ture, and the translations from the German and French, as we should be. It is the intention, therefore, of these preliminary programs to introduce gradually the works of these authors, in a fragmentary way, it is true; but a fragmentary introduction to the work will lead the mind toward the other writings which that author has produced. If we place before you a choice selection from some of Irving's works, you will become interested in Irving, and will want to find more of his writings. So with other American and English authors. By this introduction you will become interested in their work, and you will be prone to read further outside of the association meetings. Not only so, but you will be filled, to a certain extent, with literary zeal yourselves, and those of you who have some talent in the direction of writing will be led to write, basing your style very largely upon the style of those authors whom you read. By this reading and writing you will be able to secure a culture which is very necessary and profitable, and very enjoyable indeed. Essay writing is introduced, therefore, for the purpose of cultivating this skill in literary work.

Then in music. There may be a scarcity of musical talent in some associations; but there is always some musical talent to be found there, and that can be cultivated; and not only will those who have that talent thus bring it to the front and make it a source of profit and enjoyment, but others will be led to cultivate their talent. The singing of solos, duets, trios, quartets, etc, will be encouraged. The organization of a glee club, or quartet, or some other musical body of that kind, will be encouraged. In some of the larger communities, perhaps, an orchestra can be made up of some of the young men. In some wards we find brass bands; let them be encouraged by our associations. In this way we will accomplish two objects: we will increase the musical talent, and we will give to the people who have not that talent the enjoyment and profit that naturally come from listening to good music.

In other directions, also, our preliminary programs will serve a good purpose; but I emphasize these to show you the general tendency, and the other things can be thought of. You will be led into scientific research, into historical research, into an understanding of current historical events, and into all those fields of research which will give to you a culture and a wider and broader knowledge than you have now. That is one purpose of these preliminary programs. Another purpose is, to bring into the associations those young men who perhaps will not be interested in theological work alone. Young men sometimes will come into our associations to listen to a varied program who will not come to listen to one subject alone. They can thus be taken off the devil's ground, as one

has expressed it, and brought upon the Lord's ground, and there we can begin to exercise our influence upon them.-Willard Done.

TO THE READER.

We thank the many readers of the ERA who forwarded replies to our request to name the article in the February number that interested them most. The compliments received were very gratifying, and the suggestions valuable. To those of our friends who failed to respond, we extend the invitation for this number. In replying, be sure to state your age. We have some choice matter for future issues; among it, "Kentucky Bell," and "The Adventures of a Pioneer."

One feature in the replies we noticed with regret. It was this, that they all came from persons over 20 years of age. Is it possible we have nothing in the ERA to interest the young people between 15 and 20?

To test this we specially invite the young men between those ages to send us a card answering this question:

WHAT INTERESTS YOU IN THE MARCH ERA?

In replying be sure to state your age.

Another Point: We will send free, any book, to be selected by himself, illustrating his choice of reading, to the young man between the ages of 15 and 20 years who will give us the best suggestion on what style of literature interests him most, and that will, at the same time, be appropriate for the ERA. Please answer this question:

The book

WHAT DO YOU READ?

"illustrates my choice.

Address: Editors ERA, Salt Lake City, Utah, 216 Templeton Bdg.

REVIEWS.

Those associations which have completed the manual, or will complete it before the end of the season, are advised to spend the remaining time in review. This may be done either by general lectures, or by class exercises.

EVENTS OF THE MONTH.

Local.-January, 1904.

SOUTHERN STATES MISSION.-Number six of volume one, of the Elder's Journal, a monthly publication of the Southern States Mission printed at Atlanta, Ga., epitomizes the work of the two hundred elders in that field for the year 1903. In the ten states covered by the mission, there are eleven conferences as follows: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, East Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia:

"Reports from the Conference Presidents show that, with the 834 members added to the Church during the year, we now number 8,729 souls. There have been 9,746 meetings held, part of which have been out of doors, but a large majority in schoolhouses and private residences. According to our reckoning, 25,287 families have been visited in tracting, and 23,433 more on special invitation of the head. Conversations on the gospel have been recorded to the number of 123,808, books distributed 23,075, and tracts, 153,493."

UTAH SUGAR.-The thirteenth season of the Lehi sugar factory closed the day before last Christmas, the product of the central plant at Lehi, and the auxiliary plants at Springville, Provo and Bingham Junction, for the season being within 500 pounds, 23,000,000 pounds, made from 96,910 tons of beets, the largest tonnage in the factory's history. The run lasted about 100 days, with an average of nearly 1,000 tons per day, the highest record being 1,278 tons of beets sliced and 3,275 bags of sugar sacked. The beets were grown by 1,695 farmers in Salt Lake, Utah, Wasatch, Sanpete, Sevier and Juab counties, on 8,168 acres of land, which would bring the average yield up to about twelve tons per acre, though many fields yielded over twenty tons per acre. About $410,000 was paid to the farmers for beets, the price being $4.75 per ton for those delivered in the sheds at the cutting stations, this price being reduced where a railroad haul was necessary.

