--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Johnson, Rufus D. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 9 number: 6 published: 1906-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Rufus D. Johnson, "Missionaries at Rotterdam," *Improvement Era* 9, no. 6 (April 1906): 479–482.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0906unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0906unse start_page: 479 end_page: 482 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1906-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0906unse publication_year: 1906 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1906, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Missionaries at Rotterdam MISSIONARIES AT ROTTERDAM. BY ELDER RUFUS D. JOHNSON, OF THE BRITISH MISSION, One of the largest gatherings of missionaries known in the history of the European Mission, convened at Rotterdam, Holland, February 8 to 12, in an assembly of conference presidents of the British Mission. The personnel of the party comprised representatives from every mission in Europe, Turkey alone excepted, and was as follows: President Heber J. Grant and three elders from the Liverpool office, Presidents J. M. Christensen, Peter Matson, Serge F. Ballif and Jacob H. Trayner, of the Scandinavian, Swedish, German, and Netherlands Missions, respectively. The conference was called for discussing plans for the improvement of the work in the British Mission, and was originally designed for conference presidents exclusively, but later a general invitation was extended to the elders, many of whom availed themselves of the opportunity. The first session was held in the Excelsior Hall, a capacious building near the business part of the city, on Thursday evening, February 8. President Heber J. Grant welcomed all, and expressed the hope that the object for which they had assembled might be fully realized. He spoke of the sweet spirit which alwavs accompanies the singing of the songs of Zion, and voiced his admiration for the sentiments of the song, "We Thank Thee, 0 God, for a Prophet," by which the meeting had been opened. On account of the frequency with which it is heard in our meetings, there is a tendency to sing it mechanically, and hence he advised that all reflect upon the purport of the lines, that it might ascend as a genuine song of thanksgiving to the Lord. He suggested that all commit to memory the hymn beginning, "Should You Feel In- 480 IMPROVEMENT ERA. clined to Censure," and that they weave its teachings into the warp and woof of their daily life. He referred to the beauty of the hymn, "Come, Come, ye Saints," and told a little story in connection with its early history. Its remarkable lesson of optimism, in the face of difficulties which would appal the stoutest heart, is one which should be learned by every Latter-day Saint who is liable to be overcome by discouraging trials. It was thought a good plan to "get acquainted," and so, instead of business, brief addresses were made by all the presidents of the British and Netherlands conferences, and by elders Ben C. Rich, Rufus D. Johnson and R. Eugene Allen of the Liverpool office, but three meetings were subsequently held in which much business was disposed of. At the final session, held February 12, it was decided to reconvene sometime in April, in London, as many points for discussion remained. No opportunity was lost by the visitors to enjoy the sights which the Dutch cities afford, and many interesting excursions were taken. The first was to The Hague, where the Royal Palace, ""The House in the Woods," the edifice in which the famous Universal Peace Congress, of some years ago, convened. Its interior decorations of silk and inlaid wood, and the historical paintings which embellish the walls of the Peace room, are interesting in the extreme. An old Spanish prison in the city afforded a profitable hour, where the implements of torture on exhibition tell a grim tale of heroic adherence to principle on the part of the Dutch Protestants, and of a regime of barbarity and oppression, under the cloak of religion, on the part of the Spaniards, Which has but few parallels in the world's history. The following day was spent in Amsterdam, where much time was devoted to the inspection of the fine art gallery for which the old Dutch city is noted. Here are some of Rembrandt's most famous canvasses, including the much reproduced "Night Watch." A novel thing in the artistic line is to be seen in the "Panorama," a circular building upon the interior walls of which is depicted the story of the Crucifixion. The spectator stands upon a platform in the center, and the scene is viewed in panorama. By a clever duplication of the roof of an oriental house, the effect is as though one were watching the proceedings from the housetops. The MISSIONARIES AT ROTTERDAM. 481 artist who conceived the project is said to have spent seven years of study in Jerusalem before attempting to carry it out. As our party were practically the only persons present, permission was obtained to sing. "Oh, my Father" was given in a spirited manner, followed by "Nearer, my God, to Thee," and our thirty-three voices blended in sweet melody. The most delightful event of the sight- seeing, however, was an excursion to Delftshaven, a river port near Rotterdam. This quaint old town is the point from which the Pilgrim Fathers began their momentous journey to the New World. The special point of interest is the old church, in which the final services were held, prior to their departure, and where the last petitions ascended to the Father that his providence might be with them, ere they resigned themselves to the perils of wind and wave. To Americans, this is almost a hallowed spot, and particularly to Latter-day Saints, who recognize in the exodus of the Pilgrims the fulfilment of the prophecy of Nephi as recorded in I Nephi, 13: 13. One cannot reflect upon this important event in the history of the world without recognizing a parallel between the heroic advance guards of Puritanism and our own sturdy pioneers. In both instances, loyalty to religious conviction impelled them to sacrifice all, save principle, and with hearts courageous set out to find a land of refuge from the hatred and intolerance of bigoted foes; where the free exercise of conscience was untrammeled; where they could worship their God as their hearts prompted them. True, the Puritans were in turn intolerant, and refused to others what they claimed to be a heaven-born right for themselves, but doubtless they lived up- to the light which God gave them. They were not in possession of the fulness of the Gospel as were our pilgrim band, and with the narrow ideals of the age, it is not surprising that they did not have the breadth of mind to declarers did Joseph Smith, "We claim the right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may." After the church had been inspected, the party assembled in the body of the building, and with feelings of gratitude to the Lord that they had received the light of the gospel, all raised 482 IMPROVEMENT ERA. their voices in singing the songs of Zion. ' 'We Thank Thee, 0 God, for a Prophet," was sung with much feeling, after which President Grant sang, "The Flag Without a Stain," which was most appropriate to the occasion, and all joined in the chorus. President Grant then delivered a short address on the loyalty and patriotism of the Latter-day Saints, and refuted the hackneyed charge that they do not have the welfare of their country at heart. He stated that the Saints were always ready to do their full share in the support of the Government, and pointed to past history to prove that they were ever ready to do their full duty. He testified that loyalty to the Government is a prominent teaching of the Church, all assertions of hate-filled men to the contrary notwithstanding. His conclusion was stirring and emphatic, — "They may kick us, cuff us, drive us, but we love our country still. ' ' Before the return to Rotterdam, a photographer took a picture of the group from the pulpit. Several Hollanders, who were attracted by the unusual sound of English singing, were also included in the picture, which will be a valuable souvenir to all who were fortunate enough to be present. Another pleasing feature of the trip was a recital given by Miss Arvilla Clark and Mr. Willard Andelin in the Excelsior Hall. A well-selected program was rendered, and both artists were enthusiastically received by a large audience. The elders were seated in a bodv in the hall, and during the evening sang two songs, both of which met with a warm reception. By request, President Grant repeated '' 'The Flag Without a Stain, ' ' and for an encore, "Truth Reflects Upon Our Senses. " Miss Clark's winning number was perhaps ' 'Joan of Arc, " although the aria from Aida, ' 'Home, Sweet Home, " was greatly enjoyed. Mr. Andelin sang the old favorite, "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep," also the drinking song from The Bohemian Girl, and others, which elicited much applause. The two following days were spent in Brussels, the beautiful Belgian capital, whose chief attractions are its beautiful public buildings and art galleries. The city is sometimes referred to as ' 'Little Paris, " and its broad avenues and general absence of grime affords a pleasing contrast to the dingy thoroughfares of the English cities. The Palace of Justice, which is conceded by