of chaotic matter at the time since when his narrative begins, and merely describes the way in which order was brought out of this chaos. "I do not think that we are in a position to say what opinion the Hebrews held as to the origin of matter. I cannot recall any passage of the Old Testament which throws any light upon this. The Hebrew mind is not speculative. "I am, Dear Sir, Yours very truly, "ROBERT H. KENNETT." THE ELECTION. In the election held November 3, the Republican national and state tickets were elected in Utah by a plurality of perhaps twenty thousand. The various county tickets were also largely Republican. In Salt Lake City a political combination calling themselves "American" had long and aggressively fought the "Mormon" Church, threatening imprisonment and exile to its leaders, in case the "American" party should win the county. But to the delight of all good people, their efforts were futile. They not only failed to carry the county, but also lost the city, their votes numbering, according to best estimates, at least five hundred less than in the election of 1907. The cause of their defeat may be assigned to the fight which they made against the Church and the Church authorities. Many non-"Mormons" are opposed to injustice. These, with a considerable number of Latter-day Saints, regardless of political affiliation, took it into their minds to rebuke the vicious, persistent and scurrilous attacks made by the "American" party upon the Church, and her leaders. With the former it was an act of justice; with the latter, a matter of self-defense. Both are entitled to the commendation and praise of every well-wisher of our commonwealth. Both are opposed to political interference in Church affairs, as much as they are opposed to Church interference in political affairs. When one's religion and friends are unjustly attacked, however, it is natural to defend them. The brushing aside of the "American" party in Salt Lake. City may thus be accounted for. Would that it might teach the combination to abstain from further interference in Church affairs, and teach all others that there is no excuse for the existence of such a party. JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET-TEACHER. It will The attention of the M.J. A. officers, and the reading public generally, is called to a new booklet by Elder B. H. Roberts entitled, Joseph Smith, the Prophet-Teacher. The book is issued from the press of the Deseret News, and has been adopted by the General Board of the Y. M. M. I. A. as one of the supplementary reading course for the season. It will prove helpful in the interpretation of the senior manual now being used by the associations. also be profitable supplementary reading for the students of the Seventies' course in theology for the year, which is an outline history of the dispensations of the gospel. The new volume treats of the Prophet Joseph's correction of sectarian errors, his philosophical doctrines and some of his miscellaneous doctrinal utterances. The book is especially adapted for the use of missionaries, and for reading by young men who are just now forming their conceptions of "Mormonism." It is available as a souvenir of the anniversary of the Prophet Joseph's birthday, as well as suitable as a gift for the Christmas holidays. Price 75c., Deseret News, publishers. MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS. Under date of November 5, Elder C. E. Dinwoodey writes from Chattanooga, Tenn. "For some years past, missionary work has been done in the city of Atlanta, Ga., but no regular, organized branch of the Church has been effected, althoug meetings, Sunday schools and Mutuals were held at the different homes of the members. In the spring of 1907, the attention of the proper authorities was brought to the need of an organization and a building in which to meet. Mainly through the efforts of Elder James P. Jensen and President S. W. Golding, a suitable location for a Church building was found, and the matter was presented to President Ben E. Rich, of the mission, who immediately took the matter up with the presidency of the Church, who authorized him to make the purchase. The property is located on the corner of Woodward Ave. and Connally Street, and was formerly occupied by the Baptists, but had been abandoned and let run down, until, at the time of the purchase, it was an eyesore to the community. The elders laboring in that city laid aside their "preaching" clothes, donned overalls and jumpers, went to work with hammer and saw upon the old building, and Latter-day Saints Meetinghouse, Atlanta, Georgia. with pick and shovel upon the grounds, and made of them the very nice place shown in the accompanying picture. The building was dedicated, July 14, 1907, by Elder George Albert Smith, and shortly after, a complete branch organization of the Church was effected. The work was placed under the leadership of Elder C. E. Dinwoodey, who, with his wife and family, has been occupying the parsonage adjoining the church, and who up to this time had been acting as secretary of the mission for eighteen months past. Associated with Elder Dinwoodey, from time to time, were Elders M. B. Farr, A. F. Tolton, J. H. Dixon, J. M. Moody, T. E. Foote, H. A. Pace and others, also three lady missionaries-Florence Zundel, Lillian V. Jones and Caroline S. Janes. The progress of the work has been very satisfactory, as the following work for nine months, will show: Tracts distributed 7,000; books sold, 700; baptisms, 12; besides a great number of families visited, and hundreds of conversations. The Mutual Improvement Association has been a big aid to us in cur work. The members were not sufficient to justify the organization of two separate societies, so a joint association was organized with Elder James P. Jensen, president; Mary E. Cook, first counselor; R. A. Parker, second counselor, and Nellie Cook, secretary; with Elder Dinwoodey as class leader. We took up, last winter, the study of the senior manual. We had an average attendance of about twenty, who were all interested in the lessons presented and most excellent classes were the result. The work this winter has been commenced under most auspicious conditions, and we look forward to having a good time. Elder Dinwoodey has been recently transferred to the mission office, Chattanooga, to act as secretary of the mission, and Elder Paul E. Nelson placed in charge of the work in Atlanta." Elder T. J. Bennett, president of the Belfast, Ireland, conference, writes, October 21: "The work of the Lord is progressing in Ireland. We have eighteen elders in the conference. We are meeting with some opposition which is helping us along in our work, and raising up a good many friends for us. We feel as proud of the Irish conference as the Irish do of St. Patrick. The Irish conference is not taking its hat off to any of the conferences in the British mis Elders of the Belfast Conference, Ireland. sion. Seventeen of our elders attended the semi-annual Irish conference of the Church, which convened in the meeting hall of the Belfast branch on September 27. We are pleased to report an excellent Mutual in the city of Belfast, with an average attendance of twenty members. We are just completing the 1898 9 manual, The Apostolic Age. We wish the ERA a prosperous new year, and the Mutual work success." Elder Lawrence Squires writes under date of November 9, from Geneva, Switzerland: "I am thankful that I was chosen to work among these people and in this country. Though the people do not seem ready for the gospel, and our success is not very great, as far as baptisms are concerned, we have a fine climate to work in, and we are allaying a great deal of prejudice whenever we can get the people to hear us. Indifference and prejudice are naturally the greatest obstacles in our way. We have about seventeen elders in the French conference at present, and we are all interested in the work and united for its advancement One does not hear a great deal about this French mission, but we all think that it is the best there is, and are all thankful at being called to it. We have some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. There are not any large branches, as the Saints get the emigration spirit, and as soon as it is possible go to Utah to rejoice with the Saints there. We have now a very good edition of the Book of Mormon. It is placed in the book stores of most all the cities, and I think it will do a great deal of good. We also have a part of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Voice of Warning, Talmage's Lectures on the Book of Mormon and several other smaller tracts. The language is rather hard for some of us, but, as a rule, elders are able to make themselves understood pretty well in nine or ten months, and before leaving are pretty good Frenchmen." From Dunedin, N. Z., Otago conference, Conference President George A. Christensen writes, Sep. 22: "The accompanying photo shows the headquarters of the missionaries in Dunedin, and also the four elders laboring in the Otago conference, the most southern conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the world. The work is progressing favorably, tracting and visiting Back row-George A. Christensen, John Latimer, Jr.; front row-M. Wallace take up a good deal of the time. Street meetings are being held at the present time, and occasionally the elders are given an opportunity to address certain of the town societies. New friends are constantly being made, which encourages the work and lightens the burden; and whenever a new friend is made, it is a victory over prejudice which is slowly but surely being overcome. All the elders |