Editor’s Table: A Literary Discovery

' 650 IMPROVEMENl ERA. apprehension that H. L. Birch was the bona fide author, the name of John Jaques was dropped and Birch's name substituted in the late revised ecition of the hymn book. This change induced many inquiries and considerable criticism, some pronouncing it unfortunate and astonishing that an honest man like Elder John Jaques should permit his name to be used sa many years as the author of a familiar hymn, when in reality he was not the author. Others, of apparently superior literary intel- ligence, knew full well that the hymn was much better than any- thing John Jaques had ever written. Under these circumstances, the matter was looked into a little further, and one day was discussed in the presence of President John R. Winder, who immediately recognized in the name of Harvey L. Birch the early nom de plume of Elder John Jaques, and stated that he himself was familiar with the fact that many of the early articles of Brother Jaques for the i>tar were written over this signature. The truth is that John Jaques is the author of the beautiful hymn, "Softly beams the sacred dawning," he having first written it under the sobriquet, Harvey L. Birch. The change in the revision of the late edition of the hymn book arose from the fact that those who revised it did not know the facts in this case as herein set forth, and hence the error. This correction and statement is due to the honored name of Elder John Jaques; and the information that he wrote the hymn under the name of Birch should be as widely known as the error which was made in chang- ing it. It is to be hoped that the critics who were so positive that the hymn was superior to anything ever written by Brother Jaques,^ will also repent and be very particular in the future as to how they criticise unjustly, and without true proof. Joseph F. Smith. MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS. Writing from Hyde, England, February 12, 1907, Elder Julian M. Thomas- says: "The pages of the Era are brim full of interesting and instructive matter from cover to cover. We missionaries take a delight in the articles on science, as well as in the stories and historical articles, and find pleasure in reading it from ' cover to cover.

: EDITOR'S TABLE. r,51 K. N. Winnie, writing from Nome City, Alaska, iindi-r date of Febniar, 20, Says: "Brother Edward G. Cannon and myself are holding gospel meetings regu- larly during this winter, and quite a number are interesting themselves in the principles of the gospel." These brethren are in the far north mining, and they have found some quartz veins in the section of the country where they are mining for placer gold. During the long winter night in the north , they have sought to illumine the darkness by teaching their fellow men the principles of the gospel. It appears from the Millennial Star that during the year 1906, in the British mission, the 281 missionaries in the field baptized 676 people, visited 857,214 homes, di.-^tributed 4,092,449 tracts and 136,830 books; 19,285 meetings were held, and 278,319 gospel conversations. The mission has a membership of 4,743, not including 732 children who are under eight years of age. From the Netherlands-Belgiam mission report for March, 1907, sent the Era by President Alexander Nibley, we learn that there are 45 elders in the five con- ferences of this mission, 11 of whom are laboring in Liege. Daring the month 35,091 tracts were distributed and 10,905 strangers' homes were visitel, includ- ing 740 visited by reinvitation; 2,709 gospel conversations were hell, or an aver« age of 60 per elder. There were 30 baptisms. The Era acknowledges an invitation to attend the conjoint'annual conference and dedicatory services of the new Latter-day Saints church, corner Twenty-seventh and Clark streets, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 23 and 24, 1907. Services were lield on Saturday evening, 7:30, and Sunday at 1 and 7:30. President Arnolil H. Schultbess of Salt Lake City, and President German E. Ellsworth, of the North- ern States mission, Elder George N. Curtis, of Chicago, and President John Rus- son, of the Wisconsin conference, besides twenty- four traveling missionaries from Utah, Idaho and Canada, were present. The Milwaukee male quartette and branch choir gave several musical selections. Writing from Liverpool, England, February 7, the following results of an open air meeting, are given by Elder Robert Price, of the Liverpool office, British mission It is very interesting to missionaries of the Church to observe the manner in which the Lord directs their labors as he did those of his servants in former days. By his Holy Spirit he told his servant Philip to go and meet the Ethiopian eunuch and to teach him the truths of the everlasting gospel. The writer of this sketch had a similar experience, a short time ago. In company with Elder Walter E. Grant, I was holding a street meeting in the city of Liverpool. Quite a number of people had gathered to hear us. Just before closing our services, I was told by the Holy Spirit, that among the listeners were a man and woman who desired to know the truth, and who would join the Church if they understood the gospel. go up and speak to them, which I did as soon the meeting was I felt impressed to over. them briefly our message, and invited them to come to an indoor I told T told Elder Grant what had been mani- meeting to be held the following week. little surprised when he told festedto me by the Spirit of the Lord and was not a presented the me that he had received a similar impression in a similar way. I