Show missionaries AND LETTER WRITING in another part of this issue of the NEWS there appears a letter from glasgow in which reference is made to the matter of returned missionaries writing to friends and acquaintances whom they met while engaged in the ministry in foreign lands this sub eject has been referred to a number of times in the NEWS and also in the millennial star mar the official journal published Jobed in the british mission it has been pointed out that many el bl ders have been derelict in this respect and they have been sharply criticized criticised for failure to keep a promise made attention has been directed also to the which tests rests elder to further the cause of truth by all means mean at his bia disposal and that to la correspondence there la in opportunity for much good in this thin direction but we have some suggestions to make to those who complain that the returned missionaries do not engage in a sufficiently extensive correspondence to silence a criticism that has haa been commonly offered ofie red the elders sent out on missions respond to the call that is made of them by divine author ity it is in a labor of love on their part and they perform it from a sense of sacred duty they do not seek nor do they reap worldly pleasure or profit they go as messengers to tell the glad tidings of the plan of salvation and they deliver their message then when they have performed tills this duty faithfully and the lord says it is enough they are honorably released the care which rested upon them in the particular districts or conferences where they were called to labor devolves devolve upon other shoulders in turn to carry it for a time when they return home they have before them a field in which there is a full share of responsibility for the most energetic worker and which in most instances claims the greater part or all of their attention the intimation that there is an obligation on p lasion aries to continue to labor in a told field from which they have been released save as there then are special considerations which require it to is based on a misapprehension of principle an aa is also the idea that there is any ingratitude connected with an omission to perform a labor which no longer devolves on a person as a matter of duty the missionaries go out as servants of the lord and an aa such they are received and treated with kindness when received at all the obligation which accrues because of this reception and these kind deeds deeda on the part of the honest in heart is on the ard who assumes all responsibility of that kind people who re belve his messengers receive him and he will see bee to it that the reward follows fol lowa and they who are made par takers taken of the blessings of the gospel obtain full recompense for every good deed they do and can perform the suggestions made do not relieve any elder be he be returned missionary or no not from embracing every opportunity cunti within reach to do good by corresponding with friends friend nor do they afford any excuse for failure to keep agreements or promises prom lees made and which should be strictly tri otly lived up to but they may cause some rome of those in whose behalf mention of the subject its ie made in the letter referred to to consider whether or not they hey have not been too exacting and have given way to a spirit of complaining pla ining against those whose message to them was only one of peace and good will and who are tolling toiling constantly fy and faithfully in another part of the vineyard yard to which duty has directed their step aop it Is ie no doubt a source of comfort and pleasure for those in far off elf lands to receive letters occasionally from returned missionaries and the latter should te be so mindful of their trust and friendship as to extend that comfort but if missionaries who have been in some fields were to attempt to correspond with all who desire it they would have barfly barely time to earn the paper pape and raDd stamps necessary and in some oases cases correspondence is neither wise nor profitable and 1 Is better dropped it might be well on occasions for missionaries abroad to use use their in fluence against any tendency teo denoy to complain at those who have been in the neld field and who in one or another respect may not have come up to some individual standard any direct counsel or advice ad vice on this feature however is the province of those who preside in the various departments therefore we will not presume to offer it but we will says say especially to saints who have gathered here that they can accomplish much in spreading spi read the gospel by writing to friends friend in their old homes and by that means disseminate correct information on the aims labors and condition of the tatter latter day I 1 saints and to returned 9 that where they have promised promie ed to write they should keep their pledges pledge and iud genei generally ally they should 0 occasionally send letters and papers to friends and acquaintances and thus materially aid the cause which they have espoused |