Messages from the Missions

388 IMPROVEMENT ERA dent Monson advocated the truths of the gospel with great power, giving an explanation of doctrines and scriptural teachings. He won the hearts of the elders, saints and friends, with his spirited personality. The elders bore testimony to the goodness of God towards them, and to the truthfulness of the gospel again restored to the e..rth. The conference was a feast of spiritual food. Elders left to right, first row: Charles W. Mayberry, Douglas Sorenson, George Davis; second row: Cyrus S. Walters, George A. Gurney, President W. P. Monson of the Eastern States mission, Francis Wiggins, conference president; Wm. H. Jameson; third row: Parley E. Bagley, Milton R. Noble, Paul R. Thomasson and George Nelson." Elder George M. Nix, Winnipeg, Canada, July 14: "The Era is a great source of inspiration to us all, as well as to the many friends who read it. Our labors in this city are succeeding to some extent. The elders herewith are the only elders in all of Manitoba. This is a good field, and there is plenty of room for many more to labor. Elders, left to right: Enoch Jorgensen, Ephraim; Geo. M. Nix, Oakley, Utah; Anton Bagaehr, Salt Lake City; sitting on arm of chair, Willard J. Bearden, Echo, Utah; front: Clyde A. Bennett, Magrath, Canada; President Joseph L. Peterson, Pinedale, Ariz." Elder James A. Miller, president of the Sapporo Conference, Japan. June 10: "We do enjoy the few hours of pleasure we receive in reading the Era. Three elders labor here. Our conference is situated on an island in the extreme north of Japan, five hours ride by steamboat from the mainland. The island is known as Hoppoido and contains 38,468 square miles. The city we are laboring in covers ten square miles and has a population of about 90,000 with 14,945 residences showing about six or seven persons to a home. We have opened two new Sunday Schools since last Christmas. We have four schools in all, each week, with an average attendance of about fifty children at each school. We hold three Bible classes and two preaching meetings each week. We meet with no persecution whatever and are usually blessed in our efforts. What we need more than all is the help of God to loosen our tongues to speak this strange language. Christianity is verv young in Japan. Although the increase in members in our Church seems slow we know that in due time the Lord will show this nation the way to a knowledge of the truth. This city has been tracted five times since the conference was organized a little over five years ago. We are now tracting it for the sixth time. We also expect to do a great deal of country tracting this summer. Elders, left to right: James A. Miller, Edwin J. Allen, Jr., Salt Lake City; Alvin B. Hintze, Holliday."

EDITORS' TABLE 389 Elder L. R. Nelson, Norrkoping, Sweden, December 4: "Sweden is still somewhat in the bonds of priestcraft, and through the power -" the_ priests we are so misrepresented that the large landlords have prohibited their tenants from holding meetings or religious gatherings of any kind on their lands. It is almost impossible to hire a church or a schoolhouse, in which to hold meetings, yet even under this hardship we elders are gaining the friendship of small landowners, and are I f ■■ 1 holding meetings in their private homes. We strive to be diligent in removing prejudice and in explaining the doctrines of the Latter-day Saints. In this city we have a beautiful hall where many come to hear the gospel of Christ. Elders, front row, left to right: Eben Blomquist, retiring conference president; A. Theodore Johnson, retiring president Swedish mission; Mrs. A. Theodore Johnson, Theodore Tobiason, president of the Swedish mission; Lars W. Hendrickson, president of the Norrkoping conference; back row: Jacob P. Lambert, John Peterson, L. W. Nelson, Henry M. Carlson, Charles Kim, Oscar M. Olsen, L. R. Nelson, C. A. Monson, Edward Bergquist." Elder David P. Kimball, Brisbane, Australia, November 10: "In April, 1913, Elders Daniel H. Heaton and James H. Remero left Brisbane, Australia, to introduce the gospel in Rockhampton, the largest city of central Queensland. After laboring for two weeks successfully the ministers of the city denounced us in their churches as corrupt men, teaching false doctrine. They also published many false statements in the paper which led to a two weeks' correspoi. deuce through the "Daily Bulletin," in which the public took much interest. The outcome was that a thousand dollars reward was offered to the ministers if they would prove their statements. This they could not do, and it put an end to the controversy. The people of the city were indignant over the attitude of the ministers and censured them to such an extent that one of them is to leave for America to learn what there is to 'Mbrmonism.' The agitation made hundreds of friends for us, and some of the bankers and leading business men of the city came to our meetings and were very friendly to us, and it en-

