  the  basis  of  work  during  the 
last  two  years.  Even  those  who  have  completed  the  work,  and  who  have 
followed  the  suggestions  of  the  General  Committee  on  Priesthood  Out- 
lines, in  holding  weekly  meetings  from  January  to  December,  express  a 
desire  to  review  some  of  the  most  important  lessons.  It  is,  therefore, 
suggested  that  the  quorums  that  have  not  completed  their  outlines  go 
ahead  and  complete  them,  that  that  those  who  have  completed  them 
prepare  to  review. 

It  is  found,  too,  that  more  time  can  be  profitably  devoted  to  the 
strengthening  of  the  quorums  in  brotherhood  and  fraternity,  and  in 
assigning  members  to  active  service  in  the  Church.  For  example,  let 
each  quorum  ascertain  how  many  of  its  members  are  on  missions,  how 
many  are  sick,  how  many  are  discouraged  and  disheartened,  how  many 
are  actively  engaged  in  stake  and  ward  duties,  how  many  more  might  be 
so  engaged,  etc.  Let  the  quorum  help  the  missionaries  by  letters  and 
with  means.  Let  the  quorum,  by  committee,  encourage  the  discouraged, 
and  so  on.  In  short,  let  the  quorums  work  together  as  quorums  in  sus- 
taining and  helping  each  other,  and  in  building  up  the  Church  in  their 
respective  wards  and  stakes. 

Now  it  is,  therefore,  deemed  advisable  not  to  issue  the  third  series 
of  outlines  until  later  in  the  season,  in  order  that  the  quorums  may  have 
ample  opportunity  to  complete  the  work  already  in  hand,  and  to  devote 
especial  attention  during  this  year  to  review  and  to  the  faithful  perform- 
ance of  duty.  All  the  quorums  may  then  be  prepared  to  take  up  the  study 
of  the  new  Manuals  promptly  in  the  first  week  of  January,  1912. 

Those  quorums  who  are  ready  to  review  may  choose,  under  the 
direction  of  their  presiding  officers,  their  own  lessons,  or  may  adopt  the 
suggestions  for  review  and  study  which  will  be  given  by  the  General 
Committee  on  Outlines  in  the  Improvement  Era. 

Let  us  urge  this  idea  of  application,  in  another  way.  Priesthood 
means  service — power  to  officiate  among  men  in  the  things  of  God.  Every 


PRIESTHOOD  QUORUMS'  TABLE.  363 

member  of  a  quorum,  from  the  deacons  to  the  high  priests,  ought  to 
have,  every  week, some  definite  thing  to  do  in  the  interest  of  the  Church; 
and  quorum  officers  ought  to  know  that  each  member  is  doing  some- 
thing, cr  the  reason  why  he  isn't.  To  this  end  class  instructors  and 
presiding  officers  ought  to  be  taught.  Some  of  the  stakes  furnish  an 
opportunity  for  such  instruction  at  a  monthly  priesthood  meeting,  and  it 
would  be  well  for  all  the  stakes  to  provide  means  for  such  instruction. 

The  General  Committee  believes,  on  information  received  from  stake 
authorities,  that  this  plan  for  the  present  year  will  prove  acceptable  to 
all  concerned,  give  greater  impetus  to  the  work,  and  create  more  inter- 
est in  the  cause  than  any  other  course.  They  are  hopeful,  too,  that  the 
authorities  of  the  stakes  and  wards  will  take  hold  of  the  work  with 
spirit,  and  be  better  ready  than  ever  to  go  on  with  the  new  outlines 
when  published. 

The  General  Committee  on  Priesthood  Outlines, 

David  0.  McKay,  Chairman. 

David  A.  Smith,  Secretary. 

High  Priests'  Study.— "The  Principles  of  the  Gospel,"  is  the 
title  of  the  third  Manual,  which  is  written,  but  will  not  be  distributed 
until  later  in  the  year.  In  the  meantime,  it  is  thought  best  to  review  the 
chief  lessons  of  the  past  two  years,  for  1911,  and  in  addition  study  Vol. 
II  of  the  History  of  the  Church.  Brief  outlines  for  the  lessons  will  appear 
in  the  March  number  of  the  Era. 

Hints  to  Seventies  on  Class  Work.— The  greatest  fault  in  our 
class  instruction,  in  the  various  quorum  classes,  is  the  lack  of  bringing 
out  in  each  lesson  some  main  and  definite  thought.  Subjects  are  taken 
up  during  the  evening,  and  when  the  lesson  is  all  over  with,  there  is,  as 
a  rule,  a  mass  of  thoughts,  but  nothing  right  clear  and  to  the  point  to 
carry  home  to  the  members  of  the  quorums.  Then,  again,  much  time  is 
often  wasted  in  useless  and  profitless  discussion  of  subjects  that  lead 
from  the  main  text  of  the  lesson,  and  as  a  result,  the  students  are  again 
confused. 

