OCR Text |
Show Improvement Associations. Editors Herald; The subject of mutual improvement improve-ment associations is one of great consequence con-sequence to this community, more particularly to the rising generation, and I am pleased to know by the article in your isiue of Tuesday that such an interest it being awakened mouc the people on this subject. I was invited the other evening by a friend to visit one of these institutions in tho 20ih ward, and was surprised and delighted, as well as disappointed. I had expected that it w;s simply a debating society, attended by perhaps Mtteeu or tweuty young nin, but on entering the hall fuuud nearly 200 ladieBand gentlemen of all ages from 12 to 50 years. I understood that a number of the leading men of ihu ward present were menilers of the institute and look part in tl.e exercises. exer-cises. Like other Mormon meetings, they opened with singing and prayer, a young lady presiding at the orgau, accompanied by a choir; after which tho chairman called upon some young men to proceed with tl.e programme, pro-gramme, of which the lollowing are some of the leading features : Twenty minutes' lecture on the origin ot lauguago. Twenty minutes' lecture on faith. A number of questions wero answered an-swered by the younger members, such as "Who was the discoverer of the telescope? What text of scripture proves that baptism is by immersion and for the remission of sin? What, are the peculiarities of the Chinese and Japanese languages? Where do the scriptures give an account of the laying on ofhauda lor the gift of the Holy Ghost? What was the cause of petrifactions? Why do some Latter-day Latter-day Saints, when sick, send for the doctor instead of the elders of the church?" etc., all of which were answered an-swered by young people and further i explained by tue more experienced. Interperaed with these were songs, recitations, and readings on various subjects. I understand that debatiug is entirely, and I think wisely, excluded ex-cluded from the meetings. Everything Every-thing passed od with the beat of feeling, feel-ing, and to my surprise a boy dismissed dis-missed the meeting. 'I his association was organized on the 20th of January, 1S73, has about 1-5 activo members, and is still adding to its number. They own a nice little library of about 100 volumes of the most choice works, an Esteyorgan.a magic lantern and other property worth in all about $600. 1 was particularly pleased to tiad that this institute took a course to foster and encourage the religious sentiments of its members. It is too much the case with many "improvement "improve-ment associations" that they have a tendency to lead the youth to be infidel iu regard to religious subjects. Why this should be tho case I do not know, but I notice that quite a number num-ber ot our youth attending some associations I could namo, have lost all desire for anything sacred: in fact they think it smart and manly to scofl and jeer at the principles their parents have sacrificed everything for. 1 am happy, however, that they are very few, and will be more so if these associations are conducted in a proper manner; and our leading men in Lhe different wards ought to take an interest more than they do in fostering such institutes, not merely by preaching from the pulpit, but by being" actual members of the same, taking part and aiding and assisting the young in their laudable endeavors to obtain knowledge. Visitor from tue Cow Counties. Salt Lako City, Feb. 27, 1877. |