---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 18
number: 5
published: 1915-03
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, \"Messages from the Missions,\" *Improvement Era* 18, no. 5 (March 1915): 456–459."
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1805unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera1805unse
start_page: 456
end_page: 459
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1915-03)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1805unse
  publication_year: 1915
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1915, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Messages from the Missions

<!-- page:456 -->

456                    IMPROVEMENT            I   R \

Chamberlain Carroll. This story was also secured and the read-
ers of the Era will have the pleasure, therefore, to enjoy both.
      There were thirteen stories received for the February 5 con-
test, and the winner will he named in the April Era.     The next
contest takes place March 5, and monthly thereafter, till June.
No story can be entered for more than one contest. Ask the as-
sociate editor for particulars.

                   Messages from the Missions

      Photograph of elders of the London Conference, top row, left to
right:   G. F. McDonald, L. E. Stoker, I. S. Campbell, M. Hendri, II.
J. Layton, Lester Cocking, visiting: C. D. Hunsley, R. P. Stratford;
second row: J. P. Egan, C. F. Powell, L. A. Southwick, R. V. Barnes,
F. S. Lyman, George Stevens, L. B. Merrill, Robert Jones: third row:
W. S. Evans, H. S. Pyne, Leo Egar, Marintha Eccles, Stewart Ec-
cles, president of the conference; J. I. May, E. M. Greenwood, L. K.

Sims; bottom row:     O. C. Anderson,   J.   Fowles, L. L. Jackson, J.
                                             F.
W. Munson, J. V. Olsen, F. S. Leaver, R. D. Rasmussen.     Elder J. J.
Fowles, London, December 4: "This group picture was taken with
our beloved president Stewart Eccles who recently died in the mis-
sion field. The past season's work has proved successful in bringing
joy to the laborers and sheep into the fold. Many people in the great
metropolis have heard the sound of the gospel either from the street
corner or through the means of door to door teaching.       Some de-
pression has been felt in the work since the beginning of the great
European conflict but there is much good to be done. Through the
medium of the Era we wish to transmit our heartfelt greetings to all
the e/ders throughout the world.

<!-- page:457 -->

EDITORS' TABLE                         457

       "Lady missionariesof the Eastern States Mission:     Back row,
left   to      Janette McNeil, Edna Crowther, Minnie, C. Poulson,
            right:
Gertrude Phelps, Alta M. Johnson, Lona J. Ipsen, Lizzie O. Borgeson;
middle row: Annie C. Peterson, Helga Pedersen, Mrs. Leona Mon-
son, Ruth N. Savage, Viola Peterson; front row:        Venna Monson,
Zelma Peterson.
    "The idea of having lady missionaries is new in this mission, but
is no longer an experiment.   The faithful labors of these sisters have
gone far in making the mission what it is today. Neither their de-
votion can be questioned, nor their industry criticized.    Their ser-
vices have been of great value in tracting, in which capacity they are
generally well received. Great credit is due them for the number of
cottage meetings they have beer able to arrange for and hold, and

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they have held some very successful street meetings. In the Y. L. M.
I. A., Relief Society and Sunday school, much good has been realized
from their work. So splendid has this feature of the missionary work
been, that the time is looked for when two or more lady missionaries
will be placed in each of the twelve conferences of this mission. These
lady missionaries, on invitation, spent the holidays in New York,
and were entertained there by a number of different people, including
Mrs. David Eccles, Mrs. Henrietta Harvey, Long Island; Ed. M.
Horton, Brooklyn; and W. P. Monson and F. W. Riter, of New York.
The assignments of the sisters are as follows: Lizzie C. Borgeson and
Annie C. Peterson, Boston, Mass.; Janett McNiel and Alta Johnson,
New Haven. Conn.: Edna Crowther and Gertrude Phelps, Brooklyn,
N. Y.; Ruth Savage and Minnie Poulson. Philadelphia, Pa.; Viola
Peterson and Lona Ipsen, Baltimore, Md.: Helga Pedersen and Zelma