To  conduct  a  lesson  well  requires  two  things:  First,  the  instructor 
must  have  the  subject  well  in  hand;  and  secondly,  the  members  should  be 
ready  to  respond  to  questions  that  are  asked  by  the  instructor  or  class 
leader.  The  successful  teacher  gets  all  the  members  to  answer  and  ask 
questions  during  the  evening,  and  sees  to  it  that  all  questions  bear  on 
the  subject  in  hand.  There  is  no  wandering  away  from  the  main  centre 
of  thought.  For  a  lesson  to  be  well  learned,  it  means  that  there  is  some 
definite  thought  around  which  all  other  thoughts  are  grouped.  If  a 
member  of  a  quorum  learns  but  one  generalization  every  week,  he  is 


364  IMPRO  VEMENT  ERA . 

doing  well.  It  is  not  the  few  conventional  facts  that  we  get  from  our 
lessons  that  count, it  is  the  broad  generalizations  that  we  make  and  press 
into  our  minds, that  they  may  be  kept  to  make  us  intellectually  stronger. 
A  learning  of  a  few  facts  in  religion  or  history  does  not  constitute 
knowledge.  It  is  the  obtaining  of  great  fundamental  and  essential 
principles  of  a  subject  that  adds  to  our  store  of  knowledge.  We  must, 
then,  in  each  lesson,  be  definite.  We  must  stay  with  the  subject  in  all 
questions  and  discussions;  and  at  the  end  of  the  lesson  we  must  be 
able  to  grasp  one  fundamental  generalization  to  take  home  with  us. 
Then  we  will  note  progress  all  along  the  line. 

In  a  future  article  we  will  discuss  the  method  of  taking  up  a  lesson 
in  a  quorum  meeting,  bringing  out  somewhat  in  detail,  the  essential  ele- 
ments that  make  up  a  good  lesson  and  class  recitation.  We  will  take  a 
subject  from  the  Year  Book  and  show,  as  briefly  and  clearly  as  possible, 
how  to  conduct  a  good  lesson. — Levi  Edgar  Young. 

Elders'  Course  of  Study. — The  elders'  course  of  study  for  1911  is 
one  in  application.  Part  Two,  in  the  First  Year's  Outline,  contains  sug- 
gestions that  are  vital  at  all  times,  either  in  quorum  work  or  in  the  indi- 
vidual life  of  the  elder. 

These  lessons  were  not  thoroughly  considered  during  1908,  princi- 
pally because  of  the  abundance  of  subject  matter  in  Part  One,  which 
many  class  leaders  took  up  in  detail  during  the  recitation  period.  Con- 
suming all  the  alotted  time  in  this  discussion,  they  had,  in  many  instances, 
to  omit  Part  Two  altogether. 

Now,  the  principles  of  the  gospel  save  us  only  as  we  apply  them  to 
our  daily  lives;  and  elders'  duties  become  blessings  to  them  and  helpful 
to  others,  only  so  far  as  they  perform  those  duties  with  energy  and  sin- 
cerity.  "To  him  who  knoweth  to  do  good  and  doeth  it  not, to  him  it  is  sin." 

It  is  the  opinion,  among  the  presiding  officers  in  the  stakes  and 
wards,  that  this  year  might  be  spent  most  profitably  in  considering  the 
application  of  the  principles  and  suggestions  contained  in  the  outlines 
already  published. 

The  third  outline  is  ready  for  the  printer,  but  will  not  be  distributed 
until  later  in  the  season.  In  the  meantime,  it  is  earnestly  desired  that 
diligent  efforts  be  put  forth  to  make  the  quorums  living  quorums;  and  to 
have  every  elder  a  useful  man  in  some  phase  of  this  great  latter-day  work. 

With  this  end  in  view,  it  is  suggested  that  the  following  lessons  be 
studied,  and  the  suggestions  carefully  and  continually  applied. 

It  is  further  suggested  that  the  following  books  be  read  as  supple- 
mentary work  by  every  elder  in  the  Church.  They  may  b3  had  at  the 
Deseret  Sunday  School  Union  Book  Store:  The  Strength  oj  Being  Clean, 


PRIESTHOOD  QUORUMS'  TABLE.  365 

David  Starr  Jordan ;  Character  the  Greatest  Thing  in  the  World,  O..S. 
Marden — thirty-five  cents  each;  discount  when  ordered  in  quorum  lots. 
The  "open  lessons"  in  the  course  may  be  used  in  considering  the 
important  chapters  of  these  works,  or  as  special  lecture  nights.  Presi- 
dents of  quorums  and  class  leaders  should  prepare  carefully  to  make 
every  lesson  so  interesting  and  instructive  that  all  participating  will 
desire  to  come  again. 

FEBRUARY. 

Lesson  1. — The  Elders'  Special  Place.  Part  Two,  Lesson  4  (First 
Year  Outline). 

Lesson  2. — The  Elders'  Special  Place.  Part  Two,  Lesson  4  (First 
Year  Outline). 

Lesson  3. — Privileges  and  Duties  of  the  Elder.  Part  Two,  Lesson 
10  and  Lesson  15  (First  Year  Outline  and  Second  Year  Outline). 

MARCH. 

Lesson  4.— Ward  Duties  of  the  Elder.  Part  Two,  Lesson  17  (First 
Year  Outline). 

Lesson  5.— The  Elder  in  Auxiliary  Associations.  Part  Two,  Lesson 
18  (First  Year  Outline). 

Lesson  6.— Stake  Duties  of  the  Elder.  Part  Two,  Lesson  19  (First 
Year  Outline). 

APRIL. 

Lesson  7.— Organization  of  Elders'  Quorums.  Qualifications  of 
Members  of  Elders'  Quorums.  Part  Two,  Lesson  5  (First  Year  Outline). 
Elders  should  be  observers  of  the  Sabbath  day,  men  who  sustain 
authority,  tithe-payers,  observers  of  the  Word  of  Wisdom,  and  willing  to 
serve  the  Church. 

