Quitting Tobacco

—

660 IMPROVEMENT ERA

now to pay up one's obligations, get out of debt, and save. Every indication points to products going down, and money up. Let us take advantage of these facts. A.

Messages from the Missions

The Danish Mission Organ Skandinaviens Stjerne, the Church organ published in the Danish mission, conies this year to its readers in an entirely new dress. It has discarded the old German type and substituted for it the Roman. This is a decided change for the better. The little magazine is one of the venerable publications of the Church, being now in its 69th year. May this Star long shine and guide travelers to their eternal home in safety!

In the British Mission According to the statistical report of the British mission, as published in the Millennial Star, there were 166 baptisms during the year 1919. The total membership, including local priesthood, members, and children under eight years of age, was 8,143. There were 17 missionaries, some of whom are local brethren. A total of 7,285 meetings were held during the year, — and 598,661 tracts were distributed 327,558 by lady missionaries. The results of the missionary work in the British mission are truly encouraging, considering the small number of missionaries engaged. Before the war, over 300 missionaries were at times engaged in that field of the Lord's vineyard. Now there are seventeen.

Disposing of Many Tracts and Books Elders Fred E. Peterson, Lund. Idaho, and I. W. Coon, Jr., Magna, Utah, write from Sumter, under date of March 22: "The work of the Lord in the South Carolina conference is thriving, although the laborers are few. We are distributing many tracts and Books of Mormon, and from all indications are succeeding in putting ov«r our message. We have had nine applica- tions for baptism in the county this winter. We have been guided and pro- tected by the Spirit of the Lord and thank him for his kindness to us. We are grateful for the Era through which we receive valuable instructions to aid us in the performance of our missionary labors. We send our best wishes to all our fellow laborers throughout the world."

From Indifference to Earnest Conviction Elder A. Ray Olpin, Sapporo, Japan, writes under date of Jan. 2: "I take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the Era which we welcome and read from cover to cover every month. To my notion it ranks among the best of magazines. To read but one number is enough to establish a longing for more. Before coming to the mission field, I was rather indifferent towards the Era. True, I helped my Mutual some in the Era canvasses, but that was more from the sense of duty and pride, than from an earnest conviction of its value. I knew that as a Church publication it contained highly edifying material, but the nature of it I knew not. I wonder how many among the Saints are in the same condition today? Would that they would read but one number, even though it were neces- sary to borrow it. That should be sufficient to convince them that the Era belongs in their homes."