that quite a number of the subscribers who were upon the delinquent list for the IMPROVEMENT ERA had already paid; some, weeks before, and others, months before their visit to the convention. They had paid to the local officers of their ward, in some instances, and in others, to the stake superintendent, but the money had not been forwarded to the office, and through neglect had been held sometimes for months by the local officers. This condition of affairs is very regretable, not only to the IMPROVEMENT ERA and to the General Board, but also to such subscribers as have been erroneously placed upon the delinquent lists. It should also be very humiliating for officers who have thus neglected to forward the money to its proper destination. We appreciate very highly the labors of our brethren in acting as agents for the ERA, at the same time, we desire that they should act as they would in private affairs, and let good business rules regulate their actions.

Using money in trust is a very dangerous practice for young men to engage in, and while we have not the least doubt there has been no thought of fraud in any way, it is a matter of history that the retention beyond the allotted time of money in trust, innocently may be, has often led to very serious financial complications, and in many instances to defalcation. Many bank cashiers have innocently taken the bank's money and used it for a day, with the intention of replacing it at night, but something occurred by which they were unable to pay, and so the result was disastrous. Young men especially should be very careful in the handling of money, that they do it in a business way, and when they handle other people's finances that they carefully avoid using the means personally, even for the shortest time. It is the safest plan, it is the only business way, and it is a training that every young man should subject himself to, for his own good and for his own moral and business welfare.

Let us hope that it will not be necessary to call attention to this matter again, but that all the officers who hold money, either for the IMPROVEMENT ERA or for the Manuals, will promptly forward the same to the office, so that the individuals and associations may receive proper credit, and they themselves thereby learn a good lesson in business.

FOR CLASS TEACHERS AND PRESIDENTS.

In the preparation of our class work, the first essential is the selection of competent class teachers. Those most competent should be

chosen for the Junior class. If it is possible, have at least two teachers for every class.

The vital part of our work is to teach the truth, and make our students Latter-day Saints. The teacher's familiarity with the lesson is absolutely necessary. Home preparation is of the most vital importance, and special attention should be given to securing it. It is the most potent means for creating interest and enthusiastic study. Various methods have been suggested for ensuring this home study. One is to hold preliminary or preparation meetings; another is to visit backward members in their homes and go over the lessons with them; a third most excellent suggestion is to select quite a number of bright members as extra teachers, whose whole duty it is to coach the delinquents-those who do not prepare the lessons nor take part in the work in the meetings of the association-and get them ready for the meeting each week by assisting them to prepare the lessons. This method has the advantage of not only making active members of the delinquents, but it brings into prominence and encourages a number of leading members, and builds them up by giving them work to do.

There are three essentials in teaching: order, interest, instruction. Instruction should have an aim, which should be developed or illustrated by the lesson, and then the aim or truth of the lesson should be applied to the student, so that it may become practical to him and be made a part of his life and being.

Seek diligently to secure regular attendance. Irregular attendance destroys the interest of the student, and he is liable to discontinue attendance altogether.

In assigning the lesson, one or more topics may be given to a member, or there may be a general assignment of topics to various members, but the entire class should be urged to prepare on the lesson.

One speaker should not be allowed to encroach upon either the time or the subject of another. Strictly prohibit Manual-reading in the class.

A mistake made by teachers frequently is their failure to take a general view of the subject, that is, to get a general understanding of the Manual from first to last, so that they will know at what the lessons are aiming, and will understand the connection between one lesson and another, and between one lesson and all those which precede and succeed it.

The one great, grand idea for this year's senior work is the gaining of a knowledge of the truth of the Book of Mormon. This can only be obtained through the influence of the Spirit of God and by fasting

and prayer. Our work, therefore, is to encourage the young men to study carefully this subject, and to diligently seek by these means to obtain a knowledge of the truth of this great work. In using the review questions, a general question is recommended as preferable to a direct

one.

The Book of Mormon being of such general interest, and this being the first time that an analytical course of study has been prepared upon it, the officers are urged to invite the older brethren to attend the meetings of the associations and take part in the study, and it is believed they will receive much profit therefrom.

HOW ABOUT MISSIONARY WORK?

The following resolution was adopted at the general conference of Y. M. M. I. A., on Monday afternoon, June 1, 1903:

Resolved, That the general missionary work be suspended and we bend our efforts and energies to the local missionary work; and that the local missionaries be called sufficiently early to be present at the fall convention and there receive their instructions. And further, that a committee from the General Board be appointed to look after this work.

The missionary work for the coming season, therefore, is confined to the local missionaries. In addition to the local officers of each association, two or four competent young men are selected by the presidency of the association, with the approval of the Bishop of the ward, and set apart by the Bishop as local ward missionaries. The missionaries called last season are not released, but are to continue their labors. Where, for any reason, brethren are released from this mission, the vacancies should be filled at once.