Qualifications  of  Officers— See  Part  Two,  Lessons  6,  7,  8,  9  (First 
Year  Outline). 

Lesson  8.— Ordination.  Part  Two,  Lesson  12  (First  Year  Out- 
line). In  considering  this  lesson,  give  thorough  instructions, and  as  much 
practice  as  possible  in  the  essentials  of  ordinations. 

Lesson  9.— Consecrating  Oil.  Let  a  member  give  a  talk  on  the  uses 
and  virtues  of  olive  oil.  Give  practice  in  consecrating.  Part  Two, 
Lesson  15  (First  Year  Outline). 

MAY. 

Lesson  10.— The  Administration  of  the  Sick.  Part  Two,  Lesson  14 
(First  Year  Outline). 

Lesson  11—  The  Administration  of  the  Sick.     Part  Two,  Lesson  16 

(First  Year  Outline). 

Lesson  12.     Open  Night. 


366  IMPRO  VEMENT  ERA . 

JUNE. 

Lesson  13. — The  Blessing  of  Children.  Give  a  talk  on  the  Savior's 
example,  (see  reference  in  Bible  and  Book  of  Mormon,  Mark  18:  13-16; 
Moroni  8:  2,  3). 

Lesson  14. — Responsibility  of  Fatherhood.  Part  Two,  Lesson  20, 
21  (First  Year  Outline). 

Lesson  15.— Family  Prayer.  Part  Two,  Lesson  23  (First  Year 
Outline). 

JULY. 

Lesson  16. — Obligations  to  Parents  and  Family.  Part  Two,  Lesson 
26  (First  Year  Outline). 

Lesson  17.— Personal  Purity.  Part  Two,  Lesson  28  (First  Year 
Outline). 

Lesson  18.— Tithing      Part  Two,  Lesson  29  (First  Year  Outline). 

AUGUST. 

Lesson  19.— Baptism.  Part  Two,  Lesson  3  (First  Year  Outline; 
Lesson  30,  Second  Year  Outline;  See  also  Lesson  24,  Second  Year 
Outline). 

Lesson  20. — Confirmations.  How  to  confirm  members— how  to  con- 
fer the  Holy  Ghost.  Part  Two,  Lesson  13,  Lesson  31  (First  and  Second 
Year  Outlines). 

Lesson  21.— Marriage.     Part  Two,  Lesson  33  (First  Year  Outline). 

SEPTEMBER. 

Lesson  22.— Marriage.  Part  Two,  Lesson  33-36  (First  Year 
Outline). 

Lesson  23.— Open  night. 

Lesson  24.— How  to  Use  Sacred  Things.  Lesson  20  (Second  Year 
Outline). 

OCTOBER. 

Lesson  25.— The  Sabbath  Day.     Lesson  33  (Second  Year  Outline). 
Lesson    26.— The     Administration  of   the  Sacrament.     Lesson   32 
(Second  Year  Outline — memorize  both  blessings). 
Lesson  27.— Open  night. 

NOVEMBER. 

Lesson  28.— The  Word  of  Wisdom.  Part  Two,  Lesson  30  (First  Year 
Outline— memorize  section    89,    Doctrine  and    Covenants.) 

Lesson  29.— Testimony  of  the  Three  Witnesses  (Second  Year 
Outline— memorize). 

Lesson  30.— Open  Night. 


PRIESTHOOD  QUORUMS'  TABLE.  367 

DECEMBER. 

Lesson  31.— The  Article?  of  Faith  (Memorize  the  first  five). 
Lesson  32.— The  Articles  of  Faith  (Memorize  Nos.  6,  7,  8,  9). 
Lesson  33.— The  Articles  of  Faith  (Memorize  Nos.  10,  11,  12,  13). 

Teachers'  Quorums,— It  is  suggested  that  the  teachers'  quorums 
take  up  the  "History  of  the  Priesthood,"  as  outlined  in  the  first  years' 
course  prepared  for  the  teachers,  using  Keeler's  Lesser  Priesthood  as  a 
text  book.  Nine  lessons  are  outlined  on  priesthood,  each  of  which  may 
be  sub-divided  as  the  instructor  may  decide;  and  it  is  thought  that  the 
first  half  of  the  present  year  may  be  profitably  devoted  to  this  study. 
The  last  half-year  can  be  spent  in  lessons  selected  from  Part  Two  of  the 
first  years'  course.  The  class  instructor  may  find  it  profitable  to  give 
the  lessons  on  "Easter,"  "Arbor  day,"  "Memorial  day,"  etc.,  as  out- 
lined in  Part  Two,  on  the  Monday  nights  closest  to  these  several  days, 
displacing  the  regular  priesthood  lessons,  if  thought  best. 

