Messages from the Missions

EDITOR'S TABLE. 937 Utah as a whole is for prohibition by a considerable majority, which ought to be an indication that some day soon state-wide prohibition will obtain. All honor is due to those who cast their ballots on the side of social rectitude, and against one of the most dangerous and damnable evils of modern times. It is to be hoped that the achievements of the first battle will only stir the victors to renewed energy until the conquest shall be complete, and the traffic in strong drink entirely eliminated from the state. But there is much to be done, and the victory will be valuable for further triumph only as the citizenship of the state shall see to it that the present law is strictly obeyed and enforced, and that offenders are promptly punished. To this end officers must be elected who will do their full duty under the law, and the citizens themselves must use every legitimate means to assist them in the performance of that duty. Care must be taken also that the subject shall not enter into politics. If any political party shall adopt prohibition as its special slogan, with a view thereby to having its ideas of national politics adopted by the citizenship of the state, the result will be failure to the important moral question embraced in prohibition and temperance. The people of Utah are united on temperance, but it has been proved that their division on national political questions is much stronger than their union on temperance. Hence this strictly moral issue must not be confounded with, nor made dependent upon, national political issues. Regardless of political affiliations, temperance people must vote for officials who will not only insist upon the enforcement of the present law, but who will be willing, as opportunity presents, to strengthen and improve it. Only by keeping the temperance question strictly separate from party politics, in my opinon, will these desired results accrue. Joseph F. Smith. Messages from the Missions. Gottleib Schwartz, St. Gallen, Switzerland, May 20: "The progress of the Church in this district is encouraging. The elders are working

938 IMPROVEMENT ERA. industriously in the great cause, and the Lord is upholding them.'' The picture shows one of the many choirs that they have in that mission. They gave a concert on May 10, at their hall, which was filled with people. They were assisted by President W. S. Wright, of Ogden, Utah, Clifford C. Clive, Robert Stelter and Vaughan C. Young, of Salt Lake City. The four elders laboring in St. Gallen are: Melvin Nebeker, J. C. Stocker, Lester Leffter, and Gottleib Schwartz. Elder C. H. Barnes writing from Columbus, South Carolina, May 27, says that they have many friendly people in that district, tut there is much indifference. The elders are faithful and hope by persistent work to accomplish C eater success than in the past. "Our Heavenly Father mukes us stronger and better able to accomplish much, if we only do our duty and give him the honor. As Paul said, 'When 1 am weak, then am I strong.' " The elders from left to right, top row, are: Samuel C. Hall, Bennington, Charles H. Barnes, Pdrker, Idaho; bottom row: George W. Graff, Cannonville, Utah; Eugene Cobbley, Blackfoot, Idaho-

EDITOR'S TABLE. 939 Elder G. A. Stocking, president of the Arkansas conference, writing from Rogers, May 29, states that they have been formed into companies, and Company A, of which he encloses a picture, has held several hall and cottage meetings. The Lord has attended them in their efforts, so that they have enjoyed the Spirit of God at all times. On the 18th of May they held a conference at Peal, Arkansas, where they enjoyed a spiritual feast and had a houseful of people. Elder Stocking was called to succeed Conference President James W. Brown, of American Fork, Utah. The elders in the picture are, back row, left to right: Stuart McClellan, Union, Oregon; Parley Savage, Woodruff, Arizona. Bottom row: G. A. Stocking (Conference President) Malad, Idaho; and J. H. Wilson, La Grande, Oregon. Elder C. A. Boss writes from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, June 5, enclosing a photo of Elder Angus Maughan of Preston, Idaho, and himself, of Niter, Idaho. These elders have met with good success in the country districts of Pennsylvania, having traveled without purse or scrip. They believe this to be the ideal way of doing missionary work. Most of the people are very friendly toward the message which they have delivered, while some are indifferent. The elders have met only opposition enough to cause them to appreciate the kindness of the good people they have met. The old prejudice against the Latter-day Saints is dying away, and on all sides opportunities are opening to preach the gospel. More elders are needed to supply the demand. Open air services are held in Pittsburg and neighboring towns, and are becoming popular and producing good results. The Saints are willing to help the elders spread the gospel.

940 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Elder Albert N. Hogan, secretary of the Trondjem Conference, Norway, sends a message from the northernmost conference in the world which is located between 66 and 84 north latitude. The elders have some persecution from the influence of the press, but have no fear but that the truth which they have will triumph. During the summer they expect to work among the country settlements which cannot be reached during the long winter nights, and they hope for good results. Fifteen elders were at the spring conference,and three, namely, Leo Greenhalgh, Archibald Christensen and Henry J. Amussen, were released to return home. During the six months ending April 25, the elders distributed 49,000 tracts, 1,044 Church and doctrinal books, visited 17,288 strangers' houses, held 2,204 gospel conversations, and 266 meetings. There were 14 baptisms. Meredith Rogers, Lisbon, New Hampshire. May 27, states th»t the elders there have meet with success. They have labored in Manchester, Littleton and Lisbon during the winter and spring, and have succeeded in making a number of friends who are naturally becoming interested in the gospel, and are desirous to hear more about it. In that vicinity there are a number of people who are related to prominent Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City and Ogden, who have treated the elders very kindly. The elders in the picture, from left t© right, are: Meredith Rogers, Garland, Utah: Joseph Page, Dayton, Idaho. Elder S. Norman Lee, for the past two years with the Millennial Star as associate editor, has been released, and sailed from Liverpool June 3. Elder Hugh Ireland, of Salt Lake City, succeeds to his position. Besides acting as associate editor of the Millennial Star, Elder Lee served as chorister of the Sunday school and general meetings of the Liverpool branch, and as class leader of the Y. M. M. I. A. He filled numerous appointments to conferences throughout the mission, and did his work well. President Rudger Clawson expressed his regrets at his departure, and Elder Lee leaves the mission with the confidence, good will and blessings of the authorities.