Messages from the Missions

Messages from the Missions The Missionaries To every land, and Isle afar, Where human habitations reach, Where the lost tribes of Israel are, The gospel, there, we'll preach. To every tongue and every race, The gospel's light shall shine; All men, upon the earth's broad face, Shall hear the truth divine. Shiro, Texas. The heathen', too, shall all rejoice In Restoration's sound: We'll gather people of God's choice From lands the whole world 'round. Unto the Mountain of the Lord. Where Zion's banner flies, They'll come, and shout, with one accord, His praises to the skies. La Verta Rhoton First Baptisms in Montpelier, France Public conferences were held in the Marseilles district of the French mission commencing October 9. Mission president Ernest C. Rossiter was in attendance and all who wished to hear and see what is going on in Salt Lake City and in the other "Mormon" localities. By means of stereopticon views and their explanation Missionaries in the Marseilles district, standing left to right: Royal Ballif. Preston, Idaho; Arthur L. Newman, Salt Lake City; W. Rulon Shaw, Ogden; Leon L. Cowles, Salt Lake City; Ethan O. Huf faker, Idaho Falls, Idaho. Sitting: Le Grand M. Silver, Salt Lake City; Wayne H. Knight, Salt Lake City: S. Call Nelson, Provo, district president; Ernest C. Rossiter, mission president, and John S. Griffin, Ogden, Utah. gave some valuable information concerning the "Mormon" people. We enjoyed over- flowing crowds1 in each town, our halls not being large enough to accommodate we were enabled to convey to those present a more estimable opinion of our people. On the last day of the conferences, in the city of Montpelier, France, which city has

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 159 been opened up to missionary work in the last year, a baptismal ceremony was held and two people were cleansed of their sins in the waters of baptism. The Lord is blessing our efforts and our prayers are being answered; the French people are be- coming more interested in the gospel, and there are many honest souls among them who are searching for the truth and the way to salvation. Each month we look forward to receiving and reading the Era; it is truly a source of stimulation and up- lift of the spirit in this work of God; we thank you heartily for it. — S. Call Nelson, district president. More Converts in Wales This year, we have had more converts than in the past few years in Cardiff, Wales. During the past summer, many homes have been opened to the gospel, and we confidently look forward to a good harvest. In behalf of the missionaries of the Welsh district, I thank you for the Era. — Raymond Murphy, district pres- ident. Missionaries, left to right, front row: H. J. Butcher. Ogden ; Hjlliard L. Rose. Hyrum. Raymond Murphy, outgoing president, Salt Lake City; Nathaniel E. Parry, incoming pres- ident. Manti: Noble L. Chambers. Smithfield. Back row: Weston W. Taylor. Salt Lake City; A. J.- Anderson, Fairview, all of Utah. The Latter-day Saints' Maori Agricultural College The faculty and student body of the Maori Agricultural College. Hastings", N. Z., join in sending their greetings to the saints in Zion. The blessings of the Lord are felt so profusely on all sides), that we indeed feel as part of God's chosen people. We feel as co-partners with the Latter-day Saints dwelling in Zion, in furthering the cause of truth and righteousness to all na- tions, tongues and people. We are just now nearing a successful school year from every standpoint. Five stalwart youths of the Polynesian race will graduate from the school this spring, which means that their people will have five more young men of sterling character, of intelligent aptitude, and with it all, a burning testimony of the gospel of Christ to lead and direct them and enable them to act as shining lights among their own people. The district

160 IMPROVEMENT ERA presidents throughout the mission report that many of the outstanding leaders and zealous workers in their districts are Alumni of the M. A. C. The college is expanding and the territory we are now serving, is far and wide. We have rep- resented at the school six nationalities: Maori, Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan, Tahi- tian, and European. The major purpose of the college is to inculcate within its students an everlasting, ardent testimony of the divinity of the work of the Lord as interpreted by the Latter-day Saints, and a desire to promulgate with ability that testimony — the knowledge of God's plan of salvation, — to their own people. We have an excellent opportunity indirectly to teach the gospel to the inhabitants of the South Sea Archipelago, through this means. — Maori Agricultural College, Alten Christensen, secretary. Above: The Maori Agricultural College student band. Below, the faculty, left to right. front: Annie Mcllroy, matron: Sister A. S. Ballif and young son Alfred S.. Junior; A. S. Ballif, principal: President J. Howard Jenkins, of the New Zealand mission; Sister and Brother H. L. Manwaring. Back: Elders Richard Marsh; W. V. Fuller; Alten Christensen; E. C. Allen: E. S. Palmer; J. R. Stephens and S. F. Jensen.

