Messages from the Missions

EDITOR'S TABLE. 887 needy, naked soul. This is the spirit of fraternity that should guide and characterize the members of the Church of Christ, and particularly the members of the quorums and the organizations. The various needs of the brethren will suggest to their associates how this good service can best be done. MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS. Liahona, the Elders' Journal, gives an account of the burning of the L. D. S meeting house, at Cedar Glades, Ark., Sunday night, July 26, where there is a branch of the Church. "The fire was of incendiary origin, and the result of bigotry and intolerance. The Saints are greatly distressed over the loss, but, characteristic of their faith, expect soon to provide another place of worship." On July 4, Elder J. William Stoker returned from a mission to Japan, for which he left Salt Lake City, June 26, 1902. While there he translated the Brief History oj the Church, opened three missionary fields, spending one year and a half in the first, in another six months, and in the third three months. He also published a tract on faith. He reports that there are fourteen converts in that mission, and that the people are progressive and will choose the best in religion as they have done in other things. There are sixteen missionaries in Japan who are all treated kindly by the inhabitants. Elder John David Stevenson, writing from Marash, Syria, July 2, says: 'The work of the Church here seems to be moving slowly. We have quite a nurr,ber of investigators, and hope they wili soon join us and help us in the work. We are having very warm weather, the thermometer registering 36 degrees Centigrade. People are busy harvesting and threshing. The grapes will soon be ripe, when all will go to their vineyards to care for them. The people are very slow to adopt improvements. They cut corn the same as they did in the days of the Savior, and thresh it by driving cattle around on it. They work very hard, but with their old-style ways accomplish little." K. N. Winnie, of Nome City, Alaska, writes, June 30: "To be without the Era is to be without one of my best friends. We are hiving ideal weather here this summer. The days are long and hot, the thermometer ranging from 74 to 110 degrees, so that one would tLink that Alaska is not so cold after all. The Bering sea still has miles and miles of ice, and some of the oldest captains of ves. els sailing these waters, say that the ice will remain all summer, as in 1894. By current and wind, great fields of ice are forced through the strait, in the fall, from the Arctic ocean, and generally return with the spring break-up, through the straits to the Arctic again; but this is an exceptional season. All steamers have had very hazardous trips through the ice packs, endangering many lives."

888 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Elder Jesse P. Rich accompanied the remains home. Elder Burdette was the son of Brother and Sister Joseph Burdette, Salt Lake City, and left for his mission to Germany, April 24, 1907. He would have been 23 years old within a week of his sad death. At home he was a member of ihe Orpheus Club and the Tabernacle Choir, and was a highly respected and faithful young man. On July 15, Elders G. E. Gowans, Burdette P. Burdette Elders Hanks and Buhler* and two of the Saints of the Konigsberg branch, Prussia, Germany, went out to a bathing place contrary to instructions. Elder Gowans writes of the result to the Millennial Star : Some of us could swim, others could not. Brother Burdette was able to swim a little. There was a large log out on the water, with some men upon it. All the brethren except myself swam out to the log and got astride it. Suddenly it turned over and they were all thrown into the water. I saw Brother Burdette fighting hard, but making little headway. Brother Hanks and one of the Saints went to his assistance. They reached him just as he was going down the third time. He got hold of each of them and took them under the water with him. They barely escaped with their lives. Brother Burdette did not come to the surface again. After about half an hour's search, a man dived and brought up his body. Life was extinct. This sad event has taught us all a solemn lesson, to always hearken to the counsel of the Loid's servants. On July 16, Elder Junius F. Wells entertained Governor Proctor and his staff, at the Joseph Smith Monument, Sharon, Vermont. The Governor and his distinguished company were sojourning at Lake Mitchell, Sharon, for a few days, and on the day named came over to the monument in six automobiles and spent a few hours as the guests of Brother Wells at the monument cottage. The flag was run up on their arrival; and they were introduced to prominent citizens of Royalton who had been invited to be present. They were then conducted about the premises, shown the monument and its inscriptions, the hearthstone, photos illustrating the erection of the monument, etc. This over, they were entertained by music for an hour by Miss B. L. Cook and Miss Florence Jefferson, "Mormon" students at the Boston Conservatory of Music. Refreshments were then served, and after viewing the beautiful surrounding grounds, the party left at sundown. As they were lined up to start, Governon Proctor led in cheers for Mr. Wells, to which the residents and friends on the veranda responded with three cheers for the Governor. "Deseret," the new assembly hall of the Latter-day Saints recently erected in London, England, as headquarters for the London Conference, and as a general place of worship, was dedicated to the Lord, on Sunday, July 26. Five hundred Saints and friends assembled in the large assembly room at 2 p. m to witness the memorable service. President Charles W. Penrose, of the European Mission, offered the dedicatory prayer. President Soren Peterson, of the London Conference, gave an account of how the Church came into possession of this valuable property. It had been vacant for sixteen years, but no sooner had the Church taken the first step towards its purchase than other parties stepped in and got possession of it. These, however, after much negotiation decided to sell

