---
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: 11
published: 1927-09
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. 11 (September 1927): 1038–1041."
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera30011unse
  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: improvementera30011unse
start_page: 1038
end_page: 1041
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1927-09)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera30011unse
  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

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MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS Book of Mormon Contest in Canadian Mission An interesting and profitable contest was conducted in the Canadian mission during the month of March, 1927, in the selling of the Book of Mormon. In the Maine district, winners of the contest, 128 books were placed, and many of them have been read by persons who are now anxious to hear more of the origin and purpose of such a record. Music and! "Mormonism" have proved to be an excellent combination in Maine, and ffueiiajqaaati United YJouU&en flami '.gJtiftici )! Hvru. U of <M -/ m ti/i> tlni-it. )< many new homes have been opened to our message. At some homes to which we have been invited twenty-five persons or more were present. The long winters make it impossible properly to follow up our summer country work, but as summer returns our friends are visited again and given another chance to hear the gospel. The accompanying picture shows the missionaries of the Maine district. The missionaries in Maine extend greetings through the Era to fellow-missionaries and Saints throughout the world. — Loraine Alston. Book of Mormon Sales Increase The South Australian district of the Australian mission held their annual conference in Adelaide, April 17, 1927, with President and Sister Charles H. Hyde in attendance. The work there has progressed favorably during the last year. The Book of Mormon sales in 1926 were nearly four times as many as in 1925; and during the four months ending March 25, 1927, ninety Books of Mormon were sold, as compared with one hundred one for the entire year 1926. A very successful country trip was recently made, and many new people thereby had the privilege of studying the principles of "Mormonism." The Era is a welcome visitor, and proves to be a first-class missionary. — J. Roscoe Creer, district president.

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MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1039 MISSIONARIES OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DISTRICT Front row, left to right: Charles H. Hyde, president of Australian mission; Caroline S. Hyde, president of mission Relief Societies; Alva E. Lennard, president of district Relief Society; J. Roscoe Creer, district president. Back row: Arthur Crane, president of Mutual Improvement Association; Heber R. Garner, Jerald W. Glenn, Dow P. Brian, Evan R. Parson, Donald Crane, superintendent of Sunday School. Books of Mormon Sold In Germany Elders Louis R. Curtis and Hyrum P. Cannon report that they re- cently made an eight-day missionary trip through the beautiful Harz , Mountains, Germany. They left Hannover on April 26, 1927, by train to Doernten. and then commenced to walk, traveling without purse or scrip. In all, they covered a distance of 412 kilometers (247.2 miles), 170 of which (112 miles) they walked. In the course of their work, they distributed 5 Books of Mormon, 1 Church history, 69 pamphlets and 5 67 tracts; had 144 gospel conversations, and held 4 cottage meetings. The expenses of their trip, including train fare, amounted to about 42 marks. "We had a good bed every night," they said, "and received a variety of good, wholesome food. Too much can not be said in favor of the good- hearted German people, who are always willing to help the servants of the Lord." As far as is known, these two were the first elders to make such a trip through that territory. Book of Mormon Sold In England Spring conference of the Newcastle district, British mission, was held in the Beaconsfield hall, Gateshead, on May 29, 1927, with a large attendance. President and Sister James E. Talmage were present. The feature of the morning meeting was a dialogue by the Sunday school chil- dren of the district, based on the theme, "The Second Coming of Christ." There was a marked increase in tithes and offerings over the last year. In the last six months the elders have distributed 41,742 tracts, sold and dis- tributed 1,344 pamphlets, 18 copies of the Book of Mormon and 38 other Church books, and engaged in 1,747 gospel conversations. Cottage meetings have been held with good results. Elders are at present laboring in the country districts. Our slogan for 1927 is, "New interest, New spirit, New records, Newcastle." Eight persons have been baptized thus