DIED. In Kanarra, Thursday, December 31, 1903, John Steele, a

pioneer of Utah and a member of the Mormon Battalion, born near Belfast, Ireland, March 21, 1821, ordained a priest Nov. 5, 1843, emigrated to Nauvoo, July, 1845. He made the first last and pair of shoes in the Salt Lake Valley, and was the father of the first white child born in Utah, so it is claimed. On Jan. 31, 1851, he moved to Parowan, was ordained a high priest on May 12, 1852, and set apart as first counselor to President John L. Smith of the Parowan Stake.—In Nephi ward, Maricopa Stake, Arizona, Saturday, January 2, 1904, Bishop Samuel Openshaw, born Lancashire, England, November 1, 1833.-In Manti, January 5, Mrs. William Luke, who crossed the plains with a hand cart company in 1856.— In Richmond, Cache Co., Friday, January 2, Cornelius Traveller, one of the settlement's oldest and most respected citizens.-On Friday, 8th, in Brigham City, Stephen Wight, a faithful and respected member of the Church. In St. George, 9th, John M. Lytle, born Feb. 25, 1829. He was a veteran of the Walker Indian War.-In Castle Dale, Tuesday, January 12, Hening Olsen, for many years the bishop of that place.-In Springville, 12th, Mary Lyman Johnson, a pioneer of the place.-On the 13th, Eliza Louisa Cox who crossed the plains in Edmond Ellsworth's handcart company, in 1856.-In Payson, Thursday, 14th, Mrs. B. G. S. Simon, a veteran of Kirtland and Nauvoo, born December 1, 1824, in New York, and baptized by Truman Waite, October 24, 1834.-In Salt Lake City, Sunday, 17th, Andrew Allen, counselor in the bishopric of Rockland. Idaho, after an operation for appendicitis.-In Wanship, Summit Co., January 29, Rachel Young Frazier, born Ohio, March 23, 1836, came to Utah in 1848. Her husband Thomas L. Frazier was a member of the Mormon Battalion.

NEW GENERAL MANAGER.-W. H. Bancroft, who came to Salt Lake as vice-prest. and general manager of the O. S. L. Ry., in 1897, was chosen at Omaha, 14th, general manager of the Union Pacific railroad, and began his duties on the 15th. He was born at Newberry, Ohio, in October, 1840; he has been in the employ of the Michigan Southern as telegraph operator; the Erie, and Kansas Pacific as chief clerk and dispatcher; and in 1872 went to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe as assistant superintendent. He was also with the St. Louis, Lawrence and Western Missouri, Kansas and Texas, and Denver and Rio Grande of which he was appointed receiver and general superintendent in 1886. His success has been phenomenal as a railway man, and his faithfulness and ability have brought him to one of the highest positions in railway circles.

Richfield Divided.-On Sunday, the 17th, Elders George Teasdale and Hyrum M. Smith attended conference in Richfield, and under instruc

tions divided the ward into three wards, ordaining bishops as follows: 1st ward, Heber Christensen; 2nd ward, Virginius Bean; 3rd ward, George William Coons.

END OF THE STRIKE.-On the 24th, just two months from the time of call to service, the last of the N. G. U. troops were discharged, and returned home from the coal strike region, where peace now reigns. In the order of dismissal, Gen. John Q. Cannon complimented the men for having done their duty so well to the state, in the face of such trying circumstances, and for the sacrifices they made in performing their service to the state.

NEW STAKE ORGANIZED.-The 52d stake of Zion was organized at Idaho, at a quarterly conference of the Bingham Stake, held in Iona, January 30 and 31. It was named Blackfoot, and was taken from Bingham, the dividing line being just north of Shelley, five miles north of the base line. Elder Elias S. Kimball was chosen president of the Blackfoot stake, with Lorenzo R. Thomas, first, and Don C. Walker, second, counselors. Elder Kimball was born in Salt Lake City, May 3, 1857, and is the son of Heber C. and Christeen Golden, Kimball. He became a pioneer of Bear Lake in 1876, and in 1884 filled a mission under John Morgan, in the Southern States, over which mission he succeeded his brother J. Golden, as president in 1894, presiding for four years. He was later appointed chaplain by Pres. Wm. McKinley, of the engineer corps under Capt. Willard Young, serving ten months, mostly in Havana, Cuba. He is well prepared, morally, spiritually, and educationally to well fulfill the duties of his new calling.

February, 1904.

RETURN OF PRESIDENT FRANCIS M. LYMAN.-President Francis M. Lyman returned on the 1st from a two and a half years mission to England as president of the European mission. He reports that at the present time there are five hundred and ninety-seven missionaries from Zion, five of whom are women. These labor mainly in Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, but are found also in Iceland, Austria and Hungary, Palestine and South Africa. Since his arrival, May 17, 1901, seven hundred and forty missionaries have registered in Liverpool, and six hundred and eight have departed for home. Three missionaries died: Christian W. Christofferson, Richmond, Utah, died August 23, 1901, at Silkeborg, Denmark; Henry Robert James, Logan, Utah, died at Liege, Belgium, October 10, 1901; Gottfried Knutti, Montpelier, Idaho, died at Zurich, Switzerland, August 19, 1903. Seven missionaries fell from honor and virtue, and these were stripped of every