The French Mission

HE FRENCH MISSION 165 formed among the French-speaking inhabitants, and for some time there has been a feeling among the elders laboring in these branches, as well as among the presidents of the missions, that the day had dawned when a new mission should be created for them. How this result was finally brought about was told by President Clawson in his opening remarks at the Paris conference. He said the matter had been thoroughly discussed by Presidents Valentine, Eardley and himself, and it was finally decided to submit the matter to the First Presidency of the Church, which was done, and the authorization had been received from them to effect the organization. Presidents Valentine and Eardley loved the French people and were deeply interested in their temporal and spiritual progress, but being unable to communicate with them in their own togue were greatly hampered in their work. To win the sympathy and support of a people it is necessary to address them in the language they speak. Only under such circumstances can the best results be obtained. In the new mission, with a French-speaking elder in charge, the work would be carried on in a much more satisfactory manner than formerly. There are eleven branches to be incorporated into the new mission and they have a total membership of four hundred and three souls and twenty-nine traveling elders. The total membership of the French Mission is already larger than that of the South African or Japanese missions. All the elders present were invited to express fully and freely their views, and in response to this invitation every elder present spoke his thoughts frankly. All were united in the feeling that the new movement would mark an epoch in the growth of the Church, and was one of the important steps in missionary activities. President Hyrum W. Valentine emphasized some of the difficulties that confront a German-speaking president in a Frenchspeaking country. Naturally he deeply regretted to part with his French-speaking elders, but he nevertheless favored the move, believing it would result in lasting good to the cause, and mark the beginning of a larger and greater success in this land. President Eardley believed that the proposed action was inspired of the Lord, and would result in the highest good. He regarded the men who would take charge of the new movement fully capable, under the blessing of the Lord, to carry it to a successful issue, In a general way these thoughts and sentiments expressed the feelings of all who attended the conference. In the heart of every man who spoke and who testified, there was a feeling of peace and joy, and the assurance that the Lord was present by his Holy Spirit, that he had inspired the men who originated the movement, and that it would receive his approbation and blessing.

166 IMPROVEMENT ERA After all had spoken freely President Clawson offered the three following proposals, which were unanimously accepted. "It is proposed that we organize the French mission with headquarters at Paris, to include France and the French-speaking inhabitants of Switzerland, Belgium and Italy, at present embracing the following branches: Lausanne, Lyons, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Paris, Neuchatal, Geneva, Liege, Seraing, Vervicrs, Brussels, and Lille, with a total membership of 403 souls and 29 traveling elders. "It is proposed that we sustain Elder Edgar B. Brossard as president of the French mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. "It is proposed that we sustain Elder Norman D. Salisbury as the secretary of the French mission." Elder Brossard expressed his willingness to accept the new position, and to fill it to the best of his ability. He welcomed the French Mission and missionaries, and asked that the elders pray in faith and humble themselves to their work. In closing the conference, President Clawson said that this had been a business meeting. The French Mission is now duly organized, and duly launched upon its course, with every power, and presiding official, essential to its success. He rejoiced in the fact that all the elders present had voted unitedly in sustainingPresident Brossard. He explained the rule of the Church relative to common consent. When a proposition is submitted to the people of God for their acceptance or rejection every one in attendance at the meeting is entitled to vote. The voice or the uplifted hand of the majority determines the question and the action thus reached is binding upon all concerned. If the matter is carried by a majority of but one vote, it is a strong decision — strong for the simple reason that it carried, but when the voice of the people is unanimously in favor of any question or proposition, the decision is doubly strong and of great binding force. As to the organization of the French Mission, the voice and vote of the conference had been unanimous, which action will undoubtedly carry with it the approval and blessing of the Lord. He commended President Brossard as the man for the place, and sincerely hoped that the Lord would bless him in his new responsibility. He prayed that God would bestow his choicest blessings upon the elders and Saints of the new mission, the organization of which had changed the world's map, as far as the Church is concerned. Following the conference of the elders, the four presidents counseled together next day about the necessary business details of the organization, and when the three presidents left Paris the French Mission was in every way a living reality. ROTTERDAM, HOLLAND

