Messages from the Missions

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS. "A district conference of the Latter-day Saints of the Manawatn district wm held at Porirua, near Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5, 1907. A large assembly of natives gathered to pay respects to Elder Benjamin Goddard, formerly president of the district. Most of the Porirua Saints had fallen away and would not inrite the traveling elders to stay with them. They refused to give food or lodging to the elders and had destroyed their church house, one of the best Maori churches in New Zealand When Brother and Sister Goddard visited the Saints at Porirua they remembered his kindness to them in the past, and re- pented. The Saints promised to build a new church, and respect the authority of the elders. On Monday, the 6th, field-sports were held and the belles of Porirua danced the famous "Railway" Poi dance, in honor of Brother and Sister Goddard'a visit. The way for successful work at Porirua has again been opened, and the Saints are willing to welcome the servants of the Lord." Thus writes Ernest L. Dee, to the Era, under date of May 10. The monthly report of the Swedish mission for April, 1907, shows that there were ten baptisms, five ordinations, two children blessed, 254 meetings, 2,010 gospel conversations. The sixty - three missionaries in the country visited 13,294 strangers' homes, sold 4,603 books, and distributed 20,423 tracts. Elder Geo. C . Smith has been released as president of the Gottenborg conference, and Thomas Spongberg called to succeed him. Elder Smith left Liverpool on the steamship Arabic, May 24. Elder Gustave Anderson who has presided over the conference at Norkoping was also released to return to his home in Utah, and Elder August A. Nordvall appointed to preside in his place. There were 36 baptisms in the Scandinavian mission for the month of April, seven ordinations, and six children blessed. One hundred and thirty elders held 440 meetings during the month, and 5,458 gospel conversations. They visited 21,755 strangers' homes, and distributed 30,124 tracts, 3,569 books. We learn from Scandinaviens Stjerne, May 15, that the conference meetings at Aalborg were held in the new Latter-day Saints meeting house which is now about ready. The decorations are pronounced very beautiful. The large hall was filled with at-

EDITOR'S TABLE. 755 tentive listeners during the conference, and the work is progressing nicely, not only in this conference, but in the whole mission. The health of the elders is good, many people are investigating the gospel. The general feeling among the people towards the Latter-day Saints is much better than it was a year ago. Pre- sident J. M. Christensen visited the conference in Trondhjem, Norway, on the 27th of April. On the Sunday evening, the M. I. A. met and rendered a first- class program, consisting of songs, music, reading,and speeches. A social was held after the meeting at which lunch was served and a program given. The Era is in receipt of report from President Alexander Nibley, of the Netherlands-Belgium mission, of the work done for April, 1907: There are five conferences as follows, with the number of elders laboring in each: Amsterdam, 8; Arnhem, 7; Groningen, 6; Liege, 10; Rotterdam, 11. During the month these elders distributed an average of 30,790 tracts, an average of 733 for each elder. In addition to these, each elder distributed as average of 26 books, and visited 8,365 strangers' homes. They held 2,519 gospel conversations making an aver- age of 60 for each elder, and performed 34 baptisms. President Nibley is released »nd Sylvester Q. Cannon is now president of the mission. By letter from Elder A.F. Rundquist, dated Gefle, Sweden, May 18, we learn: A most successful conference of the elders and Saints of Northern Sweden, was held in Sundsvall, May 4 and 5. Twelve elders laboring in the conference, Presi- dent Matson of the Swedish mission, and wife, and four visiting elders from Stock- holm were present One meeting was held Saturday evening, and two on Sunday, . and the gospel was preached to attentive listeners most of whom were strangers and friends. On Sunday morning at 11 o'clock a fast-meeting of the Saints and elders was held. Many strong testimonies were borne, and fatherly advice was given by President Matson. The following day at 11 o'clock, 18 elders and Presi- dent Matson met in priesthood meeting. President Gustaf A. Hoagland of the Sundsvall conference, reported some difficulty in preaching the gospel, as the pop- ulation is scattered, and the area is as large as the other tour conferences of the Swedish mission combined. The Northern part of the conference extends beyond the Arctic circle, making active work in winter almost impossible on account of snow and continual darkness. President Matson encouraged and instructed the elders, many of whom gave their experiences and bore their testimonies. The meeting lasted four hours, and the Spirit of God was poured out in rich abund- ance, filling every heart to overflowing. A pleasing feature of the conference was the splendid singing by the Sundsvall choir, under the direction of Brigham Munson . On Tuesday evening a banquet was tendered the laboring elders and visitors, there being about 60 in number, and the evening was spent in a feasting, musical program, games, etc. President Hoagland and the elders of this conference are laboring in unity and love, and much good is being done for a future harvest. Prejudice is being allayed, and a few from time to time are added to the Church, There are eleven elders, at the present time, laboring in the Japan mission, presided over by Elder Alma 0. Taylor.

756 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Elder Ernest Eaton, writing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 29, says: "The long, severe winter is now over, and the 'Mormon' elder is again seen on the street corner explaining to the people the truths which are indispensable for their salvation. The blessings of the Lord attend us in our work. The Era is read ' with enthusiasm and interest by all the elders. Elder William A. Morton, of the Liverpool office, 295 Edge Lane, under date of May 23, writes congratulating Elder Alpha J. Higgs on his appointment to the position of assistant manager of the Era. He says "I am delighted to hear of : the success of the magazine. It has become indespensable to the Latter-day Saints, and I hope that the day will speedily come when every family in Zion will be a subscriber. The work of the Lord is growing rapidly in this land. About forty members have been added to the Liverpool branch during the past six months, and there are quite a number investigating the gospel in this city." There were fifty-seven baptisms in the Southern States Mission for the two weeks ending May 17; twenty-seven children were blessed; and one Sunday School was organized in the Kentucky conference. No. 1, Vol. 5, of Liahona-The Elder s Journal, has come to hand, dated June 22.