Messages from the Missions

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS.

following report From Nordstjarnan, published at Stockholm, Sweden, the for the five conferences in that country for September is taken: 68 missionariea,

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148 IMPROVEMENT ERA. 23,345 tracts distributed, 15,321 strangers' homes visited, 2,115 gospel conver- sations, 294 meetings held, 6 baptisms, 3 ordinations, 4 children blessed.

Skandinaviens Stjerne gives the following as the report for September in the six conferences of the Scandinavian mission: 140 missionaries, 30,097 tracts dis-

tributed, 4,310 boaks distributed, 23,707 strangers' homes visited, 5,462 gospel conversations, 429 meetings held, 18 baptisms, 2 ordinations, and 15 children blessed.

Elder Charles W. Penrose, of the Council of Apostles, arrived in Liverpool, Friday morning, November 2nd, 1906, per s.s. Arabic. He has been appointed to succeed President Heber J. Grant in the presidency of the European mission as soon as the latter retires therefrom. Elder Penrose is in excellent health and spirit*^, and is familiarizing himself with the work of the mission. May the blessings of the Lord attend his labors ! Millennial Star.

Elder R. A. Badger, president of the South African mission, sends this message to the Era, under date of October 3: "The work of the Lord is progressing nicely in this far-off land. The elders are all well, and rejoicing in the privileges of the gospel." In this connection, the Era has frequently received requests for the address of the South African mission. It is: No. 16 Victoria Road, Woodstock, Cape Colony, South Africa.

President- Grant's report of the British 'mission for September shows that while not quite as many tracts were distributed as in August, more books were sold and more conversations were held. The total tracts were 420,530, an in-

crease of 181,696, or over 40 per cent, compared with September, 1905. The total books was 14,033, an increase of 8,727, or 160 per cent; and the total gospel conveisations was 28,297, an increase of 12,722, or 80 per cent. There were 76,627 strangers' houses visited, an increase of 29,302. There are 24 more elders laboring in the mission this year than last.

We are in receipt of many kind expressions from our friends, and from the elders in the field, but space forbids us using them, except one now and ttien. The following must suffice for this month: "The Improvement Era is indeed a welcome visitor in the homes of the elders. In whosesoever hands it falls it softens the heart, gladdens the spirit, and gives room for further investigation of the gospel of Christ. May the Lord bless Its inspired readings are indeed a solace to us elders.

your labors and cause that the Era may continue to do the missionary work it is low doing." Wm. A. Crowther, Vancouver, B. C, September 28, 1906.

One of the elders from England writing to the Improvement Era says : ' 'It is

1 simple matter, but I suggest that when you have a circular to send you do not tnclose it with your letter, but send it separately. Your prospectus asking us to subscribe for the Era was just heavy enough to make your letter overweight, and cost us a 10- cent fine. This is particularly annoying to our elders. People at home write them and put a postcard in the envelope, and this often costs them 10 cents." This little complaint correspondents may well take to heart.

EDITORS TABLE. 149

Elder John Russon, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sent the Era an invitation to attend a special conference of the Latter-day Saints, in Milwaukee, on Saturday and Sunday, November 10 and 11. Among those who were present were President German E. Ellsworth, of the Northern States mission. Elders Hyrum M. Smith and Charles H. Hart, of Salt Lake City; President John Russon, of the Wisconsin conference, and twenty-four traveling missionaries from Utah, Idaho, Colorado and Canada. Some splendid musical numbers were on the program, including "0 my Father," 'Home Love," "There is Plenty to Do," "School thy Feelings," "One Day Nearer Home," "I Need Thee Every Hour," by the Milwaukee Quartet Club. Other songs were a solo by Mrs. Margaret Soule, a violin solo by Elder F. M. Mortensen, and a select solo by Elder E. A. Paxman. Public meetings were held Saturday evening at 7:30, and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Elder Samuel 0. Bennion.of Taylorsville, has been appointed to succeed Elde'^ James G. Duffin as the president of the Central States mission, with head-quarters at Kansas City. The mission was turned over to Elder Bennion on November 1. President Duffin with Elders Hyrum M. Smith and Chas. H. Hart, held conference at St. Johns, in Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, at Kelsey, Tex., and in Kansas City, during the month of October. Good instructions were given, and the Spirit of the Lord was poured out in rich abundance in all the meetings. Elder Duffin, who has presided over the mission for six and one-half years, which does not include six months that he labored in the state of Texas as a^ traveling elder and president of a conference before taking charge of the mission, returns to his

