were It was boar-head, mistletoe, holly and ale. It was "Stand all, now, and a life to the So the great hall rang with their carol and Then vassal and monarch humbled their hearts and kneeled to their Christ of old. But the dusk has crept through the aging years, and the heart of the world has changed, It is good-by now to Romance as it was In the rush for gold, in the battle for bread, No matter how mad is the struggle and fevered the marts of the new-born age, Ah, the loom shall stop and the anvil be still and the cities forget their rage! Though we feed not now on the husk of the past, we have, O my soul, man's hope That the darkest years have their end and each cloud God hangs at the last shall ope: So a wraith, this day, of that old Romance, a ghost of that earlier Peace Through the years still whisper that Hatred and War and Strife in the end shall cease! -Arthur J. Stringer. OUR CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS. The subject of this sketch, Geo. E. Maycock, appeared in this sphere of action about twenty-three years ago. His parents were sturdy and God-fearing: they cheerfully endured the hardships incident to "crossing the plains" in the hand cart brigade, that they might associate with the Saints of God in Zion. Eld. Maycock attended the public schools No. 4. until 1892, at which time he entered the History of the Southern States Mission. From the time of discontinuance until 1896, he followed various occupations. At this time he received notice that his services were wanted in the missionary 21, 1896. He was assigned to Texas, field, to which place he departed March where he labored until Jan. 9, 1897. From Texas he was transferred to Mississippi where he labored in the various branches of missionary work, being associated as counsellor to Frank T. Pomeroy, also T. R. Condie. In September he was released to re ELDER GEO. E. MAYCOCK, President Ohio Conference. turn to Zion, arriving there the latter ter. In September, 1899, he was again summoned into the missionary field, where he arrived October 16, 1899. Elder Maycock was chosen to fill the editorial chair of the Star. Nov. 29th, he was appointed president of the Ohio conference, but will continue his labors on this paper until some time after the turn of the year, when he will take personal charge of the work in Ohio. August 1893. Seldom, since the mission opened, has this month passed with as little trouble. The treatment of the Elders general good, was in Elders Doxey and Ence had a very disagreeable time in the city of Pass Christian, Miss. The mayor of the city consented to their using the city hall for services. The town council thought differently and met and protested against "Mormons" using the hall. They were notified to leave the city, and when informed by a friend, that the "white caps" were organized, they left, going into the country, where very similar treatment was accorded them. The semi-annual report for the half year ending August 31, 1893, was as follows: Number of traveling Elders, 123. Number of baptisms, 224. Number of children blessed, 79. Number of emigrants, 50. All Elders reported well. September. com President J. Golden Kimball menced a tour of the conferences. The price of all tracts and cards published at Chattanooga was reduced. The Elders laboring in Charleston, W. Va., also Richmond, Va., report much kinder treatment and consideration in these cities than is generally received in many similar places. Near Dundee in South Alabama, a number of ruffians surrounded a house where several of the Elders were being entertained and fired a number of volleys from shotguns, pistols and rifles, into the house. No one was injured. Elders Maiben and Beecher were similarly fired upon by "bushwhackers" but escaped unhurt. December. Elders E. A. Griffin and Geo. M. Smith, laboring in Concord, Cabarrao County, N. C., were staying with a young man who was very friendly. About 9 o'clock a mob of twenty-five men came and ordered the Elders to leave the town at once. After some controversy on the subject, the Elders were allowed the priv ilege of remaining at the hotel until the next day. The young man was told, if he allowed the Elders to remain at his home he would be discharged from the factory where he was working, and turned out of the house he was renting. A school house near Pocatalego, Kanawha County, W. Va., was burned because "Mormons" had used it. Magnolia, Tenn. Editor Southern Star. It was in the month of December, 1886, when two Mormon Elders called at our house to inform us that they would preach at the school house the following Sunday. I went to hear them. and to my surprise I heard the Gospel of Christ taught for the first time in my life. It cut me to the heart like a twoedged sword. I was determined to follow the teachings of the Scriptures and investigate their doctrines. I soon became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I am thankful to my Father in heaven that I have been permitted to live and partake of the Gospel of my blessed Savior. have a testimony