--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 11 number: 12 published: 1908-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Close of Volume Eleven and Messages from the Missions," *Improvement Era* 11, no. 12 (October 1908): 961–964.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera11012unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera11012unse start_page: 961 end_page: 964 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1908-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera11012unse publication_year: 1908 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1908, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Close of Volume Eleven and Messages from the Missions EDITOR'S TABLE. 961 expedient, displeasing in the sight of God, and a most serious evil as well as social loss to the community and the nation. Joseph F-. Smith. CLOSE OF VOLUME ELEVEN. This number closes volume eleven of the Improvement Era ; it has marked the highest circulation in the history of the magazine. We are thankful to our friends for the loyal support extended to our publication. To the officers of the Y. M. M. I. A. and the presidents of Seventies we extend sincere thanks for their help in obtaining subscribers, and trust they may prove as energetic and loyal in this respect for volume twelve . We all owe a debt of gratitude to the writers who have contributed their best efforts to the pages of the Era. We call the attention of our readers to the good things in the announcement of volume twelve in this number, and invite them to renew their subscriptions on the blank found in the advertising pages. We solicit the co-operation of all to make the Era a greater power for the great cause which it represents. MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS. The report of baptisms for July in the Scandinavian mission is given by President Soren Rasmussen as follows: in Copenhagen 11; in Aarhus 2; in Aalborg 3; in Christiania 10; Bergen 2; Trondhjem 1. He writes President Penrose of the British Mission that the prospects for the future are very encouraging. Elder John Loosely, of Clarkston, Utah, died in Europe on July 29. He had been laboring as a missionary in the Swiss and German Mission fur more than thirty months, doing faithful service. The remains were sent from Cologne, August 3, in charge of Elder Archie Willey. Elder Loosely leaves a wife and 962 IMPRO VEMENT ERA . six children who have the heartfelt sympathy of all their friends in the death of their husband and father. President Charles G. Jarman of the Bristol Conference, England, writes, August 13 : ' 'The work of the Lord is growing in this part of the vineyard , The month of June was the banner month for the Bristol Conference, the average labor for each elder being as follows; tracts delivered from door to door, 1,828; books distributed, 70; gospel conversations, 198. The semi-annual conference was held on the 24th of May, and all the elders expressed themselves as pleased with the work in which they aro engaged." The Millennial Star calls attention to a letter written by a non- "Mormon" which appeared in the Bradford Daily Telegraph, August 14, in relation to the Horton Lane Chapel, one of the largest places of worship in Bradford, and which belongs to a branch of the Methodists, once very popular but now no longer ableto support a minister. It is, therefore, closed, and the question has been asked, "What is to become of Horton Lane Chapel?" Several suggestions have appeared in the Telegraph, and the latest quoted in the Star is from Mr. J. M. Shilling. He suggests that the church be handed over "either as a gift, or on an extended jease at a reasonable rent to the 'Mormons.' it would then stand a chance of becoming a House of Light and Power, so much needed in this city. This hitherto ostracised people, the Latter-day Saints, are the most real progressive section of the Christian Church, and money is not a question with them. They have in this district a membership of 700 or 800 with twentyfive ministers; collections are not known amongst them; they ask no help from outside; yet they pay their way. I heard their president say a short time ago, reading the yearly report, that every member in his district was accounted for every Sunday, except the sick, who sent a note stating reason of absence; a proof of the vitality that in them is. I know that they are opposed by the clergy and ministers of the day. But why? In the week-day school the principal and all the teachers are members of the 'Mormon' Church, and the sons and daughters of Church of England clergymen, sidesmen, doctors, lawyers, and the wealthy of the district in which it is situated are amongst the pupils. Surely what is good for these would be good for the people in general. Yours, etc., J. M. Shilling." In June, 1908, it was ten years since Elder Ben E. Rich was called to preside over the Southern States mission. On August 28, he published his farewell to the Saints and missionaries of that mission, having been appointed to succeed Elder J. G. McQuarrie as president of the Eastern States mission, with headquarters in New York. Elder Charles A. Callis, formerly superintendent Y. M. M. I. A. of Summit stake, later president of the Florida Conference, and recently of the South Carolina Conference, has been called to succeed Elder Rich, and has published his greeting under date of August 28. In it he says, concerning the labors of President Rich: EDITOR'S TABLE. 