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N THIS ISSUE—
THE FIRST PRESIDENCY CHARLES A. CALLIS CARVETH WELLS
HEBER J. GRANT HARVEY FLETCHER LEAH D. WIDTSOE
AUGUST, 1936
Volume 39 Number 8
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THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
200 NORTH MAIN STREET
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
McCune School of Music and Art
Sponsored by the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
TRACY Y. CANNON, Director
THOROUGH INSTRUCTION IN ALL BRANCHES OF MUSIC, DRAMATIC
ART, AND DANCING
Personal Direction Given to All Whether Beginning or Advanced Students, or Teachers, or Registered in the Four Year Course Leading to Diploma or Degree,
Bachelor of Music
A FACULTY OF DISTINGUISHED ARTIST TEACHERS:
PIANO
Tracy Y. Cannon Frank W. Asper Mabel Borg Jenkins Becky Almond Lester Hinchcliff Helen Budge Viola Taylor Jessie Seamons Taylor Maurine Dewsnup Nephi K. Davis Thelma Caffall Thurman
VOICE
Richard P. Condie Margaret Summerhays J. Spencer Cornwall (Vocal Conducting)
VIOLIN and VIOLA
Reginald Beales Aurelia C. Shimer Kenneth Roylance
REGISTRATIONS FOR I MODERATE TUITION
FACULTY
VIOLONCELLO Joseph C. Clive
CLARINET, OBOE, BASSOON, FLUTE.SAXOPHONE, COR- NET, TROMBONE, TRUMPET, TUBA.FRENCH HORN
Kenneth Roylance
Louis W. Booth
ORGAN
Tracy Y. Cannon Frank W. Asper
HARP
Lydia White Boothby
DRAMATIC ART E. Munroe Husbands
DANCING
Margaret Burton
936-37 NOW BEING RECEIVED FEES— SEND FOR CATALOG
AN INSTITUTIONAL MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
SCHOOLS OF MUSIC
457
Heber J. Grant, John A. Widtsoe,
Editors
Richard L. Evans,
Managing Editor
Marba C. Josephson,
Associate Editor
George Q. Morris, General Mgr. Clarissa A, Beesley, Associate Mgr. J. K. Orton, Business Mgr.
"The Glory of God is Intelligence"
COMING
IN SEPTEMBER
STEPHEN L. RICHARDS— DISCUSSING ONE MAN'S POINT OF VIEW ON THE PERENNIAL QUESTION OF SCIENCE AND RELIGION, WITH PROMINENT REFERENCE TO A RECENT BOOK BY SIR AMBROSE FLEMING.
THE RELIGION OF THE PIUTE IN- DIANS, BY WILLIAM R. PALMER, PRESIDENT OF PAROWAN STAKE AND AN ADOPTED SON OF THE TRIBE. THIS COLORFUL AND INFORMATIVE TREATMENT BY ONE OF THE WEST'S BEST QUALIFIED AUTHORITIES ON INDIAN LORE BRINGS NEW LIGHT CONCERNING LITTLE-KNOWN FACTS. SAYS THE AUTHOR: "IN ALL MY LIFE I HAVE NEVER HEARD AN IN- DIAN PROFANE THE NAMES OF HIS GODS."
"LANDMARKS IN THE NETHERLANDS MISSION" BY T. EDGAR LYON, PRES- IDENT OF THE NETHERLANDS MIS- SION. THE RESTORED GOSPEL HAS BEEN PREACHED SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS IN EUROPE'S LOWLAND COUN- TRY. EARLY NAMES AND EARLY SCENES WALK ACROSS THE PAGES OF PRINT AS A STORY OF THREE- QUARTERS OF A CENTURY AGO IS TOLD.
"BLOOM OF THE DESERT" BY VESTA P. CRAWFORD— IN WHICH A DRAB AND COLORLESS PLACE BECOMES ALIVE AND COLORFUL TO THE SEEING EYE.
FICTION
POETRY
BOOKS THE STORY OF OUR HYMNS THE JOURNAL OF ARCHER WALTERS
EXECUTIVE AND EDITORIAL
OFFICES: 50 North Main Street, Salt Lake
City, Utah
Copyrght 1932, by the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association Corporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All rights reserved. Subscription price, $2.oo a year, in advance^ 20c Single Copy.
Entered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage pro- rided for in section 1103, Act of October, 1917. authorized July 2, 1918.
The Improvement Era is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, but welcomes and will exercise care in handling all contributions.
A MAGAZINE FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
458
VOLUME 39
Improvement
ERA
AUGUST, 1936
"THE VOICE OF THE CHURCH"
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS, MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS, DEPART- MENT OF EDUCATION, MUSIC COMMITTEE, WARD TEACHERS, AND OTHER AGENCIES OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(battortals
A Warning to Church Members The First Presidency 488
The Use of Gospel Standards John A* Widtsoe 488
(Also Comment on Communism^Reprint "Enemies Within Our Gates," 489.)
(church cfeatures
The President Speaks to Scouters
President Heber J. Grant 461
A World-wide View of M. I. A. Richard L. Evans 474
The Story of Our Hymns George D. Pyper 492
The Church Moves On, 490; Priesthood: Melchizedek, 498; Aaronic, 499; Ward Teaching, 501.
Special CJeatures
A Formula From Life Harvey Fletcher 464
Your Birthright — The Pioneers' Message to the Youth of
Today Leah D. Widtsoe 468
Among the Catawbas Charles A. Callis 473
Judge Henry H. Rolapp Daisy Rolapp Romney 478
The Journal of Archer Walters 482
A Citizen of the World Looks at Utah Carveth Wells 485
Let's Build a Cabin Karl E. Young 507
Sagebrush, 467; How to Improve Your Silent Reading Habits, 472; Exploring the Universe, 494; On the Book Rack, 496; Homing, 497; From the Diary of a Bishop's Wife, by Adele Cannon Howells, 512; The Advertisers, 513; Your Page and Ours, 520.
cfictioa ana [Poetry
Strange Roads Janet Blake Silver 481
Moving Mountains — Conclusion Walter L. Bailey 495
Try and Get It! Eldred Johnstone 502
Frontispiece, Desert Shrine, Floyd T. Wood, 460; All Things Climb a Starry Stair, Evelyn Miller Hartwich, 473; Poetry Page, 491; The Return, Ivy Williams Stone, 496; The Skeptics, Rosannah Cannon, 512.
cJhe Cover
"HPrail's End" is the title of the cover illustration. It is reproduced from A a photograph taken from the east shore of Granddaddy Lake, Utah, by Paul S. Bieler of Ogden, Utah. Mr. Bieler, a native of France who joined the Church at twenty-one years of age two months after arriving in Utah, has been engaged in extensive photographic activities since he was fourteen years old, and has won several prizes for his skill and artistry. "Trail's End" which appears to be a night silhouette, was actually taken late on an August afternoon. "The Lake Ruth Campfire" on page 463 is also by Paul S. Bieler.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
COMING SOON to readers of
3ke IMPROVEMENT ERA
"The Outlaw of Navajo Mountain
THE STORY OF OLD POSEY, PIUTE RENEGADE
By ALBERT R LYMAN
AUTHOR OF THE "VOICE OF THE INTANGIBLE"
'"Phis full length novel based on the colorful history of the Southwest, will be published in installments in this magazine prior to its appearance in book form.
//
i :
IHWMPiPiiJMPP
ADVENTURE, ROMANCE,
AND HISTORY
'"The San Juan Pioneers of the Mormon Church walk across the horizon of this story of In- dian outlawry as dauntless guardians of peace in a scene of troubled unrest.
HThe LAW of primitive man, the law of the tribe, and the law of the white man come into con- flict for more than half-a-cen- tury, and the story that comes out of it lives and breathes and warms the heart — and chills it, too, at times.
OLD POSEY
CONFLICT, CONQUEST,
AND RETRIBUTION
Co anxious were law enforce- ment officers concerning the final disposition of old Posey, that, thirteen years ago, when his lawless domination of the meeting-ground of four states ended with his death, they dis- interred him to make identifica- tion certain.
\\7atch for the story of Old Posey by a colorful writer who knew him as trusted friend and as mortal enemy.
LKead
The Outlaw of Navajo Mountain"
Soon in
eqinntriQ
ofke IMPROVEMENT ERA
459
Desert shrine
.'.-'V'T
^pHif
By FLOYD T.WOOD
'Y'es, we took a bit of desert
For a homestead, Sue and I. Hoped to win success as farmers;
Pleased to have the chance to try. Built a log and 'dobe cabin
Where 'twas handy to the spring. Sue called it a sagebrush palace;
Nicknamed me 'The Sagebrush King.'
Plowed a dam to hold the waters
From the winter snows and rains. Set out trees and shrubs and roses;
Planted hardy hay and grains. How we laughed and sang and frolicked
At these strange new jobs to do; Seemed that things we'd hoped and prayed for
All our lives would here come true.
No more tramping, no more wand'ring,
Here a chance to settle down. Love would make the gray days brighter-
What odds fifty miles to town? Prairie larks our clock of mornings
Calling us to work and fun. Brown our faces, tanned and crinkled
With the claw marks of the sun.
Winter, long; then spring's chinooking
Filled my lake with waters deep. Bought a cow, a pig, some chickens,
And a little band of sheep. In our garden fresh and greening
Sue and I were well repaid. Proud because a barren acre
Into Eden had been made.
But as blossoms wilt and wither
In the sting of winter's breath So my dreams were on the evening
When my love lay cold in death. Numbed and broken there beside her
Asking God why this must be; And the night was dark and silent
As the desert mourned with me.
So this cabin that we builded
Stands now empty and alone; Roof sagged down and chimney fallen;
Through wide cracks the night winds moan. When the sun is warm the lizards
In the doorway pause to rest; 'Neath the floor are squirming rattlers;
In the loft the pack rats nest.
Sightless windows ghostly staring
From the rooms where prayers were said. Where our flowers and garden flourished
Rank the sagebrush grows instead. Lake and fences, fields and ditches,
Scarce a sign of mortal hand. Home that was, a broken Eden,
Buried 'neath the marching sand.
Not one jot of earthly value
In those ruins stark and gray; By mankind and God forgotten;
Still I linger, day by day, Watching, hoping, listening ever
For the call to set me free; Well I know my Sue is waiting
In God's homestead fair for me.
460
PRESIDENT HEBER J. GRANT
Dr. James E. West, Chief Scout Executive and Editor of "Boys' Life" introduced President Grant at the "General Convocation on Scout- ing in the Churches" as follows:
"Our first speaker this morning is President Heber J. Grant, of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter- day Saints. I happen to know that President Grant, who has always been a consistent friend of Scouting, is here this morning at considerable personal sacrifice, but this is nothing new for him. He looks to be a man of youth and vigor, but it may amaze you to learn, many of you, that he is actually nearly eighty years of age. And yet he spends less time in his home tha.n we have the privilege of spending in our homes. His service is in the cause of his belief, his Church, and it takes him hither and yonder by plane and by train and by auto. I am sure it is in the heart of every man here to express gratitude to President Grant, indeed to all of his associates, for the splendid, prac- tical cooperation that has been given almost from the very start of Scout- ing here in America. Yes, I should like to go further. He has been so helpful and encouraging in the evi- dence of friendship and brotherhood that it has been a source of great joy and pleasure to work with him.
"Age is a quality of mind;
If your dreams you have left be- hind, If hope is cold, if you no longer look ahead, If your ambition fires are dead, Then you are old.
But if from life you take the best, And if in life you keep the zest,
If love you hold, no matter how the years roll by, No matter how the birthdays fly,
You are not old."
PRESIDENT SPEAKS TO SCOUTERS
And I can prove that. I went to Scotland while presiding over the European Mission and the British Mission of our Church, and an old lady asked me my age. I told her if I lived a few weeks, giving the exact number, I would be fifty years of age. She said, "Oh, nay, nay, never see sixty- five again." She thought I was lying to her.
Just after that, my successor pre- siding over those two missions ar- rived and he was twenty-five years older than I. We had over one hun- dred people emigrating that day to Utah. That was in the early days when a man could go up into Idaho, in the vicinity of Utah, and get a hundred and sixty acres of land at $ 1 .25 an acre. Some of it years later sold at $300. And we had many missionaries going home, and my successor had brought a lot with him. We had had a very, very strenuous day.
At night the shipping firm with which we did business sent me four theatre tickets. When there was something very fine at the Shake- speare Theatre they would do that. I turned to my wife and said: "Em, I wouldn't go to the finest theatre on earth. I am tired. I am going to bed to sleep. Take a missionary to bring you home and two of our daughters and use these tickets."
My successor, the late Charles W. Penrose, who lived to be over ninety-one years of age, said: "Sister Grant, let that old man go to bed. I will take you to the theatre."
The next morning I took him to see the new home that we had pur- chased for headquarters — twice as fine as the one I had had. The gen- tleman from whom we had pur-
THE Sixth National Training Con- ference of Scout Executives was held March 11 to 18, 1936, at French Lick, Indiana. President Heber J. Grant was there by invitation of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America and twice addressed the more than nine hundred dele- gates who attended the "General Convocation on Scouting in the Churches" held Sunday, March 15. The President was accorded a sin- cerely warm and hearty reception, and this message to Scouters has been taken from his remarks made on that occasion.
chased the place was moving his furniture out and somebody asked him to guess our ages. He looked us over quite carefully and said: "I should say that Mr. Penrose was sixty, and Mr. Grant sixty-five."
Next Sunday we went to a con- ference and I thought I would get those three jabs between the eyes corrected, so I asked the president of the Birmingham Conference: "Which do you think is the older, Mr. Penrose or myself?"
He said: "The idea of asking such a ridiculous question. Any- body can see you are very much older than Brother Penrose." I hit the table and said: "No old man will ever take my wife to the theatre again," and they never have.
Now I repeated the articles of faith of our Church in the meeting this morning, all of them; I am not going to do that here, but I am going to read what your Chief* wrote to
me:
"As we review the history erf the Boy Scout movement, we find that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the
* Referring to Dr. James E. West, Chief Executive of the Boy Scouts of America, who sent the letter, from which excerpts are here quoted, to President Grant.
461
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
first to give its official endorsement to Scouting. As we review the records of our Local Councils and the various church groups, we find that the Mormon Church leads all others in the high percentage of its boys and young men who have received Scout training. It is therefore most fitting and proper that the Mormon Church be represented in our General Convocation on Scouting in the Churches, and I am writing on behalf of the Conference Committee, to extend a cordial invitation to you as Pres- ident of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to speak in behalf of the Mormon Church and bring to our group your appraisal of the value of Scouting in the magnificent program which you have developed for your boys and your young men.
"We would be pleased to have you indi- cate very clearly the close correlation be- tween the program of your Scout Troops and Explorer Scouts, formerly Vanguards, with the program of the Aaronic Priesthood.
"You have gone further than any other church group in relating Scouting to the entire program of your church in its service to boys. We would like our group to have a clear picture of how completely this has worked out to our mutual satisfaction."
\X7rE have over one thousand wards and branches from Canada to Mexico, and in each ward and branch we have a meetinghouse, and we are working for Scouts from Canada on the north to Mexico on the south. We also have missions all over the world.
Again quoting Dr. West's letter:
"While you are indicating the church Scout Executive relationship, we hope that you will also emphasize the great funda- mental principles that undergird our na- tional life and the spiritual motivation which is essential to good citizenship."
It is a real pleasure to have ac- cepted this invitation. I do not see very well how I could have afforded to stay away, with such a splendid request as this contained in the letter from your Chief Scout. Traveling such distances as from Santa Bar- bara to French Lick is, of course, not unusual with me. I have been home one Sunday, I believe, in the last eight weeks. I have been from San Francisco to New York twice and down to California a time or two and over to Phoenix and other places, and really and truly I am a very much younger man than I was just before I was fifty.
As to the fundamentals of our Church position: The reason that we joined Scouting, I was going to tell you, but your Chief has done it for me. I borrowed this book to read just what he has already read/ Here is a declaration of belief re- garding governments and laws in 462
general adopted by unanimous vote of a general assembly of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This was adopted August 17, 1835, and there has not been the slightest change. You can get a unanimous vote on it again today. There is a page and a half of this, but I am only going to read three paragraphs, be- cause my time is limited:
"We believe that governments were in- stituted of God for the benefit of man; and that He holds men accountable for their
Prior TO President Grant's address Dr. James E. West read this ex- cerpt from the Constitution of the Boy Scouts of America:
ARTICLE III-PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES
"Section I —The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no boy can grow into the best kind of citizenship without recognizing his obligation to God. In the first part of the Boy Scout's Oath or pledge the boy prom- ises, "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my coun- try, and to obey the Scout Law." The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe, and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings, are neces- sary to the best type of citizenship, and are wholesome things in the edu- cation of the growing boy. No matter what the boy may be — Catholic or Protestant or Jew — this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before him. The Boy Scouts of America therefore recognizes the religious element in the training of a boy, but it is absolutely non-sectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the or- ganization or institution with which the Boy Scout is connected shall give definite attention to his religious life.
"Only men willing to subscribe to this declaration of principle shall be entitled to certificates of leadership in carrying out the Boy Scout Program.
"The activities of the members of the Boy Scouts of America shall be carried on under conditions which show respect for the convictions of others in matters of custom and re- ligion, as required by the Twelfth Scout Law, reading 'A Scout is reverent. He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion.'
"In no case where a Troop is con- nected with a church or other dis- tinctively religious institution, shall Scouts of other denominations or faith be required, because of their membership in the Scout Troop, to take part in or observe a religious ceremony distinctively peculiar to that institution or church."
*See boxed note Article III quoted above which was read by Dr. James E. West pre- vious to President Grant's address.
acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.
"We believe that no government can exist in peace, except as such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of con- science, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.
"We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government; whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual priv- ileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied." . . .
—Doc. and Cov., Sec. 134:1, 2, 9.
The reason that we were ready and willing and anxious to join with the Boy Scouts has been given in what has been read to you here by your Chief Executive.* We found something that pleased us very much indeed. Here is what Joseph Smith has to say about the Constitution:
"The Consitution of the United States is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is a heavenly banner; it is to all those who are privileged with the sweets of liberty, like the cooling shades and refreshing waters of a great rock in a weary and thirsty land. It is like a great tree under whose branches men from every clime can be shielded from the burning rays of the sun."— Joseph Smith.
Some men are ridiculing today the idea that old men, old fossils, so to speak, are on the Supreme Court bench. Well, I do not believe any member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can consistently do that. It might be of interest to you to know that John Taylor became the president of our Church when he was seventy-two years of age, that Wilford Wood- ruff became the president when he was eighty-two, and that Lorenzo Snow became the president when he was eighty-five, and Joseph F. Smith when he was sixty-two, and Heber J. Grant when he was sixty- two, and that each and all of us have served from fifty-one to fifty-seven years as Apostles from the day that we were ordained, and the Mormon Church for the last fifty-five years has had somebody presiding over it who was an old man. Lorenzo Snow, from eighty-five to eighty- eight, did some of the most remark- able and wonderful and splendid work that was ever done by any man presiding over our Church.