for myself, that the Gospel which is taught by the Latter-day Saints is the same as taught by the Svior and His Apostles, and that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God, and if we will live up to and obey the teachings of that Gospel it will lead us into the Kingdom of God, while those who do not obey will come under condemnation. I now pray that the blessings of God may forever rest down upon the Church, from the greatest unto the least and last ordained. I remain your sister in the Gospel, I I have often been asked why it was that I "joined the Mormons?" My answer to such inquiries was that I learned from the Elders the truths as they really were in the Bible; that their teachings harmonized in every respect with that divine Book, and that the Faith that comes by hearing would be planted in every soul if they would obey the Gospel as they taught it. I noticed how these Elders endured the persecution heaped upon them, and how that they had charity to all mankind. I also learned that "the world" loves its own and if you was separated from the world you would be persecuted. This was their lot and all who were even friendly disposed had a measure of the wrath of the unjust poured upon them. From reading the Bible I knew this was the unfortunate position of the early With every respect, Your brother. THE DARK AGES. BY ELDER A. ARROWSMITH. He ordered all who would not worship The Bishops in many places assumed a princely authority, with splendid ensigns of temporal majesty. They had thrones surrounded with ministers, and they stood exalted above their equals, disdaining their disciples. What a contrast to the meek and humble Nazarene, who walked, with no place to lay His head, throughout Judea; and whom they pretended to follow. He washed His disciples' feet, and administered unto them as a servant; while their sumptuous apparel dazzled the eyes and minds of the multitude, into an ignorant veneration for their arrogated authority. The Bishop of Carthage, Cyprian, was a great character during the early part of this century; he favored celibacy, and the monastic life, and introduced the mode of baptism, so much in vogue, and practiced by modern Christians, sprinkling; also infant baptism. viz., Exorcists were employed at this time to cast out evil spirits, preparatory to baptism, and after the ordinance was performed the victim to this superstitious rite returned home, adorned with crowns and arrayed in white garments, in token of victory and purity. law given through Abraham; which law, ing baptized. Therefore this innovation Mosheim declares that in this century nunneries and monasteries grew, where men and women tried to live lives of others of the clergy got so fanatical on Eternal life did not abide within the church, as they had departed from the Faith, as taught by the great Captain Jesus (who said it was life eternal to know the true and living God). Therefore many ideas and grave contentions arose as to the nature of the Godhead. Many Bishops discussed and offered preposterous arguments in favor of the old Platonic theory, with its Pleroma and Aeons, Demiurge and Logos; realizing the good and evil in all things (as any man with a conscience does to this day). This theory recognized evil in all matter, as everything material is carnal, and it led some to lives of wickedness, men It was at this time that the first ac- who ignored the body, as it was not concount of pouring, in place of immersion, sidered subject to the soul, or spirit, and occurred. An important heretic named not to be resurrected. It was this reNovation, realizing that salvation was ligion that reconciled good and evil, makvested in Christianity, also that he ing both acts of grace before God, alwould be brought to judgment for his lowing a man to commit crimes too hormany misdeeds, desired his sins remitted rible to mention, as a means of debasing by baptism. The death bed repentant the body, and purifying the soul; also sinner was unable to comply with this alowing a man to macerate the body by ordinance by being immersed (as other fasts, and thus purify himself, by strict converts of Christianity were initiated austerity, that closer communion could into the door of the church, through babe had with spiritual influences. tism by immersion), therefore a special encyclical was issued by the Bishop to meet his case, and water was poured novation was introduced, which became upon him in bed. Thus a dangerous inalmost general in the thirteenth century (that is, sprinkling the rule, and immersion the exception). The introduction of baptizing infants appeared at this time, as it was not known, or thought of, before Irenaeus, the Bishop of Lyons (a prominent leader in the church), and don't appear to have been practiced until the indorsing by Cyprian and his councils, in the early part of this the third century, when it was required that children at eight days old be baptized; taken, apparently, from the ancient custom of Israel in their rites on circumcision. Israel were strict observers of that