The Pioneer Czecho-Slovak Missionaries

The Pioneer Czecho- Slovak Missionaries With Dr. John A. Widtsoe, President of the European Mission Sitting, left to right: Alvin G. Carlson, President John A. Widtsoe, Arthur Gaeth, mission president. Standing: Charles Josie, Joseph I. Hart, Willis H. Hay ward, Wallace F. Toronto. Opening, the Gospel Doors To the Slavs THE Czecho- Slovak Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally opened on July 24, 1929. The meeting of testimony, song and dedication, hours of glorious spiritual feasting, was held in a place of unusual beauty, on a shady hilltop overlooking the fa- mous Karlstein Castle and the pic- turesque valley of the river Bero- unka. The Gospel door was thus opened to the Slavonic race of people. Under the direction of the First Presidency, preparations for be- ginning the work were made some time ago. Elder Arthur Gaeth, just completing a long and very successful mission in the German- Austrian field, was called, on May 19th, to continue his work in the new mission as the presiding officer, and some weeks later, with the co- operation of Presidents Fred Tadje By DR. JOHN A. WIDTSOE and H. W. Valentine, the follow- ing brethren, laboring in the German-speaking missions, were called into the new field: Alvin G. Carlson, of Logan, Utah; Jo- seph I. Hart, of Rigby, Idaho; Willis H. Hayward, of Logan, Utah; Charles Josie, of 3?rovo, Utah, and Wallace F. Toronto, of Salt Lake City, Utah. These brethren, constituting the first pio- neer group of elders in the mission, responded heartily to the call, and are now busily at work in the ancient, interesting city of Prague, the capital of the progressive Czecho-Slovak Republic. A NUMBER of Czechs are faith- ■^ ful members of the Church. Several reside in Czecho-Slovakia, though most of them are in Aus- tria. Three members of the Church, Sister Franciska Brodil and her daughters Jane and Fanny live in Prague. For ten years they have prayed unceasingly that the Gospel door might be opened to their people in the native tongue, and their cup of joy was full on the day of formal opening. O' tUR elders have at various times done missionary work in this country. Elder Thomas Biesinger attempted to preach the Gospel in Prague in 1883, when religious in- tolerance still was supreme, and he spent 68 days in jail for his pains. In his old age, within the last two years, in fulfillment of prophecy, he came back to Prague, and for a short time preached the Gospel to the people. All our preaching, however, has been done in the German language. The organiza-

118 The Improvement Era for December, 1929 tion of the Czecho-Slovak Mission marks the first attempt to proclaim the Gospel in a Slavonic tongue. T* HE Slavs, who are little known ■ and much misunderstood in America, first appeared in history about the 6th century after Christ. Their original home seems to have been in the territory northeast of the Carpathian mountains. They advanced westward, and today, numbering several hundred mil- lions, are represented by Russia. Poland, Jugoslavia, Bulgaria and Czecho-Slovakia. They were of a "single stock, people of the same blood, the same language, the same manner of life." As they spread abroad the language was split into several dialects and other differentiations took place among the groups as we find them today. pROM the beginning, the Slavs ■■ have shown a preference for democratic government. Their original clan organization had no central government. Though time and time again they have lost their independence, as witness Poland, they have in time regained their freedom. The feeling for self-gov- ernment has always been strong within them. Slav culture has contributed much to our civiliza- tion, in science, literature, art and music. The oldest universities in central Europe were founded by Slavonic peoples. The victory of the allies in the Great War conferred liberty up- on the Slavs. The new nations which were then formed up- on historical lines, having in mind racial relationships, are now working out some of the most interesting experiments in demo- cratic government and life. "X/fORE than a thousand years ago, one branch of the Slavs pressed far to the westward and oc- cupied a tongue of land between what is now Germany and Austria, and have maintained their in- tegrity ever since, though often under changing governments. This is the ancient land of Bohemia, the people of which are called Czechs. The peace treaties of 1918, and afterwards, created the Czecho- slovak Republic, including Bo- hemia, Moravia and Silesia, form- erly the Kingdom of Bohemia, and Carpathian Russia, containing closely related people. The new state covers 50,400 square miles or about 2/3 the area of the State of Utah. The Republic thus con- stituted, contains nearly 14,000,- 000 inhabitants, about 70% of which are of Slavic stock, the Czechs forming the very large ma- jority. Czecho-Slovakia, the ancient Bohemia, has a noble history. Christianity was accepted about 1 ,000 years ago. Intelligent rulers governed the country. The won- derful resources of water, land and mountain were developed. The kingdom became an empire, the boundaries of which expanded to the Adriatic Sea. The Czech tongue became the official and po- lite language in the Western as well as Eastern courts of Europe. Scholars and leaders of thought of all lands came to Prague as the in- tellectual center of Europe. Then, changing dynasties, international jealousies and a succession of wars, enfeebled the country. At last it came under the tyranny of the Hapsburg rule, was incorporated into the Austro-Hungarian Em- pire, well-nigh robbed of its very birthright, but finally liberated by the Great War. And through three centuries of oppression its national spirit has remained unbroken. In a decade it has become a safe and steady, wisely governed, forward- looking nation, true to its own ideals, though giving heed to the wisdom of the centuries. TOURING its eventful history, ^ the Czechs fought many no- table battles for humanity. Early in the 15 th century the corruption of the Church led the people to call for reform. John Huss, priest and university professor, became the leading voice, calling upon the Church to return to the practices of the early Church and to respect freedom of conscience among all men. Huss was a gentle, honest man who loved truth above all else. He was declared an heretic and burnt at the stake in 1415. This outrage led the lovers of truth and freedom into open rebellion against both a Church and State that permitted such acts. The Hussite wars resulted. When the victory was won by the people most of the nation was Protestant, and the whole of Europe had been awakened to the need of a purified religion. Huss was one of the chief predecessors of the Reforma- tion. If Bohemia had done noth- ing else, it is entitled to the grati- tude of the world. Under the evil - '• ' ' •• : m% ■' - KARL^V tym ";•'■' - ' ... ' °ih .£ s**~- juA- t ■£, fun ■ ;iSp « ;■ : ,:,,:■.-. .... ■ ..■ ::'■;■ ■ . ■■■■.■ ' :' .... ■ ■ -. :; - ■ ■ ' ■ ..,v.fe, . -' *- , ■■ ' : i ' '■■ Vyj ......... ... . - ■ , ,.,, ■ : . - ■ ■ ... ; . ■; ; ■. ■ ... . ■,--■■ . . .... ■ : ■ ■: . ...,--: ■■■■_. ■ . ;. ... ..-.,-..:■: ■; __■....■..■ ' ■ ' .■■■■■ ; .. . . „ :-' ' ■■■-> .::.v-.;.\ ''■"' ' ' In the Vicinity of this Castle, the Opening Meeting of the Czecho-Slovak Mission Was Held, July 14, 1929