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS In Holland's Rainy Lowlands With pep and courage the missionaries of the Amsterdam district are entering into their work. The people are being ap- proached from many different angles, and the seeds of truth are sown by the elders and touched with life by our heavenly Father and his promises, resulting in growth and harvest. During the past two months. 1 8 souls have been led into the fold through the doors of baptism. Ways are being opened through which the message of life can be put before many people. Street and park meetings are being held regularly in most of the branches, a privi- lege which has not heretofore been en- joyed. President James E. Talmage was in attendance at our recent conference, and gave the elders and the people present much food for thought. We pray for continued success in the work of the Lord, both in the mission field and in the stakes of Zion. We are thankful for the splen- did missionary, "The Improvement Era." — Rupert Racsten, Amsterdam, Holland. Llders sitting, left to right: Rcinder Springer, Rupert Ravsten, district president, (released) John P. Lillywhite, president of the Netherlands mission: Henry Hansen: Frank E. Mitchell Washburn M. Chipman. Standing: George A. Grover, Fred W. Nrubold: Ralph A. Watson Preston B. Williams; David G. Thomas; John Van Haren: Seiger Springer; Merrill L. Peterson; Lenord W. M. Dalebout; S. Reed Andrus: Ray J. Hutchinson, incoming district president: Dan Van Kampcn and Daniel Simmons. Organizations Flourishing On September 4, at Monterey, Cali- fornia, p:ople from five towns gathered to hear San Jose district missionaries, and especially President Jos. W. McMurrin of the California mission. One-third were non-members of the Church, curious to attend a "Mormon" conference. All seemed greatly impressed, even the Method- ist minister who occupied a seat on the front row. He said afterwards that Pres- ident McMurrin's speech made him think of Agrippa's answer to Paul: "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." The Relief Society sisters served a luncheon and supper. The Primary and the Relief Society have developed so splendidly that their reports merited the praise they re- ceived. Half of the members of the

162 IMPROVEMENT ERA Primary are children of investigators. Recently a program was given on which the children cleared fifty dollars, the largest sum ever made by a Primary or- ganization in California. President McMurrin complimented the branch on the selection of hymns and musical numbers which were sung. He said the selection was the best he had heard at any confer- ence. Our Sunday school is growing consistently. We lack our own house in which to meet, but a fund has been started, and we hope soon to see the materializa- tion of our desires in the form of a chapel which can be dedicated to the Lord whom we serve. — Eva Gunther, Ruth Ellsworth. D. J. Fugal, Monterey, California. First Conference, Rhur District On October 22-23, the Rhur district of the Swiss-German mission held its first conference. This district was created in May of this year, when it was divided from the old Cologne conference, the majority of the members being in the new district. The conference meetings were held in Essen, and President Hugh J. Cannon was present at all. Before the main meetings of the conference, special meetings were held in Duisburg, Gelsen- kirchen, and Bochum, all of which are new fields, and the number of friends present was most gratifying. The general meetings were all very well attended by both Saints and investigators. All of the missionaries of the district were called on to speak in the meetings, some of the elders have been here only two or three months, but their German was very good, as was their spirit, new and old, and all went away from the conference well repaid for attending, and filled with the gospel mes- sage. The Lord is blessing our work on the Rhur, and we are making good pro- gress.— Geo. Albert Smith, Jr. * f ' $ .* * -I; f <+&* Front row, sitting: T. Kenneth Biesinger, Louis M. Burgener. Geo. Albert Smith, Jr., pres. Ruhr district; Hugh J. Cannon, mission president. Salt Lake: Leon B. Linford, pres. Cologne district, Logan; John Stringham, Salt Lake. Standing: Friedrich Kalt, Frankfurt. Germany; John C. Jenkins. Salt Lake: Howard M. Ballif. Whitney. Idaho; Norman C. Pierce, Springville, Utah; Samuel C. Worthington. Boise. Idaho; Geo. K. Casto, Washington. D. C. ; Waldo R. Frandsen, Price. Utah; Clyde L. Broadbent, Heber City, Utah: J. Kenneth Kingdon. Salt Lake; Edward M- Richins. Henefer, Utah,

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS .63 European Mission Presidents Hold Conference A conference of the presidents of the several European missions was held at Dresden, Germany, during the week of September 4-11. It was called by President James E. Talmage of the European mission who presided over the meetings. Subjects of vital interest were thoroughly discussed and many problems confronting the several missions were carefully handled, and plans tormulated and suggestions offered where- by such obstacles may be overcome. While the brethren were thus busy, the sisters met under the direction of Sister May Booth Talmage, and the Relief Society and Y. L. M. I. A. work was handled. A feature of the conference was a trip to Meissen, the birthplace of the late Karl G. Maeser. A very instructive visit was made later through the pottery works of the Dresden Porcelain manufacturing com- pany where the famous Dresden china is made. President and Sister Valentine had a very satisfactory way of taking care of their visitors, both in providing meals and in giving entertaining programs presented by the auxiliary organizations of the Dres- den branch. The closing meeting of the session was joint with the sisters and was devoted to bearing testimonies. The con- ference closed by President Talmage invok- ing the blessings of the Lord upon those gathered and upon the missions. Sitling: President Andrew Johnson. Swedish mission; President Hugh J. Cannon. Swiss- German mission; President James E. Talmage, British and European mission; President Hyrum W. Valentine, German-Austrian mission: President John P. Lillywhite. Netherlands mission; President Joseph L. Petersen, Danish mission. Standing: President Ernest C. Rossiter, French mission. Sisters Venus Rossiter, Sarah R. Cannon, May Booth Talmage. Rose Ellen Valentine, Lillian B. Lillywhite. Ida Petersen. President Lorenzo W. Anderson, Norwegian mission.