Messages from the Missions

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS. Elder Albert B. Poulger, writing from Kimberley, South Africa, December 21, says: "We are just making preparations for a conference of the South African mission, to be held at Woodstock, January 8 to 11. As this is the first conference ever held in South Africa, much interest is being taken. We feel that it will put new life into our work, and that we shall enjoy a spiritual feast. Considerable slander and misrepresentation have been meted out to us through the press, but usually we are permitted to reply and make clear our position; so that thus far, only good has resulted. It has caused investigation, and many are receiving the light. We had one baptismal service this month and are arranging for another on the 26th." Elder K. N. Winnie who, with Elder E. G. Cannon, resides in Nome City, Alaska, writes under date of November 23, 1908, that they are holding meetings this winter for both the white and the Eskimo population, and have some investigators. "We believe that before long our Eskimo friend, Happy Jack, will become a living witness to his people, and lead many of them into the kingdom of God. We will quite likely celebrate the 4th of February , 1909, in memory of Brother E. G. Cannon's 85th birthday. We are both well and happy, and hope to dd some good here this winter." Elder Winnie has sent an article on "The Eskimo, his Origin and Destiny," with a number of portraits of these people and the country about Nome, for publication in the Era. He expresses himself as having done so with the view of doing good by directing the minds of the Latter day Saints throughout the world toward the Eskimo of the north country. Elders E. G. Cannon and K. N. Winnie preaching the gospel, streets of Nome, Alaska.

EDITOR'S TABLE. 395 First Eskimo School opened in Nome, 1903-4, by Elders E. G. Cannon, "now 85 years old, and K. N. Winnie. The annual statistical report of the Scandinavian mission for the year ending December 31, sent to the Millennial Star by President Soren Rasmussen, shows that there are six conferences in Norway and Denmark, three in each country, with 143 missionaries, and a total of 2,757 souls belonging to the Church. During the year there have been 283 baptisms, and 129 persons over eight years old have emigrated. The labors of the elders show that there have been 64,928 gospel conversations; while 747,320 tracts, and 40,150 books have been distributed; 7,509 meetings have been held; and the elders visited 528,796 homes of strangers. The distribution of books has fallen off, owing to the present laws of Norway prohibiting the sale of books by missionaries. "Just a word about the mission work in far-off Hungary. There are now Ave elders in this land laboring to spread the gospel among its people. So far there have been about one hundred people accept the truth, of whom the greater part have emigrated. Elders have been working in Hungary most of the time since 1901, but owing to restrictions have been very much hindered in their efforts; in fact, it has become so bad at times that they were compelled to leave entirely; for the last two years, however, there has been ample freedom. We began with two elders, in 1908, and now have five; in fact we could use twice that many, if it were possible to get them. So far the work has been carried on only among German speaking people, but we now have an elder who is learning Hungarian; and in a short time the work will be started among those people.

396 IMPROVEMENT ERA. There are glorious prospects for missionary work here. It is now in its beginning stages, and there is a whole nation of good, honest people to whom we can carry the glad tidings. But here, as in most other places, 'the harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few.' Success to the Era. It is always an inspiration and help to us in our work."— J. Hamilton Gardner, Buda-Pesth, Hungary, January 19, 1909. Writing from Middlesbrough, England, January 15, Elder W. H. Caldwell, president of the Newcastle conference, says: "In this conference which comprises the countries of Cumberland, Northumberland, Durham, and a small portion of Yorkshire, we have ten branches of the Church established, with eight fully organized Mutuals, over which the traveling elders preside, except here at headquarters, where we have a good, energetic local presidency- Three of these associations are studying The Apostolic Age. The balance are dealing with Spiritual Growth. Our Middlesbrough organization will take up Science and the Gospel in the near future. We have succeeded in awakening a greater interest than was shown one year ago, thus manifesting the spirit of real improvement. We fully realize the importance of Mutual work, and the part it is performing in the dissemination of truth. We also appreciate very much the outlines that have been prepared in the manuals, as we do the Era, which comes to our conference regularly. NEWCASTLE CONFERENCE Top row: H. R. Smoot, J. W. Burt, M. P. Strong, W. K. Tarbett, L. S" Mecham, J. M. Brady, E. A. Walton, S. Richards, L. Peterson. Second Row: J. Jones, J. J. Gillett, G- L. Wintle, J. W. Bambrough, J. W. Kissell, I. A. Packer, F. A- Purrington, J. Blackburn, Third row: C. H. Brewerton, W. Bird, W. H. Caldwell, C. W. Penrose. S. Johnson, W. Kirkup, E. H. Cornwall.