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1040 IMPROVEMENT ERA far. We have ten organized branches in the district, with a membership of 521. We find the Improvement Era a source of interest, inspiration and knowledge, and look forward to its arrival each month. — Orson H. Berrett, president Newcastle district. ¥ I r f *H$l <gk m- ^ *^' **^ ELDERS OF THE NEWCASTLE DISTRICT, ENGLAND Standing, left to right: Amos B. Robinson, Lake Town, Utah; Frank J. Larson, Spanish Fork, Utah; Eugene R. Budge, Ogden, Utah; Harold W. England, Logan, Utah; James O. Hawkins, Benjamin, Utah; Wayne L. Shaw, Murray, Utah; Charles C. Hill, Ucon, Idaho; Earle R. Webb, Idaho Falls, Idaho. Sitting: Howard A. Stokes, Brigham City, Utah; Orson H. Berrett, Murray, Utah, district president; James E. Talmage, president European missions; A. Vincent McKay, Ogden, Utah, district clerk; Vard W. Meadows, American Falls, Idaho. Hundreds of Books of Mormon Distributed The Los Angeles district held its semi-annual conference on July 1, 2 and 3 in the Mathews ward chapel. President McMurrin advised the missionaries not to follow the standards of the world too closely, in the matter of dress, but rather to set an example in this regard. A delicious banquet served by the Relief Society of the Mathews ward followed the Friday Priesthood meeting. Elder Ezra M. Hawkes served as toastmaster. President Marion W. Halliday of the Los Angeles district presided with dispatch and efficiency. Spirited gospel talks were given by President Joseph W. McMurrin and by each of the missionaries. The musical num- bers were very good and much appreciated by all. The following statistics covering the first six months of the year were given by President Halliday: Books of Mormon distributed, 825; standard works, 205; other books, 3,024; number meetings held, 2,196; number converts baptized, 44. This indicates healthy growth of the work over past periods: — Leo H. Nielson, mission secretary.

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MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 1041 Old Baptismal Certificate Out in the suburban town of Lidcomb, about twelve miles from Sidney, Australia, lives a pleasant, elderly woman with an interesting history, Julia Nash, late of England, now a member of this district. She was born in the Church and baptized in her childhood. One of her treasures is the baptismal certificate of her mother, Sarah Cook Mycock. The certifi- cate was issued in May, 1841, and shows that the confirmation was done by Elder Parley P. Pratt. Sister Nash, recalling the incidents of her child- hood, says that as many as nine of the Twelve Apostles of the Church were entertained at one time in her mother's home in England; and that her grandmother, two uncles and an aunt were present in Nauvoo at the time of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Through a series of circumstances, Sister Nash has never been permitted to gather with the Saints in Zion. There are many elders at home, no doubt, who will be glad to learn that she is still alive and well and enjoying the association of the Saints. Her husband died more than a year ago. — Norman B. Cceec, distirtc president. The "Montcalm" Incident In the August number of the Era a short editorial note called at- tention to an account of the ship, Montcalm, striking an iceberg. Since then we have received the following statement by Elder Rulon Rawson from Dresden, Germany, one of the elders on board, giving his personal version of the faith-strengthening incident: On July 1, 1927, a number of missionaries, namely, Walter B. Schulze, Kenneth Huber, Leland Hill, William M. Burgis, Norman Forsberg, Byron W. Daynes, Vernon L. Stevenson, Earl Worthlin, John Perkins. Edward J. Smith, Earl D. Hone, Jessie Nixon, Wayne Knight, Cecil Hart. Ray B. West, Jr., and Rulon W. Rawson, boarded the steamship Mont- calm at Montreal, bound for Liverpool. On Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock p. m., as we were sailing down the St. Lawrence through the Straits of Belle Isle, slowly because of a dense fog and icebergs, we felt an awful jar and heard a crunching noise, and then the boat tipped about one-third on its side. It stayed in that position about thirty seconds before it righted itself. Everyone knew that the boat had struck an iceberg. We rushed to the deck and saw a huge iceberg swiftly floating from us. We also saw the crew lowering the life boats. About six of the missionaries went to a cabin and asked the Lord for the preservation of our lives. When we returned to the deck, we found the life boats again in their places on the boat. We learned later that the only damage done was that one of the propellers had been badly damaged. We were anchored until the fog rose, making us forty-four hours late. The next day while talking with one of the officers of the boat, we were told that the accident was the first of its kind not to be fatal since 1907. The officer stated that it was in that region the Titanttc, a supposedly unsinkable boat, was sunk by an iceberg and it was only luck that saved our lives. In the party of missionaries there were about five who had been told in patriarchal blessings that they would serve missions and would travel on land and sea in safety. The thoughts of my blessing drove away all my fears at the time of the accident. It was not luck that saved us; it was God keeping the promises given us. It was an experience that I don't care to have again, yet I would not give it up because it has been a means of strengthening my testimony in the divine mercies of God. — Rulon W. Raioson.