*One reason we joined the Scouts has just been given to you by your Chief Executive, and there is noth- ing that we desire to emphasize more than that it is our duty to implant in the hearts of all boys a reverence for God and a desire to be directed by God.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
T remember purchasing and distrib- uting one thousand copies of The Fundamentals of Prosperity by Roger W. Babson, the great statis- tician, in which he tells about being in South America. Mr. Babson says:
Just before I went to Brazil I was the guest of the President of the Argentine Republic. After lunching one day we sat in his sun parlor looking out over the river. He was very thoughtful. He said, "Mr. Babson, I have been wondering why it is that South America with all its great natural advantages is so far behind North America notwithstanding that South America was settled before North America." Then he went on to tell how the forests of South America had two hundred and eighty-six trees that can be found in no book of botany. He told me about many ranches that had thousands of acres under alfalfa in one block. He mentioned the mines of iron, coal, copper, silver, gold; all those great rivers and waterpowers which rival Niagara. "Why is it, with all these natural resources, South America is so far behind North America?" he asked. Well, those of you who have been there know the reason. But, being a guest, I said:
"Mr. President, what do you think is the reason?"
He replied: "I have come to this con- clusion. South America was settled by the Spanish who came to South America in search of gold, but North America was settled by the Pilgrim Fathers who went there in search of God."
I quote from our Articles of Faith:
"We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."
"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
When the Catholic people erected their first church in Salt Lake City they were welcomed and a donation in aid of its erection was made by the Mormon Church. And in the
jiBlfc
last month from an appeal made to me by one of the Protestant churches for help I sent them a check not only from our Church but a dona- tion from myself.
"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates, in obey- ing, honoring, and sustaining the law.
"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul. We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
I repeat: "If there is anything
virtuous, lovely, or of good report or
praiseworthy, we seek after these
things."
When we discovered the funda- mentals of the Boy Scouts, we were looking for just such a thing and that is why we joined.
You are teaching boys to be hon- est. I hold in my hand one of eight essays written by William George Jordan, William George Jordan
was at one time the editor of The Saturday Evening Post, and I shall take the time to read the first, sec- ond and last paragraphs of this first essay:
"Truth is the rock foundation of every great character. It is loyalty to the right as we see it; it is courageous living of our lives in harmony with our ideals; it is al- ways—power."
That one sentence is the thing that you are endeavoring to instill into the hearts of the Boy Scouts, and it is worth everything.
"Truth ever defies full definition. Like electricity it can only be explained by notic- ing its manifestation. It is the compass of the soul, the guardian of conscience, the final touchstone of right. Truth is the reve- lation of the ideal; but it is also an inspira- tion to realize that ideal, a constant impulse to live it."
"A man cannot truly believe in God without believing in the final inevitable triumph of Truth. If you have Truth on your side you can pass through the dark valley of slander, misrepresentation and abuse, undaunted, as though you wore a magic suit of mail that no bullet could enter, no arrow could pierce. You can hold your head high, toss it fearlessly and defiantly, look every man calmly and unflinchingly in the eye, as though you rode, a victorious king, returning at the head of your legions with banners waving and lances glistening, and bugles filling the air with music. You can feel the great expansive wave of moral health surging through you as the quickened blood courses through the body of him who is gladly, gloriously proud of physical health. You will know that all will come right in the end, that it must come, that error must flee before the great white light of truth, as darkness slinks away into nothingness in the presence of the sunburst. Then, with Truth as your guide, your com- panion, your ally, and inspiration, you tingle with the consciousness of your kin- ship with the Infinite and all the petty trials, sorrows and sufferings of life fade away like temporary, harmless visions seen in a dream."
^5?^p^ ]{^y"
Photograph by Paul S. Bieler, THE LAKE RUTH CAMPFIRE
463
A FORMULA FROM LIFE
HARVEY FLETCHER
P\r. Harvey Fletcher, Physical *—J Research Director of the Bell Telephone Laboratories, and a scien- tist of international eminence, re- turned to his Alma Mater, Brigham Young University, to address the graduating class of 1936. From his remarks made on that occasion this article has been prepared for "The Improvement Era." In the December 1935 issue of this magazine, there appears a brief biographical sketch of Dr. Fletcher and his attainments. Dr. Fletcher prefaced his remarks to the graduating class with these words: "During my sixteen years' association with Brigham Young llni' versity, as a student and teacher, and since leaving it, which, is now twenty years ago, a philosophy for judging the values in life has been gradually evolving in my mind. I am going to try to express that philosophy to you today. For lack of a better title I have called it 'The Mathematics of Joy and Success'."
By HARVEY FLETCHER, Ph.D., D.Sc.
•yHE MATHEMATICS OF JOY AND SUCCESS — THE NET JOY IN LIFE IS THE TOTAL JOY MINUS THE PRICE WE PAY FOR IT. "MEN ARE THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE JOY." BOTH SAINTS AND SINNERS ALIKE AGREE THAT SUCH IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE, BUT IT IS NEGLECTING TO CONSIDER THE COST OF A FLEETING JOY OR PLEASURE THAT LEADS TO A LIFE OF MISERY AND UNHAPPINESS.
Lehi, that great character in the Book of Mormon, in giving his last blessing and advice to Jacob, his son, made this significant statement: "Men are that they might have joy." This is one of the brief- est and most definite statements con- cerning the purpose of life that has ever been written. Almost everybody will agree, both saints and sinners alike, that such is the purpose of life. In his own way everyone is seek- ing joy and happiness. One man thinks he is attaining this purpose of life when he gets drunk and goes on a wild party. He thinks he is having a wonderful time. Another man measures life's success by the number of religious meetings he has attended, the number of prayers he 464
has offered, or the amount he has given to charities. Still another thinks his great joy in life will be ac- complished in the attainment of great riches. Or again, the school teacher thinks that the molding of young minds is where success in life is found.
As young men and women go out from more or less sheltered places of preparation to take active place in a quickly moving world they are confronted with innumerable urges and no doubt with much advice to follow this or that course for finding this joy. Remember that joy is the objective, and any other immediate activity should be directed toward this ultimate end. It seems para- doxical but life is so constituted that in order to attain this objective in the most complete form, when once oriented towards it we must then forget about it.
Joy is a real quantity. You know when you have it in abundance and also when it is scarce. It can there- fore be considered as a measurable quantity. You can have more or you can have less. In trying to em- phasize the fact that joy is a meas- urable quantity, I have gone so far as to try to define a unit of joy. For example, one might speak of the unit of joy as that joy experi- enced by an average individual when he shakes hands with a friend whom he sees perhaps once a week. With this concept in mind then one can speak of say 100 joy units or 1000 joy units, etc.
For example, I might speak of the thrill which I receive when I am per- mitted to mingle again with my old friends in the West as being meas-
ured by 100 joy units. However, I must pay for this joy in some pain and sorrow. For example, this joy necessitates my leaving my family and spending three uncomfortable nights on the train. Also, it necessi- tates paying out money which might have been used for getting joy in some other way. So we must sub- tract from the 100 joy units 20 or 30 in order to get the net joy. It may seem absurd to illustrate in this way, but I am sure it helps to em- phasize the problem which everyone is confronted with every day of his life.
"Defore taking part in any activity in life one should consider its cost in negative joy units and com- pare them with the positive joy units which he expects to experience. It is the neglect to consider the cost of a fleeting joy or pleasure that leads to a life of misery and unhappiness.
So from this point of view we might consider that for everyone a joy account is being kept. On one side of this account let us say in black ink is kept the positive joy units experienced as one goes through life while on the other side in red ink is kept the negative joy units. The amount that the positive units exceed the negative ones is a measure of the extent to which one has approached the full rich life each one is seeking. Mathematically, this measure of a full rich life could be written down as a summation.* It would represent the net joy that he experiences during his lifetime. So let me repeat that all of us have joy
*See appendix.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
accounts to which entries are being made daily both on the red side and also on the black side.
Before discussing some of the sit- uations in life which yield large amounts of joy compared to their cost in pain, sorrow, and regret, I desire to discuss another account which is also kept daily for each in- dividual, namely, his success ac- count.
In order to understand this ac- count, let us pause for a moment to define success. If joy is the pur- pose of life, then he is most success- ful who is responsible for bringing the most joy to the most persons in the world. Putting it in mathe- matical language, one could say that a man's success in living this mortal life is measured by the summation* of all the joy for which he is the cause. This joy may be in his own life, in the lives of his contempo- raries, or in the lives of those who are to live in the future, that is, in the life of any who might be affected by his words, actions, and accom- plishments. The entries to this suc~ cess account are taken from all the other joy accounts.
To make clear what is meant let us consider the success account of the President of Brigham Young University. In his success account, there will be entries taken from his joy account including all those items in his account which are directly due to this man himself. However, this will be only a small part of all the entries in his success account. For there must come entries from the accounts of every man in the world who has been affected by him. For example, there must come from each of the joy accounts of Brigham Young students entries that go into the President's success account. Some of these will be on the red side and some will be on the black. He has given pain and sorrow to some which cause entries on the red side and joy and happiness to others which cause entries on the black side. Long after he is dead entries will come into his success account on both sides of the ledger. His success at any time is determined by the excess of positive joy units in his success account over the negative ones.
It is thus seen that all of our ac- counts will be tied together by sim- ilar entries in our joy account and some other one's success account. In other words, each act or thought of yours or mine affects everybody
in the world, those immediately sur- rounding us most and those farther and farther away from our society to a lesser and lesser degree. And it is the kind of reactions set up in the hearts and minds of other people due to our actions that determines our success in life.
T et us consider for a moment a cross-section of life's activities that necessarily produce entries in our success account. In other words, what are the things we can do to produce joy in the world? It seems to me that these activities can be grouped under three general classes, namely :
( 1 ) those concerned with direct contact with other persons.
( 2 ) those concerned with the f or-
*See appendix.
mulation of general principles of living.
( 3 ) those concerned with the cre- ation of the material things for the benefit of man.
Under the first class we have the emotional reactions of others caused by our acts and attitudes toward them. For this St. Paul has given a wonderful guide in the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians in which he extols love of fellowmen as the greatest force in the world and ana- lyzes it into its component parts as patience, kindness, generosity, hu- mility, courtesy, unselfishness, good- temper, guilelessness, and sincerity. The emulation of these attitudes is the very heart of Christian living and they have been emphasized in the teachings of Latter-day Saints. Following them produces a great number of joy units every day of our lives.
Then there are the intellectual reactions caused by direct contact as between teacher and student, lec- turer and those in his audience, and the, speaker who asks thoughtful questions and his listeners. A large part of the university student's time is occupied with such reactions. And
in the proper atmosphere of uni- versity learning, there is a large net gain on the positive side of our joy accounts due to these intellectual ex- periences, although at times some of us may have thought that most of it was on the negative side.
Some no doubt will become teach- ers and lecturers. If they are well- qualified and have the proper atti- tude as outlined above, they will have a wonderful chance to build a large success account because of their contacts with so many persons as students. Each student who has been properly taught will continue to add to the teacher's success ac- count not only during his student days but during his entire life.
On the other hand if the teacher is incompetent or has the wrong at- titude toward students, he can build up a large balance on the negative side of his success account. It is better not to live at all than to be a continual source of sorrow and pain for other people. I have seen some young teachers start out on their careers full of idealism and en- thusiasm but after a few years they become tired and sometimes actually ill so that they become "crabby" and "cranky." If teachers ever find themselves in that condition they should quit work as teachers before they have irreparably damaged their success accounts.
Then there are the material bene- fits bestowed by one person to an- other. In this class are food, cloth- ing, and shelter. A large part of life's activity must be devoted to these necessities of life because great sorrow, pain, and distress can be caused by lack of them. The wise man chooses those activities in life which enable him to scatter joy units to all whom he daily contacts and at the same time receive enough money from his activities adequately to pro- vide for the necessities of life.
The foolish man extracts his money for these necessities of life by scattering pain, sorrow, and strife. Whether his activities are within or without the law makes little difference. Such a man frequently pays 100 units in pain and sorrow for every joy unit which he or his family receives. David Starr Jordan put it concisely thus: "Success is doing what you want to do and being paid for it." And what we want to do should always be guided by the highest idealism.
Then there are the spiritual reac- tions and uplift caused by our acts and attitudes toward others. It may be considered old-fashioned
465
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
and unmodern to say so but I would be unscientific if I did not frankly admit that hundreds and thousands of joy units have been posted on the positive side of my joy account, due to the prayer, the blessing, and the testimony bearing of my associates in the Church.
In those activities under the sec- ond general class which are concern- ed with the formulation of general principles and plans of living there are only a few who succeed in mak- ing many contributions. For those who do succeed, however, the re- wards in success units are so large that it is worth a lifetime effort.
For example, some may contrib- ute to the principles of government. There was never a greater oppor- tunity in this country for men and women who have the ability to think clearly and sanely and at the same time be actuated by a high idealism. Such men and women are needed to formulate plans and principles of government which will be effective in bringing us out of the great uncer- tainty and unrest which now exists. Closely related to formulating new principles of government is the form- ulating of new economic principles which will be more useful than those which are known today. I do not mean to infer that the principles of government and economics which you were taught are wrong but they must be modified and added to and applied to meet the needs of our modern society.
Tn the field of home-making there is still great need for further form- ulating and applying definite guid- ing principles and also of finding ways and means of inculcating them in the minds of prospective home- makers. Then there is the great field of religion, philosophy, and ethics which is still beckoning to great minds and great souls. Al- though men's minds have been struggling with such problems for ages there is still much left to be done.
One can hardly conceive the total joy units caused by the philosophy and terse sayings of such men as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Elbert Hub- bard, George H. Brimhall, and others. Their work produces every single day large dividends which must be applied on the positive side of their success account and will continue to do so through future generations. So although it is only a person of rare ability who can succeed at formulating general prin- 466
ciples of living, to him who does succeed come great rewards.
Then there is the third general class of activities concerned with the creation and distribution of material things. Probably most of our activ- ities are concerned with this class of things.
Business, including the business of running the government, is the larg- est field in this class. You are all familiar with its many sub-divisions such as farming, manufacturing, merchandising, transportation, com- munication, banking. There are great opportunities in each of these fields for real service. We must be content here merely to enumerate them. We have the interesting field of scientific research and invention. Great strides are being made every
day in this field and there never was a greater opportunity for those of real ability, but I must warn you that competition has become much keener in this field than it was some years ago. From the fundamental principles laid down by Faraday and Maxwell in the electrical field and by Carnot in the transference of heat has come the present mechanical age. I need only remind you of the great joy and happiness brought to millions and millions of homes through the inventions of Thomas A. Edison and Alexander Graham Bell to illustrate the rewards which come from such work.
Tn the great field of medicine with its many ramifications some of you may make contribution which will relieve suffering and pain and thus bring great benefits to mankind. In the field of art there are great possibilities of bringing joy to a large number of people. I frequently go to Washington and if it is pos- sible I always spend a short time in the presence of the Lincoln Me- morial which to me is one of the art treasures of America. It seems to breathe the spirit of him it com-
memorates. As you stand before its portals these words greet you: "In this temple as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." I will not de- scribe this lovely spot but the point I wish to emphasize is that hundreds of thousands of others like me are receiving joy and inspiration from this beautiful memorial every day and will continue to do so for many centuries. The man who created that beautiful memorial will indeed have a large success account.
I could give similar illustrations in the fields of music and literature, but I would only be repeating the things which most of us already know.
Let me close this enumeration by naming the field of amusement, rec- reation, and games. The joy and happiness resulting from properly cultivating this field is so obvious that I need not take the time to dis- cuss it.
This list of activities includes only the positive activities which will give joy and satisfaction in living. There are certain taboos placed upon our activity both by the Church and also by society. There are certain things we are told not to do. We may have rebelled at least in thought if not in action at these restraints. We may have been caught by a spirit that is too prevalent nowadays which says to follow our desires no matter where they lead us. If we should break through these re- straints and engage in these for- bidden activities we would find them too expensive. The price in sorrow, pain, and regret, that is, the price in negative joy units, is much greater than the positive joy that they will bring.
There may be a few taboos in our midst for which this is not true. If there are such it will only be a ques- tion of time until they are removed. In the meantime it will be safer to abide by all of them. By so doing our activities will not be sufficiently circumscribed to prevent a full, rich life and we will be avoiding dangers which we cannot now see which would seriously cut into our success accounts.
So in making a choice for any ac- tivity, whether a major or minor one, consider the cost in pain, sorrow, and regret compared to the joy received. Seek those things which yield large contributions to the posi- tive side of your success account and which at the same time produce only
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 193d
small amounts on the negative side. In this seeking you will find great help in three magical words — faith, love, work.
How this world today needs faith! The plighted word of one govern- ment to another in a solemn treaty is now too often looked upon as a rhetorical record to be set aside when convenient. Nations do not have faith in each other and because of the lack of it Europe is inevitably drifting toward another great war. Have faith that right will ultimately prevail and that there is a real pur- pose to life. Have faith in mankind for you will find that most persons are trying to do what is right. It is the small minority that is giving the world an evil and ugly appear- ance. Have faith in God. It is not just a lucky coincidence that most of the Nobel prize winners in science are men who have declared their faith in God. Let me quote what Max Plank says on this subject. He is a Nobel prize winner and is sometimes considered the father of modern physics. He is the author of The Quantum Theory of Light, Here are his words taken from his book entitled Where is Science Go- ing:
"There can never be any real opposition between religion and science; for the one is the complement of the other. Every serious and reflective person realizes, I think, that the religious element in his nature must be recognized and cultivated if all the powers of the human soul are to act to- gether in perfect balance and harmony.
And indeed it was not by any accident that the greatest thinkers of all ages were also deeply religious souls, even though they made no public show of their religious feelings."
Tt has been two thousand years since Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to "Love the Lord thy God with all thy might, mind, and strength, and thy neigh- bor as thyself." It is not just an- other verse in the Bible but a fund-, amental truth that must be obeyed before society can live together in peace. We must face the world with love in our hearts for those with whom we associate. It is a high Christian ideal but it is worth striv- ing for because the nearer we ap- proach it the larger the dividends in joy units will be.
And finally the third magical word, "work." "Thou shalt earn thy bread by the sweat of thy brow." Sweat of the brow means hard work. We cannot expect to accomplish anything worth while without good hard work. If you keep these three words in mind and inculcate that for which they stand into your lives you will find that no matter where you happen to work or what your job may be, when this life is over your success account will show a satisfactory balance on the positive side.
Appendix
After this talk was given a number of the graduates asked me to write down the
mathematical equations for joy and success to which I had referred. So for the benefit of others who are interested in such equa- tions I am giving them in this appendix.
Let us define the joy line as a graph which represents at any time, from date of birth b to date of death d, the intensity of joy experienced by an individual. Such joy lines for certain successful and unsuccessful men would be very interesting indeed for they would contain a life history.
We will designate the ordinate of the joy line for the individual designated x by }x(t). The time t within the parenthesis indicates that / is varying as time proceeds and the subscript x indicates the graph is for the joy experienced by individual x.
Then the measure Lx of the richness of the life lived by x is given by the equation
d
Lx =
}x(t).8t
which may be called the joy equation. The lower limit b is the birth date and the upper limit d the death date.
Now let us consider the measure Sy of the success of individual y. A certain frac- tion of the intensity of joy Jx experienced by individual x is due to individual y. Let this fraction be Fy. Then the joy intensity of individual x due to acts of y is Fy.Jx. Consequently the total joy of individual x due to individual y is given by
d
Jx.Fy.St.
_ b
A similar expression must be obtained for each individual in the world and then these expressions added together. This is ex- pressed by the summation
x=N [d Sy = C Jx.Fy.St x=l)b
which may be called the success equation. The summation extends from x=l, the first individuals to x=N, where N is the number of persons in the world affected in any way by individual y.