These should be released from all other duties in the ward, and should devote the entire time which they have for Church labors to this missionary work. That is, no other duty should interfere with it. The stake organization of the Y. M. M. I. A. should take charge of all the ward missionaries, calling a meeting weekly or monthly to receive reports and give instructions concerning the work of the missionaries. These brethren will labor in the ward under the direction of the ward presidency. The stake superintendency will report monthly on the missionary work to the missionary committee of the General Board. The following brethren have been appointed the missionary committe: J. Golden Kimball, Jos. W. McMurrin, B. F. Grant and Thos. Hull. It is distinctly understood that the officers of the associations are and shall also act as

local missionaries. The local missionary work must not be discontinued, but it must be made more effective. This local missionary work is the most important that the officers have to do. Upon it depends greatly the success of our organization and its power to do good. It should be the spiritual labor of the season.

Remember, the first step to take in the conduct of the missionary work is to have two or four, as may be deemed necessary, competent brethren called and set apart. Those already called, and who have been faithful in the discharge of their duty, should continue their labors; but where any have been neglectful and cannot be converted to a faithful performance of these duties, they should be released, and others selected in their places. In all of this missionary work, it must be understood that you will be in perfect harmony with the stake presidency and the bishops, and all must be done under their sanction and approval.

In making the selection, first let the superintendency of the stake go to the stake president and obtain his sympathy and assistance, and his authority to select the necessary missionaries in each ward, and when his support is secured, ask him to kindly instruct the bishops to earnestly co-operate with you in this work. When this is accomplished proceed as follows: The ward president will meet with the bishopric of the ward and select not less than two nor more than four, as may be deemed necessary, of the most competent men in the ward. The bishopric will set these brethren apart, and release them from all duties which will in any way interfere with the work.

In selecting these missionaries care should be exercised to obtain men of experience and intelligence; men who can secure the confidence of the boys; who have the spirit of missionary work, and who are exemplary in their lives. We have in the past requested stake superintendents to select this class of men for our general missionaries, and we quote from the letter sent to them as to the qualifications of these brethren. In each of those letters it is said:

We want men of intelligence and experience in the Gospel, zealous in the work of the Lord, but wise and prudent; congenial and capable of making friends; able to express their ideas with a reasonable degree of clearness. Of course they must be men of good standing, upright, moral and exemplary in their lives; but it is not sufficient that a man possess these qualifications alone; he must have in addition the ability to perform this special missionary work.

It may be said that this calls for a perfect man, but we are holding up in this the ideal missionary, and we ask that you select those in your ward who come the nearest to this ideal. At one of our Board conven

tions, President Smith, in speaking upon the qualifications of missionaries, said:

aries.

"There are many excellent men, but very few really good mission

"The characteristics of a good missionary are:

"A man who has sociability-whose friendship is permanent and sparkling who can ingratiate himself into the confidence and favor of men who are in darkness. This cannot be done off-hand. You must get acquainted with a man, learn him and gain his confidence and make him feel and know that your only desire is to do him good and bless him; then you can tell him your message and give him the good things you have for him kindly and lovingly. Therefore, in selecting missionaries, choose such as have sociability, who have friendship and not enmity towards men; and if you have not any such in your ward, train and qualify some young men for this work. Some men can never make good missionaries and you should not select such. In the very first place, a missionary should have in himself the testimony of the Spirit of God-the witness of the Holy Ghost. If he has not this he has nothing to give. Men are not converted by eloquence or oratory; they are convinced when they are satisfied that you have the truth and the Spirit of God.”

The work of the missionaries is to convert all those who are careless and neglectful of their duties, whether they be young or old, as well as all persons who are not of our faith who will receive them. We want it understood that we are not working alone for Mutual Improvement and the increase of its membership, but for the salvation of souls and the glory of the Master. We have reports from Salt Lake Stake which show that the work of the local Mutual Improvement missionaries increased the attendance of the Sunday School in one instance twenty-five per cent.

While we expect the missionaries to be specially interested in Mutual Improvement work, such as the ERA, the General Fund, class work, membership, etc., our work is not only to get the young men to join the associations, but if we can get a boy who is unkind to his parents to be kind and gentle and obedient to them; one who smokes or drinks to abandon the evil practices; one who is profane, converted to reverence for the Deity and purity of language; or, if we can get those who are careless to attend the sacrament and other ward meetings and Sunday Schools, all this is Mutual Improvement work; and, in fact, anything that will make men better is part of our work.

The missionaries should watch the amusements of the young people and set an example of moderation and modesty in these matters. Use an influence to improve the manners of the young people in their social gatherings. Advocate and inaugurate social gatherings in the homes of