their possession. How can we be happy, or make home pleasant, or thrive spiritually without books? (2) That if they are not familiar with methods of study, to make an effort is the way to learn. We learn to do by doing, not by having some one else do for us. As to time. there is time for all things; and if a thing is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well, and worth our best efforts. (3) While a complete text may save time, we do not understand that the object of getting lessons is to save time. It is to learn. If you appear to save time, but do not learn as much, have you accomplished your purpose? Work counts. Value of Seventies Year Book.-It has been thought advisable to call the attention of the Seventies to the excellence of the matter contained in "The Seventies Course in Theology." The First Year Book" gives in a concise, yet comprehensive manner a most interesting history of the Seventy in the Mosaic, Christian, and Last Dispensations. Every Seventy should become thoroughly acquainted with the three lessons devoted to this topic. These lessons convey to the student a more comprehensive knowledge of the organization and duties of the members of the quorums of Seventy than any other treatise that has ever been presented on the subject. There is, and will always be, a stream of new men coming into the quorums who have not given special attention to this particular calling in the Priesthood. These new members will often have questions to propound regarding the history and responsibility of their calling; if the "First Year Book" is at hand such questions can be readily answered. This book also gives, in a nutshell form, a history of the books of scripture believed in by the Latter-day Saints. This information. like the lessons devoted to the Seventy, is of such a character that it will always be important, and in demand, consequently well worth being preserved. Seventies will always be called upon in the performance of their special labors to refresh their memories regarding the interesting and important items that are presented in this splendid work. The "Second Year Book" gives an "Outline History of the Dispensations of the Gospel." This leading topic is preceded by six intensely interesting and important lessons under the heading, "Prelude to the Dispensations." A knowledge of the contents of this work can scarcely be said to be of less importance than a knowledge of the matter in the "First Year Book." The First Council of Seventy feel that a fund of very valuable information has been brought together in these books. They also feel that very many of the brethren have been unable to master the lessons presented, owing to the rather hurried manner in which they have been forced to consider them. Many of the questions discussed will recur again and again to the minds of the brethren in the future. In order to encourage future study on these various topics, it has been decided to bind the First and Second Year Book together, making of the two one volume. The book is well and strongly bound in cloth and can be sold at seventy-five cents per copy. A limited number of these books are on hand. The brethren of the Seventy, who find pleasure in the study of the Lord's wonderful purposes, are urged to purchase the work in this form, the number on hand will soon be exhausted. Those who purchase them will find their value multiplying in the future. The work is worthy of a place in the library of any Seventy. M. I. A. ANNUAL CONVENTIONS. To Stake and Ward Officers Y. M. M. I. A.: The following appointments have been made for the M. I. A. conventions, 1909. In case any changes are desired in the dates given, the stake superintendents should immediately consult with their stake presidencies and arrange for a new date, and notify the General Boards of Y. M. and Y. L, M. I. A.: Snowflake, August 13. Beaver, Malad, San Luis, Hyrum, Box Elder, Woodruff,-August 29. Bear River, Taylor, Cassia, Teton, Liberty, Jordan, Weber, Parowan, North Davis, San Juan, Yellowstone, Rigby, September 5. Alberta, Ensign, Star Valley, South Sanpete, Wasatch, Wayne, Uintah, Granite, South Davis, Toeole, Bannock, Emery, North Weber, Pioneer, -September 12. St. George, Juarez,-September 13. Big Horn, Oneida, Blackfoot, Summit, Millard, Salt Lake, Alpine, Panguitch, Juab, Ogden, Nebo, Bingham-September 19. North Sanpete, Union, Benson, Morgan, Utah, Kanab, Bear Lake, Cache, Sevier, Maricopa,-September 26. Stake superintendents will please give special and immediate attention to the following items: 1. Confer with the stake presidency-secure their co-operation and arrange for the conventions. 2. See that your ward and stake organizations are all complete and your class teachers selected before the convention. 3. See that all officers and class teachers are notified, by letter or by personal visit if necessary to secure their attendance. Leave no one with an excuse for absence. Make a special effort to get a large representation of officers from each association-it should be 100 per cent. 4. Secure suitable hall or halls for the convention, where both the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Officers may be accommodated, without interfering with Sunday Schools or the ward meetings. Consult with the Young Ladies' officers in regard to this. Confer with the officers of the Young Ladies and arrange for entertaining officers who come from a distance; and, if practicable, provide for light joint luncheon between sessions. 5. It has been provided for by arrangement between the two Boards that all Sunday school teachers who are Mutual Improvement officers or class teachers shall be excused from Sunday School classes to attend the morning session of the convention. 6. Extend a formal, cordial, special invitation to the stake presidency, high counselors. and bishops and their counselors, and all the stake officers of the auxiliary organizations, to attend the convention meetings. 7. See to it that competent persons are selected to treat the subjects at the convention and assign the topics to them in advance, and call attention to the necessity of preparing the subject according to the outlines. 8. Forward copies of this circular to every ward president without delay and request him to acknowledge receipt of them and see to their proper distribution. 