withstanding the obstacles in the way and the peculiar customs, language and religion of the people in the countries that comprise it. Some baptisms have been performed and much interest aroused, but conditions are vastly different there to those in the countries called Christian. The laws and regulations are also unlike those of other nations and make an American restive and astonished. As an example: Packages of the Book of Mormon, which has been printed in Turkish, after being examined by the Censor and permitted to pass into the Empire, were stopped by a subordinate official at a port of entry, and every effort made by our brethren, aided by the United States Consul, has so far failed to hurry the matter forward, after months of detention. And there seems to be no valid reason, in law or common sense, for the prolonged delay. Yet the work is moving on in Syria and Egypt and Greece. At the far-famed city of Athens, in addition to the publication in Greek of "The Rays of Living Light," "The Story of Mormonism," by Dr. Talmage is being translated and other works are likely to follow as there are many inquirers at that place.

In South Africa also success is crowning the labors of the elders. The branches at Cape Colony are in good condition and there have been a number of baptisms, with cheering prospects for the New Year. More missionaries are needed there, as in many other places. Recently Elders T. R. Wilks and L. O. Brough on arriving there, were informed that they would be deported because they did not have the full sum of £20 each to show as "landing money." Friends offered the amount and more, and respectable residents guaranteed that they would not become a public charge, but all without avail. Elder Wilks being ill with typhoid was taken to a hospital, and his companion was permitted to stay until he was able to travel. Meanwhile every effort possible has been made to secure their stay, but at latest accounts they were refused the privilege. The only actual reason for this proceeding seems to be that "they are Mormon elders." And yet Cape Colony is under British government!

The release of President Alex. Nibley from the Netherlands-Belgium mission was followed by the appointment of President Sylvester Q. Cannon, who is an able successor to the active and diligent elder who will be long remembered with love by the saints in that field. President Cannon has taken hold of the work with the vim expected of him, and everything is moving along finely under his jurisdiction. So in Scandinavia under President Soren Rasmussen, who succeeded President J. M. Christensen, a faithful and devoted servant of the Lord, who performed a most excellent mission and has returned to his home in honor. President Peter Matson, whose place is hard to fill, still remains over the Swedish mission, although he has labored long and efficiently for considerably more than two years, and enters now upon another year of duty. So with the ever vigorous, active and un

tiring President Serge F. Ballif, whom the saints and elders love and who has spent several years in the Swiss and German mission. He is admirably adapted for the place, and in this new year will be just as devoted as ever to the important duties that engross his thoughts and energies and life. President Wilford J. Booth, who has performed a long and splendid work in the Turkish mission, still presides there with honor and credit. President Ralph A. Badger remains in charge of the South African mission, but will probably be released during the present year, having accomplished much in that far-off land in the great cause of salvation.

Some changes have occurred during the year among the general authorities of the Church: Elder George Teasdale, one of the Twelve Apostles, a veteran in the army of the Kingdom, passed away to his rest after a well spent life of 76 years, and Elder Anthony W. Ivins was chosen and ordained to fill the vacancy in that quorum. Bishop Robert T. Burton, First Counselor to Presiding Bishop W. B. Preston, another noble veteran, also departed to the spirit sphere, aged 86 years, most of his days having been devoted to the work of the Lord in various important capacities. Bishop Preston, being in somewhat feeble condition and of advanced age, has been honorably released from the arduous duties of the Bishopric. This rendered necessary the re-organization of that body. Elder Charles W. Nibley has been appointed and ordained to the office of Presiding Bishop of the Church, and Orrin P. Miller, who was Second Counselor to Bishop Preston, is now First Counselor to Bishop Nibley, Elder David A. Smith being appointed Second Counselor. This is a strong organization. Bishop Nibley is an experienced business man, successful in large enterprises, yet highly spiritual withal; Bishop Miller is also a practical man of affairs and sound in doctrine, and the same can be said of Bishop Smith; although much younger in years than the other two, he possesses the qualifications needed for the office. The entire Bishopric is worthy the confidence and faith of the Church and adapted for that responsible position. That faithful old Chief Clerk, James Jack, has been retired honorably from the President's office, and is succeeded by Elder Arthur Winter, who is well qualified for the post.

During the past year the President of the European mission has visited every conference in the British Isles, which of course includes Scotland and Ireland, all of them twice but two, and has attended many district as well as conference meetings and a number of branch meetings, on Sundays and week days. He has also made a tour of conferences in Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Holland and Belgium, holding priesthood and general meetings, counseling, preaching, expounding, etc., and by sea and land has been signally blest and protected. Sister Romania B. Penrose has accompanied him to many of those lands and gatherings, giving advice and suitable instructions to

the sisters and especially to the Relief Societies, aiding in the organization of twenty-five new societies which are doing a great amount of good. He has also had the oversight of the business of the Liverpool office, which is of much importance, being an emigration as well as a printing and publishing concern, and of the MILLENNIAL STAR, writing the editorials and watching over the work generally. In the latter he has had the able assistance and support of Elder William A. Morton, whose writings are well known and appreciated throughout the mission. In the former he has had the great help of the secretary, Elder John S. Smith, bookkeeper and cashier, who succeeded Elder R. Eugene Allen after his release to return home in July, and who was a most efficient and faithful worker. Elder J. Robert Price was released from the Liverpool office as emigration and general clerk and returned home in November, after filling a splendid mission; Elder Joseph S. Mulliner, Jr., was called to fill his place, and is now serving in the office with great credit.

