Messages from the Missions

EDITORS' TABU'. 265

No. Neither one nor the other offered to carry along his road the poor, tired wayfarer. Only there was more dust upon him than there was before. Mr. President's carriage went by. No! that is wrong. Mr. President's carriage did not go by. The man who had been un- noticed or ignored by the many, was taken up by the one. The President of the Church, the Governor, -the Trustee-in-Trust, and what rot, gave a place to the logger, and he was carried homeward, depos- ited at his very door. "Not much of an anecdote after all, my friend. Yet I am inclined to believe with Thomas Carlyle: I believe that one such action re- corded reveals to us more, a man who once lived, than a thousand glittering generalities."

The book is printed in large, clear type, is wide-margined, and embellished with sketches by Geo. M. Ottinger, James T. Har- wood, Lee Greene Richards and Mahonri M. Young. Price $1.00.

Original Story Contest

1. This contest is open to all. The Improvement Era offers $25 for the best story in a monthly competition beginning in Jan- uary and ending in June.
   2. All stories for the first monthly competition must be in the hands of the editor by the 20th of January, and on the 5th of each month thereafter, and must contain not less than three thou- sand nor more than about five thousand words.
   3. Competent judges will select the best story monthly and out of those received the writer of the winning story will be awarded $25.
   4. During the six months, winning stories will be printed, from time to time, in the Improvement Era.
   5. At the close of the six months' contest, the best story out of the six will be selected by competent judges, and at the June conference the winning writer among the six will be awarded a gold pin by the Improvement Era.
   6. Points of judgment a. — For the central idea or leading incident 25 points. b. — The character study 10 points. c. — The soul or moral of the story 25 points. d. The setting or word painting of the story —40 points.
   7. Ifno story submitted is up to the standard required, no award will be made that month. Further information may be obtained by addressing the Asso- ciate Editor of the Improvement Era.

Messages from the Missions

"This group represents President Wm. Gardner of the New Zealand Mission, in the center; President II. S. Geddes nf the Hawkes

266 IMPROVEMENT ERA Bay conference, and members of the Maori College faculty, the'wives and children of the college elders, and the traveling elders of Hawkes Bay. I doubt if any body of elders and Saints in the world are

AT THE L. D. S. MAORI AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

busier and happier than this little group, in the land of 'Aotearoa.' The work of the Lord is progressing in these islands and the elders are much encouraged through the future outlook." — S. J. Ottley.

William A. Schuldberg, Wasteras, Sweden, September 22: "We are laboring in the central part of Sweden. Our headquarters are at Was- teras, a prominent manufacturing city. Electrical machinery and s» dynamos are made here which are recognized as among the best in the world. The city is located seventy miles west of Stockholm, on the beautiful Lake Malaren. Many of the peo- ple have accepted the gospel and our books and tracts are finding their way into* many homes. This is especially the case with the Book of Mormon. Every time one of these books is left and read we gain a friend. The priests oppose our meetings very much, but in spite our future looks of their slanderous opposition, bright. We have recently baptized four. Elders laboring in this branch: Erick J. Sorensen, Bear River City, Utah; William A. Schuld- berg, Winder, Idaho. The latter is a native of this country, who has found his way to many of his former friends and relatives."

Elder Walter E. Clark. Council Bluffs, Iowa, November 10: "Many are being added to the fold of Christ in the West Iowa Con-

EDITORS' TABLE 267

ference. The elders regard it both as a duty and a privilege, as well as a blessing, to be laboring in the cause and for that reason labor diligently to promulgate the principles that will bring love and peace

among mankind. Elders, left to right: George Gane Olsen, Beazer, Canada; Edgar Blackham, Moroni; Thomas E. Caldwell, Vernal; Wells J. Robertson, Spanish Fork, Utah; Oliver J. Choules, Preston; front: Walter E. Clark, conference president, Georgetown, Idaho; Mission President German E. Ellsworth; Llewellyn W. Killpack, re- tiring conference president, Fremont, Utah."

Lady missionaries of the Jacksonville CFla.) branch: Tn the front is Sister Mary R. Whitaker, of Pocatello. wife of President W. P. Whitaker, holding her baby, which was born in Jackson- ville. Next to her is Sister May Branch, of Coalville, Utah, and the voting lady in the center is Sister Thurza Ellsworth, of Mesa, Arizona. These sisters are working dilisjentlv and very success- fullv. They have helped to make the Sunday School, Relief Society, and the M. I. A. flourishing institutions. And, in addition to this no- ble work, they have daily distributed tracts, and as- sisted in holding open air and cottage meetings.

