Messages from the Missions

Messages from the Missions "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" (Doc. and Gov. 18:15.) Working With Might in Hannover District One of the outstanding conferences in the German-Austrian mission was held in the Hannover district, January 22 to 24, at which President and Sister Hugh J. Cannon were in attendance. Every meet- ing was an inspiration and a power for good, and the conference, as a whole, was a splendid reflection of the encouraging work done in this district. We sense with gravity the meaning of the warning, that we shall not be able to labor with these good people long, and we are working with our might and with the spirit of prayer "while the day lasts." We find the Improvement Era of great value in helping us to convey our message of truth effectively. — John R. Stewart, Jr. Elders of Hannover District, Germany Front row, left to right: David G. Spencer, president of the Ruhr district; M. Elmer Ghristcnsen, superintendent of the Sunday Schools of the German-Austrian mission; John R. Stewart, Jr., incoming president of the Hannover district; President Hugh J. Gannon of the Swiss-German mission; Robert R. Bowen, outgoing president of the Hannover district: Leon B. Lindford, president of the Gologne district; Leonard V. Mauss. Second row: O. Whitney Young, Whitney Parry, Winfield Q. Gannon, W. Whitney Smith, Hans W. Uhrhan, James E. Burrows, Frederick Wesche, Wm. H. Glissmeyer, Don P. Nebcker, Otto M. Brey, Francis Seegmiller. Back row: Lane A. Huband, La Voy Hildt, Elmer T. Housten, Stanley H. Brox, E. David Reed, Dean W. Tucker, Lawrence O. Belnap, Eric G. PoUei, Glyde W. Broadbent, L. Marcus Jensen. Large Group En Route to Europe Among the passengers of the S. S. forty-seven missionaries of the Church of Leviathan, when she left her New York Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; per- dock on Saturday, February 11, weire haps the largest group of elders to sail for

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 605 European shores. During the six days of the voyage, they mingled with their fel- low-passengers, many of whom showed a special interest in the "Mormon" party. These people asked many { questions, listened attentively to the answers given, and went away with a high conception of the principles of Christ's restored gospel, — of what the world terms "Mormonism." A meeting was held each evening, in a special room reserved by the ship's purser, under the direction of officers previously elected by the missionaries. Much musical and reading talent was in evidence among the members of the party. Throughout the trip, the Spirit of the Lord was with them; they participated in pleasant gos- pel conversations whenever possible, and made many friends. Upon arrival in England, they went on to London, where they met with Dr. John A. Widtsoe, pres- ident of the European missions, and were then sent to various parts of Great Britain, to the continent, and some went on to South Africa. — Weston N. Notdgren, en- route to British mission. Missionaries Aboard S. S. Leviathan Front row, left to right: Bertram R. Cutforth, South African mission; Geo. B. Alder, Swiss-German; Edward L. Blacker, British; Wesley Ward, British; Henry Bates, British; William Rigby Jacobs, German- Austrian; William Brockbank, French; Weston N. Nord- gren, British; Leo Teerlink, Netherlands; Arthur Livingston, British; Ed. E. Morgan, British. Second row: Gottfred Bartlome, Swiss-German; Geo. Maw, German- Austrian; Daricl E. Reese, German-Austrian; Henry R. Watson, German-Austrian; Clifton S. M. Kerr, British; Howard E. Maycock, Swiss-German; Alan Blood, French; Lynden Fawns, French; Lorin F. Butler, Swiss-German; Walter K. Kersiek, Swiss-German; Lynn Wood, Swiss-German; Mrs. Margaret Cannon (traveling to Germany to meet her son, shortly to be released); Henry Hart, Netherlands; Joseph Brough. British; Richard K. Knight, British; G. R. Carter, British. Third row: Weston R. Clark, British; Iriving Pratt Bcesley, German-Austrian; Moses Hansen. Swiss-German; Joseph Anderson, British; Ralph Thompson. French; Charles E. Chandler, Swiss-German; Lester Fisher, British; Alton Geesel, Swiss-German; Don E. Washburn, German- Austrian; Byron Vance, British; next man not a member of party; Stanley Hall, Swiss-German. Fourth row: Hans Beck- mann. Swiss-German; Warren Perry and John Sieverts. Netherlands. Other members, who were absent on account of sea-sickness: Harold H. Blackmore. Herbert W. Carter, Robt. L. Bradford, and W. Richard Nelson, British mission; Ersal Bcus, and Brigham Nebeker, Netherlands; iMclvin H. Harris, German- Austrian.