390 IMPROVEMENT ERA abled us to present the gospel to hundreds who had never before had an opportunity to hear it. Elder Remero, after tracting the city, was called back to Brisbane, and later David P. Kimball took his place. We re-tracted the city and held street meetings for over a week and from five to six hundred people attended. We also made a trip to Mount Morgan, one of the largest mining cities of Australia, and were the first in that city holding the Priesthood to teach the gospel. The way was provided for us, and we were taken care of by kind people. All along the way we reaped the fruits of our correspondence, the people became very attached to us, and in one instance a lady who had always entertained the ministers of the district annually, told us that of all the ministers she had ever met, she had received more good from us than from any others. We appeared to carry the gospel of satisfaction and truth and reason, and would always be- welcome to call on her. We tracted through the principal towns the entire distance of four hundred miles, after leaving Mount Morgan, and the Lord sustained us, and blessed us in our six months' stay in the north. In Audi st and September we spent 304 hours in tracting, visited 1,778 families, spent 109 hours in gospel conversations, distributed 5,979 tracts and 77 Books of Mormon, 726 other books, and held twelve meetings. We have now eleven applicants for baptism in the north." Elder Frank E. Murri, Basel, Switzerland, November 29: "The elders laboring in the Basel branch of the Bern conference, of the Swiss mission are happy in their Vwork, and feel blessed and strengthened every day in their duties. The opposition which they have, only makes them stronger. Since September 13 last we have had the privilege of baptizing ten persons, all of whom are hapoy in the gospel. We welcome the Era to assist us in our work. Elders, left to right, standing: J. H. Schvaneveldt, Logan; L. H. Allen, Cove; F. E. Murri, president of the Bern conference, St. Anthony; sitting: S. H. Chidester. Richfield, Utah; B. G. Miller, Salt Lake City; J. B. Call, Brigham City, Utah." Elder Marion P. Hutchings, president of the East Tennessee conference, Chattanooga, Nov. 17: "The Book of Mormon and small books sold in this thriving conference, this year, exceed the number in any previous year in proportion to the number of elders laboring at this place. East Tennessee is one of the oldest conferences in the Southern States mission, and the first elders here went through some very trying circumstances, and some lost their lives for the gospel's sake. Today the elders have little or no onposition, compared with even ten vears ago. It is seldom that we go without a meal or lack a place to sleep, and the school house:, churches, and homes are being opened for our use."

EDITORS' TABLE 391 Elder William E. McCullough, conference president, Rotterdam, Holland, writes the Era, December 6, giving an account of six elders who visited the island of Overvlakkee, oh the coast of the mainland of Holland. They went on a book-selling trip, their object being to distribute 'Mormon" literature among the inhabitants who have never had an opportunity to read the tracts of the Latter-day Saints. "There are twenty-two cities and towns on this island," he writes, "and we began selling in its northern half. We met with good success in most towns. People were very friendly, genial, and willing to buy. They listened with interest to our gospel message and testimonies. In an out-of-theway town, whose people were very much aroused over the fact that six 'Mormon' missionaries had come, we met with ouite an extraordinary experience. Just who these strangely dressed and odd-looking young men were, they did not know, and the 'Burgomesster' (mayor) of the town sent a policeman after us. Elder Henry J. Watkins, Frank S. Emery, and Leland Van Orden were in turn brought before him and ordered to give an account of their actions. They stated they were trying to spread the gospel of Christ among the inhabitants of the island, doing their work out of love and receiving no wages for their reward. The elders were all released, and continued to sell books to the people who had seen them arrested and marched to the town hall. The people were very much interested in our message, and listened in wonderment as we spoke, i elephone and telegraph messages heralded the fact that six 'Mormon' missionaries were on the island. The next town we came to, we met very little success. The people here were of a superstitious nature, hardly daring to venture to their front doors, but seeing us through the windows left us standing at the door. We succeeded, however, in selling many books to the men and women working in the beet fields. By mishap we missed one of the towns in the northern half of the island, and on boarding the train to return to our hotel, we were accosted by a policeman who put. us under arrest for the second time. He told us to wait at the station until he telegraphed concerning us. Telegrams were exchanged between there and Rotterdam, and we were finally released. The Dolice could not imagine how we could sell our books so cheaply, nor why we were so willing to leave our friends and loved ones at home and come to this land without compensation for our labors. During the three days we were on the island, we sold 6,100 books, and distributed 1.700 tracts. We made many friends, and feel that our work will result in much good. We are planning to return to the island and cover the lower half with our literature during the coming month. In this way the people will be

