to prove the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon from the scientific or archæological side of the question, and if we do not prepare ourselves to meet this situation, it will come to us, and we will have to say the best we know."-The Religian. Archaeological Society at Independence. As a result of the growing interest and awakening among our Independence Saints of late as to the significance of archæological facts in connection with the study of the Book of Mormon, a society of fifteen members has been organized as a branch of the School of American Archæology of Kansas City. The founding of the School of American Archæology in 1907, under the auspices of the Archæological Institute of America, founded in 1879, and incorporated by act of Congress, May 26, 1906, marks a new epoch in the field of archæological research. That Latter Day Saints are especially interested in the work of this institute was evidenced by the large audience which filled the Stone Church at Independence to its capacity, Monday evening, November 28, to hear the lecture by Dr. Edgar L. Hewett, Director of the School of Archæology at Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dr. Hewett won the commendation of his hearers by the frank way he presented the facts obtained by the research made in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Central America. He allowed the camera to tell its own story and had no pet theories to advance. At the suggestion of members of the Independence Branch, Doctor Hewett has consented to prepare a special course of study illustrated by stereopticon views, which will be delivered once a month only to members of the new society at Independence. The membership at present consists of the following: Fred'k M. Smith, president; John R. Haldeman, vice-president; Mrs. Dora Glines, secretary; C. O. Leeka, John Lloyd, J. F. Rudd, Bishop E. L. Kelley, James M. Kelley, C. A. Resch, Charles N. Craig, Alva Christensen, J. L. Gray, Mrs. J. G.. Pointer, W. A. Bushnell, Bernard Zick.-The Religian. The Dictionary Habit. It is a good thing to have the dictionary habit. When in the course of your reading you meet with a new word, turn to the dictionary and learn its precise meaning. Fix it in your mind for future use. In this connection we desire to call attention to the new Webster's International Dictionary, advertised on another page of this issue. This dictionary is published by the G. & C. Merriam Company, and will probably be the precise thing needed by those. who contemplate taking up the dictionary habit. The Best Government of To-day. I have been called upon to write a short paper on "The best government of to-day," and will endeavor to set forth to you my reasons for believing that a representative form of government, of which our own United States is a successful example, is the best government in existence to-day. To begin with, what is government, and what is its object? Government has principally to deal with the material wants of society, and with the protection of life and property; of its minor aims, such as the promotion of education, religion, and art, we have not time to write. By nature, governments are of two kinds, autocratic and democratic; these two, however, may be blended into a particular form of government, so that in some of its activities it is controlled autocratically by one, or few; while in others, it is controlled wholly by a body of people. In form, governments are of three kinds; first, the monarchy, in which the ruling power is invested in one person, and of which Russia is a notable example. Second, the aristocracy, in which a select few individuals dominate, a form of government prevalent in ancient times. Third, the republic, in which the governing power is retained wholly by the people as a body, as in Switzerland and the United States. In form, however, the classifications of government can not be perfectly or definitely made, as in some governments, such as England, though the power nominally rests with the king, in reality it is diffused throughout the whole state, and its government is really democratic in principle. Similarly in some republics, such as France, the power, though nominally in the hands of the people, is in reality invested in a few, or even one, and is oligarchial, even monarchial in principle. The best examples of governments of to-day, in which the people have an active part, are those of Switzerland and the United States; both of which have a representative form of government. Switzerland differs in that it has a direct legislature, having the initiative, the referendum; and the recall, giving the people absolute power. In this respect it is far superior to our country, which, while giving the people direct vote for representatives, does not permit them to remove an unsatisfactory representative from office. Let us next consider the absolute monarchial form of government of which we will use Russia as an example. Here we have the ruling power invested in a single person, the Czar. You have all heard of Siberia, and the salt mines, and have doubtlessly read of the various extreme punishments and tortures to which dissenters, or as they are so-called by the "press," revolutionists, are subjected. It would be difficult to find a country where the people of the lower classes are more downtrodden and oppressed. Their condition is wretched in the extreme, and there is little hope of bettering it under the present system of government. The percentage of illiteracy among the people, as a whole, is greater than that of any other European country. The government confines its efforts entirely to the education of the nobility and the official classes, a decided contrast to the free educational advantages of America. As an example of a constitutional hereditary monarchy, England may be used. The executive power is nominally invested in the king; his power, however, is limited, as he is subservient to parliament. That it is not a satisfactory government as far as the people, as a whole, are concerned, is sufficiently emphasized by the rapid growth of the Labor Party and the