Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-06-19

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German missiop.
ARcHIvsTRAssE 20, BERN, SWITZERLAND
May goth, 1897.
10 the Editor;
Nv r. quest OF some of the readers OF
the News / send you the following in
formation regarding the Swiss and Ger
man mission, hoping 1t will be welcome
10 those who are interested in the pro-
eress of the work Of the Lord here.
The Swiss and German mission ex-
tends from Geneva in the southern part
of Switzerland to KEEL and to the north
ernparts OF Germany. Atpresent about
eighty Elders are laboring in the prin-
tloal cities Of Switzerland and Germany,
wnere regular branches of the Church
are established, and are spreading the
Gospel wherever the laws OF the land
permit them to do so. In many places
religious liberty is limited on account OF
the priests OF the different sects using
their influence with the government to
deny the Elders the liberty OF preaching
and distributing tracts, but in general
we have more liberty today than at any
time previous.
The mission is divided into ten con-
ferences, with presiding Elders over
zach, viz: /. Berne Conference, in
Guiding Langnan and Simmenthal; a
Central Conference, including Biberist,
Solothurn and Basel. 3. East Swiss
Conference. including Zurich, Minier-
thur, Schaffhausen, Herisan, Sirnach
and Graubunden. d. Jura Conference,
including Biel, Chaux-de-Foude and
PRIZES. S. French Conference, includ-
ing Geneva, Lausanne and Nyan. G.
Frankfort-on-the-M Main, including Darn
stadt, Saarbriecken, Mannheim, Lud-
wigshafen and Mainz. 7. Hamburg,
including surrounding towns. Kiel, Han
over and Bieleield. 8. Berlin, includ-
ing surrounding towns and Stettin. g.
Dresden, including Freiberg Chemniiz,
Leipzig, Muhlhausen, Sarou and Bres-
lau 10. Stuttgart, including Back
nang, Calw, Nuremberg and Munich,
The majority OF the Elders are not
native born and have TO learn the Ian
guage before assuming their missionary
labors. Some OF these Elders acquire
the language in short time after aIriv-
ing here, while others find it task to
master the same. At some places where
the laws OF the land permit, we have
adopted the system OF tracing, which
has proved TO do much good; while in
other places public meetings have been
held. But so far. the best result is OBJ
tanned in laboring in quiet way, with
the help OF the Saints and their acquaini-
ances, ard in holding small meetings
where Strangers are invited and where
the priv eye OF asking questions is
given. Through the efforts OF the Ell
ders in these various ways the Gospel is
spreading and new fields are opening
up and more Elders are wanted at differ
ent places. AT present fifty more Elders
could be used 10 good advantage. For
this year sixty-two baptsms are re-
portet, and the prospects are very favor
able.
On account OF the priests the Elders
and some oil the Saints at Munich have
been arrested for holding a meeting in a
private house. and fine OF 40 marks
was imposed upon each person. But
after lev days the money was re-
funded. At Muhlhaussn the Elders
were notified by the police to leave the
town, but through the forts of the Ell
ders and some Of their good friends the
decision had been'reversed, and the Ell
ders are able to continue their labors
without iurther disturbance.
The Elders have tried TO travel with
out purse or scrip, but owing to the
strict laws oil the land they have not
been able to accomplish it. We think
the time is not far distant when the Ell
deis will be able TO go without money,
but certainly more branches have to be
established than now exist.
In general we are better understood
by the people OF this country than ever
before. Our doctrine is finding more
investigators, and the time has arrived
in this mission for great missionary
work to be done. The Elders are
preaching the Gospel in places where
only few centuries ago noted reform
ers, such as Luther, Melanchton, Carl
stadt Fwingli, Calvin and others have
gained their famous names, in establish
ing the Protestant religions. Truly,
they were instruments in the hand OF
the Lord to prepare the way for the
preaching OF the Gospel as it is revealed
from heaven through the Prophet
Joseph Smith.
We are all well in body and in spirit,
and are much encouraged in our labors,