The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-13
Discourse at the Tabernacle Ser
vices Yesterday Afternoon.
BY PRES. GEO. 0. CANNON
SEVERAL ELDERS RETURNED
FROM MISSIONS SPEAK.
Not the Slightest Reference to the
Address Made In the Theatre On
Thursday Night-President Can
non Pours Out the Healing
Balm"-Should Be Patient.

At the tabernacle yesterday afternoon
the principal discourse was delivered
| by President George Q. Cannon, who
| during the course of his remarks, dwelt
chiefly on the gift of charity. 1t was
filed with the spirit of charity for those
with whom one may have differences,
and was easily felt to be a healing
balm for any bitterness that may have
been engendered recently. No reference,
! however, was made during the service
1 to the lecture at the Theatre Thursday
night, when Senator Frank j. Cannon
| denounced Apostles John Henry Smith
and Hes0er j. Grant.
Presidents Cannon commenced by ex-
pressing sympathy for the returned
missionary elders, who had preceded
him in addressing the congregation on
the success of their work abroad.
He then called attention to the gifts
of charity, wisdom, discernment, etc,
and said that God had placed these
gifts in his church for the benefit of
LatteT-day Saints. The Saints should
by. constant prayer seek after these
gifts, which will make them perfect.
Many Weaknesses of which we are con-
scious have been inherited through the
fall. and we should humble ourselves
before the Lord and seek to remove the
glazing defects in ourselves. What
gifts should we seek for? We should
seek for wisdom, so that we may walk
circumspectly. 1t is a good Ching to
seek the gift Of discefnment in order
to see wrong spirits. There are none
so perfect but can be benefited by
these gifts. Latter-day Saints should
have a purpose when they come to-
gether, and their prayers should as
celd for definite purpose. They should
| desire that the will of God be done.
One may have secret desires, thoughts
and wants, which only God knew, and
he should offer a prayer for them, and
likely his petitions will be heard. Is
there any one who does not need these
gifts? The speaker answered the QueS-
ton by saying that he himself and all
the Saints, including the officers of the
church, need the gifts of prophecy, wis
dom. revelation, tongues. healing and
discerning spirits. Unless these gifts
are properly controlled they are apt to
lead estray, especially in new branches
Of the church. He commended also the
gifts of patience, ValOr, courage and in
tegrity. President Cannon dwelt at
length on the gift of charity and the
beautiful character possessed by the
man or woman who cultivates charity
No envy in the heart and no boasting
what great men we are: patience to
bear all things. Would not we be per-
feet Saints if We possessed it? Would
not the angels be with us if the spirit
of charity reigned? What is to pre-
vent it? Our boys and girls can possess
it. Let us cultivate it everywhere. Let
there be no fault-finding, slandering or
backbfting. The pure life of Christ
taught charity and love for one an
other. If any one fights you should you
fight back? Nc; it is not according to
the spirit Of the gospel. You should eX-
ercise the Qualities { cd has commanded.
When We see something lacking in the
church, let US ask Goa for the gift to
correct it.
Preceding President Cannon the con-
gregatiOn was addressed by elders
lately returned from missions.
Elias Woodruff, a grandson of the
late president, and who has lately re-
turned from a mission in the southern
states, was the first speaker. He praised
greatly the hospitality of the southern
people which, he said, had become a
proverb among the Latter-day Saints.
He regarded the south as the best mis-
sion field in the world. People there are
searchers after the truth and not preju-
diced against the Introduction of
strange religions.
Elder Charles Stevenson, who has
been laboring in SaXony, Germany,
spoke briefly of the progress made il
that country. where the Catholic and
Lutheran churches predominant. About
the firsG thing German officials do is to
order a missionary out of the country
or subject him to a heavy fine. Street
meetings are not permitted, in fact, ell
ders are not allowed to hold any kind
of religious gatherings.
Frank Freeze, another elder from the
German mission, related an experience
showing the strict enforcement of the
law maintained by the government. As
soon as il became known that he was a
missionary the officia S notified him that
any attempt to hold or address gather
ingS would be met with an order of
Punishment or a heavy fine. Once he
was addressing private gathering. The
secret police found it out and next day
the elder was notified that he must pay
a fine of $50 marks or leave the coun-
try. He chose to do the latter, going
to Switzerland at the advice of his su-
peg'iors.
Isaac Barton. also lately returned
from the German mission, testified to
the many benefits he derived from the
trip, and announced himself stronger
than ever in the faith. His labors were
confined principally to Bavaria, where
religious freedom is tolerated more
than most other districts in the empire
Elder Brigham Perkins made quite an
extended address on the work in the
German mission. IIe made the some
what interesting statement that of the
people who attended their meetings 50
pet. cent We're women and the balance
OLD men and boys. Among the higher
educated classes there was a tendency
TO accept the scientific theories of re-
hgion, while a good many of the COM
mon people accepted the Social Demo-
cratic party as their religious creed.