Messages from the Missions

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MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 757 Here in Berlin the obstacles which missionaries generally encounter have been removed so that the people have a fair chance to hear the gospel. Persecution either by unfriendly pastors or the press is practically unknown, and what little has been said against us has reacted entirely in our favor by sending many people to our meetings out of curiosity. Friends and investi- gators greatly outnumber the Saints in Berlin, and we have found it neces- sary to open a new branch recently, making four branches here now. Our success naturally brings enthusiasm to the elders and Saints. Since the stabilization of the mark, conditions in general are improv- ing. Most forms of business are picking up as the people are now able to save money toward making purchases. The street beggars who formerly infested the city have practically disappeared and everyone seems to have taken a new lease on life. The Saints in particular are blessed in many ways. There is very little unemployment among them and want is diminish- ing at a rapid rate. For the past few months we have been able to take care of most of the poor with what we receive as fast offerings or donations to our Relief Societies. We look for the Era as a link connecting us with home. Those of our Saints who read English enjoy it as much as we do." — W. H. Hansen, Berlin, Germany. Organization of the French Mission The semi-annual conference of the Liege conference, Belgium, now a part of the newly organized French mission, was held, commencing at Seraing, February 22, and continuing at Liege, February 23-24-25. Those in attendance were President David O. McKay from Liverpool ; President Charles S. Hyde and Sister Lanora Hyde of the Netherlands Mission; Russell H. Blood from Liverpool; President Rulon T. Hinckley and seven elders from the Lausanne conference in Switzerland; F. Orin Woodbury from the Hannover conference in Germany, as well as President Erwin R. Spilsbury, all the traveling elders of the Liege conference and five traveling elders from the Netherlands Mission. The first meeting was attended by 215 people, 100 or more of whom were friends and investigators. The next evening in Liege the second ses- sion was held. Liege was the first branch to be reopened in this territory in 1921, some little time after the Armistice, and since that time commendable results have been obtained by united efforts in all phases of missionary work. It is now the. largest branch in the French Mission. At 10 a. m. Sunday morning 65 Saints and friends gathered at the Natation on the Meuse River to witness the baptism of eleven candidates. In spite of disagreeable weather, it was a most impressive ceremony and was followed by a confirmation meeting for those baptized. President McKay, the first speaker at the afternoon session, explained the plan of uniting the French-speaking peoples under one mission — up to this time the Lausanne conference having been connected with the Swiss- German mission and the Liege conference adjoined to the Netherlands mis- sion. He stated that the French mission is now an independent unit, and this ought to be an incentive to its members to redouble their efforts to spread the gospel. He then presented Russell H. Blood as president of the French mission. Elder Blood was sustained by a unanimous vote. At the evening session Conference President Erwin R. Spilsbury re- ported that attendance in departments and meetings held in 1923 had in- creased 100% over 1922. President McKay gave a most interesting dis- course, speaking first on the great change that has taken place in the Liege conference during the preceding two years. He told of his visit in 1921 when there were only two elders in Belgium and no choir. By relating some incidents on his recent trip to the Holy Land, he showed that Christ-

758 IMPROVEMENT ERA ianity, as the world practices it today, has failed to bring the "peace and good will" that was announced by the angel heralding the birth of the Savior. "Before such a state of good will can exist, it is necessary that this civilization live Christ's plan, even as he willed it. On the spot where the Lord's birth is recorded by tradition to have taken place, there are four altars for worship, belonging to the Greek Catholic, the Roman Catholic, the Armenian, and the Coptic Churches respectively. At the Armenian altar no Greek Catholic adherent or sympathizer may prostrate himself to offer his supplications, nor may a Roman Catholic bow down before the altar of the Coptics, or vice versa. Some time ago two men were killed on this spot of sacred ground because a carpet or a piece of drapery belonging to one altar had been placed accidentally or unintentionally, it seems, just a few inches beyond the line of the altar to which it belonged. At another place of wor- ship, in the interior of a sepulchre are certain old and precious pictures hanging on the walls, only the frames of which are visible, on account of accumulated dust and cobwebs — and all because of the fact that Coptics will not permit Roman Catholics to clean them, nor will the Armenians trust the Greek Catholics to clean them in removing the dirt which hides their beauty." Such striking evidences of "good will toward men" as well as other citations of existing conditions were related by President McKay. He declared that such conditions cannot foster that state which has been prom- ised— "peace on earth and good will toward men." The immediate needs and problems of the new mission were discussed and each wo:ker expressed himself happy to be able to take part in this new, independent unit, the French mission. — Grant J. Wright, Conference Secy. Missionaries, first row, sitting, left to right: Russell H. Blood, French mission president; Erwin R. Spilsbury, Liege conference president; President David O. McKay; Lanora Hyde, President Charles S. Hyde, of the Netherlands mission; Rulon T. Hinckley, president of Lausanne conference, Switzerland; Orin F. Woodbury, Hannover conference president, Germany; second row, standing: Harvey Woodbury, John Scowcroft. Naylor, S. L. Durant, D. L. Goddard, S. C. Ballif, G. B. Higgs, C. V. Cottle, Murdock, K. L. Farr; third row: H. Taylor, J. P. Anderson, Lynch, M. L. Christensen, R. Shupe, W. Trowbridge, G. J. Wright, L. J. Moffat; fourth row: M. Hampton, J. Smith, L- S- Capener, L. Pond and G. R. Daynes.

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 759 Interesting News from Hawaii Elder Henry J. DeHaan, writing from the Kauai conference, Hawaiian mission, reports the elders having enjoyed their labors in that district for the past year. The Lord has been very kind to them and blessed them with success in many ways. "The field is large and there is a big work yet to be done. We have been able to organize two branches and are glad to report that these are making wonderful progress. With the help of the Saints we have been able to get a new car which will help us greatly in pushing the work. The Hawaiian people are kind hearted and very willing to help those in need and to listen to the elders. We are erecting a large social hall that will help the work in Kapaee. The crowds that have attended our conference sessions have been too large for our chapels, so we must find a building that can ho'.d rao.e. We appreciate the Era as a good friend. We desire to further the good work of the Hawaiian mission and we pray that the same blessings that we enjoy may be with every mission and missionary." Bottom, left to right: Donald McCormack, Henry J. D:Haan, conference presi- dent; Fred E. Lunt. Top: W. Martell Hodson, Don G. Nelson, Radcliffe W. Allred. Bits of Philosophy Pride is paralysis of the soul. It is when you do not work for pay that you really get paid for your work. He has the clearest sight, who can see most distinctly the flaws in his own character. The holiest action done in an unholy way, may become the most unholy thing in the world. He is truly educated who can understand the true, live the good, and appreciate the beautiful. The impure thought is the most deadly thing in the world; it is more destructive of civilization, and human well-being, than all the wars and pestilences of history. — NEPHI JENSEN.

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