EldersRobt. R. Cordner and Earl S. Harper, Yorkshire, England. November 2, 1914: "The city of Leeds contains more Jews thnn any

268 IM1'R< >'l M I NT l-.RA

Other city in the United Kingdom. Around it center most jrll the wool-weaving districts of Yorkshire. Weaving-sheds, clattering machinery, and huge smokestacks, belching forth their volumes of smoke, are numerous, arresting the attention of the stranger, partic- ularly one who is ac- customed to a clear, sunshiny atmosphere. A thriving branch of the Leeds Conference of the Church is lo- cated at Leeds. The people here treat the elders with a degree of courtesy. Opposition is not often encoun- tered, and only few people be-lieve bad things about the 'Mormons.' 'The church that per- formed our baptism, united us in marriage, and laid our dead in their resting places, is quite good enough for us,' is not the infrequent reply we get while out tracting. By unceasing work, however, we think God will permit us to realize a harvest in his own due time. Elders who have labored in the Leeds Branch, Leeds Conference, during the past year, left to right: John J. Haslam, Wellsville; Hazen W. Hillyard, Smithfield; Robt. R. Cordner, Provo; Earl S. Harper, Smithfield, Utah."

The elders and Saints of the Hyde branch, Manchester confer- ence, England, held a successful harvest festival, October 19, last. Elder Clarence E. Harris writes: "There was a most magnificent display of fruits, vegetables and flowers contributed by the Saints and their friends. Fifty-eight were in attendance at the afternoon exercises, and in the evening ninety-one, thirty-nine of whom were investigators, eleven of whom were present for the first time. On botii these occasions elders addressed the people on topics appropriate to the occasion. On the following evening the festival was coutir •

ued and a splendid pro- gram rendered after which fruit refresh- ments were served. The Relief Society at the colse of the exer- cises took charge of the vegetables and fruit remaining and distributed them to the worthy poor. By the small admission charged on Monday evening, we realized $5.20 which we expended for Sunday School song books. Our friends were surprised and pleased with the event, and pronounced it equal to any that they had attended this season. Elders, back row, left to right: Rao B. Dunford, Bloomington, Idaho; Peter J. Peter- son, Jr., Moroni; front row, Clarence E. Harris, Scofield; Samuel F. Nichols, Salt Lake City, Utah."

KMT< >RS' TABLE 269

Elder Alvin D. Stoker, secretary of the Aalborg conference, Den- mark, November 5: "There were only four elders in attendance at the semi-annual conference held in this city on the 3rd and 4th of October, owing to the fact that all with the the elders exception of W 1 M the conference presi- dents, secretaries and a traveling elder of ry* £.'» each conference have 1 sir been released owing to the war conditions. The change, which was a great surprise to us, . Mm F" MM has upset our methods 4 1 H considerably. We had exceedingly good meet- ings during our confer- ence, however, and are having good success in warning the Saints and encouraging them to live nearer to our Father in heaven. We are in a great deal of suspense, for we know not at what moment the now terrible raging at conflict our 121 II 'if neighbors' doors will come to this little land of Denmark. All is well at present, but the exports and imports at present are beginning to be rather uncertain again." Elders of the Aalborg conference, left to right, sitting: H. J. Christiansen, Scandinavian Mission president; W. M. Jensen, conference president, Brigham City; standing, Alvin D. Stoker, conference secretary, Clearfield; Erastus P. Peterson, Levan, Utah.

Elder Leslie Thomas Fay writes, November 8, from Leeuwarden, Holland: "The sailing of our elders from Rotterdam, a few weeks ago, upon their being released from their missionary labors, owing to the war, brought sadness to many homes and tears to many eyes. The missionaries were sad in leaving their friends in the old world, and the Saints mourned for the loss of their shepherds. A day may bring great changes. One day we were fifty strong in Holland, push- ing earnestly the work of the Lord, but on the day following, the elders set sail for America, because of the word of release that had come. Nearly two hundred Saints gathered to see the boys off. Many turned to hide their tears, and in their hearts hoped and prayed that the word permitting Christ's servants to return would soon be spoken. As the steamer set sail from this blessed land, our prayers went up, and a hymn, 'Sing we now at parting,' burst forth in worship to God. We sang, though our hearts were aching, and the voices of the elders re-echoed the melody which died as they sailed away. We remain, ten in number, to care for and to cheer the flock, until the word shall be spoken that shall again cause the shepherds to return."