Messages from the Missions

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS. Elder Richard B. Summerhays, a son of Elder J. W. Summerhays of this city, who has labored two years in the office of the Southern States Mission, left Salt Lake City, August 16, after a visit home of six weeks, on a call to settle perma- nently in Independence, Mo. He was married a short time before his departure, and his wife accompanied him to their new home. In the Swedish Mission for the one-half year ending June 80, 1907, there were 50 baptisms, 9 ordinations, and 13 children blessed. The 61 elders who labored in the five conferences of that mission, distributed 142,755 tracts, 28,956 books, and visited 93,156 strangers' homes, and held 12, 527 gospel conversations. This information is sent by President P. Matson, who adds: "Success to the Era." Elder JohnRusson, who has been secretary of the Northern States mission for a length of time, and who departed on his mission the 28th of March, 1905, has returned from his field of labor to Lehi, his home. He reports that during the past three months the elders in the Wisconsin conference sold 5,000 books. There are three branches of the Church in this state, and a church building erected in Milwaukee last year costing $4,600. Elder Alvin E. Jordan sends the following message to the Era from Ports- mouth, England, under date of August 14: "There are about 30 elders in the London conference working diligently for the furtherance of the great cause. with marked People are receiving the elders kindly, and their labors are meeting success. A baptism service was held at Tibberton Square Baths, London, July first prin- 28. After singing and prayer. President Miles L. Jones explained the ciples of the Gospel and advised those who were about to be baptized, fourteen in number. The confirmations took place at No. 97 Farley Road, London, N. My at Stokes Bay, companion and I also had the pleasure of baptizing five converts Portsmouth, August 6. There have been 81 baptisms in the London conference thus far this year; whereas, there were only 50 in all of the year 1906. We en- prospects for the future joy the Spirit; the Lord is blessing our labors, and the are very bright."

994 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Elder C. A. Callis, president of the Florida conference, of the Southern States mission, writes that there have been upwards of 170 baptisms since the beginning of the year in that conference, and that the prospects for the future are bright; opportunities for preaching the gospel are daily increasing. The con- ference has 1,500 members, with seven branches, eight Sunday schoo's, and three relief societies. A new meetinghouse is being erected in the Nebo branch, size 40x45 feet. Here there is a membership of one hundred, and the Sunday school has an enrollment of eighty seven, the attendance frequently exceeding one hun- dred. Another church, 25x40 feet, is being built in the Douglass branch. Re- ligion classes, Relief societies, Sunday Schools, and Mutual Improvement associa- tions are being organized, and the work generally is thriving. At Jacksonville, the headquarters of the conference, there is a comfortable chapel, nicely car- peted and well seated. "On the first Sunday in July we had special exercises in our Sunday school, and gave rewards of merit to the children who had attended the most faithfully during the first half of this year," writes Elder Fred A. Caine, from Tokyo, July 19. "Two little girls tied for first place, neither having been absent or late during the time. Two boys were present every time, but one was late onee and the other twice. One boy and three girls were absent once, but early all the rest of the time. One boy and one girl were late once and absent once. One girl was absent twice, but never late. One boy was absent twice and late five times, but during part of the time he had to come about two miles to the school. The interest taken in this organization by the children is indeed very gratifying. Recently we changed the time of the meeting of our Japanese Bible class from Saturday after- noon to Friday evenings. Since then the attendance has greatly improved, and we have had very interesting sessions. We have adopted the plan of announcing the subject for our Sunday evening meeting each week on a large frame with a paper pasted on it, which we put in front of the house. This has increased the interest and attendance at the meetings. Two weeks ago last Sunday evening I spoke on 'What is man?' and enjoyed the blessings of the Holy Spirit to a degree that I seldom have on other occasions. Last Sunday I spoke on 'The Plan of Sal- vation,' and was again greatly blessed. All our work is in a very good .con- dition." President P. Matson, of the Swedish mission, Svartansgatan 3, Stockholm, Sweden, sends the following message to the Era, 'under date of August 19: ' 'Thanks for the notice in the Era regarding the Swedish mission — small remind- ers to our people at home that there is such a mission, for I am inclined to think that this fact is not generally known. Everything is "Scandinavian" with many of our presidents of stakes j»ndi bishops of wards. That is why so many of our elders who might as well be laboring in Sweden are sent to the Scandinavian mission, rendering us constantly short of workers. Perhaps, however, the breth- ren in the Scandinavian mission have none too many elders either; but they have generally double the number that we have, while they have no more territory to cover, and not so large a population, and this is speaking of Sweden only. We

