Messages from the Missions

Messages from the Missions

Six Baptized in Illinois

V. E. Jarman and Joseph E. Nilsson write: "After having been re-

fused permission to hold street meetings at Maltoon, 111., we went to Charles-

ton where we held several spirited cottage meetings. Here we were suc-

cessful in making many good friends who became interested, and before

leaving we had the privilege of baptizing two. We then left for Toledo,

111., having previously arranged to meet with Elders Eyre and Blumel to

hold a series of meetings in the near by

country district. On Sunday morning we

secured willing permission from the trus-

tees to hold services in a country church.

We held eight meetings, commencing Sun-

day night, Oct. 14. At the first meeting

there were over forty earnest listeners, and

as the meetings proceeded the attendance

increased until at last at our meeting on the

following Sunday, there were over two

hundred in attendance. Many became inter-

ested in the message of the restoration of

the gospel. We were unable to accept all

the invitations for entertainment, which were

given us after each meeting. President Stringham joined us on Friday

364 IMPROVEMENT ERA

and added to our spiritual strength. Four were baptized. The people seem

eager for the truth, and the prospects of several more baptisms are very good.

Elders, left to right: Joseph A. Nilsson, Salt Lake City; fm. String-

ham, Vernal, Utah; V. E. Jarman, Twin Falls, Idaho.

Elders of the Central States

Mission, Missouri Conference

"We are within one-half inch

of the same height and five pounds

of the same weight, from 19 to 24

years of age, from six feet one-

half inch to six feet one inch, from

175 pounds to 180 pounds. Left to

right the elders are: J. Mathers

Savage, age 19, height six feet one-

half inch, weight 175 pounds;

Carloe J. Stolworthy, age 19, height

six feet three-fourths inch, weight

175 pounds; Daryl W. Neibaur,

age 24, height six feet one-half

inch, weight 175 pounds; Joseph

F. Pomeroy, age 19, height six feel

one inch, weight 180 pounds. We

are for the Kingdom of God and

America. These two things alone

make life a great blessing." — Daryl

W. Neibaur, St. Louis, Mo., De-

cember 17, 1917.

Taken for Cannibals

Aaron U. Merrill, Kimberley, South Africa, writes under date of Oc-

tober 27: "Recently my companion, Elder Charles C. Sessions, and I took

a three-hundred mile trip on our bicycles in the Orange Free State, travel-

ing without purse or scrip. At a little town called Koffyfontain, we were

brought up before the magistrate and our passports demanded. The magis-

trate asked us our nationality, and we replied that we were Americans for

several generations back. We offered to produce letters we had in our pock-

ets to prove our identity, but the magistrate said, 'Oh, it is easy to acquire

that American twang.' He then ordered us taken into custody and they

wired to the police at Kimberley. We were not locked up, but were well

treated by the policemen, and had an opportunity of preaching the gospel

to them. Through the courtesy of a Jewish hotel keeper, we had a com-

fortable bed in the hotel the first night in custody, but the magistrate heard

of this, and the next night we slept in the police barracks. The food was

good but not too plentiful. The caretaker was only allowed twenty-four cents

a day for keeping us. While we were there, strange stories were afloat.

Among the school children it was rumored that we were a couple of can-

nibals. We were released on Thursday, on advice from Kimberley that we

were American subjects. We thanked the magistrate and told him of our

intentions, to finish trading the town, but he forbade it, saying that he would

not have us around 'polluting people's minds with our religion.' He would

listen to no reason, so we resumed our journey. We stayed with prominent

and well-to-do farmers, as well as at the best hotels in the towns. The cause

of truth is progressing but slowly here, but our hopes are bright for the

future. The Era is a welcome friend here."