963 During his administration 25,000 Books of Mormon have been sold; 15,000 Orson Pratt's works; 160,000 Voices of Warning; 150,000 Durants; 25,000 song books; and 40,000 miscellaneous books bearing on the gospel; 3,500,000 gospel tracts have been distributed. All of the above, excepting the Books of Mormon, have been published and distributed in the mission. There have been upwards of 6,800 baptisms; added to the foregoing, the hundreds of thousands of gospel conversations the elders have held with friends and investigators and one gets an idea of the magnitude of the missionary work in the south. During President Rich's ministry, the work of the Lord has made substantial progress in the great cities of the south. The beautiful chapel in Jacksonville; the neat and inviting Church in Atlanta, the "queen city of the south;" the pretty country chapels with which the country is dotted are some of the monuments to the zeal and untiring industry of this devoted servant of God. And the large and elegant mission house in Chattanooga is evidence of his wisdom in the management of the temporal affairs of the mission. Last year there were 843 baptisms in the mission, and it is expected that this year the number will reach 1,000. Between sixteen and seventeen hundred missionaries have labored under President Rich, and he declares that the success of the mission is due to their faithful efforts. They have been obedient, clean and faithful in every circumstance — traveled through sunshine, rain and sleet, suffering many privations, and often sleeping in the woods in carrying the gospel message to their brethren and sisters of the world. They have sought entertainment among strangers, taught the gospel at their firesides, and held public meetings in halls, in the woods and upon street corners. "It has been an army of men," says Elder' Rich, "that I have been most proud to be associated with, and to enjoy the confidence and respect of such an army of workers has been worth more to me and has brought me more happiness than any other that could have been bestowed by the combined armies of the greatest earthly powers in existence. The hour of parting of necessity brings with it sadness, and to say goodby to my brethren, to the Saints and to our dear mission home, touches the tenderest strings of my heart." To the people of the South, he says : God bless the people of the Southern States! Thousands ef them, many of whom do not belong to the Church, have opened their homes as a resting place for our elders, giving them both food and shelter in the name of -a disciple of Christ. At times we have had over five hundred elders laboring as missionaries, the majority of whom were traveling without purse or scrip, and many times most of them were housed and fed by people who were not members of the Church. God's eternal blessings rest upon them. If I could speak personally to these generous-hearted Southerners, I would say that the day will come when the Master will say to them, I was hungry and ye fed me, I was tired, and ye gave me a bed, was surrounded by mobs and ye defended me; and if they ask, when did we do this? the Master will point to the "Mormon" elders and say. Ye have done it unto them, therefore ye have done it unto me. In the cities of the south I have enjoyed the hospitality of these people, and in the woods of the south I have been welcomed with the beet they had. In times of peace they have ministered to my comforts, and in times of trouble, when surrounded by armed mobs, they have shown a willingness to lay down their lives for me; and I say again, God bless the people of the south ! I shall be grateful if the elders will tell our Saints and 964 IMPROVEMENT ERA. friends that I carry with me to my new field of labor happy recollections of my missionary days in the Southern States. Elder J. L. Workman writes the News from San Antonio, Texas, August 21: "Last month the Central States Mission sold 577 Books of Mormon, 4,301 small books, and distributed 40,000 tracts." He states that the Mexicans are more interested in the Book of Mormon than any one else. The South Texas Conference embraces the south half of the state, and there are thirteen elders laboring there, four in the country and nine in the city. Elders Henry Oyler, J. D. Pratt, Edwin Gittus and J. C. Qualman are laboring in the country districts, visiting Saints, investigators, friends and others. The following elders are in the city laboring for three months during the warmest weather: J. L. Workman, W. E. Bay, J. H. Luke, A. J. Cordon, M. F. Hixson; J. E. Mitchell, Niels Christenson, P. D. Mc Arthur and J. S. Martin. Elder George M. Cannon, Jr., writing under date of August 19, from Cape Colony, South Africa, says: "Our mission here in South Africa is growing rapidly, so rapidly, in fact, that the churches around us here are quite alarmed. To stop our growth they are organizing missions also and hold street meetings in the district where most of our investigators and the Saints are living. We are losing no ground, however, by the opposition, for sometimes those who conduct these meetings become over-zealous and fly into fits of slander anl denunciation. This occurred some two weeks ago, but two of us happened to be at hand, and after the meeting was over the crowd listened to the true side of 'Mormonism.' Our friends saw our attitude, and they recognized that the opposition had been un-Christian-like. The more reasonable ones among them apologized for what they had said and done. Of late some little attention has been given to the Latter-day Saints by a newspaper at Capetown, whose editor is exceptionally liberal and fair with us. Articles appeared in about six issues both for and against our work here, and they will do much to arouse an interest in our message. I wish the Era success. It is a strength and encouragement to us missionaries in the field." Elder James H. Piatt, writing from Oldham, England, August 18, says that in the Manchester Conference the Mutual is fully organized, and that during the year past the members have been studying Spiritual Growth. The Manual has done good service to the young folks of that branch, and Saints and friends have shown marked interest in the study. Some have walked two and three miles after a hard day's work, rain or fair, to attend the M. I. A. meeting and enjoy the good spirit always present. It is a bright example to some of the young people at home who, notwithstanding their many conveniences, are still often indifferent in their attendance. The Oldham young people liked the last year's Manua so well that they have ordered a dozen Senior Manuals for 1908-9, and will continue their studies.