To a Westerner who has been absent from home for some time in other parts of the world, there is prob- ably nothing missed so much —nothing that makes him realize that he is home again —as the sight and smell of good old western sagebrush, avtimesia tridentata. At his first opportunity he grabs a handful and squeezes it af- fectionately and as the fra- grant, pungent aroma reaches his nostrils, he knows that he is really home. At night as he is seated at his camp fire, the aromatic odor of sagebrush smoke makes him draw a deep breath and say to himself: "My, but it is good to be home again."
As he stands upon a hill and looks over a valley cov- ered with this western plant,
SAGEBRUSH
By J. C. HOGENSON
■'jlMj^.
is-, „&*s;
he is inspired. Close at his feet the prevailing color is a greenish tinge of gray. A little farther away the gray color changes to a haze of light blue. Then, as the dis- tance increases, the haze changes to purplish gray, and then to a beautiful hazy gar- net in the far distance against the mountains on the opposite side of the valley. He stands almost transfixed; the chang- ing hues which the sagebrush brings to view as the sun- shine and shadow float over the valley from near to far away have touched his long- ing heart. He knows now, probably for the first time, that this is home and that there is no other place on earth that holds him so firmly in its loving friendly arms as the sagebrush-covered West.
467
Some time ago in a magazine was printed the picture of a crowd of men emerging from a huge automobile factory. Under- neath was printed the caption: "The World's basic industry — Manufac- ture."
As one looked at the thousands of men crowding out of the factory at closing time, one was forced to con- clude that as important as the arts and trades and manufacture may be in human life there is at least one industry that is much more basic and that is agriculture. Every one of those men who spend their waking hours with tools and machines must eat. Every one of the eighteen hun- dred million humans on earth must be fed. Where would any of them be were it not for the farmer who produces the food which keeps hu- man machinery ready for work? In- deed, may it not be said that the farmer has the most kingly of all earth's professions, for on his intelli- gent industry depend the food and much of the clothing supply of the world? 468
Your birthright
THE PIONEERS' MESSAGE TO THE YOUTH OF TODAY
By LEAH D. WIDTSOE
\\7ho own the earth? Those who love it and cultivate it and make the best use of it. All of this queer "modern" slant on man's most needed industry, agriculture, does not change one iota the basic fact that no people or nation can be stronger than its land owners and its farmers whose industry makes pos- sible its very life and being.
earth, some of which has been handed down from father to son for many generations. In all of these countries a large proportion of the people gain their livelihood from the soil, and they are honored as citi- zens of real worth. Where such a condition exists a measurable degree of prosperity is bound to follow, pro- vided political crises do not interfere.
In England conditions are some- what different. Great tracts of land are owned by a few titled landlords and would-be farmers must lease or rent larger or smaller tracts ac- cording to their capacity. The peo- ple generally are not land-minded and are inclined to look down on peasants or farmers. Another fac- tor of industry contributes to this attitude: for generations, until re- cently, England has been the manu- facturing center for countless peo- ples overseas, both for their own colonies and for other countries as well. Wheat from the Argentine and Canada, beef from Australia, dairy produce from Denmark have been shipped into the island country and she in turn has kept their manu- facturing wants supplied. As a re- sult the English people are largely factory-minded.
The war changed the industrial outlook; other countries found that they could manufacture goods as well as England, and now in Eng- land many factories are closed while countless thousands of men and
HPhis frank and timely statement •*• calls into question some current trends and influences that would lead our people away from the anchorage and solidarity and fine traditions of "the good earth" "Where are the sons of our Pioneers?" Too many of them are in CCC Camps and other government agencies of relief while their birthright is slipping through their fingers. Many of them fail to realize that a people who do not own and cultivate land are sure to be in time a floating population with no security for themselves or their chiU dren. Money cannot buy the inde~ pendence of one who has maintained or increased his land inheritance.
The European Picture
'"The nations of the earth differ greatly regarding their attitude toward farming and the men who till the soil. In France, Germany, Hol- land, and especially in Scandinavia, much of the land is tilled by large numbers of people who not only own title to their plot of land, be it large or small, but who love and honor every inch of their precious mother
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
women are walking the streets of the crowded cities, idle and living on the dole, while their rich meadow lands remain beautiful but unpro- ductive.
One is almost forced to conclude that where the people own and cul- tivate and love the land they are sure to persist and prosper measur- ably. At least if they are truly wise and industrious they do not have to live on the "dole" or accept re- lief. A survey of European coun- tries seems to prove this statement. Of course, where years of drouth have made land unproductive, the picture is somewhat different, and people must seek other occupations.
"The increase of our children, and their growing up to maturity, increases our re- sponsibilities. More land must be brought into cultivation to supply their wants. This will press the necessity of digging canals to guide the waters of our large streams over the immense tracts of bench and bottom lands which now lie waste. ... In these great public improvements the people should enter with heart and soul, and freely invest in them their surplus property and means, and thus prepare to locate the vast multi- tudes of our children which are growing up, and strengthen our hands, and solidify still more — make still more compact our present organized spiritual and national institu- tions."*
What are their children doing with this heritage?
Indeed, times have changed. This is an age when most people look
cash for idle acres and idle hands.
All of this queer slant on man's most needed industry does not change one iota the basic fact that no people or nation can be stronger than its land owners and its farmers whose industry makes possible its very life and being. Could anything be more sane and practical than this real bit of wisdom given by a far- seeing Pioneer and statesman three- quarters of a century ago?
"The riches of a kingdom or nation do not consist so much in the fulness of its treasury as in the fertility of its soil and the industry of its people."*
This rich statement of a by-gone day is just as applicable to condi-
The Pioneer Picture
"piGHTY-NiNE years ago the Pio- ' neers entered the Salt Lake Val- ley. Before them lay the almost superhuman task of making the desert yield up its treasures for hu- man sustenance and enjoyment. Un- broken before them lay the desert, as yet untouched by human hands. The leader had declared "This is the place" and here they must remain. A crisis was before them: the land must produce fruits and grains or the people must perish.
Under inspiration and wise guid- ance a plan of earth conquest was introduced which has become one of the marvels of the age. A newly devised system of agriculture caused the earth to produce food in plenty and the people grew and flourished. Naturally the Pioneers learned to love the land that gave them their freedom as well as their food, and passed it on to their children as a precious heritage of true wealth.
Listen to their wise counsel. Said Brigham Young on one occasion:
to the large cities as desirable places of residence; the white lights and the countless means of pleasure-seeking seem to attract and dazzle human- kind as moths are drawn toward the flame.
The youth of the land are being educated in huge schools and col- leges and most of them toward the "white-collared jobs." The pro- fessions of law, medicine, dentistry, business, teaching, music, and the arts claim the majority; while many of the graduates of the agricultural colleges seek teaching or profes- sional jobs rather than actual farm experience.
Who wants to farm, anyway? — think the Youth. It's hard, dirty work, and besides, it doesn't pay. Everyone in America knows that. The newspapers and political speech-makers are full of it. The dilemma of the farmer has become the football of political juggling un- til the thinking man becomes nau- seated at the practice of paying cold
* Journal of Discourses 11:116.
tions today as it was the day it was given. The fundamentals of life and prosperity do not change from year to year or from age to age. Pro- cesses may differ somewhat but basic truths never. Man needs his three meals a day today as he did in the year one.
That great tracts of land were not necessary in Pioneer times or now for comfortable living is indicated thus:
"You have a living off an acre and a quarter of land. Such a little farm well- tilled and managed, and the products of it economically applied, will do wonders to- wards keeping and educating a small family. Let the little children do their part, when they are not engaged in their studies, in knitting their stockings and mittens, braiding straw for their hats, or spinning yarn for their frocks and underclothing. If this peo- ple would strictly observe these simple prin- ciples of economy, they would soon become so rich that they would not have room suf- ficient to hold their abundance;' and their storehouses would run over with fulness. 't
Naturally, this advice seems
* Journal of Discourses 10:266. t Journal of Discourses 11:142.
469
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
somewhat antiquated as conditions have changed with the times; but the underlying principle is constant. These are not idle words. Said the Leader of this great human experi- ment again:
"I intend to plant and sow, not only in the month of May, but in the month of June, and in the month of July, and I will continue my labors to raise what is neces- sary to sustain life, as long as the season lasts, "t
Is this not sound advice for to- day?
One reason why farming is held in some disrepute is that men are short-sighted and are apt to over- look the real purpose of life. Is it living each day richly in some worth- while endeavor with enough for the comforts rather than the luxuries of life; or is it merely the making of money? Unfortunately, many peo- ple have come to think of the ac- cumulation of wealth as the real end of existence. Our Pioneers knew better; they understood that men cannot eat money and that it cannot buy happiness. Man may live with- out very much cash provided his efforts are well-directed towards co- operative enterprises and the intel- ligent use of Nature's resources. Such sentiments are expressed thus:
"We are not anxious to obtain gold; if we can obtain it by raising potatoes and wheat, all right. 'Can't you make your- selves rich by speculating?' We do not wish to. 'Can't you make yourselves rich by going to the gold mines?' We are right in the midst of them. 'Why don't you dig the gold from the earth?' Because it demor- alizes any community or nation on the earth to give them gold and silver to their hearts' content; it will ruin any nation. But give them iron and coal, good hard work, plenty to eat, good schools, and good doctrine, and it will make them a healthy, wealthy, and happy people.":):
The Present Picture
"Decause farming does not pay large dividends of cash is that a sign of failure? Because certain large tracts are suffering from years of drouth, need men feel hopeless about farming in general? There are plenty of failures today in all the "white-collared jobs" and pro- fessions generally, but that does not mean that the particular line of work need be considered of no account. There are just as many failures in business, industry, and the arts as there are upon the farms — and the farmer usually has enough to eat, anyway.
The learned professions, the arts,
tlbid 2:280. $Ibid 13:176.
470
and music are necessary, certainly, for man does not live by bread alone; but farming must always be the chief concern of any worthwhile social economy. When any people or race refuse to cultivate the land and seek to divorce themselves from its care then is that people doomed.
\T7ho own the earth? The an- swer is simple: those who love it and cultivate it and make the best use of it. The Indians at one time owned all of North and South Amer- ica but they did not use their land, and they remained few in number and were wanderers. Bits of land were cultivated here and there; flocks were fed until the grass was gone, then they moved on to richer pas- tures. White men moved in and be- gan to cultivate and enrich the soil. They prospered and grew in num- bers and their healthful industry in- creased. Their conquest was blood- less (measurably so) but it was se- cure for it was built upon a sure foundation: land conquest, land ownership.
Today their descendants are turning from the hard life of their Pioneer ancestors. They want something easier, with a surer cash return; and they mean to find it — or if they fail then "their Govern- ment" must feed them!
On the Pacific coast a foreign- born resident may not own the land; but he may lease it and work it. His sons, however, (and he usually has many of them! ) are American
citizens, and as citizens they may own the land as well as cultivate it. Today over six thousand of the farms of California are owned and operated by foreign peoples, the darker races. One may scarcely step into a market in Southern Cali- fornia without being served by Japanese, and the market gardens of today are in increasing numbers the result of Japanese or Mexican industry. They love the land and are not afraid of work. This is true measurably in other sections.
Where are the sons of our Pio- neers? Too many of them are in C. C. C. camps and other gov- ernment agencies of relief while their birthright is slipping through their fingers. Many of them fail to re- alize that a people who do not own and cultivate land are sure to be in time a floating population with no security for themselves or their children. Those who for any cause except dire necessity have sold their lands to strangers for much or little, have actually "sold their birth- right for a mess of pottage." Money cannot buy the independence of one who has maintained or increased his land inheritance. How I honor those who give of their brain and their muscle that earth may yield her treasure for man's sustenance. The loyalty and industry of such men make them real noblemen.
As AN answer to those who excuse their exodus from the farms to other or easier walks of life on the ground that there are too many farms already and no market for farm produce, one may say that there are still thousands in every land who go hungry all the time. Too much food is not produced, but its disposal and transportation are inadequate. Also more intelligence could be used in the choice of crops grown on the land.
A very great diversity of crops is being urged today by the Farm Chemurgic Council of America which is organized to utilize farm products for the basic industries of life as well as for man's food supply. In this field the chemist is coming to the aid of the farmer to such an extent that there never again need be an idle acre anywhere, if it can produce crops.
Leroy S. Weatherby, Ph. D., Pro- fessor of Chemistry at the Univer- sity of Southern California, in a recent speech at the Western meet- ing of the Council held at Fresno, California, made the following in- teresting statements:
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
"Since the days that a fig leaf constituted the first garment, man has devoted a con- siderable part of his labors to obtaining clothing. First, the skins of animals — then the development of spinning and weaving. The flocks furnished wool; the land, cotton and flax. Finally the honor fell to a small worm to furnish the pride of human attire — silk. Silk passed from royalty and wealth to peasant and shop girl. Its use increased from tie to stockings, and from "outies" to "undies." The poor silk worm became overworked. There was no unemployment or depression in its life. The united efforts of all the silk worms in all the world could not meet this growing demand for silk.
"In 1844, John Mercer, an English calico printer, found that when cotton yarn or fabric is passed through a strong alkaline bath it shrinks about one-third of its length. If the fabric is allowed to dry under tension to prevent shortening, the little cotton fibers all untwist and become shiny rods with a sheen like silk. Thus resulted "mercerized cotton," named after John Mercer.
"Not satisfied yet, the chemist dissolved cotton in certain reagents as nitric acid, sodium hydroxide and carbon disulphide, or in copper ammonia acetate. This material is pressed through fine openings into a suitable coagulating agent and transparent shiny filaments are formed. These filaments are spun, dyed and woven and we have "artificial silk" or "rayon" and "celanese."
"Having conquered silk, the next ambi- tion of the chemist was to duplicate leather, and even ivory. Cotton, wood pulp, or other sources of cellulose, dissolved in nitric acid, become what is known as nitro- cellulose. Nitrocellulose dissolved in a mix- ture of ether and alcohol becomes collodian; dissolved in acetone mixed with vaseline and cast into small sticks it becomes smoke- less powder; dissolved in alcohol with camphor added it is celluloid, or sometimes called pyroxylin. Pyroxylin pressed into fabric becomes auto tops. It forms the beautiful and durable binding for books, displacing costly and less durable leather. Pyroxylin pressed into laminated blocks and cut at right angles to the laminations
becomes pyroline ivory, which today sup- plants most of elephant ivory. Nitrocel- lulose dissolved in various organic solvents as amyl acetate, the well-known "banana oil," becomes the famous "Duco," which lends its beautiful ivory sheen to everything from auto bodies to milady's fingernails."
There are many other products of the farm being turned into useful material for the industries. The rubber plant has many uses; vege- table fats, sugars, wood, and grain products are being used to produce lacquers, enamels, plastics, while countless other uses are being found for the farm produce of the future.
The Message of the Pioneers
Tf the Pioneers could speak with the youth of our land today and especially to their own descendants they might say:
First, don't be afraid of hard work. No good or useful or happy man or woman was ever nurtured in idleness or in striving for the easy life, or for easy money. Such a life ideal or practice always leads to failure, ultimately, to unhappiness, and often to crime. Keep busy at some worthwhile job.
Second, don't sell your birth- right— for a mess of pottage or a million dollars! Money may vanish over night but the good earth is God's great gift to man. Find a bit of it for your own and cherish it. Use intelligence in its care and you will be rewarded. You may not be rich but you can be independent. Remember that no one can wear
more than one suit or necktie at a time and should not eat more than one simple meal at a time. In seek- ing the simple, genuine things of life you will find the path that leads to health and peace of mind — if you live in harmony with the laws of God.
Third, should you move to other parts of the country don't be a renter or a wanderer. Try as soon as possible to own a piece of land, large or small, and care for it in- telligently. Not all may be farmers but all should have a home of their own, if possible. It may be more expensive to own a home but it is much more satisfactory.
Fourth, don't be a moss-back farmer who slaves and sweats, and swears when things go wrong. Use all possible sources of information regarding improved methods. Train yourselves for your job as the doctor or the artist does for his and then enjoy it. Don't be afraid of an oc- casional holiday and although sea- sonal work is intensive, especially where hands are short, make up for it at other times. Successful farm- ing is the result of intelligent plan- ning and a wise system. Slipshod farming never pays. Use your farm schools and papers, educate your children, and keep up to date.
Fifth, to the young woman might come a special message: It may be an honor for a man to be a farmer but remember no successful farm is possible without a wise, willing, and
I
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. _ -**v*» . .
471
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
healthy helpmeet for the farmer. Don't be afraid of being "farmer- ettes" for therein may be found much joy and progress. Use your intelligence and plan your work; you need not be slaves but the real heroines of the nation. With the mails, newspapers, radio, and a pos- sible automobile, your life need not be too hard even if lonely at times. To real people who think, you are truly among earth's noblewomen. There are countless things in life of more value than dressing in the lat- est fashion or going to a "movie" every night. Yours is the life that could and should bring earth's deep- est satisfactions—it depends upon your attitudes and understanding of things most worthwhile in life.
Sixth, the farm is the place to rear the finest kind of children. No city home (no matter how poor or how elegant ) or city street can com- pare with the advantages of the or- dinary farm as a cradle of human training — provided always that the parents are worthy and that ample opportunities for an education are the learning of earth's most valuable made possible. In the close relation lessons.
of man with nature are possible the Seventh and last, don't strive too
finest development of character and much for money and the riches of the
world; nor for fame and the plaudits of the crowd. When that is the aim of life, its most valuable treasures may be lost. No matter what your life work may be — and all well done work is ennobling — seek to under- stand and live daily the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The farmer youth of Zion today might do well to heed the counsel given by one of the great Pioneers of the West, Brigham Young:
"Take courage brethren. . . . Plow your land and sow wheat . . . plant potatoes. . . It is our duty to preach the Gospel, gather Israel, pay our tithing and build temples. The most fear I have about this people is that they will get rich in this country, forget God and his people, wax fat, and kick them- selves out of the Church (while their chil- dren) go to hell. This people will stand mobbing, robbing and all manner of perse- cution, and be true. But my greatest fear for them is that they cannot stand wealth."
That message may well be taken to heart by all who would find real happiness in life. Since all may not be farmers, certainly, all should cherish their birthright of independ- ence on the land conquered with so much courage by their fathers less than a century ago.
Can we be less courageous today?
How to Improve Your Silent Reading Habits
1 . Approach your reading with a definite purpose in mind.
2. Vary your rate according to the material you are reading. With practice you should be able to read:
( a ) light material at the rate of 500 to 600 words a minute.
( b ) average reading at the rate of 400 to 500 words a min- ute.
( c ) solid reading ( study ) at the rate of 300 to 400 words a minute.
An hour each day spent wisely in reading (devoting only fifteen minutes to light material) will net you at the end of the year the equiv- alent of:
25 books of light reading.
25 books of average reading.
20 books of the solid type, or
80 books for the year.
3. Read under time pressure to increase your rate but always check yourself for comprehension when you have finished the reading.
4. Having selected the author you wish to read you will save much time and come to the essentials of the book more readily if you examine
472
the table of contents and the preface with care.
5. Ask yourself, "What do I know about the topic?" "What may I expect to get from this author?"
6. Get the large pictures at the outset. Read wholes not parts, read sentences, not words, read for broadest meanings first, then for details later if necessary.
7. Avoid taking notes while read- ing. Make a marginal check, (as you read) of desirable material. Then come back to it after the article or chapter is completed.
8. Generally depend on the con- tent to give you mastery of new words. Later look them up in the dictionary.
9. A meagre vocabulary is never the characteristic of a big man. Seek consciously to increase your vocabulary :
(a) by filing these new words and using them whenever possible in your conversa- tion:
(b) by increasing your contacts with the world about you.
