Messages from the Missions

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS. Elder Sylvester Q. Cannon, President of the Netherlands-Belgium mission, says: "It writing from Rotterdam, September 19, to Elder Heber Grant, J. is common among the elders when writing to you to tell you they appreciate the Era, It certainly is a very valuable magazine, and those butit is none the less meant. who publish it are very magnanimous in sending it free of charge to all the mis- sionaries in the field. Our work here is growing steadily, and developing in all directions. The outlook is prosperous. We have about sixty elders in Holland within the past and Belgium, nearly one half of whom have come into the field use of the four months. Of course, as yet these brethren are not very free in the together with the rest of language, but as soon as they get a little farther along, to accomplish a great work. the missionaries in this field, they will be able

60 IMPROVEMENT. ERA. There is plenty to do. The field is indeed ready for the harvest. A great deal of inquiry is manifest. There is naturally some opposition, and some incorrect arti- cles written in the papers. At the same time the papers are generally fair to us, and set forth our views also. Good results are being obtained in the way of bap- tisms. During the month of August, forty-five people were baptized, and the pros- pects are favorable for the future. We expect to be in another home by October 13." Mr. John Cottam, of No. 31 North Road, St. Helens, near Liverpool, England, writing to Elder I. L. Robson, of Ogden, Utah, among other things concerning the Latter-day Saints, acknowledges that he and his family are the gainers by coming in contact with such men as Brother Robson and the elders. He says of the pioneers: "Those Utah pioneers who are still living must be delighted with the sixty years of great progress; and with such men as they are still educating for the work, must achieve even greater success. If the converts you make in Eng- land are composed of the same material as the ear'.y pioneers, they should be per- suaded to stay here and build up another Utah in this country. I am aware that 'Mormon' missionaries are only flesh and blood, like one's self, but I can truthfully say that I have never met such good, upright, straightforward men before, and anyone coming in contact with them will be benefitted by their presence." Elder J. W. Linford, president of the Manawatu branch, Auckland, New Zealand, writes, August 31, 1907: "In an carticle in the July number of the Era, under 'Messages from the Missions,' giving an account of conditions in Porirua, the erroneous statement is made that most of the saints had fallen away, and would not invite the traveling elders to stav with them. While it is true that most of the Saints had grown indifferent, very few had fallen away, and none have ever been known to deny the truth. In Po- rirua, as elsewhere in New Zealand, there are always some of the natives who stand At no time in the history of the Porirua as pillars of light to their people. branch have people refused entertainment to the elders. On the contrary, they have always had kind treatment, and have had a comfortable, clean room at their disposal. They did tear the old chapel down, but it was done because it had been condemned, and they took immediate steps to collect funds to rebuild." Elder Jos. Woodbury writing the Era from Fairmont, West Va., September 23, states that he is encouraged at the prospects of the work in that part of the country, and that the outlook for the future is good. The greatest drawback is a shortage of laborers. 'We are trying to impress upon our converts the fact that ' the best way to learn more of the gospel is to teach it to others." He states that they are about to organize a Mutual Improvement Association among the young people. The elders are all well and working hard, though through the past sum- mer they have had considerable sickness. Writing from Tuasivi, Savaii, Samoa, August 20, 1907, Elder Wilford A. Porter says: "The Era is an ever welcome visitor to us who are laboring here on the islands of the sunny South. Its pages are filled with inspiring and uplifting

EDITOR'S TABLE. 61 thoughts, which we take great delight in reading. The work is progressing nicely here. There are three elders laboring on this island, and we are united in our labors. Myself and Elder Chas. Lallathine recently returned from a two months' prose- lyting tour around the island. We were successful in holding several excellent meetings and many good gospel conversations with the natives. While there are many who are prejudiced, and refuse to listen to the gospel, there are those who are congenial and apparently anxious to listen to our teachings. Were it not for the thoughts of being mocked and ridiculed by their own people, there would no dDubt be many who would gladly accept of the gospel. However, we do not feel discouraged, but put our trust in the Lord. And we are thankful that we have the privilege of publishing glad tidings of great joy to this people, who are indeed ' a branch of the house of Israel. Elder G, N. Curtis, secretary of the Northern States mission, writes from Chicago, September 21: The Lord is blessing us in this part of his vineyard and we have great cause to rejoice. Success is attending the efforts of the elders. The conference presidents met in Chicago the 30th and 31st of August for the pur- pose of devising ways and means of reaching the people of the Northern States mission. Several plans were talked over, and as a result our different conferences are following out several new plans. The one that is most in order is to divide the company in two sections, and aim to spend one night during the week in sev- eral towns that have been previously marked out by the conference president, and then at the end of the week, hold several meetings at some chosen point. All the elders are encouraged in this line of work, and are loud in praise of the same. The improved condition cf our work speaks highly of this new method- Wish you joy and success.