The extremes were used in their religious rites, one class worshipped in gorgeous temples, displaying great magnificompanied by priestly munificence, robes, cence, and splendor, the ceremonies acincense, miters and crosiers. While the other extreme took their departure into the wilderness, away from the haunts of men, where they lived on herbs, in poverty and solitude, grandeur of spiritual existence in celicontemplating the bacy and single blessedness. Gnosticism, This system was called and its inroads in Christianity can be seen to this day. The gorgeous displays of modern Christendom, with its priestly robes and splendor, incense, elevated host, martyr worship, relic worship, image worship, and other superstitious rites, speaks glaringly of ancient Paganism; its face is prominent in all the grand steeples erected to the Apostles, veloping into that man of sin, represent- ply tied up in knots and bent backward St. Paul and St. Peter, etc. And in the practices of the many who will whip and macerate the body, that they may get absolution from sin today, also in the actions of the Fakir in the far east, who will stoically sit and stand in unnatural positions for years, and sacrifice their lives to their God, Juggernaut, to get eternal bliss. These actions today are but a dulpicate of what occurred in the third century. The Devil ever did lead men devoid of the Spirit of God into all kinds of enormities. Pardon the digression, but I wished to explain the nature of those who affiliated with and corrupted the primitive church, and introduced a being, whom they thought had all the perfections and attributes of a God, but who was without "body, parts and passions," an entirely different being than the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who was after the form of man, “as man made in His image." was The discussions carried on by the great philosophers of this century, Sabellius, Arius and Athanasius, terminated in the adoption of the Athanasius creed, which is accepted authority on the nature of the Godhead in Christendom today; as He is considered as an aerial, mystical being. whose center is everywhere and circumference nowhere; so large that He fills the universe, and so small that He can dwell in man's heart; who sits upon a throne that is topless, and is described as a tyrant, who can derive pleasure in thrusting nine-tenths of the human family into a hell, without a bottom, where these children of this tyrannical God ever burn and never consume. This is the kind of being that came from these contentions at this period of time; and that has been so universally worshipped from that time on to the present; and it is this being, that has never given any light, inspiration, or revelation to the multitudes who have worshipped Him. Not having a body, parts or passions, the human family have been worshipping a nonentity. the result has been they have never heard from Him, and the heavens have been as brass to the many petitions offered. No wonder that infidels can defy and mock such a God, who can neither love nor hate them, not having any passions. The God of the Bible made man in His image, and He had a body of parts, that could walk, and converse with man, with every sense that man possesses, and our Elder Brother Jesus Christ was described as being the express image and brightness of God's (His Father's) glory. At least, this was the kind of God that Israel worshipped. But during the Dark Ages Paganism introduced into Christianity the Gnostic theory, which was mystical in the extreme, and incomprehensible to the finite nature. In the next century the great council of Nice met, and fully decided on the nature of their God; which is the Athanasius creed. The pure Gospel of Jesus, as taught by Him in Galilee, had become unpopular and that meek and lowly spirit was no longer manifest, but a gorgeous and an attractive ceremony was adopted, under the name of Christianity, which had barely a form of Godliness, and entirely devoid of that power and inspiration which comes from God, and which was so much manifest in the days of the Apostles. The mystery of iniquity which had commenced in Paul's day was fully de ed as "the Son of perdition," which should oppose, and exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that He as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing Himself that He is God." (II Thess. 