10. Also save the gist of the
worth while things you read. Then remember that a note book or filing case is not a miser's sock but a tool drawer to be used freely.
1 1 . Test your speed and accur- acy from time to time as you read or skim articles.
Knowledge of progress made is one of the greatest stimulants to further effort.
Poor comprehension may be due to:
1. incorrect eye movements.
2. forcing the attention on words instead of on phrases.
3. a limited spoken vocabulary.
4. a meagre general background.
5. lack of a definite purpose in reading.
6. failure to make use of table of contents and preface.
7. lack of concentration.
8. vagrant thoughts, a sudden memory of some duty to be per- formed, an upset emotional condi- tion, and even a littered desk may all act as irritating interferences with desirable comprehension.
CHARLES A. CALLIS
"Drom out of the experience of his *- long years as President of the Southern States Mission has come from Charles A. Callis this colorful glimpse of a little known people-^ the Catawba Indians, most of whom worship the Lord according to the Gospel plan given by the Master, Jesus Christ, who is also Lord and Master of the American Indian, even as of all other races and peoples.
ON the Catawba Indian Res- ervation, in York County, South Carolina, there stands a Latter-day Saint chapel.
The building, beautiful in design, is in striking contrast to the humble houses that form the Indian village where sleep the pride and glory of former days when the Catawba In- dians were a proud and powerful race.
The Catawba language is as mute as the "harp that hangs on Tara's walls." Only four in the tribe can speak it, although the Catawba Indians number upward of two hun- dred. Almost all of them are mem- bers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Their numbers are swelling. They are an increasing race. And this in fulfillment of the remarkable pre- diction, rich in promise, given by the Prophet Joseph, that "The La- manites shall blossom as the rose." (Doctrine and Covenants 49:24.)
The Gospel message was first delivered to the Catawbas in 1883, by Elders Henry Miller and Charles Robinson. The latter died at Kings Mountain, South Carolina, while filling his mission.
Outstanding among the Christian virtues shining out in the lives of these people are faith, devotion, and loyalty. They officer a complete branch organization of the Church, with Sunday School, Relief Society, and Mutual Improvement Associa- tion. These faithful people worship
Among the
catawbas
By CHARLES A. CALLIS
Of the Council of the Twelve
the Lord in simplicity and rever- ence.
The Catawbas were among the first people in this country to pre- sent a temperance petition. On May 26, 1756, they asked the officials of South Carolina to protect them from the white man's "fire water" which was debauching their young men, and, as a result of which the whites were taking advantage of the Indians in the bartering and trading between the two peoples.
At fort mills, South Carolina, the white men erected a monu- ment to the memory of the Cataw- ba Indians as a people. On the monument is the following inscrip- tion:
"The Catawba Indians, although a war- like nation, were ever friends of the white settlers. They fought with the Americans in the Revolutionary, and the Confederates in the Civil War. Tradition says they immigrated to this portion of South Caro- lina from Canada about 1600, numbering some twelve thousand. Wars with the Cherokees, Shawnees, and other nations, together with smallpox, depleted their num- bers greatly. In 1764, South Carolina allotted about fifteen square miles in part of Lancaster district. About 1840 a new treaty was made, the state buying all of their land and afterward laying ofF for them seven hundred acres on the west bank of the Eswa Tavora (Catawba river) six miles south of Fort Mill, where the remnant now live, receiving a small annuity from the state."
During the administration of the last royal governor of the province
ALL THINGS CLIMB A STARRY STAIR
By Ethelyn Miller Hartwich
The bush that bears but leaf and thorn Tomorrow wears a rose; Each twilight dawns in later morn, And winds of spring melt snows; The nesting egg tomorrow sings,'— Life wins its avatar,
For the soul who dreams of heavenly things Tomorrow finds a star.
THE L. D. S. CATAWBA CHAPEL
the chief of the Catawbas was King Hagler. There is a story about this noted Catawba that reveals the In- dian idea of vicarious justice that formerly prevailed.
A party of braves starting out on a hunt, so the story goes, met a Frenchman who was passing through the reservation. He carried a violin and played a number of tunes for them. The magical music box was coveted by one of the young braves who waylaid and killed the Frenchman to obtain pos- session of the instrument.
White men went to Chief Hag- ler and demanded that the murder- er be punished.
"Justice shall be done," said the chief, who was in the woods en- gaged in a hunt. Chief Hagler care- fully loaded his rifle and blew a long blast on his horn, recalling his young men from the chase. Pres- ently an Indian appeared toiling through the underbrush with a deer on his shoulders. As soon as he came within range Chief Hagler took careful aim, fired, and the In- dian fell dead in his tracks.
Turning to the white man the chief said: "Justice has been done, and we are still brothers."
It was the Indian's idea that a life must be given for a life, and that any life would suffice.
473
PRESIDENT HEBER J. GRANT, WHO GREETED M. I. A, LEADERS AT THE OPENING GENERAL SESSION, WITH A CALL TO YOUTH FOR FAITH IN THE DIVINITY OF THE WORK OF THE CHURCH.
GEORGE Q. MORRIS ALBERT E. BOWEN FRANK L. WEST
THE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENCY OF THE YOUNG MEN'S MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
A WORLD-WIDE VIEW OF M. LA.
AT CONFERENCE TIME
By RICHARD L. EVANS
Of the General Board of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association
f rom the inland valley lands of the west, to africa's Cape of Good Hope, to Europe's land of the midnight sun, and in all the lands that lie between, the work of the Mutual Improvement Associations is becoming increas- ingly IMPORTANT IN MAKING FRIENDS FOR THE CHURCH, IN GAINING FAVORABLE PUBLICITY, IN INCREASING MEMBERSHIP, AND IN KEEPING MEMBERS ACTIVE AND USEFULLY ENGAGED IN A WORLD WHERE UNSETTLED ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND FORCED LEISURE DEMAND A SPIRITUALIZED PROGRAM OF LEISURE TIME ACTIVITY AND WIDENING INTERESTS.
THE world-wide activities of the Mutual Improvement Associa- tions were brought conspicu- ously to the foreground during the recent conference season when gen- eral gatherings were held in the United States and many foreign countries, climaxed by an interna- tional broadcast emanating from the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City which was directed to M. I. A. members and leaders in many lands.
At the M. I. A. general conference in Salt Lake City, June 11 to 15r 474
nearly ten thousand delegates reg- istered, representing most of the stakes and missions of the Church, Presided over by Superintendent A. E. Bowen, assisted by Superintend- ents George Q. Morris and Frank L. West, for the Young Men's organi- zation, and by President Ruth May Fox, assisted by Counselors Lucy G. Cannon and Clarissa A. Beesley for the Young Women's organiza- tion, the conference presented prom-
inent national figures, distinguished Church personalities, and Church- wide "mass" participation events of an unusual character and high ex- cellence.
The Drama Festival held at Kings- bury Hall on Thursday evening, June 11, presented three plays to a capacity house: "A Dispatch Goes Home" ( Frank L. Manser) by Brig- ham Young University and Utah stake, direction, Lafayette Terry:
LUCY G. CANNON RUTH MAY FOX CLARISSA A. BEESLEY
THE GENERAL PRESIDENCY OF THE YOUNG WOMEN'S MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
''Smoke" (Dorothy Clark Wilson) by the Utah State Agricultural Col- lege, and Logan and Cache stakes, direction, Chester J. Myers; and "Pygmaleon and Galatea," a dance drama, by a selected group under the direction of W. O. Robinson. The professional excellence and com- mendable artistry of this perform- ance won the warm acclaim of quali- fied observers and guests in attend- ance.
The opening general session Fri- day morning, June 12, was marked by President Grant's appeal for "the one and supreme object of all the labor that we as Latter-day Saints are performing — the conversion of our young people to the divinity of the work in which we are engaged." President Grant told the story of the founding of The Improvement Era and expressed his desire that it should be in every home. ^ The Dance Festival at Saltair Friday evening, June 12, was a spec- tacle, colorful and thrilling enough to serve as effective inspiration for the raising of dance standards throughout the Church. More than fourteen hundred young men and women, gathered church-wide, par- ticipated in eight dances of beauty, grace, and dignity, under the direc- tion of W. O. Robinson, and to the music of Carol Lofner and his or-
M. I. A. SUMMER INSTITUTE ACTIVITIES, SHOWING STAKE LEADERS TRAINING FOR A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM, AT MEMORY GROVE, SALT LAKE CITY, AND ON THE UTAH STATE CAPITOL GOUNDS, MONDAY, JUNE 15, 1936.
475
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
chestra. Commenting on the suc- cess and conduct of this event, the management of the resort wrote as follows:
TOP: M. I. A. "TREASURES OF TRUTH" DIS- PLAY, CHEMNITZ, GERMAN-AUSTRIAN MISSION; CENTER: M. I. A. OFFICERS AND LEADERS IN CONVENTION AT FRANKFORT IN THE SWISS- GERMAN MISSION; BELOW, LEFT: CHARLES M. DENNIS, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF SAN FRANCISCO, WHO WAS GUEST CONDUCTOR FOR THE M. I. A. FESTIVAL CHORUS; RIGHT: DR. RAY 0. WYLAND, DI- RECTOR OF EDUCATION AND RELATIONSHIPS, NATIONAL COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, WHO ATTENDED THE M. I. A. CONFERENCE IN SALT LAKE CITY.
"It is a source of great satisfaction for us to report this outing of the M. I. A. was the largest crowd the M. I. A. has ever brought to Saltair, and broke all records for the number of automobiles and automobile pasengers to attend Saltair in any one day.
"Another outstanding feature of the out- ing was the quality of the patrons. With nearly nine thousand people on the resort, not one arrest was made for disorderly con- duct and while I was about the resort all evening and watched carefully, I did not see one intoxicated person and very few smokers. Strangers who happen to be at the resort on M. I. A. days are always curious to know to what organization the
476
Ecker Photo.
STEPHEN L. RICHARDS, WHO SPOKE CONCERN- ING "THE USEFULNESS AND HAPPINESS OF YOUTH IN A WORLD OF GROWING COMPLEXITY" DURING THE WORLD-WIDE M. I. A. BROADCAST.
young people belong and are always com- plimentary of their conduct.
"We are pleased to belong to an organi- zation that sets such high standards for its members and for the wonderful influence the M. I. A. organization is having on the morals and the conduct of the young people of the Church.
"Wishing you continued success, we re- main,
(Signed) "Thos. M. Wheeler, "Herbert A. Snow."
Another notable event of the M. I. A. Conference was the Third Church-wide Music Festival presenting a chorus of fifteen hun- dred singing voices under the direc- tion of J. Spencer Cornwall and Evangeline T. Beesley. Charles M. Dennis of San Francisco was guest conductor, and Frederic Dixon, concert pianist, guest solo artist. An audience which filled the Tabernacle and paid admission for this special event, warmly received the rich sub- dued music of young singing voices in a tonal blend of thrilling excel- lence.
Sunday morning brought a "new high" in the level of conference in- terest with a world broadcast on the Church of the Air series presented through the nationwide facilities of KSL and the Columbia Broadcasting System and short-waved for inter- national reception by the Columbia short-wave station W2XE. Music for this M. I. A. international radio service was presented by the Fes- tival Chorus that had performed so acceptably on the previous evening. Four of their best received numbers were repeated, for the radio audi- ence, with the accompaniment of
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
Frank Asper at the Tabernacle or- gan. Stephen L. Richards of the Council of the Twelve and Chair- man of the Church Radio Publicity and Mission Literature Committee represented the General Authorities in speaking concerning "The useful- ness and happiness of youth in a world of growing complexity."
After inviting the attention of the audience, present and unseen, to the type of young men and young women who composed the chorus, and after inviting attention to the principles of truth and right-living that made their lives useful and happy, Brother Richards concluded by saying:
"To the many people of the world who are hoping and praying for the dominance of righteousness but who may have become skeptical and pessimistic in the slow and uncertain progress being made toward the triumph of truth and virtue, I offer the en- couragement and the hope which these young lives bring. Here is not a mere philosophy, an abstract panacea for the ills of the world,— here is a vital, tangible demonstration of the efficacy of high prin- ciples and religious ideals in application; here is a rising generation that has been converted to the elemental philosophy of Christian life that there is no lasting hap- piness except in goodness. What these young people are, others can be. Their philosophy and program of living can be extended to all the world. Their religion is not a theory,— it works. If some have despaired of the success of Christianity, I bid them look up and take heart and follow the lead of this glorious youth, marching so bravely forward under the banner of Christ."
In response to this unusual broad- cast the Columbia Broadcasting System's director of the Church of the Air wired:
"N. Y., June 15. 1936. "Evans— KSL. ". . . Again thanks for exceedingly fine program you gave our Church of the Air series yesterday. The music especially beautiful and was handled well. . . .
(Signed) "Allen."
The distinguished guest conductor of the chorus, Charles M. Dennis, director of music in the public schools of San Francisco, wrote Oscar A. Kirkham, Y. M. M. I. A. Executive Secretary in part as fol- lows:
". . . To me it was a great privilege to become acquainted with such a fine body of young people, while to conduct the numbers which they sang with such beautiful quality, precision, and interpretation was a genuine thrill.
(Signed) "Charles M. Dennis,
"Director of Music."
''The Sunday afternoon genera] session held in the tabernacle un- der the direction of the General Au-
thorities of the Church, with Pres- ident Heber J. Grant presiding and conducting, presented brief remarks from General Superintendent Albert E. Bowen, General President Ruth May Fox, and President May An- derson of the Primary Association which organization held its confer- ence on days corresponding with the M. I. A. A distinguished national figure addressed this gathering, Dr. Ray O. Wyland, Director of Edu- cation and Relationships, National Council, Boy Scout of America. Dr. Wyland had previously addressed other conference sessions. On this occasion he opened by saying :
'For three days I have lived among you, I have received the baptism of inspiration that has come from the splendid vision of your program; I have been inspired by the beauty of the music; I have been strength- ened in my faith by the faith, loyalty, and devotion of this great company of . . .
"Millennial Star" photographs by Claudius E. Stevenson.
A CAMERA'S DIARY OF THE SECOND ANNUAL BRITISH MISSION M. I. A. CONFERENCE.
(1) Mission M. I. A. officers — Front, left to riant: Elizabeth Cornwall, Gertrude Horlacher, Florence A. Bickerstaff; middle: Catherine L. M. Horner, Laura Dimler, Elsie Mace, Lewis H. Tarrand Madeline E. R. Hill; back: Mildred Poole, David C. Thomas, Ralph W. Hardy, John Bleakley, M. Neff Smart, Dr. Ray M. Russell. (2) M Men Tracksters. (3) Luncheon at Corn Exchange. (4) Nancy E. Evans (Kidderminster) "Star" poetry contest winner. (5) Gleaner Chorus winners (Nottingham District)— Front, left to right: May Cook, Susie Massey, May Hewerdine and Elizabeth Cornwall at piano); back: Edith Day, Dolly Blythe and Edith Limb. (6) President and Sister Joseph J. Cannon signing pro- grams. (7) Elder Evan Arthur, 74, who walked thirty-five miles to the Conference. (8) A session in Town Hall. (9) Joseph W. Darling (Belfast) M Men speech winner.
young men and women who have dedicated their lives to the service of God through the Church.
"This morning as I listened to the world broadcast, my vision went out to the ends of the earth where this broadcast carried the message of Truth and the Words of Wisdom that came down from your Pro- {Continued on page 504)
477
Judge • •
HENRY H. ROLAPP
In whose life devotion to the word of god was foremost-and all other cherished things followed.
By DAISY ROLAPP ROMNEY
During these more than seven- ty-five years— 1 860- 1 936— Henry H. Rolapp served in three fields and achieved in each a full measure of completeness and success. Often a man may excel in one phase of his life, but rarely do we find love of God, devotion to home, and integrity in one's pro- fession and business so harmonious- ly and magnificently blended as in Judge Rolapp's life.
His underlying philosophy was the belief that God should come first in a man's life. This concept unified and gave purpose to his living. Born into a German family devoted to the Lutheran Church — a family whose only information about the "Mor- mons" was based on the prejudiced views of outsiders — it was difficult for the father to accept his eldest son's conversion to a religion so badly spoken of by his pastor. Com- pulsory military training made it difficult for him to leave Germany, but through the haze of opposition, gleamed the clear light of truth. Courageous and devoted, with an unusual driving force, he surmount- ed all obstacles and faithful to his own convictions on November 1 1 , 1877, in his seventeenth year, Henry H. Rolapp was baptized at Copen- hagen, Denmark, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. His acceptance of the Gospel resulted in a separation from his family.
The Man Who Loved Truth and Served His Church
"Erom that day, his life was a reve- lation of faithful devotion and inspirational activity in the service of the Church. He was ordained an Elder in 1878 and fulfilled a two- year mission in England, where he 478
HPhis sketch of a great lite was •*- written by Daisy Rolapp Rom- ney, niece of the late Judge Henry H. Rolapp, as an expression of ad' miration and appreciation. Although the author feels it does not do justice to his memory it will recall in the minds of his old friends, incidents which will again bring him close to them, and give those who did not know him well a glimpse into the richness of his living.
went to live and work at the head- quarters of the European Mission in Liverpool. Here he formed associa- tions which made for him life-long friends. James H. Wallis, with whom he served in the presidency of the first Y. M. M. I. A. established in Liverpool, was one of these. The Anderson family lived but a block or two away from the Church headquarters and Brother Rolapp was a constant visitor in their home. Since he was very homesick, he be- came like one of their family. Al- though he had received a good edu- cation in Copenhagen, he couldn't speak English. However, he found the ten Anderson children ready teachers. They pointed to the spoons and various foods as they ate, playing a kind of game, until he absorbed a fundamental knowledge of the language. Sister May An- derson, now President of the Gen- eral Primary Board, remembers lis- tening to the wonderful discussions of President William Budge, Fran- cis Culp, Henry H. Rolapp, John Nicholson, then editor of the Mil- lennial Star, and Lyman R. Mar- tineau. The photographs of these missionaries who labored together were sent to Brother Rolapp on his fiftieth wedding anniversary by Sister May Anderson, so that he could see all as they were in the "heyday of youth."
JUDGE HENRY H. ROLAPP
He came to Utah in 1 880 and was ordained successively a Seventy and a High Priest. His life-long service in Sunday School work began when he was chosen to work in the Ogden Fifth Ward Sunday School super - intendency. He often taught the classes, telling stories which he him- self created to fit the children's needs. When his own sons were adolescents, he gathered them and their companions about him and con- ducted a reading and study class.
HPo those who knew Judge Rolapp in his home life, it was not a surprise when he conceived the idea of organizing parents' classes in the Church — a movement unique in Church history — the first attempt to educate the parents to understand and train the child, a project that inspired his constant, heartfelt de- votion. As passing time effaces the memory of his achievements in the Church, the last to remain will doubtless be his establishing and promoting this great activity.
The authorities of the Church had been considering how to secure
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
greater assistance on the part of parents in preparation of the chil- dren's lessons. One day, while in conversation with David O. McKay, then in the superintendency of the Ogden Stake Sunday Schools, Judge Rolapp suggested that it would be an excellent thing to call all the par- ents into a convention. In 1905 the parents met in the Ogden Taber- nacle, which was crowded to the doors. President Joseph F. Smith was the speaker and presented an outline for parents to follow. With that beginning, parents' classes were established and spread quickly throughout the Church.
