--- 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: 30 number: 7 published: 1927-05 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* 30, no. 7 (May 1927): 642–645." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3007unse 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: improvementera3007unse start_page: 642 end_page: 645 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1927-05) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3007unse publication_year: 1927 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 1927, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Messages from the Missions MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS A Worthy Group of Workers This picture represents a group of missionaries in the Missouri district. They are desirous of extending their greetings to the world through the columns of the Improvement Era. They are a worthy group of workers. The picture includes the mission president, the secretary, the district president and others, as follow: Front row, left to right: W. E. Wagstaff, office; W. C. Huish; E. K. Hanka; J. B. Summerhays, district president; S. O. Bennion, mission president; W. J. Gough; D. G. Lyman, mission secretary; U. Wilkins. Second row: Florence Miller, Afton Cook, Edith Willoughby, Olive Nash, Vivian Housekeeper, Thelma Henderson, Erma Grange, Bernice Young; Gladys Fellows, Mission stenographer; Margaret Vine, mission bookkeeper; Asenath Smith, Independence district. Third row: R. B. Ladle, F. J. Hussey, C. D. Williams, Ivan Squire, W. G. Sharp, L. I. Dillman, G. H. Kleinman, E. D. Miner; Hugo Witt, local. Fourth row: A. J. ^Vernon; C. Harris, local; M. J. Bennett, I. D. Payne, J. A. Ellett, F. M. DeWitt; S. Harris, Eastern States mission. Year of 1927 Promising for Netherland Mission Elder G. Doezie, assistant editor De Ster, reports that the year 1927 commenced with bright promise for the Netherlands mission. The many worthy undertakings instituted in 1926 are continuing under renewed effort with encouraging results. Principal among these is the missionary school, established for the benefit of incoming elders. Since last June every new elder has had the opportunity of spending at least thirty days in this school, under competent teachers, and the results have been pleasing, both to the individual elder and to the mission in general. The morning hours are devoted to a study of the language and the gospel, and the afternoon is spent initiating these young men in the proper manner of trading and spreading Church literature. Another feature of last year's accomplishments was the establishment of regular work in the rural districts, where the elders traveled without purse, relying entirely upon the Lord. Some of the local Saints also participated in this work, with good results. "As if to spur us on to continue with greater effort the good work of last year," writes Elder Doezie, "this year, 1927, commenced with one of the best conferences ever held in this mission." The conference was held in Rotterdam on January 23, MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 643 under the direction of Mission President John P. Lillywhite, and lasted four days. About sixty elders were present, and a wonderful spirit prevailed. At the Sunday evening meeting 650 persons were in attendance. The music was furnished by the choirs of the Hague and Rotterdam branches. Already this year, thirty-seven baptisms have been performed; eighteen in January, nineteen in February. Permission also has finally been obtained from the mayor and council of Rotterdam to hold street meetings; their privilege being to hold such meetings four times a week in two different places, making a total of eight weekly open-air meetings. The first of these was held on January 25, with an audience of more than 150 persons, among whom 200 tracts were distributed. These open-air meetings are now held regularly with encouraging success. "The elders all express their gratitude for the Improvement Era; its good cannot be estimated." ELDERS OF ROTTERDAM CONFERENCE Back row, left to right: H. J. Noorda, J. Hoekstra, M. Stam, J. Nakken, M. L. Peterson, J. D. Lillywhite, A. Holm, T. Sipkema, A. G. Winkel, G. E. Hill. Middle row: M. Webb, T. B. Harmsen, C. P. Mietus, V. T. Holland, R. A. Matson, J. V. McGrath, R. G. Smith, J. H. Vanderberg, G. V. Ricks, F. E. Mitchell, R. K. Cromar. Sitting: G. Doezie, ass't editor "De Ster"; I. Z. Ward; A. de Bruyn; John Vanderwerff, outgoing president Rotterdam conference; Mission President John P. Lillywhite; Joel P. Lillywhite; Sister Lillian D. Lilly- white, president mission Relief Societies; W. G. Rose, incoming president Rotterdam conference; B. A. Weight, mission secretary; O. Van Orden. Annual Convention in South Africa At the close of 1926 and the beginning of 1927, a general convention was held in the South African mission, at which all the traveling elders in that mission were in attendance. It was an event long to be remembered. It has been the practice for many years to call the elders to "Cumorah," the mission headquarters, for an annual convention, in which are discussed all the various phases of missionary work. Each day's work was planned at least one month ahead, so that the conference presidents had time to prepare their local brethren to carry on the branch work while they were absent. 