Deacons'  Study.— In  order  that  the  deacons'  quorums  that  have 
taken  up  and  finished  the  outlines  for  the  past  two  years  may  not  be  at 
a  loss  for  work  for  the  present  year,  it  is  suggested  that  they  take  up 
the  following  courses  of  study: 

The  Story  oj  the  Book  of  Mormon,  by  Elder  George  Reynolds,  which 
can  be  purchased  from  the  Deseret  News,  or  the  Deseret  Sunday  School 
Union  Book  Store,  or  the  Bureau  of  Information.     Such  reference  should 
be  made  to  the  Book  of  Mormon  itself  as  is  necessary  to  make  the  lessons 
most  interesting  and  instructive.    Lessons  should  be  assigned,  and  all  the 
members  of  the  quorum  should  come  to  class  prepared,  and  every  effort 
be   made  to  inspire  the  deacons  to  form  the  habit  of  living  the  virtues. 
The  instructor  is  urged  to  fit  one  of  the  following  subjects  to  each  of  the 
lessons,  or  choose  other  subjects  equally  important:  Quorum  meetings; 
passing  of  the  sacrament;  ushering;  gathering  the  fast  offerings;  aid  in 
caring  for  the  meetinghouse  and  grounds;  aiding  the  poor,  infirm  and 
widow;  honor  thy   father  and   thy  mother;  playing  fair;  keeping   our 
minds  and  bodies  clean;  power  of  prayer;  the  strength  of  faith;  being  an 
exemplary  missionary;  the  value  of  money;  the   peacemaker;    be  guided 
by  the  Holy  Spirit;   repentance  and  forgiveness;  to  be  exemplary;  part 
of  your  time  belongs  to  the   Lord;  overcoming  obstacles;  choice  of  lan- 
guage- gaining  a  testimony;  shunning  the  use  of  tobacco,  liquor,  etc.; 
obedience;   disobedience;  true  friendship;  loyalty  to  those  in  authority; 
the   word   of  wisdom;  sacrificing  temporal  comfort  for  the  love  of  the 
Lord;  how  should  we  maintain  power  and   influence   by  virtue  of   the 
priesthood  ?    character-assassination :  pleasure. 


Mutual  Work. 


Quarterly  Conjoint   Meetings. 

Ward  presidents  of  Mutual  Improvement  Associations,  and  particu- 
larly stake  superintendents,  are  instructed  by  the  General  Board  to  be 
present  and  take  places  on  the  stands  at  Sunday  evening  meetings  of 
quarterly  conferences  in  the  various  stakes  of  Zion.  These  quarterly 
gatherings  of  the  young  people  are  very  important,  because  this  meeting 
is  about  the  only  opportunity  that  the  young  people  have,  as  organiza- 
tions, to  listen  to  the  instructions  of  the  leading  authorities  of  the 
Church,  the  twelve  apostles  and  the  presidents  of  seventy.  A  suitable 
program  of  music,  and  one  exercise  from  each  of  the  M.  I.  A.  organiz- 
ations, should  be  given  on  these  occasions,  taken  from  the  manuals  that 
have  been  studied  during  the  season.  It  is  important  that  all  the  officers, 
both  the  young  men  and  the  young  women,  take  places  on  the  stand, 
and  that,  as  far  as  possible,  representatives  and  members  from  each 
organization  be  present.  There  has  been  some  neglect  in  this  matter, 
and  it  is  time  that  the  officers  of  the  young  people  were  taking  advan- 
tage of  this  excellent  opportunity  granted  to  the  associations,  by  mak- 
ing these  meetings  not  only  the  best  attended,  but  the  most  instructive,  of 
any  that  may  be  held  during  the  quarterly  conference. 


Questions  for  Debate. 

The   following  questions  have  been  approved  for   debates   by  the 
General  Board  of  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.: 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  college  course  should  be  reduced  in  length  to 
three  years. 

2.  Resolved,    That  the   honor  system  of  examination  in  colleges  is 
desirable  and  practicable. 

3.  Resolved,   That  the  recommendations  of   the  Simplified  Spelling 
Board  should  be  generally  adopted. 

4.  Resolved,  That  all  studies  in  college  above  the  first  or  freshman 
grade  should  be  elective. 

5.  Resolved,  That  it  would  be  for  the  best  interests  of  the  students 
of  the  United£States  to  have  colleges  situated  in  large  cities. 


Passing  Events. 


Canada  to  have  a  Navy.— The  Dominion  parliament  decided  by 
a  majority  vote  of  fifty-six  on  December  2,  last,  that  contracts  for  the 
construction  of  ten  Canadian  war  vessels,  will  soon  be  let.  They  are  to 
be  built  in  Canada,  and  since  there  are  now  no  shipyards  capable  to  fill 
the  contract,  the  contracts  will  likely  go  to  some  British  firm  which 
will  establish  such  a  yard. 

A  postal  savings  bank  opened  at  Provo,  January  3,  the  first  in 
the  state  of  Utah.  Postmaster  James  Clove  was  the  first  depositor.  He 
received  certificate  No.  1  for  one  dollar.  Several  others  followed.  In 
every  state  of  the  United  States  a  similar  bank  was  opened,  the  whole 
being  an  experiment  to  ascertain  the  practicability  of  postal  savings 
banks  in  the  nation. 

For  the  abolition  of  international  war,  Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie 
has  transferred  to  a  board  of  trustees,  twenty-seven  in  number,  Senator 
Root  of  New  York  as  president,  ten  million  dollars,  in  five  per  cent  first 
mortgage  bonds.  The  proceeds,  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  annually, 
is  to  be  freely  used  by  the  board  to  establish  a  lasting,  world-wide 
peace.  When  war  is  abolished,  the  fund  is  still  to  be  used  for  the  ban- 
ishment of  the  next  most  degrading  evil. 