His effort and results in this en- deavor drew wide attention, for, five years later, he received a letter from Theodore Dreiser, editor of the De- lineator Magazine, asking him to write articles on "Parental Obliga- tions." This he agreed to do, and in his reply stated that at that time thirty thousand parents were meet- ing each Sunday morning, discussing the proper relationship between parent and child. Brother Rolapp said that in his opinion there were two main obstacles to the main- tenance of an ideal home. First, lack of a real acquaintance between parents and children, and secondly, the evil of exercising parental duties by proxy. He said:
"Whenever it is desired to secure and keep the friendship of any newly acquired
MEMBERS OF THE FIRST Y. M. M. I. A. IN LIV- ERPOOL; STANDING, LEFT TO RIGHT: SCOTT AN- DERSON, ROBERT ANDERSON, AND WILLIAM PURDIE.
SEATED, LEFT TO RIGHT: JAMES H. WALLIS AND HENRY H. ROLAPP.
acquaintance, society adopts the instinctive method of treating him with courtesy and consideration, and of being charitable to- ward his eccentricities. In the family circle, however, this method is seldom adopted. The cultivation of home acquaintanceship is either given no consideration at all, or else, left to temporary moods and whims. Parents seem to be disappointed if children fail to manifest as high ideals as those at- tained by older persons, wholly forgetting that their own successes are only the se- quences of many efforts and failures and battles with temptations. They are apt to upbraid their children rather than to show them the steps leading to perfection. Parents very often fail to give children a patient hearing, much less a satisfactory discussion to the probably trifling matters which occupy the immature minds of youth. They only see the apparent waste of time in the consideration of children's interests. Under the influence of this mental attitude, they attempt by the method of parental authority to dismiss and destroy the ideas confidently brought to them for discussion. Of course they fail. They may temporarily still their youthful voices, and may relieve themselves of similar annoyances, but they cannot stop the workings of the human mind. That still goes on, and the children are driven to develop their ideas in solitude, with probably resulting error or more likely they will seek the counsel of others, who are more pleasant to associate with, to give them the development for which the parents assumed primary responsibility.
"Parents have come to believe that their practical responsibility consists only in fur- nishing money so as the training of the chil- dren, whether physical, mental, or moral, can be transferred to someone else, and having done so, they sit down and applaud themselves for the superior advantages they have given their children and then go and bemoan with their friends, within their so- cial circles, the morals of the present gen- eration.
"In the father's anxiety to secure money for the physical welfare and the proxy training of his child, he often becomes a slave to other influences. Parents and child
HENRY H. ROLAPP AS HE APPEARED BEFORE DEPARTING FROM COPEN- HAGEN FOR ENGLAND.
find that they move in entirely different worlds. As temptations and allurements make their impressions on the growing boys, the parents are powerless to influence their actions. Their words are then only 'wild as the waves that wash no shore,' their influence vanished, their threats empty. Finally the parental responsibility exercised by proxy has developed into a condition that produces influence only by proxy."
Judge Rolapp's Sunday School work intensified. After serving for five years as a member of the Weber Stake Sunday School Board, he was made a member of the Deseret Sun- day School Union Board. Wher- ever he traveled in these, his busiest years, he always attended Sunday School and reported his visits to the general board. He will be remem- bered in all these communities for his cordiality and diplomacy. A resolution adopted by the Deseret Sunday School Union Board at the time of death shows the esteem in which he was regarded:
"His wide experience gave him a pro- found understanding of life. The knowl- edge and wisdom gained from this experi- ence he shared with us to our benefit. In our councils his voice was always heard with great interest and rapt attention. His views were valued highly. His judgment always accorded great weight. Conse- quently his influence in shaping the policies of Sunday School work for thirty years has been far-reaching."
In 1908 President Joseph F. Smith appointed Brother Rolapp a member of the Church Auditing Committee. He was chairman of this committee at the time of his death.
During ten of these busy years, he devoted much time to assem- bling a volume, Two Thousand Gospel Quotations. Of this book Elder John A. Widtsoe said: "I have upon my shelf as one of the best and most used books in my pos-
479
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
session a contribution made by Brother Rolapp to the advancement of the Church work. ... In the history of the Church no similar work superior to it has been pro- duced," He said further that to know the philosophy of Judge Rolapp, one only need read the head- ings and sub-headings of his book, which is in itself a skeleton outline of the mighty philosophy of the Lord Jesus Christ and a contribution to the philosophy of the Church.
Climaxing the missionary efforts of Elder Rolapp, he and Sister Rolapp were called after his retire- ment from a long and active business life to preside over the Eastern States Mission, where their spir- itual influence was far-reaching and their lives an inspiration to many.
The Man of Business and Professional Eminence
'T'he business and professional phase of Judge Rolapp's life de- fies comparison. His first business experience came at the age of eight- een years when he labored in the Latter-day Saints' headquarters in Liverpool, as printer and translator for the mission paper. He was also co-editor with James H. Wallis of Excelsior, a paper published month-
ly.
His initial venture in Utah was in business, but after a very short time, he turned to the study of law. His professional life was interrupted by a call to Arizona to act as secretary to Apostle Erastus Snow who was supervising the building of a railroad in that state. He then practiced law in Idaho for a short time and was admitted to the bar at Montpelier.
To obtain specialized training, he entered the law school of the Uni- versity of Michigan and was gradu- ated from that institution in 1884 with the degree LL.B. In November of the same year, he entered into a law partnership with C. C. Richards of Ogden under the firm name of Richards and Rolapp, subsequently changed to Richards, Rolapp, Pratt, and McMillan. From the focal point of this law firm, Mr. Rolapp's mi- ni e r o u s professional activities branched, resulting in a brilliant career.
He was repeatedly in public ser- vice. Successively he held the office of assessor of Weber County, as- sistant county attorney, associate justice of the Territorial Supreme Court of Utah, and first district judge of Ogden, assuming his judge- ship the same day that Utah became 480
a state. To this latter office he was reelected. His appointment to the highest court of the territory came from the president of the United States. It has been said by his close associates, that no decision rendered by Judge Rolapp was ever partisan or biased.
Indicative of his fine legal mind and his ability to interpret correct- ly the law, was his ruling in the Ko-
MARTHA H0RR0CKS ROLAPP, WIFE OF HENRY H. ROLAPP.
nold case in 1896. The following year the Supreme Court reversed his decision. But in 1906 the same court reversed its own decision, stating that Judge Rolapp's ruling had been correctly rendered. What a matter of extreme satisfaction it must have been to this thirty-five- year-old foreign-born to have his decision finally vindicated!
After serving as District Judge from 1896 to 1905, Judge Rolapp retired from the bench, resuming his private law practice for a brief pe- riod, then launching into an out- standingly successful business ca- reer. In a short time he was han- dling the affairs of numerous cor- porations in the city of Ogden.
Largely through his business as- sociation with David Eccles he was instrumental in building up indus- tries to benefit the entire state, but undoubtedly his greatest business achievement was in the sugar in- dustry in which he became one of the nation's leading figures. He did much to promote the building of the Ogden sugar factory, which be- came the first unit of the Amalga- mated Sugar Company. He was general council, secretary, and man- ager of this corporation, and at the
death of David Eccles he became president of the company.
In the quest for capable and re- sponsible leadership to cope with economic problems resultant from the World War, the government, under Herbert Hoover, placed Judge Rolapp in charge of the food administration beet sugar distribut- ing committee, with headquarters at Chicago. After the war, when the beet sugar industry reached a crisis, the beet sugar finance corporation was formed, and he was made a director. In this capacity, acting with President Heber J. Grant, he borrowed $14,000,000.00 from the government. The loan was made possible largely through the confi- dence that W. L. Petrikin of the Great Western Sugar Company had in these men. The money was paid back promptly, actually before it was due.
Beginning with 1914, Judge Ro- lapp was president of the United States Beet Sugar Association, a national organization of beet sugar companies, and was always instru- mental in providing assistance for the industries and the farmers whose success depended on the suc- cess of the sugar companies.
In 1921 he was again made pres- ident of the Amalgamated Sugar Company and removed to Utah from Denver, where he was vice president and general counsel of the Great Western Sugar Com- pany. In 1926 he retired from the sugar business and moved to Cali- fornia.
In addition to these business and legal activities he served from 1907 to 1916 as a regent of the Univer- sity of Utah.
The Man Who Loved Home and Kindred Important as the material success of Judge Rolapp was, it was sec- ondary to his fervor for his home, as it was here that his most success- ful achievement centered. His love of home and kindred began early, for he had been in this country but a short time, when he sent for his brother who was still in Germany. They were always the best of com- panions, and the same love which they had experienced in early life, carried over into a close business association throughout the years. Later he sent for his mother and sis- ter and he finally had the satisfac- tion of seeing his family join the Church except for his father who [Continued on page 503)
Strange roads
BY
JANET BLAKE SILVER
E
JL_i
I lizabeth reflected that the long studio room looked very pleasant in the late afternoon sunshine. She was almost sorry she was going to the party — too many of late, anyway.
"Going out tonight, Marion?" she asked her roommate lazily.
"Yes, Richard's coming for me at six and we're going to his mother's for supper and then to Church. Why don't you come along?"
Elizabeth laughed a little.
"Remembering my well-known prejudice against going to Church, that is a very foolish question, my dear."
"But I don't really know what your objection to Church is, Eliz- abeth. I know you and your folks joined in England, and I can't un- derstand how you dropped out so completely."
Although both girls worked in the same office, it was only after they had rented this little housekeeping apartment together that they dis- covered they were members of the same Church.
"It's a long story."
Elizabeth slipped her dress from a hanger. "Like my dress, Marion?"
"Why, yes; that cool shade of green is just your color. It makes your skin look so clear, and the touch of lace at the neck is very youthful looking."
"Which," laughed Elizabeth, "in a young woman verging on twenty- eight is — sump'in."
Suddenly grave, she came over by the firelight and sat down on a low stool by her friend.
"You should have seen the dress I wore at my first party in America."
The girl talked softly with some- thing of an effort. "It was heavy and dark— and long. They were
wearing dresses very short that year; light soft materials — chiffons and ninons and silk voiles — and the most delicate pastel shades — orchid, lav- ender, pale rose, pink. Oh, so pretty. ..."
Her voice trailed off for a minute.
"I didn't think much of clothes at first. The new country was enough; the green lawns — cherry blossoms — roses blooming in April. I enjoyed the Church meetings then. Didn't take much part, but everybody was friendly enough."
Elizabeth rose to put some wood on the fire, and Marion studied her friend a little curiously. These con- fidences were so rare, she maintained her own silence rather than break the spell.
"I had never gone to any enter- tainment, when one Sunday the Bishop announced a social. It was to be lady's night — every girl to bring lunch for herself and a boy. It sounded like fun to me. I told the lady I worked for about it. She didn't know anything about it, but thought it would be a good chance for me to meet some young folks. I was so lonely."
In the pause that followed Marion tried to imagine gay, popular Eliz- abeth— lonely! It didn't seem pos- sible.
"Well," Elizabeth went on, "Mrs. Martin suggested I take one of the children's lunch boxes, and I made ham sandwiches. I got a big dill pickle out of the ice box — didn't think about slicing it, and gathered some other things. The lunches were collected at the door, and we went upstairs for preliminary exercises. Then we all went down to the amusement hall. The lunches were numbered and corresponding num- bers handed at random to the boys. The lunches were all arranged on long tables."
"I saw that awful lunch box right
ELIZABETH WAS FURIOUSLY ANGRY NOW. SHE OPENED THE CAR DOOR AND JUMPED OUT.
away. Everybody else had the food arranged in dainty containers with little artistic touches. The lady on one side of me had a dainty basket with real rosebuds on the handle. On the other hand was a lovely box with satin ribbons laced around and food arranged on fresh vine leaves. Thin, delicate sandwiches, wedges of home-made cake, salted nuts in little crinkle cups, chocolates in little silver dishes."
JlSlizabeth laughed ner- vously and rose to wander around the room a minute, and then con- tinued:
"Nobody claimed the place op- posite me. I was suddenly terribly conscious of my thick, dark dress — my heavy shoes. The lady next to me said something — I don't know what — and gave me a little nosegay of rosebuds. I sneaked away finally — though it didn't matter. Nobody was looking! I had to take that wretched lunch box, because it wasn't mine. I met a man who mut- tered something about a bite to eat, and I emptied the lunch box, and handed him the rosebuds for good measure. I guess he thought I was crazy."
"I went home with my heart full of bitterness — and loneliness. Most of all loneliness! I made up my mind, I'd never be so humiliated again. I'd show them! I took sten- ography at night school. I had been a bookkeeper in England. I worked hard and finally got this position as secretary with Consolidated. I al- ways meant to go back to Church but I guess one never does. Well, it is all water over the mill now. Maybe I would not have made such a success of my work if that incident had not made me resentful and de- termined."
{Continued on page 517)
481
From a Painting by William Ritschel.
WE here present the Journal of Archer Walters, age 47, English craftsman and son of a well-to-do-family, who, in 1 856, brought his wife, and five children between the ages of six and eighteen years, from Sheffield, England, to Utah, by boat, rail and handcart, and who, after having fashioned un- timely coffins in which to lay at rest many of his fellow travelers, him- self went to an early grave a fort- night after reaching Salt Lake Val- ley.
Ofttimes our histories deal with broad generalities, and with the goings and comings of our leaders. But here is the hitherto unpublished story of a faithful follower whose daily account of weary miles and privations, over land and water, was recently made available to The Im- provement Era by Mrs. J. R. Pettit 482
The journal of
ARCHER WALTERS
The self-told story of a man who gave his life for the cause of truth, and whose scores of descendants bless and cherish his memory.
of Los Angeles, a great-grand- daughter of Archer Walters and one of the many descendants of this man who have continued faithful to the Church and to the cause of Truth for which Archer Walters gave his life.
The statistical and historical facts pertinent to this account are well substantiated by records found in
the Church Historian's office and by data published in the Millennial Star and the Deseret News in 1 856. Archer Walters was born July 29, 1809, at Cambridge, Cambridge- shire, England, the son of Archer Walters. According to Archer Walters Clayton, grandson, and Mrs. Lily Clayton Wolstenholme, granddaughter of Archer Walters,
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
among this man's family were numbered many clergymen and doctors. In accordance with the custom of families who could afford it, young Archer was taught a trade, in the pursuit of which he left Cam- bridge and went to Sheffield where he met and fell in love with Harriet Cross, a charming and lovable "factory-girl" whom Archer married in 1837, the same year in which the British Mission was opened.
Because of his wife's "social in- feriority" Archer was disinherited by his family, and continued his residence and the pursuit of his trade in Sheffield. He was a carpenter, (joiner, as it is called in England) and in his shop window was a sign which read "From the cradle to the grave," meaning that he did all kinds of carpenter work which, in the Old Country, is often combined with undertaking. He had a very genial disposition and was happy and jolly. He and his wife became middle class people, living the life of an English family well-to-do but not rich.
Archer Walters (and it is pre- sumed his family at the same time) was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints September 3, 1848, by an Elder Syl- vester, and ordained a Priest April 1, 1849 by Elders Dunn, Long, and Lees.
The sheltered life in an English town did not prepare the family for the hardships of the journey across the plains, but Archer Walters said before leaving England: "If I can but reach the Valleys of the Moun- tains, in the land of Zion, with my family, that they may grow up un- der the influence of the Gospel of Christ, then I shall be satisfied, though I give my life in the effort."
TPhe ship Enoch Train on which he and his family embarked from Liverpool for Boston, March 22, 1856, carried 534 Saints in- cluding 4 1 5 adults ( 8 years and up ) , 98 children (1 to 8 years), and 21 infants ( under 1 year ) , representing the following countries: England, 322; Scotland, 146; Ireland, 17; Wales, 18; and others from Den- mark, America, Switzerland, Cape of Good Hope, and East India. The boat's skipper was Captain Henry P. Rich. The presidency of the company consisted of Elder James Ferguson, president, and Elders Ed- mund Ellsworth and Daniel D. Mc- Arthur, counselors.
This ship carried the first emi- grants for Utah by the Perpetual
Emigration Fund in 1856. Four hundred thirty-one were "P. E." passengers many of whom were later to cross the plains with hand- carts; and one hundred three were "ordinary" passengers. The ship's company also included the following Elders who had been released from missionary labors in Great Britain: Spicer W. Crandall, John D. T. McAllister, John A. Hunt, J. Na- than, T. Porter, Edward Frost, Rob- ert Parker, Andrew Galloway, Wm. Heaton, Walter Granger, and Sam- uel Hargreaves; also Truman Leon- ard who was returning home from the East India Mission. The ship's company also included a band from Birmingham.
The names and ages of Archer Walter's family are given as fol- lows : Harriet ( his wife ) , 47; Sarah, 18; Henry, 16; Harriet (daughter), 14; Martha, 12, and Lydia, 6.
This human document gives soul- inspiring insight into the kind of men and women who stood stead- fastly by the Church in early days even at the cost of life itself, and who left home, country and comfort to conquer the great American Des- ert for the privilege of worshiping in the Lord's appointed way, and up- building the kingdom of Heaven.
And now the Journal of Archer Walters speaks the thoughts of an English carpenter, who, with his
family, left his native land and the traditions of his fathers, to travel through hardship and privation, for truth and freedom on a new fron- tier:
MARCH 18TH, 1856
Left Sheffield, Yorkshire, Eng- land, by rail to Liverpool, under the charge of Elders Frost and McDon- ald. A pleasant journey and under their charge all was in good order and all happy and rejoicing, num- bering 31 in all. Comfortable, with my wife and five children in good health and spirits; all rejoicing in going to help the building up of the Lord's Kingdom in the Valleys of the Rocky Mountains.
19TH
All in good health for which I feel thankful to my Heavenly Father. All went to look at the ships lying in the Waterloo Docks. The name of the ship is "Enoch Train." Then went to the office, 42 Islington, to be booked; returned to rest quite tired.
20TH
Did not sleep very well, being the
42 ISLINGTON, LIVERPOOL, HEADQUARTERS OF THE CHURCH IN EUROPE, FOR MANY DECADES. THROUGH THIS OFFICE, RICH IN CHURCH HISTORY, PASSAGE WAS ARRANGED FOR THOUSANDS OF LOYAL BRITISH AND OTHER EUROPEAN MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
first night. Rose up about 6 o'clock. Rations served out on the river. All went on very well. Patience tried a little but had no place in me. The best Good Friday I ever saw in my life. A band of music on board and all merry as crickets and the sailors and captains busy at work. Sent a letter to Brother Harrison, Sheffield. Thus ends Good Friday.
21ST
Saturday 21st, rose about 6 o'clock. A child born during the night. Sister sleeps well. Bro. F. D. Richards came on board and the Doctor. The brethren took all the male names for watch and began to organize their wards with Bro. Fer- guson Pres. wards No. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
22ND
Sunday 22nd, Bro. Wheelock and Dunbar came on board. Bro. F. D. Richards sent us his blessings. Bro. Wheelock gave us some good instructions. Names of families called oyer. 5a w confusion by a man coming for his wife and chil- dren. The young folks are with us. I guess he has shut the gate, but as soon as she sees it open she will be out. This only strengthens her faith in this work. This took place about 10 or 15 miles from Liverpool. A beautiful day. 20 miles from Liverpool and the ship still tugged by the steamer. Can see no land. Bro. Wheelock left at 6 o'clock with some good cheers.
23RD
Trumpet blew at 6 o'clock. All got up as could. My wife and chil- dren alt sick but I got them on deck and at 12 o'clock was all better. To- wards night all sick more or less besides myself.
