Messages from the Missions

414 IMPROVEMENT ERA. This is a good place to record important events, and we trust the missionaries will make this department very interesting.— Editors.] Elder Ammon Sims, of Brisbane conference, Australia, writes that there are six elders laboring in that conference. The Mutual Improvement Association is doing well and has a growing attendance; and the Sunday school is growing rapidly, many children being regular attendants whose parents are not members of the Church. Elder J. Russon, of the Northern States mission, writing to the Era, from Chicago, says: "We have a very interesting class of young men in this city, for which we are thankful, and pray that others will come and join us in becoming familiar with the substantial claims which are given in the Senior Manual, in upbuilding the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. We pray for the welfare of Zion's leaders, and all her members." President Heber J, Grant, in a note to the Era, says that "the statistics for the British Mission show an increase of 531,906 tracts, 9,427 books, 58,086 conversations and 27 baptisms as against 1904. I need not tell you that I am very pleased indeed with the showing which the elders in this Mission have made for the past year. They have worked hard, and I am sure are happier and more contented than they were a year ago. I have always found that the more we do for the spread of the gospel, the happier we are in our labors. Our totals for 1905 were r 2,722,709 tracts, 62,182 books, 174,516 conversations, and 629 baptisms." The Elders' Journal reY>0Tts the burning of the L. D. S. church building recently completed on Barker's Island, N. C, in the latter part of January, by a mob. The building was erected by a few Saints assisted by the elders, at a great sacriiice. The island lies in the Atlantic a few miles from the coast, and the Saints floated their timber over owing to scarcity of building material on the island. They had engaged Elder William A. Petty to teach their school, so that their children might be educated, but now the children will have to meet in a private house. The mob has also threatened the lives of the elders. The Journal calls in all earnestness upon the proper officials in North Carolina to punish the perpetrators of the outrage, and all law-abiding citizens will join in the demand. The Millennial Star of December 21, is devoted entirely to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and contains his portrait and a picture of his birthplace at Sharon, Vt. It has some excellent articles from President Joseph F. Smith, Elder B. H. Roberts, President Heber J. Grant, President Francis M. Lyman, Dr. James E. Talmage, Alma 0. Taylor of the Japan mission, and Edward H. Anderson, Associate Editor of the Improvement Era. The number for December 28, also contains a continuation of the subject, the two forming the memorial number of the Star, to the one hundredth anniversary of the Prophet's birth. In the second number is a portrait of Patriarch Hyrum Smith, and there are interesting and valuable articles from Elders Richard W. Young, Warren H. Lyon of the South African mission ; Hugh J. Cannon, George Albert Smith, Nephi Anderson, Henry E. Blood, Alexander Buchanan, Jr., Henry J. Lilly of India; Joseph E. Robinson, and Jens M. Christensen..

» EDITOR'S TABLE. 415 The Star has a circulation of 13,000, and the British as well as the whole European mission is in a prosperous and thrifty condition. An elder in Germany writes to the Era, that recently they baptized a steward from one of the ships sailing between' Germany and South America: "He is an honest and thorough convert, and has surely a hard time to begin with. We had only been away from the house with him, some fifteen minutes, when the woman ta whom he is engaged, and who is fighting us, came excitedly, asking that he should come at once, as some accident had happened at home, and his mother was there to see him. We learned afterward that for two hours his mother (who came thirty miles on purpose to save her twenty-eight-year-old son from the horrible, blood-thirsty, immoral 'Mormons'), and his bride tongue-lashed him, even going so far as to say that his head is turned. At last they left him, without so much as saying good night. I often wonder how many of our young people, and some old ones at home, have as strong a testimony as would enable them to remain true through such a trial. As individuals and as a people, we have scarcely enough faith, and appear to rely too much on money, until we are in danger of forgetting the Father, who gives us all. I know I can improve in these matters, very much." Stuart Meha, a native elder of Norsewood, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, writing Nov. 30, 1905, to Elde"r Benjamin Goddard, says : ' 'I was only a boy when you were out here on a mission ; I recollect the time, however, when a quarterly 'huhi' was held at Poroma. It was thfere that I saw you. We have now in Waipawa, a lovely photo framed— beautifullv executed— with a photo of all the elders who attended the 'huhi.' I am glad to know that Brother Bowles still retains his knowledge of Maori, as the News reports his making his speech in Maori, when a large reunion meeting of Pacific Islanders and returned missionaries, was held out there somewhere. I intend subscribing for the Era, but I do not know where to raise $2.00 — two real American ones, I mean. The elders have not called in for a long time, so there is no likelihood of getting American money, before the boat leaves Aukland with the Frisco mail. I am very fond of the Era, especially the "Talks to Young Men," and the "President's Editorials." The paper, being read with the proper spirit, helps to elevate the mind and develop a good character. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. ' ' The Elders' Journal reports "that President R. Ray Nixon and Elder M. C. Smith of South Carolina conference, were called by telephone in the early part of December to the bedside of Sister Elvina Houver, who was in a dying condition, and who had been given up by four physicians. When the elders reached her bedside they administered to her and immediately the death pallor left her cheeks, and she began to revive. She became like herself again, and on the third day, after being administered to, she sat up for nearly one-half hour. Elders Joshua Finlinson and James L. Oman had the pleasure (?) of hiding in the woods, while an armed mob followed them up and passed on in pursuit cf them. They searched until about midnight, and then returned, passing within a short distance of the brethren, which gave the elders the signal that the chase was given up and that it was time for them to go on unmolested, having been cared for by the Lord." The following remarkable case of healing is also reported in the Journal from the