Messages from the Missions

Elder J. C. Birrell and Earl Hales write from Mountain City, Tennessee, July 22: "We are laboring in Johnson county, and are meeting with good success in getting many small books and the Book of Mormon before the people. We have held a number of cottage and hall meetings and the people seem anxious to hear the principles of the gospel. The homes of the people are open to us at all times, and a good work can be done here."

Elder F. J. Fitzgerald, writing from St. Louis, Missouri, October 12, says: "We feel that prejudice is being removed, and that our flourishing branch organized here will soon be enlarged. Our organization con- sists of about eighty members, and we have

|| many friends and investigators. Our eve- nings are spent in holding cottage meetings, also presenting principles of the gospel upon the street corners. We feel that the Lord is blessing us, and we desire to con- tinue in the good work. Elders R. S. Dud- ley, Driggs, Idaho; F. J. Fitzgerald, Draper, Utah; William Bates, Basin, Idaho."

264 IMPROVEMENT ERA Elder Olaf Petersen, of Brigham City, kindly furinshes the Era with a portrait of the home of the late Patriarch Peter Adolph Forsgren who was the first person to be baptized and to join the Church in Sweden. Patriarch Forsgren embraced the gospel on the 28th of

July, 1850, which was his birthday. The portrait is of his home in

Gefle, Sweden.Elder Elias P. Forsgren, his youngest son, is at present laboring in his father'shome town. The tree shown above the house was planted by Patriarch Forsgren about the time he became a member of the Church, now sixty-two years ago. Elders shown by the house are: C. O. Johnson, W. E. Malmstrom, and Elias P. Forsgren. On enquiry only two old ladies in the town remember the name of Forsgren, and they were not personally acquainted with Patriarch Forsgren.

Eber J. Tenney, writing from Chula Vista, Calif., calls attention to the instruction given by Joseph Smith the Prophet for the benefit of humanity, and which is spoken of by the Savior: "Follow the spirits that leadeth to do good." "I desire to do justly, to walk humbly, and to partake of this spirit. If all would follow this rule what a glorious world we would have! This spirit is a glorious guide to the better world. Every man, with Isaiah, should say: 'Set thine house in order,' and this having been done, peace will be established. Every man should start with his own family and set them in order with love and kindness, and yet with a firm determination to have them do right. This being done, the great and glorious day shall be brought about, and all men will love each other and respect each other's rights, and every lover of truth and Christianity will do

EDITOR'S TABLE 265

all he can to put down evil. When I heard that Colonel Roosevelt was shot, it occurred to me that this injunction, more than ever, was needed: Every lover of truth and Christianity should do all he can to put down cowardly evil." The Hamburg Choir is pronounced among the best, if not the best, in the French-German mission. Personally, Elder Calvin S. Smith thinks it the best in the European mission. He writes: "Elder Frank W. Asper was the leader at the time this portrait was taken, but being called to another field, Frankfurt, the choir is now under the direction of Elder Harold C. Goodwin. It has been under the direction of a number of Salt Lake's leading musicians; for example, Harold C. Kimball, Spencer Clawson, and Squire Coop, and the leaders following

preshave kept the organization progressing until it has arrived at its which the ent splendid status. We have a regular music evening at At our last musical our hall was completely choir is the big feature. filled, there being two hundred and fifty people sitting, and thirty-two standing, so you can obtain an idea of the practical utility of a good

have seen many choirs in the Era, and we would like to choir. We represented in have the best choir in the French and German mission our magazine." Ottawa, Kansas, Elder Alexander B. Wilkins, writing from district we have many friends who al- October 26, says: "In this are pleased to see the elders, and eager ways become converts, who to hear their message. We have baptized twenty-three m the past a Sunday School at Bellevuc, which is in four months, and organized

266 IMPROVEMENT ERA a flourishing condition.The elders are striving diligently to preach the gospelamong their friends. In this, the East Kansas, conference we have ten elders who are vigorous in their efforts to preach the

gospel, and who enjoy the spirit of their calling: William V. Lay, Escalante; John Denney, Union, Utah; John I. Grant, Chesterfield, Idaho; C. P. Humphreys, Willmot, Utah; Wesley Moore, Rigby, Idaho; Ross I. Gillespie, Tooele; front row: George E. Andrews, Draper; President A. D. Livingston, Manti; D. G Marshall, Lyman, Wyoming; A. B. Wilkins, Kimberley, Idaho."

