Messages from the Missions

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS.

A two-days' conference of the Central States mission was held at Jay Branch, August 14-15. President James G. Duffin and Elder S. 0. Bennion were present. This branch of the Church was organized in the spring of 1901, and is located in Leavenworth Co., Kans. At its organization it had eleven members; but has now a membership of seventy-five or eighty, and a meeting house which would be a credit to any ward. Elder H. J. Bodily, conference president, and J. M. Redd, Jr., clerk, write: "Generally speaking, the elders are treated very well throughout the entire conference. By conversation with people, much prejudice is allayed and many friends are made. As a result of faithful work in the city of Topeka, three were baptized on Sunday, August 19 we have some warm friends and some ;

earnest investigators there. After reading the Era we give it to the people, and find it to be an efficient worker in the spread of truth. We, too, have learned to appreciate it more, since arriving in the missionary field."

The Era is favored with the following information by letter from President Heber J. Grant: The report of the British Mission for July, 1906, is as follows: Tracts 337,575, books 9,656, conversations 20,363, strangers' houses visited, 48,629. This shows an increase as compared with July of last year of 79,271 tracts, 3,843 books, 4,283 conversations, 4,989 strangers' houses visited. We had 45 baptisms, an increase of 19 as compared with last year. Average increase per elder: tracts 274, books 16, conversations 14.

Elder H. A. Gull, in a letter from Riverside, Calif., Aug. 21, says that himself and companion Elder Cuthbert Trimble have been in that field for three months and find it difficult to present their message to the people. He says that Riverside is one of the cleanest and prettiest cities in California, with a population of about 12,000; there are twenty- four churches, and most of the people are church goers. The elders have held some good street meetings, and spend from four to five days each week in tracting. Their Sundays are spent with the Saints and Elders of San Bernardino where the regular services are held. He closes by saying: "The Era is a welcome visitor, and we take great interest in the mes. sages from the missionaries. May God bless you and all the interests of Zion. '

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EDITOR'S TABLE. 975

Elder Junius F. Wells, writing on the 16th of August from So. Royalton, Vt., where the monument to the Prophet Joseph Smith is located, says: "I am nearing iihe end of my task here, and shall be glad to get through and back home again.

The place looks very well now that the grades are made, and the grass is beginning to come up. Many people call; every day, from half-dozen to half a hundredThis testimony in stone is doing its work, removing prejudice and awakening an interest in our cause and people. It will, in years to come, be a place where many Saints will rejoice to come for their summer vacation."

Elder W. B. Martin in a message from Baltimore, Md., August 19, says: "The Baltimore branch of the Eastern States Mission is in a flourishing condition, and prospects for more baptisms aTe very bright. Both English and Gorman services are held, the latter through the kindness of Elder Chas. M. Morris, who is studying law in Washington, and comes to Baltimore every Sunday to speak in that tongue. We have also a commendable Sunday school of which Elder Elihu ' Call is superintendent.

The report of the labors of the Swedish mission, for the month of July, 1906, shows that the sixty-five missionaries in the mission distributed 13,214 tracts; sold 2,395 books; held 243 meetings; baptized fourteen people; blessed three children ; and visited 10, 184 houses.

De Ster of August 15, has an account of the visit of President Joseph F. Smith in the Netherlands, on the 7th and 8th of August, accompanied by President Heber J. Grant of the British Mission, and Elder Chas. Nibley, who journeyed with him from Utah. Meetings were held at Amsterdam and Rotterdam, at which cities President Smith and others addressed attentive and large congregations. They left the Netherlands for a further visit to the continent on the 10th of August, having visited the Bague on the 9th where Alvin F. Smith joined the party. The visit of President Joseph F. Smith and partv is of unusual interest, as it is the

first time that a President of the Church, during his presidency, has visited Europe, and it came also as a surprise to the Saints and elders.

Elder Tracy Y. Cannon writing from Berlin, Germany, August 20, says : "I assure you that the Era is a valuable friend of mine. It is one of the best papers that the Church ever published. Its pages are full of noble thoughts. It truly " teaches that 'The Glory of God is Intelligence.'

Elder Jos. A. Fife, president of the Leeds conference, England, writes

August 22, to the Era: "The Lord is blessing us here, and we are meeting with very good success. Many are investigating the gospel; we have many friends here; we feel greatly encouraged, and thank the Lord for his blessings to us."

Elder E. M. Guest, Torey St., Nelson, New Zealand says, August 10: "The Era is certainly appreciated by all They can get people to read it the elders. when they will not read other books, and a great amount of good results therefrom. People who will not meet the elders are still anxious to read the Era which is thus performing a great missionary work. As elders we feel grateful for the ivilege of receiving it."