The  number  of  wards  in  the  various  stakes  of  Zion  increased 
from  689,  in  1909,  to  696  in  1910.  There  are  now  62  stakes,  not 
including   the  California  mission,    where  five  wards  were  organized  in 

1910.  Duchesne  stake,  with  four  wards,  and  Carbon,  with  seven  wards, 
were  organized  in  1910.  Bear  Lake  stake  has  23  wards,  the  largest 
number  in  any  of  the  stakes;  Oneida  and  St.  George  each  has  20;  Cassia 
and  Granite  each  19;  then  Blackfoot  and  Sevier  18  each;  and  summit  17. 
In  point  of  Church  population  Granite  stands  first  in  the  Church  followed 
by  Utah,  Salt  Lake  and  Nebo,  in  order. 

Senator  Stephen  B.  Elkins  of  West  Virginia,  died  January  4, 

1911,  at  Washington.  He  was  born  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  September 
26,  1841.  He  graduated  from  the  University  of  Missouri,  and  went  to 
New  Mexico  in  1864,   where  he  had  extensive  business  interests.     Her 


370  IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 

he  became  in  succession  attorney-general,  U.  S.  district  attorney,  mem- 
ber of  the  legislature,  and  delegate  to  Congress.  He  afterwards  went 
to  West  Virginia,  where  he  built  up  a  great  fortune,  and  entered  politics. 
In  1891  he  was  chosen  secretary  of  war  by  President  Benjamin  Harrison, 
and  in  1895  was  elected  to  the  Senate.  A  great  deal  of  recent  gossip 
connected  his  daughter  Catherine's  name  with  the  Italian  Duke  of 
Abruzzi,  but  he  always  denied  that  there  was  any  understanding  of  mar- 
riage between  them. 

The  Utah  Legislature,  ninth  session,  met  on  January  9,  1911 
and  organized  by  electing  Senator  Henry  Gardner,  of  Spanish  Fork, 
president  of  the  Senate;  and  E.  W.  Robinson,  of  Logan,  Speaker  of  the 
House.  Governor  William  Spry  read  his  message  to  the  joint  session  on 
the  10th.  It  is  a  lengthy  document  touching  on  the  needs  of  every  depart- 
ment of  the  state,  and  recommending  the  passage  of  a  local  option  bill 
"with  provision  for  the  proper  regulation  and  control  of  the  liquor 
traffic,  as  pledged  in  the  platform"  of  the  Republican  party.  Senator 
George  Sutherland  was  elected  to  succeed  himself  as  U.  S.  Senator  at  the 
conjoint  session,  Jan.  18. 

Elder  John  Edward  Kirkman,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Kirkman, 
of  Salt  Lake  City,  and  who  was  laboring  as  a  missionary  in  the  Hawaiian 
Islands, came  to  his  death  by  drowning  in  the  sea, on  January  10.  He  was 
riding  a  mule  along  the  edge  of  a  precipitous  cliff  on  the  island  of  Maui, 
when  the  mule  missed  its  footing  and  fell  with  its  rider  into  the  sea,  and 
both  were  carried  away  with  the  tide.  Elder  Kirkman  was  born  March 
29,  1886,  and  was  a  young  man  of  excellent  character.  He  left  for  his 
mission  on  June  3,  1910.  He  had  been  a  member  of  both  the  Tabernacle 
and  thirty-third  ward  choirs.  His  body  was  found  on  January  15,  and 
was  buried  in  Kipehulu. 

Rioting  in  Mexico,  against  Americans,  took  place  in  the  city  of 
Mexico,  November  9,  when  the  mob  paraded  the  streets  crying  death  to 
Americans,  and  threatening  the  American  consulate.  At  Guadalajara 
there  was  anti- American  rioting.  The  cause  of  the  trouble  was  the 
lynching  of  a  man,  who  was  supposed  to  be  a  Mexican,  at  Rock  Springs, 
Texas,  November  3,  which  awakened  bitter  resentment  in  Mexico.  The 
disturbance,  however,  was  promptly  suppressed,  more  than  two  hundred 
rioters  being  arrested.  The  matter  has  been  fixed  up  between  the  two 
governments,  and  the  governor  of  Texas  has  promised  to  use  every  effort 
to  punish  the  leaders  of  the  lynchers.  Later,  a  revolution  was  planned 
to  overthrow  the  government  on  November  20,  but  it  failed,  not  without 


PASSING  EVENTS.  371 

considerable  bloodshed,  however,  and  much  alarm,  especially  in  the  state 
of  Chihuahua,  where  matters  are  still  in  uproar  at  this  writing. 

The  Western  Pacific  Railway  has  arranged  with  the  D.  &  R.  G. 
and  the  Santa  Fe  for  the  interchange  of  passengers.  This  now  gives 
Salt  Lake  City  three  trans-continental  lines.  The  Western  Pacific  prom- 
ises to  become  a  strong  factor  in  the  material  development  of  the  terri- 
tory traversed  by  it  in  Utah,  Nevada  and  California. 