24TH
A good strong wind. The ship heaved and worked and nearly all sick. Very queerly myself. Got out of the Irish Channel about 6 o'clock. Got still on board.
26TH
Sickness not so bad. I am better and am thankful. My wife, Henry and Harriet and Lydia and Sarah still sick. Ship going at good speed; wind nearly south. Harriet very sick. Rained hard towards night. All went to bed. Could eat nothing for we had no salt nor vinegar and we could not eat pork. The ship rocked all night. Was very poorly; 484 —
no appetite. Rough breakers; sea wind blowing southeast east.
27TH
All better except Harriet, for which I thank my Heavenly Father. Wind blowing briskly after a wet night. Now 12 o'clock and all well and merry. Most are getting oyer their sea sickness. A ship in sight bound for England. Trumpet sounded for prayers and we laid down in peace, committing our souls to the care of our Heavenly Father.
28TH
A fine morning and many better of sea sickness and our rations served out. Salt and vinegar; beef as we have had none before. Many on deck and not many in bed. Band played on deck; all rejoicing, etc.; songs, etc.
29T1I
Cold wet day; all busy cooking. Trumpet blew for prayers. We had a good deal of singing in the ward until late at night.
30TH
A fine morning, wind blowing west and the ship not making three miles an hour. We hope the wind will change. A few sick but all busy cooking and many on deck in the afternoon. Some of the Brethren spoke. We retired to rest, com- mitting our cares into the hands of the Heavenly Father.
APRIL 1ST
A sister died during the night named Esther Deveruth from Her-
fordshire Conference, aged 60 years. A rough day. Ships rolled and boxes rattled. Bottles upset. Bed- steads broke down and cooking did not please all for the saucepans up- set in the jelly. Some scolded and some fell and hurt themselves. A thing to try the patience of some. Went to bed, ship rocked and rolled about; did not sleep well but all night the President and Captains of the different wards do their best for all and all good saints feel well.
2ND
The dead sister's body committed to the deep. It was the first I ever saw buried in the sea and I never want to see another. A rough day all day.
3RD
A fine morning; almost all on deck. Some few below sick. My family all well for which I am thank- ful. The band from Birmingham is playing and merrily, the ship rocking now and then sends them sprawling and makes them laugh, if one fell on top of another or 4 or 5 together. 11 o'clock and then we are out of a day's water and no extra water for cooking at all, but all night we are happy. Several songs during the afternoon by Messers Mc- Allison, Frost, Walters, etc. Band playing and dancing until dark when all went below. Trumpet sounded for prayers. Slept well. Sister Leasly fell and hurt herself during the night but is better this morning.
4TH
All well. Some good boiled rice for breakfast but . . , cried for gruel and mother did not like it and Sarah grumbled, but if they grumble now what will they do before they get to the Valley. Nearly 12 o'clock. The wind blowing nearly west and not going very fast. Waves keep splash- ing on deck. Wind blowing against us. 4 o'clock going at a good speed. Harriet crying because there is no sugar, and Sarah not well pleased and mother scolding. Henry got some preserves given to him. He went to bed but was very sick. Songs up and down stairs. Bugle sounded for prayers. We went to bed com- mitting our souls to the care of our Heavenly Father and bid each other good night.
( To be Continued )
CARVETH WELLS
rPHis article by the distinguished ■*■ world-traveler, explorer, and relater of facts has been adapted for "The Improvement Era" from a radio address presented nationwide over KSL and other stations Sunday, May 3, 1936. Mr. Wells, citizen of the world, knows people and knows places, and he tells what he knows with truth and color.
A CITIZEN
of the WORLD LOOKS AT
UTAH
By CARVETH WELLS
^arveth Wells, "globe-trotter extraordin- ary," AT HOME IN MANY LANDS AND WITH MANY PEOPLES, TELLS A COLORFUL STORY ABOUT A COLOR- FUL PLACE.
I'm going to transport you to Utah, the center of scenic
America, where the colors of Nature's masterpieces are brighter and more spectacular than any re- gion on earth, even surpassing the gorgeous colors of Colorado and the Grand Canyon itself. I only wish I could devote this talk to the splendid history of the state, for the story of the Mormon Pioneers is truly one of the great epics of America and the amazing achieve- ments of Utah's people stand today as a monument to their sturdy Americanism. Only the old Mormon Pioneers themselves had the fore- sight to realize that the Exodus of the Latter-day Saints in 1846, just ninety years a£o, formed a new epoch not only in the history of their Church but of the whole na- tion. A great tragedy of intoler- ance has been turned into a great victory, not only for the faith of a great people, but for the whole of America because they have made the desert blossom like a rose and have converted one of the wildest
portions of the United States into one of the most productive and cul- tured regions in the world.
No wonder Utah is known as the "Beehive State," for her peo- ple are not only as busy as bees, but they also never cease storing up good things for the future, not merely material wealth but great treasures of art, science, literature, music, and all that is of great spir- itual value to mankind. Utah has produced some of America's great- est statesmen not only in the past, for right now you will find the state represented in some of the highest positions in our government. For you who love books of travel and adventure, I recommend that you read the life of Brigham Young by Susa Young Gates and Leah D. Widtsoe, and having read this fas- cinating story of the great Mormon Exodus, set your course for the West and hit the trail for Salt Lake City.
Once you arrive at Salt Lake you are in the geographical center of a region that contains no fewer than sixty-two national parks ;.*id na- tional monuments. For this reason Salt Lake City justly claims to be the headquarters of Scenic Ameri- ca. The city itself is so clean and beautiful that it has often been de- scribed by artists as a "sparkling gem in a lordly setting." On the west side are the gleaming waters of the Great Salt Lake, but to the north, east, and south are tremen- dous canyons and snowcapped
mountains with lovely lakes and fishing streams.
Utah owes its transformation from a desert to a region of inestima- ble wealth and prosperity to water, but it was Brigham Young who showed the people how to use the water. Close to the city is Emigra- tion Canyon through which that great pioneer led the advance guard of the Mormons in 1847. A fine highway now runs into this historic canyon for sixteen miles, ending at Pinecrest. At the entrance tc the canyon is a granite monureent marking the spot where Brigham Young exclaimed, "This is tVe place."
Before you take any of the lovely drives from the city make straight for the Temple Square and see this most interesting area with a good guide, and you'll find that the hours slip by like minutes. That enormous structure that looks like a watermelon cut in half length- wise is the Tabernacle. It is built entirely of wood and has the finest acoustics of any auditorium in the world. When it was built, there were no such things as iron nails available in Utah, so this whole building was laboriously knitted to- gether by means of rawhide and wooden pegs. Eight thousand peo- ple can be seated comfortably under its enormous, unsupported roof.
Be sure you attend the daily or- gan recital. Sit as far away from the organ as possible and then no-
485
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
tice that ordinary-sized man who looks like a midget hold his hand aloft for silence and then drop a pin. You can hear it drop and then you realize why absolute silence is necessary if you wish to appreciate the exquisite music of this world- famous organ.
The gem of Utah's buildings is the Temple. At the time of its con- struction this magnificent building which cost well over four million dollars was over a thousand miles from civilization. It is built of solid granite and the blocks had to be hauled by oxen twenty miles from the Little Cottonwood Canyon, the journey taking four days. Progress was so slow that Brigham Young ordered a canal to be dug in order to carry the blocks by boat but be- fore the canal was finished a rail- road was constructed to the quarry. However, the finished canal was then used and is still used to con- vey water to the city.
Only Mormons are permitted to enter this Temple — and only good Mormons with faultless credentials at that, for it is here that the most sacred rites of the Mormon Church are performed.
One monument that you must be sure to see is the Seagull Monu- ment, erected to the birds which miraculously saved the first crops of the Pioneers when they were be- ing eaten by a plague of crickets. In the southeast corner of the Tem- ple Square is an old log cabin pro- tected under a pergola and sur- rounded by an iron fence. This is the oldest house in Salt Lake City, but just compare it with the Tem- ple and the Tabernacle and then realize that both these magnificent buildings were constructed from lo- cal materials just as much as that old log cabin.
A drive to the State Capitol will reward you with a fine view of the entire city and the Salt Lake Val- ley. Here you will see the Gover- nor's reception room with its furni- ture inlaid with gold. . . gold trim- med draperies and chandeliers that are almost pure gold and silver. . . then for contrast see the exhibition of Pioneer relics, including the first piano that had to be hauled a thou- sand miles across the plains by a team of oxen. Music and Mormons have always been inseparable from the very earliest days when they carried a brass band to cheer them on their journey into the unknown west. Salt Lake City is undoubted- ly one of the most important mu- sical centres in America. 486
If your children want one of the most thrilling and amusing experi- ences of a lifetime take them to Salt- air Beach quite close to the city, and let them take a dip in the Great Salt Lake. It isn't necessary for them to know how to swim, for they cannot possibly sink in this briny water. If you're anxious to go trout fishing then drive to the Grand- daddy Lakes where you can fish and camp to your heart's content. As for scenic motoring, just drive over the Alpine Scenic Highway, a loop trip around Mount Timpa- nogos, and if the younger members of your party want an exciting hike let them try to climb to the top of
THE RUSSET CRAGS OF ZION NATIONAL PARK FROM THE WEST RIM TRAIL.
the mountain, twelve thousand feet above the sea, where they can see America's farthest south glacier.
Salt Lake City is surrounded by some of the greatest mines in the world: gold, silver, copper, and mines with many other minerals — in fact it was Abraham Lincoln who said, "Utah is the treasure house of the nation."
HThe longer you remain in Salt Lake City the more amazed you will be with this garden city that has risen from the desert. In the springtime the air is filled with the song of the meadow-lark and
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
the hills are covered with wild flow- ers. During the warm summer months the numerous city parks with their lovely shade trees, vel- vety lawns, and flowery paths are filled with people that are good to look at: vigorous men, pretty wom- en, and charming children, for if there is one state in America where a happy home and family life is the ideal of everyone it is in Utah.
Soft cool breezes from the can- yons temper the heat of midsum- mer, drinking fountains line the sidewalks, while clear water from the mountains continually runs through the streets. In winter the streets of Salt Lake City are clean- ed with hot water obtained from neighboring hot springs.
The most spectacular natural wonders in America both in color and form are to be found in south- ern Utah. The tremendous natural arches of vividly colored sandstone are still probably the least known of our national monuments, for many of them have to be reached on horseback. For instance, Rainbow Bridge — that gigantic arch high enough to span the National Capi- tol at Washington, and that looks like a rainbow turned to stone both in shape and color, was only seen by four hundred and thirty people last year. Compare this with the fifty-one thousand automobiles that visited Grand Canyon during the same year.
Fortunately for motorists Utah's
most astonishing scenery is in the southwest where the roads are not only excellent but where there is one highway that is probably the most spectacular in the world. I have driven over the Grand Cor- niche Drive in the Riviera and I have seen the lovely vistas of the Columbia River highway in Ore- gon, but neither can compare with the twenty-five mile drive along the Zion-Mount Carmel tunnelled highway that is not only a great en- gineering wonder but one of the scenic marvels of the world.
So let me suggest a definite drive that will include the three most vi- vidly colored fairylands in America, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Bryce National Park, and Zion Na- tional Park. They are all close to- gether and linked by magnificent highways. Visit these wonderful places in the order I have mention- ed because geologists will tell you that Cedar Breaks is an example of the first stage of erosion; Bryce Canyon is the second stage; and Zion, the third. The drive south from Salt Lake City to Cedar City will* be an adventure in itself. Provo on lovely Utah Lake will invite you to stop around this thriving city.
Carry on south into the wide open spaces. Towns get fewer and farther apart until you soon begin to appreciate what is meant by the great abiding peace that is so good
NATURAL BRIDGE NEAR FRUITA, UTAH
for the soul. At Cedar City prepare yourself for a crescendo of scenery that will end in a smashing climax in Zion National Park.
A thrilling drive through deep canyons, but winding and climbing up and up, will bring you almost a mile higher than Cedar City itself. You are now on the plateau of the Dixie National Forest, driving on a level road and surrounded by love- ly trees, when suddenly you arrive at the brink of a tremendous chasm, miles wide and half a mile deep. The Indians called it "the circle of painted cliffs." Artists have count- ed at least sixty distinct tints of color in Cedar Breaks, and as for weird formation all you need is a vivid imagination to see every kind of subject from a Model T flivver to perfect profiles of Mussolini and Mae West. Never make the mis- take of ridiculing the imagination of a child for it is a sign of a healthy mind. See the "Walls of Jericho," and the "Gate of the For- bidden City," for these are the most famous formations at Cedar Breaks.
Now carry on to Bryce Canyon and see the next stage in nature's great work of erosion. Once again you find yourself on the edge of a vast amphitheatre that gives you the impression of a great ruined city in the days of the Arabian Nights. The Indian name again de- scribes it perfectly: "A-bowl-shap- ed-canyon-filled-with-red-r o c k s - (Concluded on page 513)
487
(bdttonal
Warning to Church TRemhers
"^K^ith great regret we learn from credible sources, governmental and others, that a few Church members are joining directly or indirectly, the Communists and are taking part in their ac- tivities.
The Church does not interfere, and has no in- tention of trying to interfere, with the fullest and freest exercise of the political franchise of its mem- bers, under and within our Constitution which the Lord declared: "I established ... by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very pur- pose," and which, as to the principles thereof, the Prophet, dedicating the Kirtland Temple, prayed should be "established forever."
But Communism is not a political party nor a political plan under the Constitution; it is a system of government that is the opposite of our Consti- tutional government, and it would be necessary to destroy our government before Communism could be set up in the United States.
Since Communism, established, would destroy our American Constitutional government, to sup- port Communism is treasonable to our free insti- tutions, and no patriotic American citizen may be- come either a Communist or supporter of Com- munism.
To our Church members we say: Communism is not the United Order, and bears only the most superficial resemblance thereto; Communism is based upon intolerance and force, the United Or- der upon love and freedom of conscience and ac- tion; Communism involves forceful despoliation and confiscation, the United Order voluntary con- secration and sacrifice.
Communists cannot establish the United Order, nor will Communism bring it about. The United Order will be established by the Lord in His own due time and in accordance with the regular pre- scribed order of the Church.
Furthermore, it is charged by universal report, which is not successfully contradicted or disprov- ed, that Communism undertakes to control, if not indeed to proscribe the religious life of the people living within its jurisdiction, and that it even reaches
its hand into the sanctity of the family circle itself, disrupting the normal relationship of parent and child, all in a manner unknown and unsanctioned under the Constitutional guarantees under which we in America live. Such interference would be contrary to the fundamental precepts of the Gos- pel and to the teachings and order of the Church.
Communism being thus hostile to loyal Ameri- can citizenship and incompatible with true Church membership, of necessity no loyal American citi- zen and no faithful Church member can be a Com- munist.
We call upon all Church members completely to eschew Communism. The safety of our divine- ly inspired Constitutional government and the wel- fare of our Church imperatively demand that Com- munism shall have no place in America.
The First Presidency.
oJne Lise of (gospel Standards
Profoundly important to the Church and to the world are the two messages recently issued by the First Presidency of the Church: the one de- signed to take Church members off public relief rolls; the other ( above printed ) a warning against insidious propaganda for lawless government. By these documents the Church is again making his- tory; is again giving evidence of the presence and power of divine inspiration.
Overwhelmed and bewildered by the material gifts of the age, men question the sufficiency of the ancient moral code. In their confusion, clear think- ing is vanishing, though some things should be evident enough: the automobile cannot abrogate the command "Thou shalt not steal," nor can the radio still the voice of conscience.
Latter-day Saints should find no difficulty in distinguishing between truth and error, right and wrong, even under our changing physical life, in the midst of the flood of new knowledge and in- vention. The Gospel is a guide to conduct, a chart
488
for life's voyage, a set of ideals by which every proposition may be measured. Latter-day Saints should test every new offering by Gospel stand- ards. That is one of the high opportunities within the Church of Jesus Christ.
For example, the right of free agency is funda- mental in the Gospel structure. Man should al- ways be left free to accept or to reject. There should be no interference with the human will. If, under the eternal law, man chooses right, he is rewarded; if he chooses unwisely, he brings pun- ishment upon himself. This doctrine was fought for and established in the Great Council held in the heavens before the earth was made.
This principle may be used in evaluating the merit of many social, economic, and political offer- ings of the day. Communism, Fascism, and Nazi- ism may be judged by this principle — whatever endangers to the least degree man's right to act for himself is not of God and must be resisted by Latter-day Saints. The deep meaning of a con- stitutional form of government is that those who live under it shall determine its laws and policies, and, then, knowing the consequences, be left free to obey or disobey the law. It is this doctrine of man's right to freedom that runs through the mes- sage above published.
The principle of free agency leads directly to an equally useful, derivative principle. The Lord, who conceived the plan of salvation for man's good, does not compel men to accept it. It is taught to mankind here and will be taught to them hereafter; it may be accepted or rejected. Thus, man climbs, with God's help, but by his own effort, up the road to eternal joy. This firm expression of self-help should be the warp to the woof of man's every act.
When economic distress comes, the ways and means of self-help should be given first considera- tion. Each man must do all he can to help himself out of the difficult situation in which he finds him- self. When this is done, the group to which he belongs may ask itself if further opportunity for the man's self-help should be provided. Such self- help, first by the individual, then by the immediate group, moving hesitantly beyond the individual and his circle for further help, is the opposite, the negative, of charity. According to the Gospel standard, it is by self-help, material and spiritual, that man rises toward his divine majesty. To this ideal, the Church is rallying its members in its social security program.
Every present-day offering and our every de- cision, must be tested by Gospel standards. That is the urgent need of the day. — /. A. W.
e
e<
omment on \_sOmmumsm
TpHE foregoing statement on Communism by the First Presidency of the Church has been re- ceived thankfully and with fervent approval, both within and without the Church, by Americans who love America. Typical of the resultant reactions is an editorial which appeared July 8, 1936, in the Salt Lake Tribune, a newspaper published by in- terests not of our Church. At the suggestion of President Heber J. Grant, The Improvement Era's Editor-in-Chief, the editorial referred to is here reproduced in full:
"Enemies Within Our Gates"
"There is both reason and logic in the recent pronounce- ment of the Mormon Church against communism. The state- ment is more than a religious document because it warns of a menace that drives at the very foundations of American life. Communism has nothing in common with the Mormon Church or any other, this government or any other, this people or any other. It is an enemy to religion, to freedom, and to civilization.
"The warning of the First Presidency is timely and to the point. It distinguishes between communistic enterprise and free political discussion within the bounds of the Constitution. It recites forcibly that communism is not freedom but serf- dom, not the exponent of new political rights for the people, but the enemy of existing governmental guarantees to them.
"The statement says:
" 'Communism is not a political party nor a political plan
under the Constitution; it is a system of government that is the opposite of our Constitutional government, and it would be necessary to destroy our Constitution before communism could be set up in the United States. Since communism, established, would destroy our American constitutional gov- ernment, to support communism is treasonable.'
"Communistic preachment, first of all, is a means to an end. It is an essential step in the overthrow of established govern- ment. Once the people are disarmed there is no turning back. They become slaves under a rule of force, which tolerates no interference or resistance, be it peaceful or violent. Russia is the outstanding example of an enslaved people. The roseate promises held out to accomplish the revolution are forgotten, the fanciful ideals are repudiated and the rule of a designing leadership is made absolute.
"Established communism endures no criticism of its course. Such activities as the Mormon Church warns against would be punishable as treason in Russia. Only the other day, Joseph Stalin declared that the Soviet Union will avoid any electoral system under which any party could defeat the government and take its place. Why should the American people be more tolerant of the enemies within their gates? Why should they hold out the guarantees of Constitutional government to men and women who seek to destroy them? Why should not allegiance or subscription to principles con- ceived and designed to destroy the Constitution be sternly punished?
