Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-05
SiX'y.SeYsnth Annual Gathering Of
The Church.
FIRST Two DAYS. PROCEEDINGS.
Immense Congregations Yesterday,
Largo Attendance Today-Powfr-
full Instructions and Tesli.
mOnits.


on Sunday, April A. 1897. President
George @, Cannon presidiog, Presi.
dent wiIford Woodruff being absent
on account OF sickness. Elder
Brigham Young OF the Quorum OF the
Twelve. was not present for the same
reason.
or the general authorities present on
the stand there were OF the Fire,
Prssidency-George q. Cannon and
Joseph f. Smith; OF the Qlorum oil
the Twelve AposIles-Lorehgo Snow,
Franklin ID. Richatds, Francis NJ.
Lyman, John Henry Smith, George
Teasdale, Heber j. Grant, John w
Taylor. Mariner w. Merrill and
Anton II. Lund; Patriarch John
Smith; OF the First Seven Presidents
OF Seventies--Seymour d. Young, q.
ID. Fjelsted, u. ii. Roberts and George
Reynolds; OF the Presiding Bishopric
WIN. 3. Preston, Robert 4. Burton
and John II. Winder.
The fret meeting Of Conferences
was largely attended, many OF the
people being compelled to sland during
tho services.
Conference was called to order by
President George Q, Cannon.
The choir and congregation sang the
hymn which begins:
Our God we raise to Thee
Thanks for thy blessings FREQ,
We here enjoy.
Opening prayer by Elder John d. 7.
McAlliHter.
The choir sang:
Softly beams the Sacred dawning
VI tho great millenniAl morn.
PRESIDENT GEO. q CANNON
said, "Prssident Woodruff desired me
to bear his love to the Conference. He
has been indisposed for a lew days,
but 10 much setter, though scarcely
strong enough to come to meeting this
morning. He hopes, however, to be
with US at some tins during the Con-
ference. In order mat there may be
no concern relating to his health, L
wish to say that ne is much better
than he has been. He Is somew hat
weak, but feeling very well otherwise.
He has been troubled for come little
time bnck, with insomnia, that is,
sleep.eseBets, and .hs8 has worn on
him, but no has been sleeping very
well for the last TWO OF three days and
hights. thought that this announce.
ment to the Conference would satisfy
the Inquiries of good many who have
hearuihat hs was not well.
Phe speaker then directed the atten-
lion OF tns general assembly TO the
prosperous condition OF the work OF the
Lord, Indicating that He WIS looking
upon His people with favor. Reports
from all parts OF the world showed un-
usual success resulting from the efforts
OF the Elders abroad. Eleven hum
dred souls had been added to the
Church In the Southern States alone.
In that Held II was expected that by
the end OF the present year the num-
her of Sunday schools organized would
reach 100. Elder Elias s.. KimDall
preslde3 there. In the Eastern and
Middle States prospects were fialtoring,
this being the report brought by Elder
Samuel w. Rlchards, VINO had pre-
eided there for over two year,. He
had been su cceeued in that position by
Elder AlonzO Kpsler. Brother Keich
presided in the Northwestern States.
DO was located ana Jaboring in chi.
cago. Much good was being done,
and nav openingB De,ng made Tor the
spread OF the Gospel Ia that eec-
lion. Elder Nye had charge OF
the Californian mission. A most
encouraging feature Of present mis-
nlonary lsOors was the increase OF
faith among the Elders, indicated by
many OF them travelling without Purse
and scrip. Tnuy had been greatly
blessed IN complying with this re-
quiremeht; their wants had been
tupplieJ, the Lord having operated
upon the people, opening their hearts
10 receive tho servants of God. Even
In Great Britain, and on the contiAent
OF Europe numbers or Elders were
trying 10 travel In this way, although
II was difficult to do this completely
on account OF the fear exihtIRg In
relation TO ninilihm and SC cislism; m en-
without money were liable to be
arrested ana Imprisoned. In Europe
the work was piobperlns, espe cisliy IN
northern Sweden, and In Holland,
Elder Spencer who recently returned
from the latter country gave "a most
dAitering account OF the results follow.
lug the preaching OF the Gospel there.
In Germany the missionaries were
being given larger liberty than hereto.
lore, anu some men or prominence
were Inclined to investigate the
Gospel. For the present the Elders
had, owing TO theArmonian difficulties,
been Withdrawn from Turkey, anu the
WORK there left TO the management Of
sSSNi AL enttSi
was presented by the Polynesian
Islands, and indeed toe whole
situation of the work abroad WAS
prosperous. God had wrought won
uerful change upon the minds OF the
peoples OF tho earth. The deadly
hatred toward the Saints which hal
sxlaleu al times had disappeared.
thirteen hundred Elders were IN tue
HELD and calls for more laborers were
coming from every direction. Alto
gether the work Of the Lord was never
mere prosperous than now. President
cannon directed attention TO this fact
mat mighty Geld had scarcely been
touched-the peoples OF the southern
portion OF this continent, where there
were millions OF Lamauites 10 whom
INC Gospel had yet to be carried.
me speaker then mentioned the
Ipot that operations were In
Progress In Fields nearer home.
ELDERS Edward Stevenson and Mat.
tnias +. Cowioy had visiied the north,
tihho anu Montana, where thoy had
ptsn vstmly received, ana their efforts