EDITOR'S TABLE. 995 have many Swedish speaking people in Finland, among whom some missionary work could be done if we had elders to send there. We used to have a few Saints there who have apparently been forgotten. We have finally succeeded in publishing a new edition of the Swedish Book of Mormon, the old edition having been sold out over four years ago. We missed the book very much in our mis- sionary work, and some people had expressed their belief that we had become ashamed of the book and, therefore, did not publish it any more. We rejoice now that we can successfully refute this slander, and also supply all demands for the book. The revision of the book and the inserting of the foot-notes or refer- ences has been a tedious work for which Elder Swen Swensen deserves much credit. With all our troubles, failures, and disappointments, we rejoice in our labors, and all hope to succeed in filling an honorable mission, and in due time be allowed to return home satisfied. The elders here are all well. The following are extracts from a letter written by Elder Fred A. Caine to his mother, from Tokyo, Japan, July 19, 1907: have been mostly engaged in reading proofs of the Brief History of the I Church with Elder Stoker, and in reading some of the Book of Mormon transla- tions. I am progressing quite well. President Taylor is spending most of his time on the revision of the translation of the Book of Mormon, which is progress- ing very well. We are trying to obtain the services of a man to criticize this translation, but so far have not been successful A number of my friends writing from home,seem to think that I have been here longenongh; but I will explain some of the reasons that demand my further stay. This mission is different from most and in order to accomplish any amount of good, it is necessary for a others, missionary to stay here at least four or five years. To only stay here two or two miraculously and one-half years is practically a waste of time, unless a person is the language very much given the gift of tongues, and becomes able to speak I think, therefore, that an ordinary quicker than anyone here has done so far. missionary should stay here at least four years, and, if possible, five: but Presi- different position to the ordinary dent Taylor, Elder Stoker and myself, are in a translation missionary. During the past three years we have been engaged in not yet completed. If all of us should leave now. the work, some of which is other missionary work would fall on whole' responsibility of this translation and the shoulders of elders who have been here only two years. are not proud We in this kind of work, but have been striv- of our ability; we realize our weakness for it, and we feel that if this work were ing to become strong and equip ourselves about the language as President given to someone who does not know so much would suflfer. It would suffer if President Taylor should leave it, Taylor does, it we were to leave it and give it into less and give it into our hands; so also, if experienced hands. We therefore feel that the only proper thing is for President Taylor to stay here until the Book of Mormon translation is published; and we that it is necessary and proper for Elder Stoker and myself to remain also feel us to give President Taylor any assistance in here as long as it is necessary for matter be two or three years longer. Day before vesterday was this line no if it Japan, audit seems a long time to me; but I the fifth anniversary of my arrival in

" — 996 IMPROVEMENT ERA. often think of the sacrifices which the Gospel calls people to make. There are hundreds in the Church who have had to give up home and all their relatives for the sake of the truth. In such cases I imagine that their sufferings were in- creased by the thought that their relatives would not receive the Gospel, and have rejected the means that would save them. With us, dear mother, it is different, and it makes me very happy to think, that though we are a very long way from each other, we are both engaged in the same cause, and are doing what we can for the advancement of the work of God. We should feel very badly if our separation was caused because one would not obey the Gospel, and would not tolerate the other in obeying it. As it is, we are separated because of our desire to obey the truth, and do what the servants of God ask of us. Elder Daniel P. Woodland of the Japanese mission, writing from Sendai, Japan, June 19, says: "I am laboring in this city with Elder John L. Chadwick as a companion. We are making a few friends, and distributing our literature freely in all parts of the city. However, the people are somewhat indifferent towards Christianity, and we find it very hard to get into their homes. The Japanese question in America has caused some animosity here.