Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-22
A RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR
1909 IN THE MISSION FIELD

The following interesting editorial
written by President Charles w. Pen-
rosc of the European Mission. appear
ing In the Mjllennial Star of Dec So
gives A brief review of the present
Conditions In the leading mission fields
or the world.
THE DEPARTING YEAR.
This issue of Tho Milcnnial Star
closes volume II. and before another
number appears tho year 1909 Will have
ended and passed to inc Ist o. .he ae
iparted 1t has been a period OF activity
and progress for the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints In every
respect
At home in Zion this grand organi-
zation has Increased In strength and
in numbers. throughout the
United States the work of PROSECUTING
has been vigorously prosecuted under
the able and experienced presidents
OF the several missions. Their labors.
as briefly reported from week to week
In Liahona, The Elders Journal, eN-
hibit energy and perseverance OF tno
most praiseworthy character, highly
creditable to oil who have been thus
engaged, and successful in warning
people OF impending judgment and
bringing many earnest souls to obedi-
ence to the gospel. The missionary
system In vogue has peeu auHiii apie
and efiicacious.
In the European mission there has
been no cessation of active and per-
sistent efforts in the distribution of
Church literature, In the holding OF
public meetings. in gospel converse
tlons, in personal explanations of the
doctrines and purposes OF the Church
and in defending 1t from the attacks
of It's defamers. Outdoor preaching
was diligently carried on when practic-
able. but was hindered in some de-
gree by the unfavorable weather that
frequently prevailed; yet great deal
was accomplished In that direction. and
cottage meetings were held when
street preaching was impracticable.
Opposition has been encountered in
Great Britain In several places. This
has arisen from the false reports cir
culated by sectarian preachers and
their aids who, in a number of In
stances. have watched the elders in
distributing tracts. and have followed
thom up with vile attacks in printed
form. and advice to people to burn
TIE Mormon publications unread and
refuse to receive any more. A men6a-
ciouS half-lunatlc who has during
many years broken out occasionally
In rawlings that 1t woud seem no SEN
sible person would credit OF even pay
attention TO. has again caused great
excitement In some quarters. leading to
scenes of violence and personal as
saults on J.atter-day Saints But as
soon as sober sense ensucd rational
minds inquired as to the facts and the
result has been numerous additions to
the Church. Challenges to debate have
been wisely unheeded by the elders
according to advice, and this has prov
ed TO be the best method of stilling
the angry waves OF popular tumult.
In several instances newspapers have
ChnNEsn flIFnngg hNs h IY,pr h..
mon side of controversial questions, al
though that course was not approved
by religious bigots and influential
abettors of intolerance, But some so
called Christian magazines have given
place TO most outrageous perversions
OF Facts and doctrine and denied to the
assailed IN opportunity for refutation
The liberal spirit of secular journalists
In this matter shines out the brighter
in contrast to the canting craftlness OF
pious scribes and modern pharsecs
There Is pretty general impression
upon the public mind that Mormonism
has not had a fair field and that
our elders are greatly maligned and
are an exemplary body of unpaid mis-
sionaries.
There are thousands OF believers in
the principles of Mormonism who
nave not the courage of their convlc-
tions and therefore do not "show their
faith by their works" They are OF
the called better classes" of the
community. They fear the loss of their
good name IL they unite with an IN
popular people. or that 1t would injure
uhelr business, or defeat their ambition.
Ihere are hosts of young persons
unaer age, whose parents are opposed
and women whose husbands will not
give consent to their baptism. who be-
neYe With all their hearts In the dIvin-
lty OF this latter-day work. but our
rules forbid their admission into the
Church under those conditions There
aIe many esteemed friends to our peo-
PIE VINO stand UP in thciI &c ..nse but
90 not WISH to embrace their IaIth All
rms is In favor of the spread and
ultimate triumph of the truth.
Inc dinusion of doctrine contained in
our literature is showing its effects
even IN orthodox pulpits. Ministers in
NUMBER OF Instances are prcachino
many OF the principles of our Church
ana causing much comment therein,
put do not even hint at the fact tb1t
they are teaching Mormonism and the
mo ample support for their utternncee
IN .he scriptures TO which their ntten-
tion mas been drawn by Mormon nnh-
locations This is encouraging. for tbo
spread OF light and truth IS what wo
desire and the Lord VIII be eIorI0od
IN the sequel. The breaking down of
tnc walls OF error prepares the way for
"NAN iiltCH OI the latter -iqI
Kingdom. 10y
BRITISH MISSION STATISTICS
The statistical report of the British
mission. which Will be published as
soon as 1t can be complied after the
conference reports are received. viii
show that many hundreds OF converts
have been added to the Church nv
baptism, that over 1000 of our people
have gone to Zion during the year. and
moro than 300 elders have returned
to their homes from Europe after hav-
ing nlled honorable missions. The Dub-
fishing department has printed $3.50 00O
tracts cor which 1IS4.00o were the
Rays of Living Lieht'). los, 900 other
pamphlets. $4,000 bound books. chiefl
standard works, 10000 conference
nandbills. and the regular issue oi
The Millennlal Star. the Circulation
OF which is rapidly increasing.
Tho monthly priesthood meetings ir
tho several conferences have been beIC
wherever practicable and have been y
source OF pleasure and profit to all VIII,