392 M PROVEM ENT ERA brought in contact with the gospel message, who might not otherwise have the opportunity of hearing it. Elders, back row, left to right: W. E. McCullough, conference president, Salt Lake City; Leland Van Orden, Lewiston, Utah; Henry J. Watkins, Ogden; Hugh R. Woolley, Centerville; front row: Frank S. Emery, Leroy F. Beatie, Salt Lake City." mm w LATTER-DAY SAINTS CHOIR, CHEMNITZ, GERMANY Elder E. E. rjrundage, Chattanooga, Tenn.: "We have been laboring in Edmundson county, Kentucky, since the 29th of August, and have made many friends, and have had but little trouble in acquiring schoolhouses to hold meetings in. We have labored in one district where no elders have been for over twentv years. We held thirty-six meetings, sold thirty-six Books of Mormon and distributed many other books and tracts, and baptized ten persons. The following week we had four more baptisms. During our ninety-eight days' labor in this county we held 111 meetings, and have made hundreds of good friends. We feel that the Lord has blessed us, and to him we give the glory, honor and praise." Elder C. M. Nielsen, president of the Christiania conference, Norway, writes: "The number of elders in our conference has b;en reduced to sixteen, less than half the number heretofore, but through the blessings of the Lord we have been able to make a respectable showing. The elders are very faithful and energetic, and from the report of our confrence recently held, at which President Martin Christopherson and his son Alvin Christopherson, of Copenhagen, were present, it apnears that for the first six months they distributed 73,814 tracts, sold 1.305 books, visited 19,127 strangers' homes, held 33,332 conversations with strangers, 579 meetings, and bantized 38 people. On the Sunday night of our conference our house was filled to overflowing, and President Christopherson and others dwelt eloquently upon the principles of the gospel. My wife and little boys distributed 250 tracts to strangers at the door as they passed out. These tracts were "Rays of Living Lig-ht," by President Charles W. Penrose."

EDITORS' TABLE 39. Elders Ray C. Bartholomew, back, Fayette, Utah, and D. A. Maxwell, front, Peoa, Utah, write from Andrews, Cherokee Co., North Carolina, October 15: "While canvassing in this county we visited the place where an Elder Parry was whipped, thirty-four years ago, by a brutal mob who took him out of the home of Wm. D. Webster, two miles east of Culberson. Compelling him to go a quarter of a mile up the road, they made him hug a Spanish oak tree while they gave him thirty-five or forty stripes *bv hickories twisted together. It is said that when they released him, he returned to Mr. Webster's singing. A remarkable statement by an eye witness is that the tree immediately died, root and branch, as if lightning had stricken it. When, some years later, the road supervisor ordered the limbs of the tree cut down for fear they might fall on the road and cause trouble, some of the men who were in the mob happened to be working on the road at the time. They refused to cut the limbs off, nor would they allow their axes to be used. Consequently, men" who were not members of the mob relieved the tree of its limbs. The trunk was never cut down, but the roots decayed and the stump toppled over. Other trees near by have also died and decayed. There were a few pieces of the stump lying about there of which we obtained some small samples which are as firm and solid as ever, although thirty-four years since the tree died. The place is known for miles around as the 'Mormon' stump." Elder George Vincent, Belfast, Ireland, August 22: "The elders in the Irish Conference have been very successful the past year in making friends. Our street meetings have been very successful the past summer. We have met with little opposition. The thinking people seem to be willing to open their eyes to the true mission of the Latter-day Saints. There have been several anti-'Mormon' plays running at different theatres, but they seem to have little effect upon the people. They regard them the same as any other blood and thunder production. Elders, left to right: A. B. Ennis, Draper; C. H. Bennion, Salt Lake City; W. B. Goates, Lehi; S. J. Russon, Lehi, Utah; second row: George R. Clark, Garland; George F. Wells, Sunnyside; James L. Madsen, Honeyville, Utah; C. H. Smith, Preston,

394 M PROVEM ENT ERA Idaho; N. A. Smith, Lewiston; D. H. Stuart, Wellsville, Utah; W. H. Fjelsted, Preston, Idaho; sitting: James B. Gray, Randolph; H. L. Sterling, S. H. Corniby, Spanish Fork; T. E. Briggs, Conference President, Syracuse, Utah; John A. Empey, Idaho Falls, Idaho; George V. Vincent, Provo, clerk of the conference; front row: G P. Greaves, Ephraim; M. A. Farrell, Eden; W. A. Noble, Smithfield, Utah." Elder Benjamin Spence, South Tottenham, London, England, August 25: "We have no organized branch in this part of London but are tracting and holding street meetings. Some evenings we have good-sized crowds of people who listen to us. Some of them freely accept our literature and promise to read it. In tracting we meet many people who are indifferent to religion, but we find some who are willing to converse with us on the principles of the gospel. We have thus been able to allay prejudice. We enjoy our labors and rejoice in the gospel. I met a gentleman here from California a few weeks ago, and he said among others things that the 'Mormon' people were among the best people he had met and he always had a good word for them. Elders, standing: Benj. Spence, Evanston, Wyo.; Rodney McKell, Spanish Fork; sitting: Jesse Muison, Paris, Ida.; Lemon A. Golding, Wellsville, Utah."