<!-- page:458 -->

458                    IMI'k< )\'l   MEN   I   ERA
Petersen,   Office, New York; Leona Monson           and   Vcnna Monson,
Headquarters,    New York."
    Elders M. G. Kuhre, president of the Maine conference, writes to
the Era, January 8: "The elders enjoy their work and are determined
to increase their efforts for its advancement during the new year.
The elders in Lewiston are having great success and quite a number
of the people have either applied for or have talked of baptism.     We
hold meetings in small country school houses, and are meeting with
wonderful success. The elders in Portland are making visiting their
main work.     One of our friends recently bore this testimony: 'I
cannot rest; something seems to tell me that I have heard the truth,
and it asks me: What are you going to do about it? I wake up at
night with this thought upon my mind; I feel it all day, and when my
daughter plays your songs something is always telling me: You have
heard the truth. What are you going to do about it?'    Another friend

      * I » 1 1 | I
      9 I t f |

                  ELDERS OF THE MAINE CONFERENCE

wrote me recently applying for baptism and testified that the elders
had administered to her when afflicted, and that she had been
healed. As soon as the weather will permit we will begin our work
in the rural districts. In our meetings we are having some new visitors
each night and are much encouraged by the present condition."
     Top row, left to right: W. R. Jensen, Greenfield; J. F. Swain,
Charleston, Utah: A. W. Hyde, Fairview, Idaho; Lorenzo Standifird,
Snowflake, Arizona: L. H. Evans, Ogden, Utah; Geraint Humphreys,
Paris, Idaho; O. V. Anderson, Pleasant Green; Alma Kasteler, Salt
Lake City; W. Stark. Payson, Utah: James Larson, Thatcher, Idaho.
Bottom row: F. S. Emery, Salt Lake City; President I. A. Young, of
the Massachussetts Conference, Logan: President M. G. Kuhre, of
the Maine Conference, Sandy: Norton Piatt, Salt Lake City; Thomas
Allen, Provo; and W. H. Joyce, Ogden.

<!-- page:459 -->

EDITORS' fABLE                                    459

     Elder X. J. Anderson, Burnley, England: "We air enjoying our
labors very much in Burnley branch of the Liverpool conference. The
city has a population of 135 thousand and is a busy cotton-manufactur-
ing center. There arc over 200 large factory chimneys that pierce the
                                       sky.  Owing to the war, trade
                                      has been much affected causing
                                      harship generally on the people.
                                         But it   is   still   a   very busy town.
                                         The streets are paved with oval
                                         cobbles and the side walks with
                                         flat  flag-stones.   The Burnley
                                         people, especially the Saints, have
                                         good hearts. Nineteen baptisms
                                         were performed in this branch
                                         the past j'ear, proving that this
part of England is still fruitful in converts to the gospel. Elders left to
right, Lafayette Giles, Salt Lake City, Utah; Niels J. Anderson, Barn-
well, Canada; Alfred J. Theurer, Providence; and Vern C. Woolley,
Grantsville, Utah.

To the Improvement Era:
   Dear Brethren  The bearer of this letter, Elder Petrus Johannes
                        :

Klaphaak,   is   a   member of the Rotterdam branch of the Netherlands
mission, where he has presided over the branch during the past six
months, and is now leaving us to join the Saints in Zion. Prior to
his departure, a picture was taken of the local priesthood of the Rot-
terdam branch, a copy of which you will find enclosed. I thought

it might be interesting to the readers of the Era to see that the mis-
sions have not been left without men to look after the affairs of the
Church, even though the majority of the missionaries have been called
home to America. There are two elders from Zion in the picture
the balance are all local men. Trusting the publishing of this picture,
with Brother Klaphaak as president will meet with your approval, 1
remain,                         Sincerely,
 Rotterdam. Jan. 5, 1915.                      LeGrande Richards.