2.) (To be continued.) Some Awful Deaths. What is the most awful shape in which death may come to mortal man? Not by fire, nor by water, nor by gunshot. These are mere pleasures to some of the deaths by which you may die. The most agonizing of all is caused by an insect half the size of a pea-a small black spider. It lives in Peru and South Australia, but a few specimens have reached Europe and America in shiploads of timber. Not long ago a dock laborer was unlucky enough to conie upon one in the Victoria docks while unloading a bark. The tiny death dealer dropped upon the back of his hand and dug its fangs into his flesh. The bite itself was nothing, but as soon as the poison began to work the man fainted with pain. Soon afterward he came to and lived three days before the end came. This spider's venom scorches up the blood vessels and spreads through all the tissues, causing the most fearful agony a human being can have to bear. The worst of it is that the victim lives at least two days, enduring unthinkable anguish the whole time. This spider is luckily not common. It is known as the "specky," and when a man who knows what the bite means is bitten he generally blows out his brains. Another fearful death is caused by eating a grain called "bhat." This sometimes gets mixed with rice, which it resembles. The plant grows in the east, and a few grains of it will drive one into a state of mania. The victim becomes drowsy at first and afterward hilarious, then he goes stark, staring mad and tears himself literally to pieces with his fingers, biting mouthfuls out of his limbs. It is bad enough to see such a case, but as for experiencing it— The grain is only found in remote parts of the east, but both white men and natives are killed by it occasionally in the east, for the plant grows in with the rice crops and can scarcely be told apart. but that the dried grain is of a reddish color. metal, as unfortunate workmen someOf course falling into a vat of boiling times do, sounds bad enough, but it is mercifully quick. There is a South "knotter," American vine called the which is far worse. It twines around any living thing that comes within reach, twisting its long tentacles about a man as a devilfish might. These tentacles sear and burn into the flesh like white hot wires, and the victim is dragged into the heart of the foliage and his juices slowly drained, as a spider sucks the blood of a fly. All say that the pain is worse than they could have believed it possible for a man to feel. The "knotter" is well known to scientists, and is, in fact, a sort of huge flytrap plant. Those who have strong instincts of cruelty, coupled with curiosity, sometimes force a dog into the grip of the "knotter" to watch the effects, which are too horrible to describe in detail. and forward like a bow. It is a very rare disease with human beings, for most people bitten by rabid dogs, a small In extreme number at most, escape it. cases the patient actually snarls and bays like any hound, and, next to experiencing it, the worst thing is to watch a case. It is as distressing a spectacle as any man could witness. There is a snake called the "lancer," which lives in South America, and is very ready with its fangs. It is a small, brown, insignificant beast, but its bite induces a sort of imaginary swelling all over the victim's body. He feels as if every inch of him were being strained to breaking point, and the agony which results is too awful for words. Generally, however, the excess of pain drives the bitten man mad before very long, and in four hours he dies-a senseless imbecile. Little Civilities. If, as the old saying has it, civility costs nothing, it certainly gains much, both in the way of liking and of kindness; therefore it seems a great pity that so many people dispense with it in small matters of daily life. There are no doubt very few people who are actually and actively rude and uncivil, but there are, on the other hand, many who are, if we may use the term, passively impolite. They do not-that is, commit downright rudeness, but they omit a vast number of little civilities. a If it is manners that "maketh man," it is most certainly woman who both makes and mars men's manners, for there is no man, however rough and uncouth in manner, who is not influenced and to some degree softened by contact with a courteous and gracious-mannered woman.-Detroit Free Press. THE BETTER TIME. Could young days last for all our time, But this we know can never be, A little while, with softened skies, And so the seasons onward run, And here is much of sorrow, Our hopes must wait "the world to come," Exulting with delight to sing The glorious song immortal; No blighting frosts shall chill that day, Nor climes nor changes sever, The friends that there, enrapt, shall stay, Forever and forever. -V. M. Simons in Springfield (Mass.) Republican. Again, there is nothing very much He who laughs at crooked men should ARTICLES OF FAITH OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 1. We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. 9. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression. 8. We believe that, through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. 4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: First, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of Hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost. 6. We believe that a man must be called of God, by "prophecy, and by the laying on of hands," by those who are in authority, to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. 6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church-namely, Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, etc. 7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, etc. 8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. 