606 IMPROVEMENT ERA Three Missionary Conferences in England Under the direction of Dr. John A. Widtsoe, president of the European mis- sions, three outstanding missionary con- ferences were recently held in the British mission. The first of the series was held in Sunderland, in the north, and more than a score of traveling elders were pres- ent. The second was held in Sheffield, in the midlands; this was the largest of the three. The last was held in London, with forty-eight missionaries present, in- cluding President Widtsoe and his staff. To this last inspirational gathering came missionaries from the five most southerly districts of the British jnission. Each of the conferences was motivated by the same spirit; but, also, each was characterized by some distinctive trend of thought and by the emphasizing of some particular phase of missionary endeavor. The elders were given ample opportunity to express their views and to ask questions. A sum- mary of the day's discussion, by Pres- ident Widtsoe, with his wise counsel and instructions, brought to a fitting close the final meeting of each conference. — Richard L. Exxins, associate editor, Mil- lennial Star. Elders Attending London Missionary Conference Seated, left to right: David M. Davis, James H. Cantwell, Franklin J. Newman, Ernest A. Hall, Reese R. Parker, H. Grant Vest, Milford A. Piggott. First row: Heber J. Matkin, president Birmingham district; Alexander J. Byran, president of the Norwich district; Nathaniel E. Parry, president of the Welch district; Richard L. Evans, associate editor Millennial Star; Leah D. Widtsoe, president of Relief Societies of European missions; Dr. John A. Widtsoe, president European missions; Ralph V. Chisholm, secretary and treasurer of the European missions; Alma C. Tranter, president Bristol district; Annie S. Brain, Clinton L. Mills, president of the London district. Second row : Percy F. Hill, Ezra M. Parry, Louis W. Sanders, R. LeRoy Fletcher. Albert Brain, Cecil H. Toone, Laurence Peterson, Joseph F. Parrish, N. Homer Hansen, Robert Dell Buchanan, Frank S. Cragun, Harold G. Clark. Third row: Spencer A. Harris, Rulon F. Thompson, Joseph W. Harmon, Thomas E. Paskins, Arthur T. Coleman, Alva L. Ritchie, A. Wesley Davis, Wilford N. Hemmert. Harold W. England, Kenneth H. Smith, Noble L. Chambers, Earle R. Webb. Last row: Hilliard L. Rose, June E. Bartlett, Roscoe E. Evans, Elmer D. White, David W. Sutton, Douglas H. Petersen, Adrian L. Orme.

MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS 607 Ground Broken for First L. D. S. Chapel in French Mission In Seraing, Belgium, January 30, 1928, the missionaries of the Belgian district, to- gether with Mission President and Sister Ernest C. Rossiter, and numerous mem- bers and friends of the Seraing, Liege and Herstal branches, gathered to break the ground for the first Latter-day Saint chapel to be erected in the French mission. Wheelbarrows, picks and shovels had been previously provided, and everyone set to work with a will to help do the necessary excavation work for the foundation. The missionaries devoted their entire time for two weeks to this work. This marks an important step in the development of the Church in Belgium, and will greatly stimulate the interest of the people in Seraing and near-by branches. The chapel will be finished sometime this summer, and we expect to commence the erection of one in Liege before the end of this year. During 1927, in the Belgian district, twenty-seven baptisms were performed, more than double those of 1926, and the same proportionate increase is reported throughout the mission; the past year wit- nessed the first baptisms wc ever per- formed in the city of Charleroi. We have a large number of friends in the five organized branches in Belgium, and the prospects for this year are encouraging. Having recently secured a hall, meetings are now to commence in the city of Ver- viers, for the first time since the war. Wc are now organizing the first troop of Boy Scouts in the mission, in the Liege branch, in connection with the Y. M. M. I. A. — Joel H. Boiven, president Belgian district. Elders in the Belgian District, French Mission Sitting, left to right: F. Clark Sanford, Salt Lake City; Joel H. Bowen, Salt Lake City, president Belgian district; Ernest C. Rossiter, president French mission; Venus R. Rossiter. president mission Relief Societies; Easton C. Woolley, Salt Lake City. Standing: David Homer, Logan; Kenneth A. Moser, Bancroft, Idaho; Arthur L. Newman. Salt Lake City; Richard E. Caldwell, Los Angeles, California; L. Grant Lofgreen. Ogden; William W. Terry, Ogden; Basil H. Bertoch, Granger, Utah; Maxim L. Graham, Salt Lake City; Max K. Kimball, Salt Lake City; A. George Nibley, Los Angeles, California; John S. Tanner, Provo, Utah; Alcid F. Rothlisberger, Eagar, Arizona.

608 IMPROVEMENT ERA Scout Work in Interlaken, Switzerland "Scouting is taking a firm hold on the youth in Interlaken, Switzerland. It is also a means of helping to spread the gos- pel. Boys from four towns are taking suit, we have won several good friends. We are assisted by a Troop Committee, and are looking forward to greater re- sults from scouting in this part of Switzer- an active part in the work, and, as a re- land." — Henry K. Aebischer. ^♦« ftft #•# M Boy Scout Troop No. 4 of the Swiss-German Mission The Honolulu District After seventy-seven years of incessant labor among the peoples of Hawaii, the efforts of our missionaries continue to show encouraging progress and develop- ment in every department of our work. The attainment of such progress is made possible through the faith and coopera- tion of our Saints in thesie isles of the Pacific. As our work becomes more firmly established, we are endeavoring to place in the hands of our local brethren responsi- bilities which have heretofore been carried by our elders from Zion. The plan is proving to be a judicious one, and the brethren are accepting their new duties with a zeal and interest which promises continued success. Nor have our labors been confined to the native Hawaiians. We also have, among the members of our Church, Chinese, Japanese, Samoans, Filipinos, and Caucasians, all working unitedly together for one great purpose. The Honolulu district has a membership of more than five thousand Saints, all of whom live within the confines of the city of Honolulu. We have nine organized Sunday Schools, having a total average attendance of approximately one thousand members, and holding classes in both Eng- lish and Hawaiian languages; besides fif- teen Primary organizations, three Relief Societies, and three .Mutual Improvement Associations. Please accept our hearty thanks and ap- preciation for the Improvement Era. It is invaluable to us in our work. — Ralph S. Roberts, district president.

Missionaries: 1. Ralph S. Roberts, district president; 2. Wm. M. Waddoups, mission pres- ident; 3. Olivia S. Waddoups, president mission Relief Societies; 4. Walter E. Gronlund, mission secretary; 5. Freda Linnebach, mission nurse; 6. Wm. A. Beazer; 7. Jessie M. Elliott, president mission Y. L. M. I. A.; 8. J. W. L. McGuire, local; 9. RoUow C. Kimball; 10. Wilford W. Burt; 11. Charlotte R. Hunter; 12. Almon B. Bate; 13. Jean C. Nielsen; 14. M. Prentice Leonard; 15. Fisher J. Smith; 16. E. Dilworth Chamberlain; 17. Ellis F. Johnson; 18. LaVanda Mattice; 19. Lyman A. Parcell; 20. Virginia Ashton, Center: Temple and grounds at Laie, Oahu.