Editor's Table In a recent issue of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin there appears by Charles W. Eliot, LL. D., the distinguished ex-president of Harvard University, an address to the freshmen class, which, by the courteous permission of Dr. Eliot, the Improvement Era is permitted to reprint. The address is of unusual interest to young men, pointing out the need there is for them to look ahead, and to decide upon their course in life, on "what they are going to aim at, what they hope for, and what they mean to be." What will particularly interest the young Latter-day Saints in this admirable address are his remarks upon early marriage, temperance, and athletics : What Do You Mean to Be? It is sixty-three years, gentlemen, since I stood where you stand now. As I look back over that long stretch in my life I see it filled day by day with the duties and enjoyments of the passing moment; and I wish that I had reflected more on things past, and looked forward more to things future. It seems to me that many healthy, active men have this defect in the conduct of their daily lives, and especially that they are «apt not to lay out beforehand their own ideal career. Many young men, standing as you now stand on the threshold of what we hope is to be a useful and happy life, seldom look ahead, seldom use their imagination with regard to their own future lives, laying them out, in broad lines, of course, but clearly enough to define to themselves what they are going to aim at, what they hope for, what they mean to be. Hard Work a Main Satisfaction In regard to your college life, that process of looking ahead begins now ; because under some new good rules about the administration of the elective system you are expected to shape at the start your whole career in college, and to make the choice of studies which will determine that career. Make a deliberate and farseeing choice in accordance with your tastes and wishes, and your reasonable expectation of success and enjoyment. In the choice of your studies do not omit to take account of your own expectations of enjoyment in your work ; because your satisfaction in life

168 IMPROVEMENT ERA is going to depend largely on your enjoyment of your habitual labors. Many young people think that it must be pleasures that tell most toward enjoyment of life; but, that is not the fact. If you will allow an old man to testify on that subject, I can assure you that the main satisfactions of life come through hard work which one enjoys. Major Higginson has told you that a large part of that enjoyable work will be work for others. Look forward, then, to the profession you are going to follow, remembering that nowadays many kinds of business provide a highly intellectual profession. Be guided in your choice by your own convictions about the kind of work you like, the kind of employment which itself supplies you with a strong motive for strenuous and constant exertion. I am sure that after but a little experience you will find that Major Higginson is right; and that altruism is an important element in the enjoyment of most kinds of work. This looking for the work you love, this looking for the profession you are going to enjoy all your life, will carry you some distance ahead from your present standpoint. Early Marriage But very soon you will be ready to practice some profession. Then look ahead very sharply ; because the most important event in your whole lives should then be imminent. Look ahead to marriage — and I should almost say, the sooner the better. It is the fashion nowadays among educated young men to wait many years before they marry. That is a place where the life of the highly educated man is inferior to the life of the mechanic, operative, farmer or farm hand. Postponed marriage is a great modern evil in educated society. You will hear such conduct justified. You will hear some young man say, "I cannot invite a girl, who has been brought up to do nothing for herself, and to have every gratification and every luxury provided for her, to carry me, until I can earn an income which will enable her to live with me in that way." I have two remarks to make about that doctrine — that if a girl has been brought up in that manner, the sooner she has a chance to live differently the better for her; and secondly, that it is only fair for a young man who loves a young woman to consult her as to whether or not she wishes to marry him before he can earn a large income. The young woman has a clear right to say a word on that subject to the man she loves, and not to be obliged to wait till he is thirty-five years old before he asks her to marry him. This, gentlemen, is a matter of looking ahead at a critical point in your lives. You are not in the habit, perhaps, of contemplating this event of marriage. It would be wiser to do so. The sooner you begin to think about it the better — first, because it will be thinking about the most important event in your lives in respect