home in Provo, Utah, with the love and confidence of every missionary wko has labored under him during this long time, and with the best wishes and love of the Saints of that mission, and the good will of the men of the world with whom he had business relations. A brief partial report of the mission during his incumbency is found in another column.

Elder John Nash, of Brisbane, sends the following message to the Era: Aside from the benefits arising from the performing of a mission in preaching the everlasting gospel to those who are in darkness that comes to all, there are, I believe, benefits derived from a mission to Australia that are not had in any

other mission in the world. This is a broad statement, yet I believe it to be true.

In the first place, there is a reluctance in going so far away from home, which, •when overcome, brings a blessing in a richer outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the head of the young elder who has had the courage to accept the call, and not ask to be transferred to some place nearer home. Then there is the long distance, and the varied modes of traveling. The splendid palace cars with which he commences his journey from Salt Lake City, the ocean palaces that are to be his home for three weeks or a month, (a time never to be forgotten) of which he grows so tired; then the little cooped up trains in which he concludes his journey, after spending a few days in Sidney, if he feels he has had enough water; or the coast steamers by which he reaches his field of labor, if he prefers to little rough

travel by water. All these are times never to be forgotten, and develop in the

150 IMPROVEMENT ERA. young missionary an appreciation for the conditions that surround his mountain home. Before he has reached his field of labor he has had the privilege of crossing the torrid zone and to land in a place as far south of the equator as his home is north. In passing the different islands he has seen the varied plant life and productions of the tropical regions, and, if he is energetic and watchful he has procured samples and curios from these parts that will ever bring up in remembrance the scenes through v/hich he has passed. He has met with different races of people. In fact, a trip to Australia, and a sojourn for several years in that land, brings him in contact with nearly every race on the globe, unless it be the Eskimo. He has learned more or less of their habits and characteristics, and again appreciates the fact of being blessed in birth and religion. When he arrives in his field of labor, he has an abiding faith in the gospel which he represents, and believes it to be true, with all his heart; yet he hasn't the least idea

what the world really believes, or how to defend his doctrine from the arguments of man-made systems of religion. On his first day's round of tracting, he meets some one who is ready to do him battle for religion's sake, and he returns home that day 'a sadder but a wiser man." ' There is a sort of pre-occupied air about that young man for several days, a deep delving into books, especially the Bible, and when the next week comes around and he again goes over his district, he returns with satisfaction written on his face. He has met his first opposition, and has come off victorious. He has learned that there is another religious system in the world, and what .its principles are. So, day by day, he meets new doctrines, and sees, as he compares the one he represents with the others, how grand, gracious and ennobling are the truths of the gospel of the Son of God. In Australia he will meet nearly every doctrine taught in the world, and therefore gains a broader understanding of religion, and proves to himself that the true gospel will withstand every argument brought against it. Then, again, he is so far away from home that there is no use of getting homesick, no chance to get home until released honorably, or money comes from home to pay his passage, and he

will die first, rather than show the white feather, so he goes to work with zeal

and energy immediately, and continues steadfastly in his labors until he is surprised to fir.d his time is up and an honorable release is in his hands. He has put his whole trust in his Heavenly Father, and has been abundantly blessed. He finds that he is among a broad-minded people, who, as a rule, are religiously inclined, and as a rule, do not condemn him unheard, yet will not accept his message unquestioned. He returns home a broad-minded, liberal-hearted man, willing to accord to every man the right to believ3 as he may wish, thoroughly grounded in his faith, and with an unfaltering trust in his Heavenly Father. He is ready now for the battle of life, an honest, sober, upright man, one whom the Lord delights to own and bless.