Mary  Baker  Glover  Eddy,  discoverer  of  Christian  Science  and 
founder  of  the  church  of  that  name,  died  at  Chestnut  Hill,  Newton,  near 
Boston,  Mass.,  December  3,  1910.  She  was  born  in  Bow,  N.  H.,  July 
16,  1821.  Her  fortune,  accumulated  mostly  from  her  writings,  is  said 
to  amount  to  $2,000,000,  which  has  been  given  to  forward  the  Christian 
Science  church, founded  by  this  remarkable  character.  She  has  also  given 
to  the  church  the  perpetual  use  of  her  book.  Science  and  Health,with  Key 
to  Scripture.  She  discovered  Christian  Science,  or  natural  healing,  in 
1866,  published  her  book  in  1875,  began  preaching  in  1878,  organized 
the  First  Church  of  Christ,  Scientist,  in  Boston,  in  1879,  and  established 
the  Boston,  Massachusetts  Metaphysical  College,  in  1881.  She  had  few 
followers  at  first,  but  today  the  denomination  extends  to  many  lands,  and 
numbers  millions  of  adherents.  Just  now  the  cult  stands  in  danger  of 
dividing  on  the  question  of  her  resurrection,  some  holding  it  will  soon 
take  place.     Guards  are  placed  over  her  tomb. 

Patriarch  Sanford  Bingham,  Sr.,  died  at  his  home  in  River- 
dale,  near  Ogden,  in  November,  1910,  and  his  remains  were  buried  on 
Friday,  November  25.  He  was  a  pioneer  of  1847,  arriving  in  the  valley 
with  the  second  company.  He  was  born  at  Concord,  Vermont,  May  3, 
1821,  and  was  a  son  of  Erastus  and  Lucinda  Bates  Bingham.  The  family 
joined  the  "Mormon"  Church  in  1833,  and  removed  to  Kirtland,  Ohio, 
in  1836.  The  family  settled  in  Weber  county  in  1850,  where  he  has 
resided  ever  since.  Elder  Bingham  married  Miss  Mary  Ann  Lewis,  June 
18,  1847.  He  owned  a  large  estate  in  Riverdale,  where  the  family  now 
resides.  His  posterity  numbered  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty, at  the 
time  of  his  death.  For  many  years  he  was  assessor  and  collector  of 
Weber  county,  and  bishop  of  Riverdale,  and  was  an  active  worker  in  sev- 
eral capacities,  both  civil  and  religious.  He  was  ordained  a  patriarch, 
June  20,  1902,  and  was  a  man  highly  respected  of  all. 

Elder  O.  D.  Romney  has  been  appointed  to  preside  over  the  New 
Zealand  mission,  and  will  leave  for  his  field  of  labor  February  13.  Mrs. 
Romney,    and   their   son,    O.  D.,  Jr.,  will  be  set  apart  as   missionaries, 


372 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


ELDER    0.    D.    ROMNEY. 


while  their  daughter,  Vilate,will  doubtless  also  assist  in  the  work.  Their 

sons,  Melbourn  and  William,  will  attend 
school  in  Auckland.  Their  daughter, 
Gertrude,  will  be  married  before  they 
leave,  and  will  be  the  only  one  of  the 
family  left  at  home.  Elder  Romney  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  in  the 
Deseret  (now  Utah)  University.  He 
began  work  twenty- five  years  ago  as  a 
teamster,  and  later  familiarized  himself 
with  every  branch  of  building  and  con- 
tracting. He  entered  the  office  of  the 
Geo.  Romney  Lumber  Co.,  being  book- 
keeper, secretary,  treasurer,  assistant 
manager,  and  now  manager,  of  the  very 
successful  business.  In  1888  he  went 
on  his  first  mission  to  New  Zealand,  returning  by  way  of  Europe  in 
1892,  meeting  Sister  Romney  in  New  York,  after  a  separation  of  nearly 
three  and  a  half  years. 

Elder  Romney  has  always  been  connected  with  the  Sunday  school* 
occupying  every  position  from  teacher  to  superintendent.  While  super- 
intendent of  the  Twentieth  ward,  one  hundred  per  cent  of  the  officers  and 
teachers  have  attended  every  Union  meeting  during  the  past  twelve 
months.  He  has,  until  recently,  always  been  associated  with  the  Y.  M. 
M.  LA.,  in  many  responsible  positions,  besides  being  chairman  of  the 
ward  finance  committee;  and  was  in  the  presidency  of  the  thirteenth 
quorum  of  Seventy,  until  released  to  be  first  assistant  superintendent  in 
the  Ensign  stake  Sunday  school  board,  which  alone, in  all  the  stakes  of  the 
Church,  holds  weekly  Union  meetings.  His  financial  prospects  were 
never  better, but  he  believes  first  in  his  soul's  salvation, and  in  that  of  his 
family  and  fellow-men,  and  so  he  willingly  makes  the  seeming  sacrifice 
which  this  call  demands.  Elder  Romney  was  born  in  Salt  Lake  City, 
August  15,  1860,  and  is  a  son  of  Bishop  George  and  Vilate  Douglas 
Romney.  The  Era  joins  his  many  friends  in  wishing  him  and  his  every 
blessing,  and  a  successful  mission. 


Photos  of  the  barque  "Terra  Nova,"  taken  just  prior  to  her 
departure  from  Port  Chalmers,  "the  last  port  of  call,"  on  November  20, 
1910,  are  presented  herewith.  Port  Chalmers  is  the  seaport  for  the  city 
of  Dunedin,  New  Zealand.  The  Terra  Nova  had  on  board  the  British 
Antarctic  Expedition,  under  the  leadership  of  Captain  Scott,  R.  N.     The 


"TERRA  NOVA"  LEAVING  PORT  CHALMERS,  NOV.  20,  1910. 

Esquimo  dogs  and  Siberian  ponies  were  the  centre  of  attraction,  and 
many  expressions  of  admiration  and  of  pity  for  them  were  heard  from 
people  who  realized  the  tremendous  task  before  them,  and  the  slimness  of 
their  chances  for  a  safe  return.  The  views  sent  by  Elder  John  Latimer, 
Jr.,  will  be  of  interest  to  readers  of  the  Era  who  are  watching  the  pro- 
gress of  events. 