9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. 10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion will be built upon this (the American) continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory. 1. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. 12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates; in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law. 18. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul, "We believe all things, we hope all things," we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. JOSEPH SMITH.. CHRISTMAS TIMES. Once more we approach the day that brings both happiness and commiseration. Happy indeed will be the proud grandparents who will welcome the two or three generations 'round their hearth to spend this day merry making. And happier yet will be the scene where those ruddy faces, curly heads and beaming countenances will surround the board that for a year has been spared the special duty of bearing such a burden of good things. The happiest and most delightful scene of all is where the tots meet and dance in childish glee around the gay and brilliant Christmas tree, where grandpa and grandma delight in telling how they spent Christmas when they were children. Everyone is euthused with the spirit of conviviality. Yonder we notice one vacant chair in this pleased assembly. Who is absent? Where is the absent one? What will his surroundings be? are all questions this one sad place seems to ask, on this day above all others. They will meet, but they will miss him, There will be no vacant chair. Many are the causes for this vacant chair. One only we wish to mention"The Soldier of the Cross, who, during this season of festivity, as at all other times, continues with unyielding effort to bring "Peace on earth, good will to men." Never was pie, nor, cake, nor pudding made as sweet as the manna that God provides, and we ask will all these delicacies exceed in sweetness the morsel of corn bread and bit of bacon that many an humble Elder who has left father, mother, wife, yes, all, for to engage in the Master's cause, will of necessity eat this day with thankfulness. The light of the Spirit of God that the followers of the Lamb constantly have will far outshine the most dazzling features of any Christmas feast. The consciousness of duty performed is a balm that only "those who are called to labor" can enjoy fully. Were those at home half so happy it would indeed be a merry Christ mas. The God of us all is preparing a feast, and those who are now deprived of this pleasant association will be present. No vacant chairs will be seen there, and what a blissful reunion where an hundred fold will be given to all who have labored, and here they will feast with Christ the Lord. Our prayers go out to our King, our Deliverere, our All, that a "Daddy "The cruelty of savages is not equal Brown,' an "Aunt Jane," a Marley to the cruelty of Saints who think it or a "Myriel" will visit every home, be their duty to torment their fellow-creatit ever so humble, and there leave some ures."-James Freeman Clarke. "When coercion is introduced into any sacred work, at that moment it loses its sacredness and is no longer the work of God."-James Freeman Clarke. The Salt Lake Tribune says: "Ben Rich tells the people in TennesUtah see that he stumped the state of against Roberts. Perhaps that will give the people of Tennessee a new idea of how, possibly, Roberts was elected." That's very pretty, but during the campaign Ben Rich was talking about Roberts was defeated and Hon. C. E. Allen elected. Now will the Salt Lake Tribune please go off and hangs itself? tiny token to make all happy. To the Elders of the Mission who have so faithfully and honorably done their duty during the past year, we, from the bottom of our hearts, wish you a merry Christmas, and pray God that your pleasure may be unbounded. BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD. The verse here referred to is as follows: "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?" We are not greatly surprised at this explanation of the scripture, when those who try to explain it have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof; but from people who claim Jesus as their Savior, their pattern and friend, we are disappointed. No man can understand the things of God unless they have the Spirit of God. (I. Cor. ii.:11 and 14.) Then if we would know concerning this why not take the testimony of those holy men who spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost? We will notice for a few moments the explanation given above. The thought there conveyed is, that, man being doomed to death by reason of sin, is baptized to show his faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. "So they are baptized unto this death in the hope of the resurrection of Christ." Now, is it not a fact that we are baptized for a remission of sins and that the old man of sin is not resurrected? If he were, would the baptism be effectual? Would we be clean and have a new heart and a new spirit? This verse asks what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead? Here it gives us to understand that the object for which they were baptized was to rise, else the baptism would be of no effect. Baptism is necessary as suggested here to show our faith in the ordinance aud to put on Christ. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ, says Paul. Dare we gainsay the words of Christ and say a man can enter into Heaven without being born again? We answer an emphatic No! One other quotation should suffice on this (I. Peter iii.:21), the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us. Now, if no man can enter into Heaven without being born again and baptism was the ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ for us to follow, to enter therein, what will become of the millions who have never been baptized? Oh, you will say you are trying to make us think that a person living can be baptized for one who is dead, and that it will be effective, and you are right. God is not the hideous nothing that many say He is, but is long-suffering. not willing that any should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance. If only the sons of perdition, or the sin against the Holy Ghost will keep us out The following is copied from a relig- of the kingdom of God (and all sin will ious paper: Please explain I. Cor. xv.:29. What we see in that verse is this: The wages of sin is death. Man, being a sinner, is doomed to death. Christ took our sins and died for us. When we believe on Him, we show our faith in His death, be forgiven save the sinning against the Holy Ghost, and sin is what separates us from God.) Then if this is the only thing that will keep us out and we cannot enter unless we are born of the water and the Spirit, how are the millions who never heard Christ's name going to enter? We answer that this passage referred to explains this. I know many will raise their hands in holy horror at such a thought, but if they will but think of God's love we think they can see that He will provide some way. We suppose that many people were righteously indignant when they were taught that Christ was going to do a vicarious work whereby all could be saved and could have their sins taken away, even those who were dead. According to Peter (I. Peter iii.:18 and iv.:6), Christ went and preached to the disobedient spirits that "they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit." And there they will have the chance to either accept or reject the Gospel. For every man must hear the Gospel. The world knows nothing of this glorious principle and when they read "why are ye baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?" they can give no reasonable explanation. Why? Because they try to make some big mystery out of the Gospel. Not believing that God can reveal His will to man in these days. All these beautiful principles that were in the primitive Church are lost to them, and they try to appease their spiritual appetites by reading of the sumptuous Gospel banquet that the Saints once enjoyed. God is no respector of persons we are toid, and He was so merciful that His only begotten Son went and preached to the spirits of the same people to whom the prophet Noah preached the Gospel for 120 years. The "Thief on the cross" was also there no doubt and listened to and had a chance to embrace the Gospel. O! if so-called Christianity would only be reasonable. Tantalizing Talmage. On the Sunday previous to the meeting of Congress, a number of sermons and speeches were delivered in the churches at Washington, D. C., among which was a discourse by Rev. DeWitt Talmage, which elicited some pungent comments from Congressman Bailey. These were published in part, being sent in regular press dispatches to the papers of the country. The Washington Times, how ever, gave them in full, with some comments. The article is worthy of reproduction, and we therefore here append it in full, as it appeared in the Times of Dec. 9th. It has often been remarked, by observers of human affairs, that one thing usually leads to another, and this truth has received a fresh illustration within the last few days. In view of the recent agitation over the Roberts case, the everready and always remarkable Dr. Talmage saw fit to preach a sermon on the subject; this sermon inspired sundry reflections in the mind of a gentleman who read it and analyzed it by the ordinary processes of logic; and these reflections are embodied in a letter to a local newspaper, over the signature of G. M. Bailey. Mr. Bailey reasons, by a series of steps which are as obvious as the multiplication table, that, supposing Dr. Talmage's position to be sound, that reverend gentleman is confounded with a most distressing problem. He says: "1. Polygamy is an abhorrent thing, and Roberts should be hung. "2. Dr. Talmage's sermon published last Monday was the most eloquent ar THE SOUTHERN STAR. raignment of polygamy the country has ever seen. "3. Dr. Talmage has charmed the people in years gone by with the thought that the good will meet their loved ones on the other shore. "4. Hence in the next world, the elect will know the bliss of family reunions. 