socialist societies. In Spain and Italy we have further examples of the hereditary monarchial form of government, in both of which countries the Catholic Church is a dominant influence. The condition of the people of the lower classes is typical of what must exist under such a form of government, and it may be truthfully likened to that of Russia's lower class. Much could be said concerning the various governments of various countries, their individual peculiarities, wherein they differ, etc., but we have not time to go into further detail, even if we wished to do so; moreover, my object has been merely to explain why a representative government is the best in existence to-day. That it is the best as far as the welfare of the people, as a whole, is concerned, I have tried to prove by comparing, the condition of that people living under a representative government with the conditions of the people under various other forms of government. The best government must be that government in which the people, as a whole, may rule on an equal basis, a government not of a few, for a few and by the few, but a government like that of our own United States, "of the people, for the people, and by the people." CLAIR MCKIM. DELOIT, IOWA. Rules for Killing a Religio. Under date of September 8, last, there appeared in the Ensign twenty-six rules for killing a church. A Bible reference was given for almost each one. The Ensign commended said rules to "the Saints for a careful reading." The list of rules was taken from the official organ of the Brethren or Dunkard Church. Now, rules are in order for the killing of Religio Societies, and we find that it doesn't require twenty-six to do the work. Bro. Ray Lloyd, stake Religio president, procured the following list of rules, and a careful reading of them will reveal the fact that any one of them carried out will eventually, but surely kill a local Religio society. Don't hustle. Don't arrive on time. Don't be attentive-watch the clock and be noisy. Say mean things about your teacher and the officers. Don't work hard-you are not drawing a salary. Don't be observing-you might get an insight as to how things are done.. Don't take an interest in the Religio—you might learn to like it. Don't come to Religio looking neat-you might be thought to have respect for the society. Don't help a young fellow associate-he might return the favor. Don't study your lesson-the teacher will do that. Don't wait until meeting is out-make a noisy exit during closing exercises. Don't take advice from the officers-they are only figureheads. Don't do anything until you are told-you might be given something else to do. Don't become proficient in anything-you are doing well enough now. Don't try to improve on time-worn methods. Don't try to do all you can for the work, for by so doing you might gain celestial glory. -The Idea. The Ministry of Nature to Us. [Our brothers and sisters in Birmingham, England, have a Mutual Improvement Class, of which Bro. J. E. Meredith is president, and Sr. Lilian Walton is secretary. They meet each Thursday evening, and of late have been pleased to receive as visitors Elders J. W. Rushton, Gomer Griffiths, F. G. Pitt, and others of the traveling ministry. At a recent meeting the following excellent article was read and by vote of the class it was forwarded to AUTUMN LEAVES. EDITOR.] After the excellent essay on walking, given by Brother Schofield, one's mind naturally turns to the open country where Nature holds undisputed sway. But if Nature were the subject of my narrative the essay would be almost infinite, for each phase of Nature provides subject-matter for a volume. Consequently the direction of the subject having been indicated, the choice was still difficult to make, and for a long time I halted, but finally, "The ministry of Nature to us," was selected as my theme. Then came the query, Is this a religious subject? And I thought of what Ruskin said, "There is religion in everything around us,' and in confirmation flashed into my mind a bit of Wordsworth, "In communing with Nature I commune not merely with hills and trees and sounding waters, but with the God who abides in all." But to return, as our French neighbors have it, to our "mouttons." In the consideration of the ministry of nature I find first of all that God has ordained her on our behalf to a ministry of joy. Who can retain an aspect of melancholy when out in the glad sunshine? The birds carolling forth their "strains of unpremeditated art," the lambs frisking in the meadows, the clouds gently floating along the sky-all exhale the exuberance of joy. In every aspect of Nature there is joy, and she infuses into the spirit of all her lovers a kindred mood, so that all who love her find delight in her. Then comes the glorious thought that the joy of Nature is not merely the projection of our joy upon her, but rather the joy of God in his own creation, for he pronounced it good. Then further the ministry of Nature is a ministry of beauty, refining and exalting the soul. "At dawn and sunset God paints pictures that mock the efforts of human art." It has been said that "heaven gives a benediction with its every gift, a blessing with our daily bread"; and indeed this is true, for the meadow is not only clothed in grass for the dull oxen, but is e'en dappled with silver and purple, and our wheat bends to the sickle in lances of gold. Water, too, is not only for use, but also is a great beautifying agent. We feel that something is lacking when we gaze on the landscape void of water to mirror its loveliness; and what untold music a babbling brook sings as it buoyantly dances along. Ah, what diamonds can rival the glistening spray that shoots sunward from the fountain's home! Insects and birds, too, are most exquisitely beautiful. Is not a chrysalis a living gem composed of an emerald and a ruby? And where shall we find such gold and ebony as the humble bee may boast? The commonest blade of grass, with the straightness of its stem and the trembling grace of its bent head, is a marvel of beauty. The rich man's paintings may hang in a room where the peasant |