is charity; exhortation to another to do right is charity. A man's true wealth hereafter is the good he has done in this world to his fellow-men. When he dies people will ask, "What property has he left behind?" But the angels will ask, "What good deeds has he sent before him?"”—From a sermon by Mohammed. Have hope! Though clouds environ round Put thou the shadow from thy brow, No night but hath its morn. -Schiller. "You charge me fifty sequins," said a Venetian nobleman to a sculptor, "for a bust that cost you only ten days' labor." "You forget," said the artist, "that I have been thirty years learning to make that bust in ten days." God doth not need Either man's work or his own gifts; who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed, And post o'er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait. -Milton. "So, as up life's hill we journey, IN LIGHTER MOOD. do?" Ferdy: "She is all the world to me! What would you advise me to Percy: "See a little more of the world, old chap." * The Right Eye: "I hear that the Upper Lip and the Lower Lip parted today." The Left Eye: "Yes; it was owing to some words that passed between them.” "What does this nation need?" shouted the impassioned orator. "What does this nation require, if she steps proudly across the Pacific-if she strides boldly across the mighty ocean in her march of trade and freedom? I repeat, what does she need?" "Rubber boots," suggested the grossly materialistic person in a rear seat.-Baltimore American. In some cases counsel receive answers to questions that they had no business to put, which, if not quite to their liking, are what they justly deserve. The following story of George Clarke, the celebrated negro minstrel, is a case in point. On one occasion, when being examined as a witness, he was severely interrogated by a lawyer who wished to break down his evidence. "Yo are in the negro minstrel business, I believe?" inquired the lawyer. "Yes, sir," was the prompt reply. "Is not that rather a low calling?" demanded the lawyer. "I don't know but what it is, sir," replied the minstrel; "but it is so much better than my father's, that I am rather proud of it." The lawyer fell into the trap Clarke had laid for him, and inquired: "What was your father's calling?" "He was a lawyer," replied Clarke, in a tone that sent the whole court into a roar of laughter as the discomposed lawyer subsided into his seat. OUR WORK. MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT REVIVALS IN SANPETE. A new and very successful plan for creating a general interest in mutual improvement work, was adopted in the Sanpete stake of Zion just prior to the opening of the regular meetings this season, Superintendent George Christensen has given the ERA a brief accout of the scheme, which will be read with interest by other leaders in the cause. A noticeable feature, in the work, is the enlistment of the best talent in the stake in the labor performed. School teachers, men holding high civil and religious positions, as well as young men of first-class business standing, took part and became deeply interested in the cause. We take pleasure in presenting Superintendent Christensen's report to our read ers: During the past summer the stake officers of the Y. M. M. I. A. of Sanpete were much concerned, when discussing plans and preparation for the coming mutual improvement season, over the lethargy manifested by the young men. This was particularly so with that more advanced and elder class which it was especially desirable to enlist in mutual work; hence some means were sought whereby to secure their attendance and interest. While contemplating this subject, the inspiration came to some of the brethren that it would be a good thing to hold a series of consecutive meetings, in the larger wards, under the auspices of the associations, and thus endeavor to interest and enthuse both young and old in the mutual improvement cause. While some were a little fearful that the matter could not be carried out successfully, the idea obtained with the officers, and, after receiving the sanction of several members of the General Board, was presented to the ward officers assembled in conference at Mt. Pleasant, July 8, and sustained by a unanimous vote. The stake superintendency thereupon proceeded to perfect the plan. It was decided to hold meetings simultaneously in Manti, Ephraim, and Mt. Pleasant, for a period of eight evenings, beginning Sunday, Sept. 23, and closing Sunday, Sept. 30, and to enlist so many of the officers and other competent workers in the stake, that no speaker would be heard twice in the same ward, nor would the same subject be discussed more than once during the meetings. It was further decided that the same subjects should be treated upon in each ward, on the same evening, that there might be perfect harmony in the work. The subjects were chosen as follows: Sunday, Sept. 23, Purposes of the Meetings-Faith; Monday, Sept. 24, Repentance-Baptism; Tuesday, Sept. 25, The Holy Ghost -The Apostasy; Wednesday, Sept. 26, The Restoration-Object (Purposes) of the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times; Thursday, Sept. 27, Our Duties in this Dispensation (Spirits reserved, etc.)-M. I. A. a Factor of Preparation; Friday, Sept 28, M. I. A. a School for Acquiring Knowledge of, and Training in, the Gospel-Missionary Work; Saturday, Sept. 29, Manual-General Programme of Songs, Music, etc.; Sunday, Sept. 30, General Instructions by Members of the General Board and Others. The lectures were each evening supplemented by testimonies, musical exercises, etc. Although the meetings began with a fair attendance, the size of the audiences grew with each succeeding meeting, and the interest increased until, as expressed by President J. G. Kimball, when, at the meeting held in Mt. Pleasant, Sunday evening, Sept. 30, he beheld the meeting house crowded to its utmost capacity, with great numbers on the outside, unable to secure entrance, and felt the Spirit which prevailed in the meeting, he exclaimed: "You have the people nearly on the run," and he added the following excellent counsel: "Now that they are thoroughly aroused, be careful that the young men are put to work, in order to keep the spirit of mutual improvement growing within them." What is said of Mt. Pleasant is equally true of the closing meetings at Manti and Ephraim, where Elder Junius F. Wells added his testimony and counsel to those already given. The meetings were without question a great success, not only for the time being, but we believe that the good results will be permanent in that the M. I. work was brought thoroughly before the people both old and young, and will thereby become better understood and more popular. A number of young men, not hitherto identified with the associations, enrolled their names, and will no doubt add much to the success of the work this season. Twenty-three young men, lifting up their voices for this great cause during that week, gave evidence to the people that the very best talent in the stake is engaged in making this work a success. The assistance of the Almighty was also made manifest in a remarkable degree; his Spirit seemed to lay hold upon the people during that time, insomuch that inclement weather, bad roads, or even political rallies were unable to keep them from the meetings. Trusting in our Heavenly Father to add his divine blessings to the work of that week, that the seed sown in the hearts of our young people may germinate, grow, and produce glorious fruit to his holy name's honor and glory, and for the salvation of his children, we dedicate our services to his holy cause. WEEKLY OFFICERS' MEETINGS AND PREPARATION BY SUPERINTENDENT W. O. LEE, OF THE DAVIS STAKE OF ZION. "And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning even by study, and also by faith." We believe that Christ's saying to his disciples, "Take no thought what ye shall say," etc., has many times been used as an excuse for indifference by those who plainly ignore the other part of the same commandment, "but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man." Preparation is the secret of success in the mutual improvement work: and not only is this true of our particular work, but of almost everything else in this life, and it has a most important bearing on salvation and exaltation in the hereafter. In all of our past manuals, much has been said in regard to the necessity of frequent officers' meetings and home study, yet in many cases the ward officers transact their business during the weekly meetings, while the program is being rendered, thereby offending the members who are rendering their parts, and making it impossible for the officers to properly watch the proceedings of the meetings. As a result, they do not have sufficient time or opportunity to consult freely with each other, or weigh the matters of business necessary for the next meeting, and future welfare of the association. Almost as bad as this is the other custom of one officer presiding |