Elder H. O. Thomas, writing from Red Wing., Minn., October 19, says: "Company B, Minnesota conference, Northern States mission, report that the people in their district are beginning to realize that the elders have an important mission to per- form, and an important message to deliver. We are prospering and are frequently entertained with- out charge. Our report for August shows that we have disposed of 36 Books of Mormon, 290 other small books, 2,580 tracts; that we visited 1,391 families, and held 39 meetings. Elders, left to right, top row: Albert Stevens, Sanford, Colo.; D. F. Bone, Layton, Utah; front, J. E. Zollinger, College, Utah; H. O. Thomas, Troutdale, Oregon." Elder S. H. Brinton, writing from Kirkland, Michigan, September 30, says:"Our company has spent a very enjoyable and profitable summer in northern Michigan. The people were very hospitable, arid gave us the use of their school houses and public buildings. The gos- pel, as preached by the Latter-day Saints, is almost new in that sec- tion, and much interest was manifested in what we told them about the plan of salvation. Our company left Grand Rapids June 17, and

arrived at Houghton Lake, July 23, where we met Company B, held a mid-summer conference on Pioneer Day, and enjoyed some recreation before continuing north. The country is just changing from a lumbering district to farming, and in some sections the farms are from fifteen totwenty miles apart. Elders, left to right, standing: W. J. Myers, Riverton; I. Sander, Ogden, conference president; S. H. Brinton, Holliday; A. C. Cluff, Pima, Arizona; sitting: O. G. McKinley, Sugar City, Idaho; P. M. Porter, Franklin, Idaho; B. M. Thompson, Hyrum, Utah; H. T. Willis, Snowflake, Arizona."

Elders Joseph E. Wood of Holden, and Wiley S. Collett of Vernal, Utah, write from Chesterfield, England, September 28: "Our portrait here- with was taken after we came home from an afternoon's tracting. Our branch is large, and we find our wheels a great advantage. We are finding new friends, and the work of the Lord is progressing, in spite of all opposition. A local minister rents us our meeting place. Our Sunday evening meetings are well attended by the Saints. Progress is slow though steady, and we are gaining ground every day. The thinking peo- ple are becoming disgusted with the abuse heaped upon us without just cause."

the great Horace W. Woolley, Honolulu, T. H., writes:— "I realize also as a book of value of the Era, both as a book of reference and It is always welcome at conference headgeneral reading matter. quarters.

Priesthood Quorums' Table — — Courses of Study for the Priesthood Quorums 1913. High Priests — and Elders "The Kirtland Period of Church History," covering the time from January 1, 1834, to December 31, 1837. The years of this period are marked by very important foundational developments, including doctrinal and institutional growth, and spiritual progress; as well as by internal dissensions and apostasy, and sometimes apparent failure, but withal characterized by glorious triumph and the revelation of precious doctrines. The text book will be Volume 2 of "Church History." This book is divided into thirty-five chapters, and it is designed that each chapter shall serve as a lesson. The topic of the chapter, and the subdivisions of each chapter carefully printed in the text, will sufficiently serve as outlines for the classes' without any further direction. The high priests and elders will meet in separate classes, where this can be done, but the same text book will serve both. Large numbers of the text hooks are already in the hands of the Priesthood, but where it is not now found it should be purchased, for it is a valuable addition to every home library, and indispensable to those who would take part in the class work of High Priests and Elders for 1913. It may be ordered on the regular blank order which will be sent to bishops, for the Lesser Priesthood. Price $1.50 postpaid. Orders for this book may be sent separately to the Deseret News Book Store, and the Deseret Sunday School Union Book Store, Salt Lake City, or in the regular order to the Improvement Era. Priests. — "What the Priest should Know and Do." A text book written especially for the classes of 1913, which will be ready for delivery early in January. Price will be stated in the order blank. Two books will be recommended as supplemental reading, "The Strength of Being Clean," and one other, to be mentioned later by the Committee. — Teachers. "Old Testament History," a specially prepared book for the ordained teachers, for 1913; price will be given in the order blank, which will be sent out soon as the book is printed. The book is written with a view to show that the gospel was given to the people of early dispensations. The "Pearl of Great Price" will be used as a supplementary book to elucidate historical points in the Old Testament. — Deacons. "Experiences in the Lives of Early Church Leaders and Members," specially prepared for the deacons' classes of 1913. Prices will be found in the order blank, which will be sent to the bishops of wards as soon as the book is printed and the price known. All these courses will be distributed through the office of the Improvement Era; address, 20-22 Bishop's Building, Salt Lake City, Utah.