The emigration work has been conducted with excellent success. During the year 1,505 persons have been booked at the Liverpool office for America, nearly all for Utah, traveling by the White Star and Dominion steamers and chiefly on the Boston and Maine, Nickel Plate, Great Western and Union Pacific railways, in comfort and safety. As there have been many untruthful reports concerning the personnel of those emigrants we here furnish the figures from the records, for the information of our friends and the public: Males 791, females, 714. Of these, 1,136 were adults, 164 between 5 and 12 years, 122 between 1 and 5 years, and 33 infants. Our companies travel in families and under experienced care and direction. All the stories circulated about the "shipment of girls to Utah" are sheer fiction.

The printing and publishing department of the Liverpool office has not been idle. During the year 4,623,500 tracts have been printed, over a million of them being "Rays of Living Light." In addition 178,000 pamphlets of a larger kind have been printed, besides numerous blanks and forms. These do not include publications printed for us by outside firms. The MILLENNIAL STAR has been issued regularly and on time, and is subscribed for by many persons not connected with the Church. Our presses and machines are run by electricity and the entire premises, house, business office and meeting-room are in immediate connection.

Changes have been effected in many conference presidencies in consequence of the release and return home of a number of the brethren, all of whom left with the confidence and esteem of the saints and of the mission president, and have been succeeded by equally able men. Some transfers have been made of elders to different conferences, but these have been few in number. Many of the most experienced elders have obtained an honorable release, after filling good missions and acquiring valuable experience. A

sufficient number of new recruits for the missionary ranks have come to fill their vacancies, but the cry is raised for "more." There are demands for men in every part of the European mission, but they must be workers and men of faith, exemplary and ready to go forward and never flinch.

The saints generally are alive in the Lord. As ever, a few are in the background, blind to their own interests, careless as to their eternal welfare. But the majority attend to their public dutios, their home prayers, the payment of their tithes in which they are prospered temporally and blessed spiritually, observing the Word of Wisdom, warning their neighbors, rejoicing in the testimony of the gospel and looking towards Zion in hope and faith. Some have suffered from the ill-will and persecution of relatives and former friends, but that has only brought them closer to Christ and strengthened them in their convictions and their determinations to stand for the right.

On the whole, the work of the year nineteen hundred and seven may be regarded with satisfaction. This will be more clearly seen and more deeply felt when the detailed reports for the year are compiled and published in the STAR. We hope the conference and mission clerks will be prompt and accurate in making them out and forwarding them to this office. While we may feel grateful and content with what those reports shall record, it is sure that none of us have done more than our duty or sufficient to justify future laxity or negligence. The year 1908 opens with a call to us for continued energy and increased faithfulness and desire for progress. Millions of our fellows, sons and daughters of the Most High, are in dense darkness. We have the light. Therefore let it shine! We have had a little respite during the holiday season, in which it is hoped all have had a happy Christmas time, now let us start afresh with the opening year, and make the report of our labors at its close glow with added lustre and show to the heavens and the earth that we have done our best and are worthy of full approbation. In thankfulness for that which has been accomplished in the past, we rejoice in the present, and face the future with glorious anticipation, and wish to all, at home and abroad, that this may be to them indeed a prosperous, bounteous and happy New Year.

C. W. P.

WHO is a true man? He who does the truth, and never holds a principle on which he is not prepared in any hour to act, and in any hour to risk the consequence of holding it.-THOMAS CARLYLE.

BE thankful every morning that you have something to do that day which must be done whether you like it or not. Being forced to work, and forced to do your best, will breed in you temperance, self-control, diligence, strength of will, content, and a hundred virtues which the idle never know.-CHARLES KINGSLEY.

The Christmas "Deseret News."-The Christmas edition of the Deseret Evening News, Salt Lake City, was issued on Saturday, December 14th, so as to be ready for the holidays in distant places. It has reached the office of the MILLENNIAL STAR and, as usual, has brought pleasure and information, with the air of the mountains, and the spirit of Zion. It is a magnificent paper, unequalled in this country and unsurpassed in any part of the globe. It consists of a hundred pages of reading matter with the illuminated cover, and is devoted chiefly to the affairs of three states, namely, Utah, Idaho and Nevada, but gives news and interesting data about the world in general. Art, science, literature, education, religion, music, the drama, agriculture, mining, manufactures, architecture, irrigation and all the interests of the great West are treated of, illustrated with fine cuts in the usual high style for which that paper is celebrated. To people who know nothing of Utah but that which is told by her adversaries, the Christmas News is a startling revelation and shows that the people of that mountain state are far advanced on the road of progressive civilization. The paper is a marvel of enterprise and skill, and all hands engaged in its production, from press and composition rooms to the editorial and managing departments, are to be congratulated on the splendid Christmas edition of 1907. We copy from it to-day the address of the First Presidency of the Church, as the opening article in the STAR for the New Year.

FROM THE MISSION FIELD.

Baptisms. A baptismal service was held at the Belpher Street Baths, Blackburn, on Saturday, December 28th. A large number of saints and friends gathered to witness the ceremony. Elder D. R. Tolman and President Thomas S. Gregson spoke upon the object of the sacred ordinance, after which twelve persons were baptized by Elders L. Garrick, William A. Jones and Franklin E. Wadsworth. Six of the converts were from Blackburn and six from Preston.

A baptismal service was held at the Tibberton Square Baths, London, on December 29th, 1907, at 12:30. About one hundred persons assembled to witness the sacred ordinance. After the usual opening exercises Elder William A. Morton addressed the assembly, showing that there is only one true gospel and one true Church. Seven converts were then baptized, Elders C. A. Sperry, M. M. Hatch, William A. Skidmore and H. R. Kirkham, officiating. A confirmation service was held at 97 Farleigh Road, StokeNewington, London, N., at 4 p.m. of the same day.

Four members were added to the Scottish conference on Saturday evening last. The baptisms took place in the Townhead Baths,