ministers have been educated in the leading theological seminaries; but notwithstanding all these things, they are fast losing hold upon their congregations and have been under the necessity of resorting to schemes, wholly un-Christian in their character, in order to attract people to their services.

A few days ago the writer picked up a volume of Spurgeon's sermons, and, on reading the preface, found in it the following statement: "Hundreds of our churches are as sound asleep as the graveyards which surround their meeting houses, and some of them are nearly as rotten as the corpses in the tombs. Routine ministers, domineering deacons, hypocritical professors, crab-tree critics, and covetous members are not all dead yet. May divine mercy soon grant us grace to see the last of them!" What a confirmation this is of the truth of the testimony of the boy Prophet Joseph Smith, who announced to the world in the year 1820 that the Father and the Son had appeared to him in vision and that the latter had told him that the churches of the world had gone out of the right way; that they had a form of godliness without the power thereof; that their professors were corrupt, their creeds an abomination in His sight, and that they taught for doctrine the commandments of men. Joseph Smith learned by revelation in 1820 facts which the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon learned by experience years afterwards, and which he proclaimed to the world in 1858.

What a difference there is between the Christianity of the present day and that of the first century! Look at the Founder of Christianity. He was born of a humble woman. His birth-place was a limestone grotto attached to an inn in the little village of Bethlehem. His first cradle was a manger; He lived the simplest of all simple lives; on more than one occasion he was obliged to go without the necessities of life, being an hungered and having no place in which to lay His head; He was "despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief"; but notwithstanding all these things, He was the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and the power of God was with Him and manifested itself in all of His words and acts. At His divine command the wind lost its fury, the raging sea became tranquil, the lame man leaped for joy, the ears of the deaf were unstopped, the tongue of the dumb gave forth praise to its Creator, and the dead came forth from their graves living witnesses that He whom the world despised was none other than the One whom the prophets had testified would come and redeem His people. Among the names of all the noble and great and mighty men from the beginning of the creation down to the present time, there is not one to compare with that of Jesus of Nazareth. His is a name above every other name, a name that shall bring to it increased honor and glory as the years roll by, and at the mention of which every knee shall eventually bow in humble reverence. Why is the name of Christ so highly honored in the world to-day? It is because He

was what He professed to be, the Son of the living God, and because the power of God was with Him and manifested itself in Him.

Now let us take a look at the Church which the Messiah established. It had no worldly endowments; its meeting place was often in the homes of some of its members, or by the sea-side, "where prayer was wont to be made." Its ministers were unlearned, despised fishermen, its members the common people who had received the word of the Lord with gladness. They, like their Master, suffered all manner of persecution; they were "everywhere spoken against;" they were counted "the off-scouring of all things;" but notwithstanding all this, the power of God was with them; His Spirit descended upon them as the dew of heaven upon the mown grass; angels from the courts on high ministered to them from time to time; through the anointing and prayers of their devoted leaders their sick were healed; they enjoyed the gifts of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, etc.; and notwithstanding all their trials and tribulations, they rejoiced with unspeakable joy, for they were under the favor of the God of Heaven and His power was made manifest among them.

And now we come to the church which the Messiah, in fulfillment of the prophecies of ancient prophets, has re-established in the earth in the latter days. Its founder, under God, was an obscure youth, the son of a humble farmer; its members, like the first disciples of Christ, were from the ranks of the "common people;" its apostles and prophets were chosen, not for their great learning, for they were not learned men, but for their humility; it was organized on the 6th day of April, 1830, with six members: its first places of worship were the groves and little log cabins; it has been opposed by every sect in Christendom; the most bitter persecution has been heaped upon its members; they have been driven from pillar to post, their homes destroyed, their property confiscated, and many of them put to death. But notwithstanding all this the "little stone cut out of the mountain without hands" has become a mountain; the grain of mustard seed has developed into a great tree; the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has become the envy of other churches. To-day it has a membership of about four hundred thousand; its missionaries are in almost all the nations of the earth, preaching the gospel of the kingdom freely; it has hundreds of large, magnificent places of worship; in fact, it has been pronounced the most remarkable religious organization of the age.

To what are we to attribute this remarkable growth and success? Not to the wisdom of man, but to the power of the Almighty which has been with His Church from the beginning, and which has enabled His saints to overcome every obstacle that has been placed in their way and to come off more than conquerors. While the churches established by men are out of order and crumbling to

pieces; while thousands of their members are forsaking them because they have utterly failed to minister to their spiritual needs, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is growing at a rapid pace; its influence and power are spreading among the nations, and the day is not far distant when the words of the prophet will be fulfilled, and thousands of Gentiles shall come to her light and kings to the brightness of her rising.-W. A. M.

MISSIONARY WORK IN THE

SOUTHERN STATES.

