How Shall It Be? How shall it be, When life's warm tide is failing, When the heart's throbbings faint and fainter grow, And mortal weakness lays the body low, So may it be, O world of light, where never Ah, nevermore, hearts bow with sorrow's might: All things above, Light, life, heaven, and love, The joy of love for ever, So may it be, So may it be to me! -Anna Olcott Commelin in The Christian Register. Notice to Stake and District Secretaries. Please remember that the first of the year is the time for your annual report to the general secretary, These reports should be prompt, as a delay by you in reporting to the secretary may cause her delay in getting her report ready for the General Convention. There is nothing better than being on time in these matters. Be sure to give name of the stake or district, or local if outside of an organized district, enrollment, average attendance, home class members, and list of officers with their addresses. MRS. M. A. ETZENHOUSER, General Secretary. INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI. News from the Societies. Kewanee, Illinois. Our local is making some little progress, although our membership has not increased very much since we restarted our Religio, in June last, when the following officers were elected: Joseph Arber, president; Richard Norris, vice-president; Mary Barnes, secretary and treasurer; Sr. Ethel Arber, organist, and William Blodgett, librarian. Our attendance of late has been pretty regular. The main drawback being the timidity of the members to take hold of the program work. But we believe that by persistent efforts this difficulty will be overcome. Last Friday evening Bro. Fred Norris gave us a very interesting lecture on "The ysical characteristics of the air we breathe.' So far we have not succeeded in gaining any elderly members, but are trying to get others interested. We have purchased a Book of Mormon map, which is a great help to us in the study of the lessons. Our president, Elder Joseph Arber, who is also our teacher, deserves a word of commendation for his untiring efforts to make the society a success, and we believe that in the near future others will relieve him by taking hold of the work. May we all enter into our work with more determination than ever to accomplish all the good possible. Hopefully your sister in Christ. MARY BARNES, Secretary. Second Kansas City, Missouri.-The interest in our local is improving, also attendance is gradually increasing, and the com mittees are doing very good work. There has also been an increase in membership, but we need the presence and aid of some of our older members that our society might still continue to improve. ANNA KAPLINGER. San Francisco, California.-Because we are the farthest west and almost bathed in the salty vapors of the great and mighty Pacific Ocean, we are not the least of the Religio locals. No, we are not making any great noise, but are moving quietly onward, desiring to climb to that standard that we can be classed as one of the liveliest locals in the whole Religio Arena. We are almost at the close of another year, and the records both here and there tell of what has been done. The future is not unfolded. Our attendance is not as large as it might be, considering our membership, our number of young people, and our wide scope for work. The program assignments always meet with response from the faithful ones. Excuses come only from irregulars. Our society is divided into two senior classes and two able teachers are regularly at the post of duty. Bro. J. A. Lawn holds the interest as teacher of the young people's class, and Sr. M. A. Saxe ably handles the lesson texts with the older class. Our officers, with Bro. Ray Hawley president, are mostly young men under twenty years, whom we may look forward to as worthy keepers and doers of good works, and upon whom, if they are faithful, will rest many burdens which will weigh upon them lightly through the promise of the blessed Savior who says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." We feel grateful for the unity and love manifested during the year that is closing, and feel to trust Him for the blessings the future holds. L. DAY, Correspondent. Saint Louis, Missouri.-Interest and attendance have been fair in our Religio work the past month. We have found the lessons interesting and instructive. The good literature committee gave a nice program recently, one of the features being a guessing contest as to the number of books in our local library. This was to ascertain the acquaintance of the membership with the library. story was read by one of our young ladies, after which a synopsis of the same was written by the audience, a prize being given for each. On the envening of October 31, a very enjoyable Halloween social was given at the home of Bro. and Sr. G. S. Trowbridge, and on that of November 4 an enthusiastic "get together meeting" was held when the church, Sunday school, and Religio joined, in order to exchange ideas as to best methods of increasing and retaining interest in the work of all departments. Remarks of an instructive character were made by Brn. T. J. Elliott, president of the branch, H. C. Burgess, superintendent of the Sunday school, and George Reeves, president of the Religio, after which, time was granted for suggestions and opinions anyone might have to offer. The social feature, church and home connection, love for each other, love of God, were among the many good thoughts presented. Questions also presented for discussion by Brother Elliott, were: "Do we talk our religion among our associates?" and "Do we know we are in the work of God?" At the close of this interesting service we all felt enthused, and more earnest in our desires for more activity in the work, and the officers felt well paid for the effort. On November 13 the Sunday school and Religio held a rally day service in Belleville, Illinois, when questions of interest and benefit were discussed, musical numbers were rendered, and a good social time was enjoyed. We have gained one new member since last report. A Book of Mormon normal class is about to be organized. It is good to see such interest to obtain a thorough knowledge of the work manifest. Your sister in Christ, E. M. PATTERSON. Indianapolis, Indiana.-On Friday evening, October 14, a delegation of three members of the Indianapolis local met with the New Albany local, and organized a district association to be known as Zion's Religio-Literary Association of Southern Indiana District, the church district officers all being present. The following officers were elected: President, Charles H. Fish, Indianapolis; vice-president, E. A. Jaegers, New Albany; secretary, Edna S. Gage, Indianapolis; treasurer, Pearl Brown, New Albany; librarian, James Eulitt, New Albany; home department superintendent, Effie Miller, New Albany. While the association only starts out with two locals, we hope to see others added in the near future, and believe it is a move in the right direction. Your brother and co-worker, |