ON   THE  "TERRA   NOVA,"   PORT   CHALMERS,    NEW     ZEALAND. 


374 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA. 


0 


The  late  aviation  meet  at  Los  Angeles,  December  31,  1910, 

was  a  great  failure,  owing  to  the  death  of  Aviator  Archibald  E.  Hoxsey. 

Before  his  fatal  fall,   one  could  get  value  for  the 

$1.50  that  it  cost,  but  after  that,  the  matter  was 

very  tame. 

«^  The  year  1910,    which  marks   a  new  era   in 

"^^^^^         the  history  of  man's  conquest  of  the  air,  came  to 

^00^  a  sad  end  m  the  death  of  the  daring  and  success. 

ful  aviators,  John  B.   Moissant,  thirty-five  years 

IB  of  age,    and   of   French    Canadian   descent,    and 

Archibald  E.  Hoxsey— the  one  at  New  Orleans,  and 
the  other,  as  stated,  at  Los  Angeles,  on  the  same 

Latham    in   Antoin-  day.      The  latter   heard    of    the   former's   death 

ette  Monoplane,  mak-  before  he  made  his  fatal  attempt  to  attain  an  alti- 

mgadip.  tude    record   of  twejve   thousand   feet.     He   had 

already    made,     at    a    former 

trial,    11,474    feet,      and   a 

continuous  flight  of  three  hours, 

seventeen  minutes,   but  on   the 

occasion  of  his  death,   he  soared 

over  Mount  Wilson,  the   high- 
est peak  in  the  vicinity,   to  an 

altitude  of  7, 142  feet,  where  he 

started  to  descend, and  when  530 

feet  in  the   air  lost   control  of 

his  machine,  which  fell  straight 

down  and  crushed  him. 

The    "Tournament    of 

Roses"  at  Pasadena  was  a  very 

beautiful    affair.      People  left 

their  homes  at  daybreak,  coming 

from  all  parts  of  the  surround- 
ing country,  to  be  on  time.     In 

all,      about     125,000      people 

were     gathered    on    three     of 

the  principal  streets  of  a  city 

boasting 30,000  inhabitants;  one 

may  imagine  how  crowded  were 

the  streets,  but  "the  sight  was 

worth  the  effort,"   writes  Ger- 
ald Anderson. 


HOTEL  MARYLAND  FLOAT, 

Pasadena  Rose  Carnival,  Jan.  2,  1911. 


"chanticleer"  float, 

Flower  Parade,  Rose  Carnival,  Pasa- 
dena, Cal.,  Jan.  1,  1911. 


ON   A   JAPANESE  BATTLESHIP  IN   PASADENA  HARBOR,  CALIFORNIA. 

"The  Japanese  warships  in  the  harbor  of  Pasadena,  was  an  inter- 
esting sight  to  me,"  writes  Gerald  Anderson,  who  had  the  privilege  of 
boarding  them  a  short  time  ago.  "The  outside  is  scarred  by  cannon  ball, 
received  in  the  Japanese-Russian  war.  The  armor  is  six  inches  thick,  and 
there  are  eight  eight-inch  guns.  The  ship  is  not  very  large, measuring  only 
three  hundred  feet  in  length.     In  view  of  the  very  kind  and  considerate 


JAPANESE   BATTLESHIP    IN   PASADENA    HARBOR,     CALIFORNIA. 


376  1MPR0  VEMENT  ERA . 

treatment  our  battleships  received  some  time  ago  in  Japan,  the  treatment 
accorded  the  Japanese  in  Pasadena  was  shabby.  The  managemont  of 
the  Maryland  hotel  (the  social  function  hotel  of  the  town)  sent  out  invi- 
tations to  the  officers  to  attend  a  reception  in  their  honor.  This  was 
done,  however,  without  first  notifying  the  'social  set.'  When  the 
young  ladies  received  their  invitations,  they  were  very  indignant  and 
refused  to  participate.  The  officers  were  very  much  insulted.  A  recep- 
tion arranged  to  be  held  on  shipboard  by  the  officers  was  called  off,  as 
well  as  a  contemplated  visit  to  the  warships  of  the  school  children  of 
Los  Angeles  and  vicinity." 