EDITOR'S TABLE. 889 to the Church, and entered into an agreement to that effect. But they afterwards repented, and did all in their power to make the contract null and void. Difficulty after difficulty was encountered; but through the assistance of the Lord they had overcome them one by one, and at last the sale was effected. Elders W. A. Morton, of the Liverpool office, and President C. W. Penrose occupied the remainder of the time. At the evening services, Bishop T. R. Cutler, of Salt Lake City, Bishop Robert Price, of Idaho, President Penrose and Elder Reed Smoot occupied the time in addressing the large congregation. Every seat was occupied, and the occasion will long be remembered by the Saints, by those who took part, and by the thirty-five elders belonging to the London conference, who attended. A full account of the proceedings, with the dedicatory prayer, is found in the Millennial Star, July 30 . Elder Orson M. Rogers sends this message from Cross Street, Grahamston, C. Cm Africa, June 6, 1908: ' 'There are many young men at home who look upon South Africa as one of the worst places in the world for a mission, and many times at the mere mention of the name they shudder, and think of cannibals, Hot. entots, and Zulus. When some of my friends learned that I had been called to this "dark continent," they began to pity me, and to offer condolence. But they little knew the conditions, and have let exaggerated reports carry them away. This is the finest mission in the world, in my opinion, and I thank God without ceasing that I was called to this part of the globe to bear my testimony to the people who are in darkness. South Africa is very large, and an elder has many opportunities in his regular work to see most of it. Some of the scenery is magnificent, comparing favorably with some parts of America; and the traveling accommodations are fairly good. I know of no better place for studying character than'South Africa. Capetown, for instance, is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. Nearly every race is represented, affording splendid opportunity to broaden one's acquaintance with humanity. The settled inhabitants represent many different countries, too. There are the English, Dutch, German, and French, besides the different races of natives, including Kaffirs, Hotentots, Bushmen, Fingoes, Zulus and Basutos, each race having its own peculiarities. The pjople among whom we labor, the whites, are, as a rule, kind and hospitable. Many of them are eager to investigate the gospel, of which they have heard very little; so, great progress is bound to follow, and a missionary is kept busy in that labor of love than which nothing affords greater happiness, or more real pleasure. The climate here is grand. One soon gets accustomed to the heat in summer; and, as the winter is very mild, it is really fine- Fresh fruits and vegetables are plentiful the year round. Even if one does not care for all the natural advantages which this mission affords, there is one that appeals to nearly everyone, and that is the great chance in going and coming for seeing the world. One can come here via Australia, returning by way of England, thus circumnavigating the globe; or-he can encircle Africa, seeing Egypt and the Mediterranean ports, for only a few dollars extra. I wish I could make known to my brethren at home what great happiness one can have in this country, in doing the work of the ministry. I am sure that many would be eager to come here if they only realized the

890 IMPROVEMENT ERA. true conditions. The gospel is just as true here as anywhere, and as many of God's blessings are enjoyed; and what is more, the people are in just as much need of the pure gospel here as in any other country in the world. I rejoice that I have been sent here, and am content to stay as long as I am needed." By permission we copy the following from a letter received by the family of Elder Alma 0 . Taylor, president of the Japanese mission, dated July 16. He also sends the accompanying cut: Portrait of a Crematory, on top of a high hill, north of the City of Kofu. It is leased by the city to a person who charges $1. for cremating each body, and 25 ets extra if he conveys the body up the hill. The Crematory in Tokyo is larger, but of the same pattern. Three elders are laboring in Kofu. Elder Joseph H. Stimpson stands at the left of the picture and Elliot C. Taylor, on the right. Yesterday I finished the review of the criticised portion of the Book of Mormon, translation down to the end of the third chapter,third Book of Nephi. This review has been more arduous than I anticipated, but I have completed it fifteen days sooner than I expected. Before many more days something very interesting in this work will be announced. Very shortly, I shall visit the elders' colony in Morioka and Sapporo. It will be my first visit to Hokkaido in midsummer, and will occupy about two weeks. All the elders in this mission are in tolerably good health. Physically I am one of the strongest, for which I am very thankful. Sister Tnomas is not only fully reconciled, but is excellently well adapted to the conditions which surround her here; being the only lady missionary among so many of us of the sterner sex. During the first six months of the present year we distributed 12,144 tracts, sold 203 books; held 337 meetings; had 1,561 gospel conversations; visited 5,723 families; revisited 5,199 families; baptized 4 — 3 males and 1 female. The biggest part of our work, however, is that which figures do not show.