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Show I TEMPLE AND TABERNACLE. lvwvwwvwvwvvvvvwv Elder Golden Kimball, in a brief discourse dis-course at the tabernacle Sunday afternoon, after-noon, February 19, expressed his inclination in-clination to speak out plainly in meeting meet-ing whatever he felt to be needed among the Latter-day Saints, and in this line declared the importance oi missionary work at borne, pointing especially to married men between the ages of 30 and 45 years, among whom, he said, the most difficulty had been experienced in arousing an interest. Regarding his plainness in speaking, he said there had been some criticism which was not charitable, but canit! from the other place. "The last time I spoke here," he continued, con-tinued, "some friends came to me and said: 'It won't do for you to talk today.' to-day.' 'Why? I asked. 'Because we have strangers here today.' I wish they would come and tell me what to say and say it. I welcome strangers and have respect for all religions, for I have been treated kindly by strangers.'' The speaker said he realized that many people are afraid of popular clamor; that they would go to war with Spain as brave warriors, but were afraid to meet public opinion. The only thing to consider, however, is to have one's conscience clear. In declaring that all is not well in Zion, Elder Kimball said that the priesthood had never muzzled him and that it was not the place for Latter-day Latter-day Saints to tell what he should say or should not say. He knew that some deviltry was at work among the people. peo-ple. Last winter a great missionary work was undertaken. It was discovered discov-ered that a certain percentage of the young men were going wild. Communications Communi-cations were sentoutto 300 young men, who were called just as if to go and preach the gospel. One hundred and fifty had responded, ninety-nine had heen excused and thirty have not answered an-swered yet. From four to ten of these young men who responded were placed in each stake for three months. As missionaries they have visited hundreds of careless young men and endeavored to convert them. One report from Uin tah stake was the most flattering and showed that four elders.had baptized eighty-five young men, which was a good work. Great and good work had been accomplished, but there had been discouragement also. Much difficulty had been encountered among young married men who have settled down to mental drowsiness and refused to join in the work, and fathers and mothers have justified them in their conduct. There is a greater field for missionary work at home than anywhere else, and the priesthood should be looking after the people. Preceding Elder Kimball, Elders Sainsbury and George R. Baker, who have lately returned from a mission to the British Isles, made brief addresses on the work accomplished. 'The latter said the elders in England were not persecuted, but had much opposition to contend against. This condition, he said, was the life of the elders, for opposition brought out all the good there was in them. He said a man who should try to preach the- gospel with- out scrip or purse in England would be a pretty sick man when he got through. Elder George E. Hill, lately returned from a mission to the southern states, also spoke of the work in that part of the country. The people of the south were somewhat behind the times in regard re-gard to improvements and in many respects were lacking in literary advantages. ad-vantages. They were very religious, however, though generally objecting to any innovations by the Latter-day Saints. Two elders working in Atlanta have the freedom of the best hotels and are otherwise courteously treated, so that in some instances the people were beginning to become more liberal. lib-eral. About 1,800 people were added to the church from the southern states last year. Of course, said the speaker, there is a dood deal of opposition to' the missionaries on account of the Roberts case, but the agitation is doing do-ing more good than harm; The elders get a better hearing; discussions of the Mormon religion is revived and the result re-sult is always iu favor of the Latter-day Latter-day Saints. On the 17th inst. there was a grand gathering of the old folks of Oneida stake of Zion, regardless of creed, color or nationality, at Preston, Onedia county, Idaho, which was a grand success. suc-cess. Several hundred were present and all seemed to enjoy themselves It commenced at 10:30 a. in. and continued without intermission until 4:30 p m A beautiful programme was rendered, ren-dered, consisting of vocal and instrumental instru-mental music, viz., solos, duets, quartettes quar-tettes and choruses, also four reel and the old folks participated. A sumptuous sumptu-ous dinner was provided for all I. seemed that everything eatable 'was provided, well cooked and served will the greatest care and .attention On hundred and fifty could sit at the tab at once, and there were several sit tings down to dinner. ThmasirIhTm7n7ls been ;n theukou country for a Dumber oi months collecting an exhibit for tho Paris exposition, has arrived at Port Townsend, Wash. IIe ha8 mcd large and rare collection which will be brought out next summer. dettinrdinft0the ?aHs L 'K-'O, IVesi-dent IVesi-dent Loubet issurnri.scd at the hostility of which he s theohiect, and has said one has a right to say X am , Dreyfusist or an anti-Dreyfus tor truth, supported by jusuco." |