"We do not abandon our homes to the burglars. No more should we tolerate the activities of those who seek to destroy the foundations of our homes and our civilization, Consti- tutional government. Spies and traitors to the trust of our government are handled without gloves. Why should any more consideration be shown those who would destroy the government itself?"
489
Itiim-On
Death Claims One More Pioneer of 1847
l. d. s. institute and seminary staff
Institute and Seminary
A pproximately one hundred leaders ^* in religious education assembled for instruction and discussion in Salt Lake City from June 4 to June 11 in- clusive during a special convention of the L. D. S. Institute and Seminary Staff conducted under the direction of Dr. Frank L. West, Church Commis- sioner of Education, assisted by Dr. M. Lynn Bennion, Supervisor of Semi- naries. Many distinguished educators and Church leaders addressed the group during the eight-day gathering. Meet- ings were held in the Church Office Building.
New Mutual Improvement Board Members Chosen
'"The general Boards of the Mutual ■*• Improvement Associations have chosen several new members to help carry the work forward. Those chos- en for the Young Men's Board are: Aldon J. Anderson, Werner Kiepe, J. Edwin Nelson, Arthur Peterson, Dr. L. A. Stevenson, and T. Frank Wil- liams. The appointees to the Young Women's Board are: Aurelia Bennion, Lucile T. Buehner, Polly R. Hardy, and Freda Jensen. All of these people are well-qualified to render effective service in Mutual Improvement work.
Aaronic Priesthood Meet
A meeting to consider the proper ** keeping of the Sabbath Day was held in the Tabernacle on Sunday, June 28, 1936. More than two-thirds of the 5,000 people present were young men holding the Aaronic Priest- hood.
Hawaiian Islands
'T'here are more than 14,000 mem- •*- bers of the Church in these Islands. 490
"\T17hen Mrs. Mary Theodosia Sav- vv age Wilcox of Thornton, Idaho, passed away on May 30th, 1936, the number of surviving Pioneers of 1847 was cut to ten. Mrs. Wilcox was born February 28, 1847, as her par- ents were journeying toward Salt Lake valley from Kirtland, Ohio. With her parents she was one of the earliest settlers of Lehi, Cedar City, and Bear Lake valley. On August 23, 1865, she married John D. Wilcox at Paris, Idaho.
MISSIONARIES LEAVING FOR THE FIELD FROM THE SALT LAKE MISSIONARY HOME ARRIVED JUNE 1, 1936— DEPARTED JUNE 11, 1936
First row, left to right: Claire Craner, Elva Killian, Leona Draper, Letitia Gibbs, Marie T. Anderson, Wilms Burtenshaw, Thomas Hardy, Callis A. Caldwell, Nelda M. Bills.
Second row, right to left: La Var H. Whittaker, Stanford J. Taylor, Eva Esplin, Beryl Mecham, President John H. Taylor, Rulon J. Holman, Kenneth D. Brown, John S. Alley.
Third row, left to right: Donald A. Knight, Louis Stuart, Virginia Andrew, Margeurite Ward, Mae Irvine, De Cavina DeMars, Frances E. Madden, Rulon Flint Laird.
Fourth row, right to left: Joseph H. Peterson, Lynn Farr, Morris H. Anderson, Ray D. Smith, M. Smith Passey, Horace W. Burgon, Dewey F. Sundberg, Als Harris, John W. Foote.
Fifth row, left to rght: Clark Nelsen, L. Pierce Brady, Melvin L. Neerings, Fenton C. Tyler, Austin Hammond, Benjamin H. Glade.
Sixth row, right to left: Edward Erekson, Lynn A. Argyle, Nathan W. Buckwalter, Arnel Dastrup.
ARRIVED JUNE 15, 1936— DEPARTED JUNE 25, 1936
First row, left to right: Ernest R. Jensen, Ruth Ursenbach, Bernice Reid, LaVon Marquardson, Frances Davis, Ann Clayson, June J. Huskinson, Udell Anderson.
Second row, left to right: William P. Buys, Lamar Larson, Seth H. Young, Sister Rachel G. Taylor, President John H. Taylor, R. Ferris Bunker, Robert A. Price.
Third row, left to right: Charles W. Brown, Julius A. Leetham, Aruthur C. Porter, Stephen E. Grover, Chris F. Allred, Kenneth L. Cannon, L. Arvid Dodge, Raymond H. Goodwin.
Fourth row, left to right: Reed B. Berrett, Grant Catmull, Erland Johnson, S. LeVan Kimball, Walter Roderic Lewis, Alton D. Merrill, F. Lorin Bunker.
Fifth row, left to right Ferrill Catmull, S. Wayne Rey, Florence Malmberg, Richard S. Clark.
DAY'S END By Helen Mating
Above the lake, the opaque milky way Shows through the line of trees that
silhouette Against the sky. The campfire's gold lights
play Upon our features, like a flickering jet Of lamplight in some dim and shadowed
street. Our talk on far things turns to musing
thought. These quiet starlit moments are more sweet Than many others that the hours have
brought. There is a calmness in the starry night That stirs our dreams. The peaceful mo- ment races. . . . Bright embers of the campfire glow, and
light The contours of our happy dreaming faces.
PRAYER By Queena Davison Miller
Prayer is like a summer shower Bringing to the sun-parched flower Nourishment for dying root, Strength for wilting leaf and shoot.
Prayer is like a summer night After day's long weary flight- Shelter for a quiet nest, Gleam of stars on wings at rest.
Prayer is like a secret place Where I see my Father's face; Peace and love and strength for task He will grant if I but ask.
THE SOWER By James Casto
A sower took a bag of seeds And cast them to the wanton wind, Carelessly flinging flowers and weeds, Regardless of color or kind. Then God sent down the gentle rain, Calling them all to life again; For every seed that he had sown, Around his house a plant has grown.
A youth began life's journey long, Tripping lightly along the way, With blithesome heart and joyous song; Here a kindly word he'd say, There a thoughtless act perform. An aged man with withered form. He now is reaping deed for deed, Flower for flower, and weed for weed.
ILLUSION
By Winifred Montgomery
HThe stars press so close ■*■ On this summer night I will reach up
And sift them through my fingers Like sand— Well, I might!
LOST MUSIC By Clara Aiken Speer
I was a wild enough child, no doubt, With a hand-strung lute to twang; Simple and crude were the words I knew; Untrained was the voice that sang.
Yet the soughing of brooks was in my songs,
And the cadences of birds, And love and faith were in my heart
And in my artless words.
Then you who said you were my friends
Enrolled me in a school Where my voice was tempered and refined
Like a microscopic tool.
You gave me a lyre which was fashioned by
A dean with delicate art, You taught my hands a smooth technique—
But you gave me an empty heart.
You laughed away my eager faith,
Made love seem blundering. O blame me not that my lips are mute:
I have no song to sing.
I LOVE THE HILLS By Merling Dennis Clyde
I love the hills; They call to me With sweet insistent urge To come and wander over them And there in peace to purge
My aching soul. Where their quiet strength surrounds
My weary steps are led, And I lay my burdens at their feet
And there am comforted.
I love the hills;
They call to me— With white of columbine. — With scent of pine upon the wind. Tendrils of moss and vine Cling, drawing life From other things more sturdy.
And I, too, find release From binding cares where those staunch old hills
Close round in gentle peace.
In solitude I wander there;
My crowding heart-throbs dimmed
By rushing waterfall While luring breezes whisper wistfully
Caressingly
In cadent melodies Through hills that softly call.
LIFE HOLDS LOVELINESS By Catherine E. Berry
T ife holds loveliness for us *-J To compensate for pain, The silver of the moon at night, The jeweled drops of rain.
Gardens filled with fragrant flowers,
The sunset's flaming hue, The songs of birds that greet the dawn,
The sky's deep sapphire blue.
Beauty for our crying need,
Sheer loveliness to hold, And the sweet release of Death
When our days are told.
AH, WASTE NO PITY By Hazel Granger Madill
7V h, waste no time in pity or regret. ** That I am blind and can no longer see The deepening blue of summer skies; nor
fret, That flowers flaunt their hues no more for
me. And shed no tears that I shall never know, Again, the beauty of a greening field Or tree; or watch a campfire's cameo Of night-things ... all so brilliantly re- vealed.
But pray, instead, that I will always keep The beauty of these things within my mind; And let no wintry blast of rancor creep Into my heart with blighting thoughts un- kind. Oh, pray, that I may keep them ever green, And learn to sing of beauty, though unseen.
SUNDOWN BY THE SEA By Ethel Romig Fuller
all alone, *■* A slip of a girl, Am walking a path Of mother-of-pearl— A shimmering trail The sun has laid At the fringe of the surf For me to wade. I, all alone! But for a gull, None to disturb This beautiful Moment of dusk By the rose-flecked sea- Winds and waves For company. I'm glad, oh, I'm glad That I am I,
Bare-headed, bare-footed, And nobody by.
♦ ■
A PRAYER By Leila Marler Hoggan
Tn winter's cold, in summer's heat we toil * Through the long stretches of the day. Dear Lord, give us bread, we pray.
And if our task be worthy of the hire
Our measure full and true,
Dear Lord, may we not have roses, too?
491
The story of our
Hymns
GEORGE D PYPER
IT was in the afternoon of a hot day in July. Salt Lake City "lay sweltering in the summer's sun." But some five thousand feet higher, at the head of Cottonwood Canyon, only a few miles distant, cool breezes were blowing from the snowcapped peaks of the Wasatch, as a genial group, seeking refuge from the heat, gathered before a crackling pine- knot fire in a Brighton cottage. Among the guests were the late Presidents Joseph F. Smith and Charles W. Penrose. The subject of the conversation was the hymns written by Brother Penrose and he was asked to relate the circum- stances under which some of them were written. He gladly responded and there in the "mountains high, where the clear blue sky arches over the vales of the free" he told the stories of the origin of his hymns.
On another occasion, on the sixtieth birthday of President He- ber J. Grant he and his wife were entertaining the General Au- thorities of the Church. On that day with one exception all the hymns rendered were those written by Charles W. Penrose. The one exception, a favorite of John R. Winder who was present, was "Who Are These Arrayed in White?" sung by President Grant's daughter. Before the singing of Brother Penrose's songs the inter- esting stories of their origin were again related. Here is the story of "O Ye Mountains High," in the author's own words. Said President Penrose:
"O Ye Mountains High" was written somewhere along about 1854, published in 1856. I was walking on a dusty road in Essex. My toes were blistered and my
492
By GEORGE D. PYPER
General Superintendent of the Deseret
Sunday School Union and a Member
of the Church Music Committee
IV. (y L/e lliouritatfis uttgh
By CHARLES W. PENROSE
heels too. I had been promised that if I would stay in the mission field another year I should be released. That was the cry every year: 'Brother Penrose, if you will stay and labor another year, we will see that you are released to go to Zion.' But it kept up for over ten years. Of course I had read about Zion and heard about the streets of Salt Lake City, with the clear streams of water on each side of the street, with shade trees, and so on. I could see it in my mind's eye, and so I composed that song as I was walking along the road, and set it to a tune— the Scotch ditty, 'O Min- nie, O Minnie, Come o'er the Lea'; those were the opening words. When I got to the place called Mundon in Essex we held a cottage meeting, and in that meeting I sang it for the first time it was ever sung. Of course the words were adapted to a person who had never been to Zion then, but it was afterwards changed in a very slight respect or two, to fit people who had gathered with the Saints. It was fnspira- tional and seemed to please President Brig- ham Young."
With President Penrose's graphic recital in mind, the hymn needs little or no analysis. It tells its own story — the poet's vision of the mountains and valleys of Zion and his intense longing to be there; his love for Zion's "glad tidings" in spite of the ridicule and the revilings of her
enemies; his faith in God who would strengthen her feet and cause her figuratively to tread on the necks of her foes whose silver and gold should adorn her fair head; his faith in the deliverance of Zion, in the defeat of her oppressors and the ultimate triumph of God's people.
Like all of President Penrose's songs, in common with many other "Mormon" hymns, "O Ye Moun- tains High" was sung to one of the popular tunes of the day. The author names "O Minnie, O Minnie, Come O'er the Lea" as the one to which it was first adapted. But as we now sing it the tune is that of H. S. Thompson's "Lily Dale."
When the song was first pub- lished, in 1856, it instantly took its place among the most popular hymns of the Church; and within two years it played a leading part in one of the most thrilling scenes of Church his- tory. When Johnston's army was in Echo Canyon, on its way to Salt Lake City, a Peace Commission, consisting of Governor L. W. Powell of Kentucky and Major Ben McCullough of Texas, was sent to
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA, AUGUST, 1936
Utah, arriving at Salt Lake City in June, 1858. In one of the tense meetings (June 11th) the Commis- sioners presented their message. Brigham Young responded and the outlook for peace seemed favorable. Edward M. Tullidge, in his History of Salt Lake City, tells what fol- lowed:
"A well-known character, O. P. Rock- well, was seen to enter, approach the ex- Governor and whisper to him. He was from the Mormon army. There was at once a sensation, for it was appreciated that he brought some unexpected and im- portant news: Brigham arose, his manner self-possessed but severe:
" 'Governor Powell, are you aware, sir, that those troops are on the move toward the City?'
" 'It cannot be," exclaimed Powell, sur- prised, 'for we were promised by the Gen- eral that they should not move till after this meeting.'
" 'I have received a dispatch that they are on the march for this City. My mes- senger would not deceive me.'
"It was like a thunderclap to the Peace Commissioners: they could offer no expla- nation.
' 'Is Brother Dunbar present?' inquired Brigham.
' 'Yes, sir,' responded the one called.
"What was coming now?
' 'Brother Dunbar, sing "Zion".'
"The Scotch songster came forward and sang — 'O Ye Mountains High,' etc."
Tn an article published in the Relief Society Magazine, Volume 8, page 246, it was stated that the song sung at the meeting with the Peace Commissioners was the Mormon battle hymn "Up! Awake Ye De- fenders of Zion!" a much more mil- itant song than "O Ye Mountains High," and one that would have been highly appropriate to the oc- casion; but in the same magazine, Volume 9, page 68, President Pen- rose corrected this article, stating it was an error; that "O Ye Mountains High," called "Zion" was the song sung by Brother Dunbar. "Up! Awake Ye Defenders of Zion," he wrote, "was written about that time, but was not sung in Utah until a later date." It was published in the Millennial Star in 1861.
The song deeply impressed the Peace Commissioners and after sev- eral stormy sessions a peaceful solu- tion of the war was agreed upon. The army passed through Salt Lake City, rested temporarily on the west banks of the Jordan River, and then established Camp Floyd on the west side of Utah Lake.
As the clouds of prejudice against the Mormon people disappeared and misunderstandings were cleared up it occurred to many of our own peo- ple that two lines in the third and
CHARLES W. PENROSE
O Ye Mountains High
By CHARLES W. PENROSE
OYE mountains high, where the clear blue sky Arches over the vales of the free, Where the pure breezes blow and the
clear streamlets flow, How I've longed to your bosom to
flee! O Zion! dear Zion! land of the free, Now my own mountain home, unto
thee I have come^ All my fond hopes are centered in
thee.
Tho' the great and the wise, all thy
beauties despise, To the humble and pure thou art
dear; Tho' the haughty may smile and the
wicked revile, Yet we love thy glad tidings to hear. O Zion! dear Zion! home of the free, Tho' thou wert forced to fly to thy
chambers on high. Yet we'll share joy and sorrow with
thee.
In thy mountain retreat, God will
strengthen thy feet; Without fear of thy foes thou shalt
tread; And their silver and gold, as the
Prophets have told, Shall be brought to adorn thy fair
head. O Zion! dear Zion! home of the free, Soon thy towers shall shine with a
splendor divine, And eternal thy glory shall be.
Here our voices we'll raise, and we'll sing to thy praise,
Sacred home of the Prophets of God;
Thy deliv'rance is nigh, thy op- pressors shall die,
And thy land shall be freedom's abode.
O Zion! dear Zion! land of the free,
In thy temples we'll bend, all thy rights we'll defend,
And our home shall be ever with thee.
fourth verses should be revised. They were, respectively — "On the necks of thy foes, thou shalt tread," and "The Gentiles shall bow 'neath Thy rod."
On one occasion President Heber J. Grant said to Brother Penrose:
"Brother Penrose, when you pass away, with your permission I'd like to change those two lines." He re- plied, "That will be all right."
Just how fair-minded non-Mor- mons feel about these lines is indi- cated in the following circumstances gleaned from an interview by the writer with President Heber J, Grant on June 30, 1936:
In 1921 or 1922 Mr. Fred W. Shibley came from New York repre- senting the bankers to whom the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company was in- debted $7,000,000. The terrible slump in the price of sugar from $14.00 to $5.00 and the slump in sales, caused the company to lose a vast sum of money. Shibley came out to look the situation over, and made a very favorable report on the final triumph of the sugar industry.
President Grant took Mr. Shibley up Emigration Canyon to dinner at Pinecrest Inn. While coming down Emigration Canyon in the automo- bile the President sang "O Ye Mountains High" and "Come, Come, Ye Saints." Upon the Pres- ident's finishing "Come, Come, Ye Saints," Mr. Shibley said: "Mr. Grant, give me a copy of that hymn."
The next day the President took him to Brighton, and noticing that Emma Lucy Gates Bowen was visit- ing with her mother in the cabin next door to the President's, he took Mr. Shibley to their cabin. Brother and Sister John A. Widtsoe were also present. President Grant said: "Emma Lou, please sing for Mr. Shibley 'O Ye Mountains High.' I sang it for him last night, but I would like him to hear it sung by somebody who knows how to sing."
She turned to the President and said, "Of course you want me to sing only two verses."
He replied: "Not on your life, give him all four verses."
When she finished singing, Pres- ident Grant said: "Mr. Shibley, it must have shocked you for me, the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to sing that hymn to you, when the Savior's teachings are to turn the other cheek, and love your enemies. I have ar- ranged with the author of the hymn, {Concluded on page 514) 493
Exploring the Universe
By FRANKLIN S. HARRIS, JR.
""V^ou are just as old as your nose is ■"■ long," might almost be said. Dr. Hrdlicka has found that some features of the head never cease to grow. The ears get larger, the nose gets longer and broader, and the mouth stretches wider throughout life.
A married man has a better chance '** of long life than a single man ac- cording to the Metropolitan Life In- surance Company.
11^"ilk could be divided and each part A made into a different cheese, Em- mental, Roquefort, Limburger, and Cheddar, which differ radically in taste and appearance. Cheesemakers could make these different cheeses from the same milk by varying the methods of curing and ripening the cheese. Tem- perature, salting, humidity, and kind of micro-organisms can be varied.
f~* orillas beat their chests not as a ^ challenge but because of nervous excitement. They don't roar, they bark, and prefer to shuffle along, with a good part of their weight on the knuckles of their hands, since they are too clumsy to climb very much. Carl E. Akeley, though he repeatedly ex- posed himself, was never attacked by a gorilla. They merely looked at him with a tolerant curiosity.
"Cootprints and fingerprints are now ■*- used in a hospital of Oak Park, Illinois, to prevent mixups of the newly- born. The print of the palm of the foot of the baby is placed on a card with the mother's fingerprints.
'*X_Tail Jewel in the Lotus," the most * A popular Tibetan religious ex- pression has been found in many places in Tibet. Recently an American ex- pedition discovered it carved in an ice bridge on the Upper Yangtze River.