9. Hold at least one preliminary meeting of the stake superintendency, aids, and convention speakers, discuss the convention subjects thoroughly, and perfect all arrangements for the convention, in ample time before the date. 10. Confer directly with the bishop of the ward where convention is to be held, and secure the use of the ward meetinghouse for a public evening meeting, which should be well advertised. Have special music by the choir, and arrange for one musical number by the young women and one by the young men. visiting Board members may occupy the time. The 11. Stake secretaries are requested and required to furnish a report of the convention to the general secretary. In making these arrangements, care should be taken not to interfere with the sessions of the Sunday schools or regular ward afternoon meetings. Som, settlement should be selected where the meetings can be held in a building other than that in which the Sunday school and ward afternoon meetings are held. Young men should, as far as possible, aid the Young Ladies to get to the conventions. Thoroughly advertise your convention throughout your stake; give frequent notice in all ward meetings, Sunday schools and other gatherings, and have a notice published in your local newspaper, in addition to individual notice, personal or by letter, tɔ every Y. M. M. I. A. officer, including the class teacher. For the work of the Young Men's associations, two meetings will be held, one at 10 a. m. and one at 2 p. m. In the evening, at the most convenient hour, a joint meeting will be held to which the public should be invited. A program need not be prepared for the evening meeting. In case no visitors from the General Board are present, the stake officers should be prepared to occupy the time in presenting to the public the advantages and outlines of M. I. A. work for the season, and otherwise proceed with the convention work. The meetings will be conducted by the Stake M. I. A. officers, and the Young Men's program will consist of the following: Report of stake superintendent as to the work for this convention. Distribution of literature. IV. a. b. C. Holding preliminary meetings. Notice to officers. V. The Address of the General Superintendency and its Import. This address is found in the IMPROVEMENT ERA for August, and in this circular, and its various divisions and declarations should be carefully outlined, classified, studied and considered, and a person appointed to introduce and discuss the subjects. A general discussion by all the officers should follow. VI. Business and miscellaneous matters. Usual opening exercises. 2 p. m. 1. The senior manual. The senior manual this year will treat upon the development or making of manhood, physical, mental and ethical. Three speakers should be appointed-one for each of the subdivisions as follows: a. Physical manhood. b. Mental manhood. These topics should be treated by the speakers in their own way with a view to awakening an interest in the subjects, and in the manual for this year, and showing the importance of study along these lines. II. The junior manual. Lessons in Church History. This will embrace the History of the Church in the biography of Brigham Young, covering the period from the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph to the settlement of Utah. A number of biographies will be considered also, such as the lives of John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Jedediah M. Grant, Daniel H. Wells, Heber C. Kimball, George A. Smith, and a number of others who were instrumental in the founding of Utah. The person appointed to treat the subject in convention might also deal generally upon the influence of biography, and take for his text the poet Longfellow's beautiful lines: III. The ERA. a. "Lives of great men all remind us, We can make our lives sublime, In treating the ERA let it be remembered that: It is the official organ of the Priesthood Quorums. b. It is the official organ of the Y. M. M. I. A. C. sionaries. It is a missionary magazine. Two thousand copies are sent ree to mis d. The canvas should be entirely in the hands of the presidents of the Y, M. M. I. A., or persons whom they may appoint, with the advice and consent of the bishop. The ERA may be used to advantage by giving select readings from its pages in the preliminary programs or before congregations. e. The field of canvas is enlarged, because of its now being the organ of the Priesthood Quorums. f. A rebate of twenty five cents on each subscription is given to the ward association under the usual arrangements. g The slogan for 1909-10 is 15,000 subscribers. The magazine will be enlarged. A joint evening meeting should be held at the most convenient hour to which the public should be invited. It should be devoted to remarks by the visiting officers or the Stake superintendency, with musical selections by the young ladies and the young men. The subject of "Reading" and the "Address" of the superintendency will be considered by the visiting officers of the Young Men or Stake Superintendency. These conventions are of paramount importance, and it is hoped that the superintendents will see that their officers are present. It is not enough to just have one representative, make it a point to have all the officers there, one hundred per cent, if possible. The success of the convention depends largely upon your efforts, dear brother, and upon the efforts and spirit of your associates. Keep in touch with the general office and make all the arrangements necessary for successful meetings. We pray that the Lord may bless your labors and that you may have a successful convention. EVENTS AND COMMENTS. BY EDWARD H. ANDERSON. Howell on the Committee on Agriculture.-Speaker Cannon has announced his Committee appointments for the 61st Congress. The insurgents against the House rules were punished, and three of them who held important chairmanships lost their Committees. Among the new appointments to the Committee on Agriculture is Hon. Joseph Howell of Utah. Local Items of Importance.-Dr. E. G. Gowans has been appointed superintendent of the state industrial school vice H. H. Thomas, resigned.-On August 13, the last issue of the Inter-Mountain Republican appeared, and also of the Salt Lake Herald. The two papers appeared as one on the morning of the 14th, and called the Herald Republican. The new paper is Republican in politics. -A convention of county officials and incorporated towns and cities of Utah county, was held in Provo August 11, to discuss uniform prohibition measures by cities of the county. An ordinance was drafted, and adopted, and the city councils will be asked to pass it before October 1, 1909.-Cardinal Gibbons arrived in Salt Lake City August 10, and stayed to take part in the dedication of the great Catholic St. Mary's Cathedral, Sunday, August 15. He was the guest of Thomas Kearns. Nine Pullman cars left for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, Seattle, loaded with the Great Tabernacle choir. The party stopped at Boise, La Grande, Portland and Tacoma, and spent four days at the fair. Airship Flights.-On July 25, Louis Bleriot, a French experimenter of aeroplanes, crossed the English Channel from near Calais, France, to Dover England in less than half an hour, at an average speed of 45 miles an hour, and at a height of about 240 feet above sea level. He won a prize of $5,000 for the achievement offered by a London newspaper. His monoplane is 20 feet across the wings and weighs about 400 pounds. Herbert Latham later made an attempt to fly over the Channel. Within two miles of Dover his engine failed, and he dropped into the sea with slight injury. On July 30, Orville Wright made a flight to Shuter's Hill, near Alexandria, with Lieutenant Foulois. The average time made was 42 miles an hour, though on the return trip more than 47 miles an hour was made. With this, and a flight made on the 27th, in which he remained in the air for an hour and thirteen minutes, thus establishing a new long |