THE ridiculous report that the "Mormons" had been driven out of the United States was published in this country a short time ago, and there are many people in Great Britain who believe that at present there are no Latter-day Saints in any of the States of the American Union outside the State of Utah. Last Friday evening we met a gentleman who entertained this erroneous belief. He was very much surprised to learn that "Mormonism" is meeting with phenomenal success throughout the entire United States, as it is in this and other countries. The following summary of missionary work accomplished in the Southern States during the past ten years, under the able leadership of President Ben E. Rich, was published in the September 12th number of Liahona The Elders' Journal:

"During his (President Rich's) administration 25,000 Books of Mormon have been sold; 15,000 Orson Pratt's Works; 160,000 Voices Warning; 150,000 Durants; 25,000 song books; and 40,000 miscellaneous books bearing the gospel; 3,500,000 gospel tracts have been distributed. All of the above, excepting the Books of Mormon, have been published and distributed in the mission. There have been upwards of 6,800 baptisms; add to the foregoing the hundreds of thousands of gospel conversations the elders have held with friends and investigators, and one gets an idea of the magnitude of the missionary work in the South. During President Rich's ministry the work of the Lord has made substantial progress in the great cities of the South; the beautiful chapel in Jacksonville; the neat and inviting church in Atlanta, the 'Queen City of the South'; the pretty country chapels with which the mission is dotted, are some of the monuments to the zeal and untiring industry of this devoted servant of God."

This is a remarkable showing considering the difficulties under which the missionaries have labored and the tremendous opposition which they have encountered, from preachers and people who are lamentably ignorant of the calling and mission of these self-sacrificing and devoted ministers of Christ. But we look for even greater results in the future, when bigotry and ignorance shall have given place to truth and reason.

TRIBUTE FROM A NON-“MORMON" EDITOR.

The following extract is taken from an excellent article which appeared in the Atlanta Journal, of July 26th, written by the city editor, Ralph Smith, Esq., who visited Salt Lake City that month: "About fifty per cent of the population of Salt Lake City are 'Mormons'-members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. About sixty per cent of the inhabitants of the State of Utah affiliate with the Church. 'Mormons' in Salt Lake City wear no mark to distinguish them from other citizens, and inquiry developed that their behavior and manners-out of Church at least is no different from that of other people. Even Joseph F. Smith, President of the Church, looks like many other men his age. He is about sixty-six years old, wears a long beard, and ordinary clothes. He is said to be very rich. The 'Mormons,' the Gentiles and the Jews of Salt Lake City get along well together, living side by side, as do the members of the several denominational churches of Atlanta, or elsewhere. The 'Mormons,' however, are, as a rule, more pious than the average American citizen of to-day. They are less intemperate in their habits than are other citizens of Salt Lake, and it is a matter of record that comparatively few of them patronize or contribute to the support of the many liquor establishments that thrive in the city. But, as churchgoers, as devout worshippers, the 'Mormons' outdo the other Protestant denominations. They worship nearly all day on Sunday, and the worshipping is not confined to a few, but takes in a vast majority of the membership of the Church. Thousands and thousands attend the different places of worship that the Church has provided for them in Salt Lake City and all over Utah. The average visitor in Salt Lake City is shown every consideration by the 'Mormons.' He is accorded every opportunity to understand and appreciate the beautiful Church grounds-and it costs nothing, not a cent."

TO THE RELIEF SOCIETIES IN EUROPE.

DEAR SISTERS:

As it is impracticable for me to visit you in person and thereby see, hear and feel how you are getting along in the line of progress in good works and faith, I would be much pleased if the secretary or president of each society would write me a good, long letter, telling me all about your meetings and the spirit manifested by the members, and your work in general. Do not fear to be confidential, for each letter will be held sacred, and if by the help of the Lord I can help you with advice or encouragement I shall be most pleased to do so.

The position of president and that of her counselors requires great wisdom and tact to bring out the best gifts and talents of the members, and to set an example worth of emulation by every

member, and to gain the love and confidence of all in the society. Through earnest prayer and watchfulness you will be endowed richly by the Lord with every qualification needful for each occasion, especially if you frequently seek the advice of the Priesthood presiding over the branch. Let not the president be autocratic, but seek the advice of her counselors, that they may feel that they are of some use in the work. Each member has a right to make any suggestion that seems of value to her, but no right to contend for it against a majority. Contention or dissension should have no place in the society.

The secretary, after reading the minutes, and they have been accepted, should record them. She should not forget this important duty, but have a good record book and keep it up to date, so that if her way is opened to go to Zion or she desires to make any change of residence the work will be in good condition to pass to her successor. The treasurer must keep her accounts balanced and be ready to report to the society at any time when called upon. It would be well to have the treasurer's report read in the society at least once in three months, so that the financial status of the society may be known. It should be the ambition of each officer and member to make their society the best of all, both financially and in good works. A letter containing a fair report and specially good suggestions for Relief work will be thankfully received and treasured for dissemination among other societies.

Several societies have made a Dorcas bag to lend to poor women during accouchement, containing sheets, pillow cases, nightdresses and other requisites for the woman and clothing for the child. This, I think, is a very good thing to do. Some have prepared a baptismal robe or cloak to lend, made of heavy flannel or serge, so it can be quickly slipped over the clothes. Many have no conception how to clothe themselves for such an occasion.

The officers (this includes president, counselors, secretary, treasurer and teachers) should hold their own special meetings once in two weeks or once a month, at least, to talk over the work before them and if there are any differences of opinion to talk and pray with one another, having a desire to be humble and to be united. If then it is found that union is not obtained, refer the matter to the presiding Priesthood, and each one accept their advice. When we obey the first principles of the gospel, faith, repentance, baptism, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, we have only entered the door of the kingdom of God on the earth. Does anyone wish to stop there, knowing of greater blessings and glories awaiting her further on? I think no one does, but all will desire to press on and on through every trial to the presence of our Father, where love, joy, peace and every blessing await us.

The prize is worth the labor of weeding and trimming our hearts and natures of every noxious principle that will bar our entrance to that holy estate. If we can only get there our ills and tempta