The Improvement Era for December, 1929 119 Monument in Prague to John Huss, Reformer, Who Was Burned at the for Heresy, July 6, 1415 Stake . rule of the Hapsburgs, freedom of thought and action was again fet- tered, but is now released in this day of liberty. A] MONG the latter followers of Huss was Bishop Comenius, (died 1670) the most notable ed- ucator of the middle ages, and per- haps of all time. Though in exile because of his religious beliefs, he was called from country to country to help revise educational systems. His educational theories are those upon which, in the United States and elsewhere, we are building to- day; and we have not yet been able to utilize all of his wisdom. One result of the Hussite Wars was the election in 1458 of George Podebrad, a Bohemian noble, to become king of Bohemia. Among the many notable enterprises of this intelligent ruler was the attempt to form a European league of na- tions for self -protection and for the elimination of war. It was partly successful and settled amicably sev- eral disputes, but failed largely through the opposition of the Pope. The idea of such a con- federation was, however, let loose, and who can tell how much of the political freedom of the present world is due to the Bohemian peace league plan. CUCH are three of the contribu- ^ tions of Czecho-Slovakia to human freedom and development. And, many others might be enu- merated. HP HE country, itself, is greatly favored. It lies in the heart of Europe. Though inland, it has navigable river communication with the ocean. Its soils are fertile, its forests productive, and its hills contain coal, iron and many valu- able minerals. It has more than half of the industries of the former Austro-Hungarian empire. Its climate is healthful, and its land surface of valleys and mountains of exceeding beauty. The people are enlightened (Bohemia has a liter- acy of 97.5%) and courage- ous for truth. Agriculture claims 40% of the people; industries 34%, commercce 11%, public service 5 % and mis- cellaneous occupa- tions, 10%. The government is toler- ant, democratic and far-seeing. Its presi- dent is the great political and social philosopher, Dr. T. G. Mosaryk. Relig- ious liberty is guar- anteed under the con- stitution. The gov- ernment is engaged with problems in land reform, educa- tion of the masses, benevolent and pro- tective measures against illness, suf- fering in old age, and poverty, and a host of other problems, the outcome of which will be as beneficial lessons to the whole world. Czecho-Slov- akia is one of the most promising lands of Europe; and is of keen interest because of its history, scenery, cities, people and present constructive undertakings. HP HIS nation, emancipated again *■ from shackles of tyranny over thought and speech, may hear, if it will but listen, the message of the restoration of the full and un- changed Gospel of Jesus Christ. The truth of the Gospel alone will make lasting success possible whether to individuals or to na- tions. To preach the Gospel to all the nations is a duty enjoined upon the Church. The opening of the Czecho-Slovak mission is in obe- dience to this command. May the Lord prosper the work! XTOW, if ye give place, that a seed ■••N may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will re- sist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves — It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it be- ginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my un- derstanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me. Now, behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge. But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and be- ginneth to grow. — Alma, 32:28, 29, 30.