Tn the British Museum of Natural His- A tory there is preserved a grasshop- per about four inches long, with its prey, a mouse about two and one-half inches long, not counting the tail. It was caught in Africa many years ago.
A camera small enough and so com- pact that it can be pushed down the throat into the larynx, to take films of the vocal cords in action, has been invented by two Viennese investiga- tors. The camera carries its own light bulb. After the exposure is made the surgeon pulls the camera out and de- velops the film.
TiyfiNUTE relatives of the crabs, fungi, mosses, and algae have been taken from the soil in northern Siberia where they have been frozen for several thousand years, thawed and given a chance to grow. The algae began to grow first, followed by the other forms of life; several hundred specimens have been reared. The flesh of the Ice Age mammoth carcasses found in this re- gion in Siberia is edible and in good condition. The leaves in the stomachs are so well-preserved that botanists can easily identify them.
T)robably our largest insect is the *■ "walking stick" of the East Indies, measuring about a foot long and two inches wide. Though ferocious in ap- pearance, it is entirely harmless.
"D eplacing a highly valuable but miss- ■^ ing finger with a relatively useless toe has been accomplished by a Rus- sian surgeon.
TJTailstones as large as thirteen and a half inches in circumference have fallen in the United States, some have weighed twice as much as a baseball. Stones of this size will kill not only rabbits and pigs but even cattle. To prevent hail there were at one time in Italy 10,000 hail cannons, which were shot at the clouds to prevent hail from falling.
A "key" has been found which will **■ make transcription of ancient Greek shorthand possible. A papyrus giving many of the shorthand signs and the equivalent words in ordinary Greek characters has been found in the Brit- ish Museum.
Thresh ripe fruits, fresh garden vege- tables, salads, cereals, milk of good sanitary quality, and milk products sat- isfy the hunger while adding but little to heat production. They are there- fore good for hot weather.
T)lants which do not usually blos- *■ som until spring have been forced into bloom by Christmas by treating with ethylene chlorohydrin. Ethylene on the green rind of ripe citrus fruit changes the color to the normal lemon or orange color which as far as the purchaser is concerned indicates ripe-
"Dallots of old elections have been ■'"' unearthed in Athens. The ballots used were scraps of broken clay dishes and were usually not to put men in power but to keep them out. "One vote against Aristides!"
'T'ermites, the ant relatives who ruin A much timber by eating out the in- side without any change in the surface, have been found in every state in the Union.
Tt takes longer to digest food at higher A altitudes. Fifty per cent more time is required to empty a stomach at Pike's Peak than at sea level.
ness.
'TPhe skin is more sensitive than the ■*■ best mercury-in-glass thermometers which scientists can make. This ex- tremely high heat sensitivity of the skin may explain, according to Science News Letter, "the 'sixth' sense where- by the presence of another person in the dark is made known."
TLTeuum may be used to prevent "the *■ bends" or caisson disease which affects workers exposed to air at high pressure as deep sea divers. When the workers come into normal air pressure the nitrogen taken into the blood at high pressure forms bubbles in their veins. Inert helium may be better than nitrogen because it is less soluble in blood.
O
ne out of five will die of some form of heart disease.
Animals disinfect their wounds by ^* constant licking. Bacteria when added to the saliva of animals fail to thrive.
A sponge which rivals the natural ** sponge has been made from highly purified wood and cotton cellulose.
494
"NTost of the expeditions sent by vari- ous countries to take photographs and make observations of the recent eclipse of the sun in Russia had fa- vorable weather.
Pacifist bees that use their stings only "*• under extreme provocation have been produced by special breeding.
I" IP cancer is caused, about ninety per '■""' cent, by smoking, especially from a pipe.
Moving mountains
By WALTER L BAILEY
CONCLUSION
Chapter Six — Plunging Ever Southward
a >vA:mKBm
M
.orning came sud- denly to Bob. He sat up on his bed of boxes and gazed about dazedly. He unwound the blankets from his body, moved to the cave's entrance, and pulled back the blanket. Icy air struck his face.
Without, all was still. The storm had blown over and the sun was again trying to pierce the haze which still wrapped the Arctic. The ocean had frozen over again with new ice while they slept. Huge piles of old ice could be seen everywhere, stack- ed where the gale had hurled it.
Bob turned to wake his compan- ions, but found them already climb- ing out of their blankets. Without much talk, they ate, made crude sleds out of provision boxes, and, loaded to capacity, started south- ward along the ocean floor, dragging the heavy sleds behind them in silence.
For hour after endless hour they labored on — southward, ever south- ward across the ice. More than once old Spike, who was in the lead, was forced to shift provisions from Dan's sled to his own to lighten the youth's load. But even then Dan lagged. His strength was not equal to this strain.
Bob, bringing up the rear, was continually kicking the back of his pal's lagging sled. He noticed that
old Spike's face wore a deep troubled look, but the old engineer maintained his usual silence.
Once or twice, without stopping the procession, Bob reached forward and lifted a box from Dan's sled and placed it on his own. He no- ticed a decided increase in Dan's pace. But now his own load drag- ged sorely on his already overtaxed muscles. He pulled on and on, how- ever— forward, ever forward across the icy ocean floor. Bob's legs be- gan to ache, his breath became short, quick gasps, still he kept on and on, until his very brain seemed numbed.
Then suddenly he saw the form of old Spike stagger ever so slightly. A creepy chill passed through Bob's body. What if old Spike played out? What would become of them? He was the only one who could lead them out of this!
Bob watched closely as they trudged on. Again old Spike wavered, this time more pronounced. But he straightened up again and moved slowly on, only to come to an entire halt before he had taken a dozen steps more. Bob saw the veteran engineer stagger until he almost fell, then he slowly disen- tangled himself from his sled-ropes and without a word to either boy, moved forward toward a ridge of ice several dozen feet ahead. The ridge rose eight or ten feet above the ocean's floor.
With grave misgivings and too
THEN SUDDENLY HE SAW THE FORM OF OLD SPIKE STAGGER EVER SO SLIGHTLY. A CREEPY CHILL PASSED THROUGH BOB'S BODY. WHAT IF OLD SPIKE PLAYED OUT?
weary himself to follow, Bob watch- ed the engineer's form climb slowly to the top of the ridge. He saw Dan drop to his sled and sit humped in silent exhaustion. The cold was terrible. Bob shivered. He saw old Spike drag himself to a leaning po- sition on top of the ridge and scan the ocean floor on the opposite side. But Bob knew what he was seeing- — ice, ice, endless stretches of dead- white ice. Miles and miles of it, and they were already exhausted. Again Bob shivered, not so much from cold as from the grim realiza- tion that nothing lay ahead of them but ice, with final starvation and death. They were not equipped to fight their way across this icy world. He sank wearily to his sled.
His tired eyes rested on the back of Dan's humped figure seated on the sled directly ahead of him. It seemed funny that Dan had nothing to say. It was not like Dan to sit in silence. But then Bob realized that he himself had nothing to say. Somehow he preferred to sit in silence — a silence corresponding to the stillness of the desolate drab scene about him. The dull, hazy sky was bleak, still. Not even a breeze stirred over the endless stretches of dead-gray ice.
Ihe figure of old Spike
could be seen sprawled on the ridge-
(Concluded on page 515)
495
J)nMe
The Psychology of Dealing With People
(Wendell White, Macmillan Com- pany, San Francisco, 1936.)
^IITendell White, assistant professor *" in psychology at the University of Minnesota, states "Successful living necessitates ability to deal with peo- ple." He feels that psychology offers practical methods and techniques which will make us "more effective in our human relationships."
The Psychology of Dealing With People is so full of workable sugges- tions it should be kept available for ready and frequent reference. The illustrations used show the effective- ness of language in making an appeal to the best in those with whom we associate. — M. C. /.
Hobbies for Everybody
(Edited by Ruth Lampland, Harper
and Brothers, New York, 1934.)
A thoroughly delightful collection "^* of hobbies of noted people, this book will act as a stimulus for each one of us to get a hobby at once. What is a hobby to one person becomes a voca- tion for someone else. Consequently, "a hobby is not merely a way of using leisure. It is a vital, necessary outlet of self-expression." Miss Lampland has done a completely capable piece of work in her symposium. Such learned hobbies as astronomy and art collecting share with the more "earth earthy" ones , of hunting and the cooking of beans, ^ which is the hobby of no less a person than the writer, Don Marquis. With new hobbies, chosen after a reading of this book, we should be able to make life more of an adventure. — M. C. J.
Leisure and Recreation
( Martin H. Neumeyer and Esther S. Neumeyer, A. S. Barnes and Company, New York, 1936.)
"D ecreational teachers everywhere A^* will find Leisure and Recreation helpful since an historical approach is given as well as the reaction of leisure activities upon personality. Dr. New- meyer is associate professor of soci- ology at the University of Southern California.
An analysis of the three kinds of recreation is worth knowing. The study of the dance-hall situation and the moving pictures as commercial en- tertainments intensifies our concern over these amusements. One feature of great importance is the section dealing with recreation in lands other than the United States. A wise leader will do well to read this book carefully in mak- ing plans for the activities of himself and his group. — M. C. /.
496
Summer time is one of relaxation lor many who have been overly active during the winter months. Schools dismiss; businesses offer va- cations to employees; winter routine changes. With the relaxation may come a "let down" in the kinds of activity followed for recreation. The book rack is crowded with works which will aid you in spending your days and evenings wisely.
Make your recreation count for something in the way of adding to your physical and mental alertness and awareness of life. Don't merely kill time — work it to death!
THE RETURN By Ivy Williams Stone
Her children took her East in mighty plane, Believing she'd rejoice to view again The miles on miles where eighty years ago Her bare feet paced the oxen, plodding
slow. She did not sense the wonder of the ship Nor realize the swiftness of the trip; For backward through the vista of the years She lived anew the trails of Pioneers. She did not see the mountain tops below Nor conquered plains, with verdant crops
aglow; Her eyes saw naught but sage by desert
trail Her ears heard naught but lean coyote's
wail. Again she felt the scorching desert sands — Again she feared the prowling, warrior
bands; Again she watched the bison wildly stamp; Again she joined the prayers of evening
camp! To her, the clouds below were but a wraith. She lived within the past, sustained by faith. With placid brow and folded hands she
smiled And walked the plains again — a little child!
Sports for Recreation (Written by the Staff of the Intra- mural Sports Departments of the University of Michigan, A. S. Barnes and Company, New York, 1936.)
HPhis book will prove stimulating ■*• reading since it deals with prac- tically every game and activity known. In the introduction, Mr. Yost states: "Sport is life supreme . . . Sports /or Recreation would be a misnomer if 'recreation' is narrowly inferred as simply the use of spare time. But sports are also for health, for devel- opment, for joy of effort, for satisfac- tion in achievement, and for sociability with one's fellows." And there you have an answer for a definition of recre- ation.— M. C. ].
Youth's Work in the New World (T. Otto Nail, Association Press, New York, 1936.)
HPhis symposium dealing with the A various kinds of work to be found in the world today comes with invigor- ating directness from the people who have been successful in the fields which they treat. Dr. William J. Mayo, world-famed surgeon, gives his reac- tion to the opportunities which lie in the field of medicine.
Dr. William S. Sadler, eminent psychiatrist and physician, offers sug- gestions which we should all do well to follow to better our living. To in- clude all of the names of those who have written articles would be like reading the roster of the hall of fame. The book will prove stimulating to older people and helpful to younger readers. — M. C. J.
The Home in a Changing Culture (Grace Sloan Overton, Fleming H. Revell Company, New York, 1935.)
HPhe book is a fairly accurate resume of the changes in the home from colonial times to the present. Wisely Mrs. Overton points out the need for mothers everywhere to recognize these changes but to cling to that in the old which has proved of worth. She stresses the need for a family hour. This sounds like an echo of the plea made by many of our Church leaders for a home evening when interests and ideals can be cemented for the greater happiness of all. — M. C. J.
Home Evening Handbook (Claude Richards, Deseret Book Company, 1936.)
Touring the summer months espe- dally, parents will be repaid for having read and followed some of the advice presented in this syllabus.
—M. C. /.
m J - Bhmm iTt-^i J^NW^'^1'1^'
CONDUCTED BY MARBA C. JOSEPHSON
("^lose-of-day shadows find their way through the glass of tall French doors to touch lightly a table set for four. A burnished copper bowl filled with old-fashioned mari- golds; plates of purplish blue china and goblets of rich amber glass . . rest with quiet dignity on a cloth of rich linen the shade of yellow sun- flowers.
. ♦ "rich linen the shade of yellow sunflowers/'
We who have lived in this mod- ern century and can remember not so long ago when only white linen was used for the candle-lit hour, exclaim with pride that this is posi- tively the new in table-setting fash- ion.
But to follow back over the cen- turies, we find that linen and color went hand in hand together. While we have no definite proof that color was combined in the table linens, it seems to have found its way into wherever the material from the pretty flax plant was used. The Phoenicians, a people dwelling by the shores of the Red Sea were famed as the manufacturers of a highly valuable dye which produced the celebrated "purple" for their linens. Early in the book of Genesis we find highly colored linen robing the royal princes of Egypt . . and considerable quantities of it are ac- tually preserved for us in Egyptian tombs. "Purple and fine Linen" in Biblical days denoted luxury and beauty.
. . so when you display a rich, heavy linen damask cloth with a border scroll of royal blue; a cloth of mauve-pink, or pale orchid, you might wonder if you are not repeat- ing the moonlit colorings used by an Egyptian Princess in her table set- ting of — centuries ago.
Cometimes we busy mothers of families become careless about our looks and realize later that we have lost "what it takes" to make us attractive. Of course, the real busi- ness of mothers is to care for fam- ilies, but — and this but is an im- portant one — there is no excuse for not taking time to get clothes which best suit each of us. Sometimes we merely make or buy something be-
cause it serves the purpose. Good Taste in Dress by Freida Weigland McFarland, published by the Man- ual Arts Press for $1.00 will offer valuable suggestions on how to dress to enhance our good points and to detract from our bad ones. The chapter on "Fooling the Eye" is particularly good in the study of what lines to look for in choosing clothes.
The book does more, however, than deal with the choosing of clothes. It also discusses hair dress, accessories, as well as the matter of color, fabrics, care, and repair of clothing. Mothers will find it a good book to leave around for their teen- age daughters to read also.
O
lder mothers tell us that when children are little they break our backs and when they grow older they break our hearts. If we are wise enough neither of these ex- tremes needs to be true. We should encourage each member of the fam- ily while young to help in the upkeep of the home — this will save mother's back. We should make more of family unity when children are young — this will later save mother's heart. Special occasions need to be held when each member of the fam- ily is made to feel his worth by the rest of the group. This desire for a feeling of personal worth, Mr. White tells us in his book, The Psychology of Dealing With Peo- ple (see the Book Rack), is uni- versal and will if recognized and wisely used react beneficially.
T-Joliday time! In planning can- yon trips lasting more than one day, we mothers should slip into our equipment several books to be read during the hottest hours when
rest is advisable and sleep is prob- ably impossible.
In planning these trips too, let us be sure that we have given ourselves enough time so that we may drive cautiously. Moreover we should not plan so long a trip or linger so long in one place that we must drive all day and night in order to reach home. The specter of the roads is watching for just this kind of all night driver who gets sleepy.
♦
A
good home offers comfort to its inmates. It is a haven of peace to which we may go to gain courage to face the responsibilities which await us in the workaday world. The home should also offer inspira- tion and courage for us to become better participants in the everyday world of affairs. The home should have the kind of hand that pushes while it pats.
Of course, in these very hottest of hot days, for comfort wise moth- ers will prepare cool desserts which will thwart the thermometer. Why not surprise the family with the following recipe?
Chocolate Ice Cream
% cup ground chocolate
2 cups cold water
3 tablespoons minute tapioca
Y± teaspoon salt
Ys cup sugar
4 tablespoons
white corn
syrup 2 tablespoons
sugar 2 egg whites 1 cup cream
whipped
2 teaspoons vanilla
Add chocolate to milk in double boiler and heat. When melted, beat with rotary egg beater until blended. Add minute tapioca and cook 15 minutes, or until tapioca is clear and mixture thickened, stirring fre- quently. Strain hot mixture, stirring (not rubbing) through very fine sieve onto salt, Yi cup sugar and corn syrup. Stir until sugar is dis- solved. Cool. Add 2 tablespoons sugar to egg whites and beat until stiff. Fold into cold tapioca mixture. Fold in whipped cream and vanilla. Turn into freezing tray of refriger- ator and freeze as rapidly as pos- sible— 3 to 4 hours usually required. Makes 1 quart of ice cream.
497
CONDUCTED BY THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD COMMITTEE OF THE
QUORUM OF THE TWELVE
The New Plan of Missionary Work in the Stakes of Zion
"Cor a number of years past some of the leading stakes of Zion have been conducting a missionary system within the borders of the stakes. This system was under the sole direction of the presidents of the stakes who ap- pointed mission presidents and other officers to give service among the non- members of the Church. Great good has been accomplished by this mis- sionary work, and many new members have been added to the Church from among the "strangers within our gates," who would, perchance, have paid no attention to the message of the Gospel had not some missionary, appointed and directed to do so, carried the mes- sage to their doors. In some instances the percentage of converts per mis- sionary in the stakes has surpassed the same percentage in mission fields abroad.
In more recent years the matter of carrying the message of salvation to those living within the borders of the stakes has been a matter of deep con- cern to the General Authorities of the Church. The Lord has placed the bur- den of proselyting and proclaiming the Gospel to the world, upon the shoulders of the Seventies, under the direction of the Twelve Apostles. In former times this work of the Seventies was con- fined strictly to foreign mission fields, but we have in the Church a great army of Seventies who cannot go abroad for various reasons, and, therefore, if the work required of the Seventies is con- fined to the preaching of the Gospel abroad, there will be many men ordain- ed to this important office who will never have the opportunity of magni- fying the calling of a Seventy.
In the consideration of these matters, the authorities felt that the Seventies who are living within the stakes and who cannot fill foreign missions, can, nevertheless, magnify the office and Priesthood which they hold, by engag- ing in missionary work among the peo- ple living within the borders of Zion. It was, therefore, decided that a change should be made in the missionary sys- tem as it was conducted locally in the stakes, and that the Seventies should be called, in preference to any others, to be the missionaries in the stake mis- sionary work. While the rule to choose Seventies was not to be drawn so tight that no one but a Seventy could labor in the local field, yet the burden of this work was to be placed upon them. The new order permits of the calling of some High Priests and some sister mis-
498
sionaries to augment the work as necessity and wisdom may require.
According to this plan a mission is to be organized in each stake of Zion, and the general supervision given to the First Council of the Seventy. The First Council will operate directly through the presidents of stakes, and mission presidents, preferably Seven- ties, will be chosen to preside in these stake missions. The missions are to be divided into districts, with district presidents, and the work is to be con- ducted in all particulars in a manner comparable to the work in the foreign mission fields.
Since the announcement was made and the plan approved, the First Coun- cil of the Seventy have been busy or- ganizing missions, appointing mission presidents and getting the work start- ed in the several stakes. It will, of course, take some time to complete these arrangements in all of the one hundred and seventeen stakes of Zion.
It should be the chief desire of every man holding the office of a Seventy to magnify his calling as a missionary for the Church. The great responsibility of warning all men of the wrath to come, and of crying repentance and teaching the principles of the Gospel, is placed upon the Church. For cen- turies men were groping in