The  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
is  the  greatest  judicial  officer  in  the  world.  In  no  other  nation  is  there 
a  tribunal  comparable  to  the  highest  American  court.  It  has  recently 
been  said,  and  with  great  truth,  that  the  Supreme  Court  governs  the 
nation.  The  court  was  organized  in  1789,  and  eight  great  jurists  have 
served  as  Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States.  The  late  Chief  Justice  Mel- 
ville W.  Fuller,  who  died  in  Sorrento,  Maine,  July  4th  last,  next  to  John 
Marshall  and  Robert  B.  Taney,  served  longer  than  any  one— twenty- two 
years.  To  him  it  fell  to  define  the  relation  of  the  national  government 
to  social  and  industrial  activities;  while  to  John  Marshall  belongs  the 
credit  of  laying  down  the  principles  on  which  the  Constitution  must  be 
interpreted.  At  the  1910-11  session  of  the  Supreme  Court,  which  opened 
at  Washington,  October  10  last,  the  oath  of  office  was  administered  to 
Charles  E.  Hughes,  of  New  York,  as  associate  justice.  On  December  12, 
President  Taft  sent  to  the  Senate  the  nominations  of  Associate  justice 
Edward  Douglas  White,  a  Democrat  of  Louisiana,  to  be  Chief  Justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States;  Judge  Willis  Van  Devanter,  of 
Wyoming,  a  Republican,  fifty-one  years  old,  and  Judge  Joseph  Rucker 
Lamar,  also  a  Democrat,  fifty-three  years  old,  of  Georgia,  to  be  Asso- 
ciate Justices.  Chief  Justice  White  is  sixty-five  years  of  age,  served 
in  the  Confederate  army,  was  a  senator  from  Louisiana,  1891-4,  and 
received  the  appointment  of  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  in 
1894.  All  the  appointments  give  good  satisfaction.  It  seldom  falls  to 
the  lot  of  a  president  to  make  so  many  appointments  for  the  Supreme 
Court  as  President  Taft  now  has  made;  and  considering  their  importance, 
the  country  is  lucky  in  having  a  president  with  excellent  legal  ability 
and  hence  specially  qualified  for  the  task. 


The  Remington  Auto-Loading  Shotgun 


"BROWNING'S 
PATENT" 


It  was  the  Rtmington  Auto-Loading  Shotgun,  in  the  hands  of  an  amateur, 
hat  won  the  recent  Grand  American  Handicap  against  405  contestants.  It  is  the 
PERFECT  gun  for  trap  and  field. 

Send  for  our  150  page  catalog;  it  is  free.  We  have  "Everything  for  Every 
Sport  in  Every  season." 


BROWNING  BROS.  CO., 


Ogden,  Utah 


WE  PAY  6ff 


0 


PER  ANNUM  INTEREST  ON  DEPOSITS 

Commercial  Savings  Benefit  Co. 

201  Constitution  Building,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 
D.  J.  WILLIAMS,  Manager 


Year's  record  of  Barker's  Diploma  Pretty 

Rose,  a  registered  Jersey  Cow, 

1 1.379.50  pounds  milk 

609.54  estimated  butter 

Berkshire  and  Duroc  Jersey  Swine, 

Pigs  $10.00  to  $25.00 

S.  C.  Brown  and  White  Leghorn  Chickens, 

Bred  for  Eggs. 

From  Utah's  Greatest  Stock  and 
Poultry  Farm 

JOSEPH  BARKER 
R.  D.  JVo.  3         Ogden,  Utah 


THIS  SPACE  RESERVED  FOR 

Reiser's  Jewelry  Store 


OLDEST  IN  UTAH 

ESTABLISHED  IN  1860 

Mail  orders  solicited 


1 2  E.  First  South        Salt  Lake  City 


For  Sale 


75 


Joseph  Smith  as  Scientist.Cloth  $ 

History  of  the  Prophet  Joseph 

Smith  by  his  mother   Lucy 

Smith Cloth     1.00 

Gilt-Morocco    2.50 

IMPROVEMENT  ER71 

20-22  Bishop's  Bldg.,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


(When  writing  to  Advertisers,  please  mention  the  ERA.) 


COFFEE    IS    HARMFUL    TO    THE    NERVES,  THE   BRAIN, 
THE  HEART.  THE  STOMACH  AND  THE  COMPLEXION 


KOFFE-ET 


tff[  Feeds,  Nourishes,  Develops  and 
jJ  Strengthens  the  Whole  System. 
It  is  food-drink,  made  of  fruits  and 
grains.  It  is  healthful  and  helpful. 
It  quiets  the  nerves,  builds  brain  and 
body  tissues,  sweetens  the  stomach, 
and  clears  the  complexion.  It  is  a 
beautifier  as  Well  as  a  muscle-maker. 


"It  Builds  You  Up 


if 


25  Cents 


YOUR  GROCER 
SELLS  IT 


Elks  California 
Excursion 


via 


Saturday,  Feb.  Uth,  1911 


$35.00  to  Los  Angeles  and  return  direct. 
$41.20  to  Los  Angeles  and  return  via  San 

Francisco. 
$60.75  Los  Angeles  and  return  via  Portland. 
Return  limit  March  7th.  191 1. 

FROM  STILT  LAKE  ONLY. 


Special  Trains 

With  solid  vestibuled  Pullman  Standard 
Sleepers  and  Dining  Cars  [Meals  a  la  Carte] 
leave  Salt  Lake  City  9:00  P.M.  Feb.  4th. 

Secure  your  sleeping  car  reservations  now 
through  A.  W.  Raybould,  Sec'y  Elks  Club. 
Salt  Lake,  or  see  any  Salt  Lake  Route  Agent 
for  further  information. 

T.  C.  PECK.  G.  P.  A..  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 
J.  H.  MANDERFIELD,  A.G.P  A.  Salt  Lake.  Ut- 


ELECTRIC 
BLOCK     v 
SIGNAL 
PROTECTION 

When  You  Travel 

EAST       * 

VIA 

City 

Ticket 

Office 

156 

Main 

Street 

"The  Overland  Route" 

Four  trains  daily  over  one  of  the 
best  ballasted  tracks  in  the  coun- 
try in  the  most  comfortable  can 
money  and  care  can  provide. 

This  assures  -  - 

TRAVEL  COMFORT 
TRAVEL  SAFETY 

(When  writing1  to  Advertisers,  please  mention  the  E1