644 IMPROVEMENT ERA Mission President Samuel Martin directed the activities of the convention, and some very interesting and instructive papers were presented by the missionaries and afterwards discussed in general. Several inspiring Priesthood meetings were also held, and valuable instruction given the missionaries, who dis- persed for their various fields of labor on January 4. — Samuel Martin, presi- dent South African mission. MISSIONARIES OF SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION Front row, left to right: Charles \V. Larson, Centerville; Theodore R. Martin. Frank A. Martin, Alfred James Martin, Ogden; Sheldon R. Fre«, Salt Lake City. Second row: Paul A. Thorn, Springville, president Transvaal conference; H. Lorden Baker, Salt Lake City, president Bloemfontein conference; Leo R. Jenson, Salt Lake City, mission secretary; Mission President Samuel jMartin, Clara A. Martin, Ogden; Kenneth C. Woodruff, Salt Lake City, president Cape conference; Grant H. Mortensen, Riverton, president Port Elizabeth conference. Third row: C. Alden Gray, Provo. Utah; Foyal L. Smith, Cardston. Alberta, Canada; William B. Holland, Rigby: Oral N. Beckstead, Preston, Idaho; Robert E. iMadsen, Marion L. Allred, Ephraim, Utah, president Natal conference; Clarence L. Rockwood, Salt Lake City. Fourth row: William Earl Hutchings, Springville; Le,Roy H. Duncan, Centerville; Noel G. Knight, Lehi, Utah, president Kimberley conference; H. Lowell Crane, Pocatello, Idaho, president East London conference; Keith P. Heiner, Salt Lake City; Wells L. Evans, Woods Cross: Reed H. Beckstead, Sandy, Utah. The Indians Hold Conference The Papago ward, Maricopa stake, Arizona, held conference in their ward chapel on February 20. This ward is composed of Indian Saints, who came from far and near, by auto, truck, and various vehicles drawn by Indian ponies, to attend the conference. The Indian bays wore scout uniforms, and the girls were clad in appropriate black shoes, hose and dresses, with red sweaters. Bobbed hair prevailed, although some heads were still adorned with MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 645 long, black, glossy, tresses. Lip stick, and rouge were also visible, though not so lavishly applied as among their pale-faced sisters. The music was furnished by a choir of thirty-four boys and girls, with Sister Valenzuela at the piano. Such songs, as "Oh ye mountains high," "If the way be full of trial," etc., were rendered. Elder Domingo Bautisto offered the invocation. Bernice Frank gave a report of the Indian school, stating that at Fast meeting the previous Sunday almost all the boys and girls fasted, and bore their testi- monies. The theological department of the school is under the supervision of the California mission, and is in splendid condition. A mixed quartet sang, "Jesus, lover of my soul." For the benefit of those who could not speak English, Bishop Tiffany bore a spirited testimony in the Pima tongue. Each of the stake presidency spoke, and their discourses were interpreted. Elder Santeo, the interpreter, speaks four languages fluently. Sister Woods was introduced as supervisor of Lamanite genealogical work. Loreta Lune, a young Indian girl, pronounced the benediction. After the conference, which lasted three and a half hours, the good bishop and his wife, assisted by fourteen girls, served refreshments of sandwiches, chocolate and cake to about 230 hungry people. This Indian ward for the last twelve years has shown 100% in ward teaching; 40% attendance at Sacrament meetings; Priesthood meetings, 45%; Primary, 98%; Religion Class, 99%; and at the Phoenix Indian school, which is a part of the Papago ward, they have had 98% attendance at Sunday school. Where is there another ward in the entire Church that can equal this record? — Annie Woods, Mesa, Arizona, Maricopa Stake. Twenty-five Baptisms in Scotland Elder Archibald J. Anderson, clerk of the Scottish conference, says conditions are improving in that district. In the open-air meetings they are receiving much fair play. "During the past year we administered tht ordinance of baptism to twenty-five candidates." 1 r m 9 Hi n ' wl | ¥ TJ : W % , . ■■• £ #'■ ■ "-■ ^r .1 ELDERS OF SCOTTISH CONFERENCE Standing, left to right: Percy F. Hill, Bountiful; Ray R. Murdock. Beaver; Carl W. Buchanan, Robert K. Whyte. Sitting: J. Ross Smith, Salt Lake City; Archibald J. Anderson, conference clerk, Fairview; William Cooke, conference president; George W. Romney. Salt Lake City.