5. This is a blessed thought for the pure in heart who travel through this vale of tears. "6. If this is true, the programme on earth is necessarily different from that in heaven. "7. Roberts is said to have three wives, two too many for earth, at one time. "8. Dr. Talmage will cross the divide having lived in consecutive manner with four earthly wives. 29 consigned to outer darkness. And that would be sad, but interesting.-Deseret News. Middle lennessee Conference. The Middle Tennessee Conference met Dec. 9 and 10 at Nashville. There was present from the omce Fresident ben E. Rich, his wife, L. R. Anderson and J. W. Carruth. Saturday was spent in priesthood meeting, where every Elder had the privege or expressing himself. ne inspiring expressions were much enjoyed by those assembled during the three meetings held. Sunday the 10th, Presidents Rich and Allred and Elders Stewart, Forsyth, Budge and Parkinson addressed those assembled at the morning service. "9. This is lawful, and it is civilization R. Anderson and Elder J. W. Carruth adon earth. "10. But there must be reunions in heaven. "11. Dr. Talmage may have the same trouble in the next world that Roberts has in this." What the next step in this chain of deduction may be it is a little difficult to say. If Dr. Talmage can be brought to reflect seriously on the question presented for his solution, it may give him a broader human sympathy with Mr. Roberts, or it may drive him insane. There seems to be nothing that he can do in the matter, from a practical point of view. He cannot unmarry himself, nor can he refuse support to earthly wives who are dead. It is barely possible that he may admit having made a slight mistake in his calculations, but that, in the light of his past career, is a little more unlikely than the other two things. If there is one subject on which Dr. Talmage has always been especially fluent, even more so than on his travels in the Holy Land, it is the conditions which will obtain in heaven. He could been a special correspondent of a yellow not have known more about it if he had journal, commissioned to write a "feature story" about the New Jerusalem. He has described the climate, topography, politics, social customs, language, amusements and architecture of heaven so exhaustively that one could almost find one's way about in the light from his minute descriptions. He has described the way in which the city is laid out, how the Saints are given homes according to their occupations-some in Apostle Square, some in Missionary street, some in Martyr's Row; and how the heavenly musicians, sitting at long and well-laden tables, pause now and then in their feasting to wipe their mouths and give a melodious blast on a sublimated harp, to express their utter content and joy. This may seem irreverent to the devout reader, but it is what Dr. Talmage says. He has apparently pictured heaven as a glorified realization of the kind of city in which he would like to live on earth, with the people sorted out according to their different degrees of piety, and all the gilding real gold, and good things to eat scattered about promiscuously. It seems a little strange that in all this information there is no description of Dr. Talmage's own home, where he will sit, surrounded by those who have shared his lot on earth, and present exactly the same tableau now presented by Mr. Rob erts. Following out this argument to its conclusion, we find that other inhabitants of the heavenely city will be found signing bulky petitions to have Dr. Talmage At the afternoon session President L. dressed the assembly. They invited all to investigate thoroughly the doctrine taught by the Latter Day Saints as it was a very important message. President Ben E. Rich discussed briefly the personality of God. He showed what manner of being the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was, in contradiction to the mystified nothingness of the something which many people now teach to be God. Evening Session. President Ben E. Rich was the speaker. His text being Gal. I:8. In a plain, simple, yet forcible manner, he demonstrated how very different was the Goscommissioned taught by those by pel Christ, when He (Christ) labored in the ministry, and what men now preach and label Gospel. Also the fallacy of the doctrine of "One big Heaven" and "One big Hell," quoting freely from the Bible to substantiate what he had said. Monday the Elders met and were assigned to various fields of labor. With a hearty handshake and a "God bless you," the Elders left the city two by two, determined to do all in their power for the advancement of truth. OSBORNE RICHENS. To the Southern Star. Being a constant reader of the Star and much strengthened and much comforted by the testimonies there recorded, space, to bear my testimony. I thought I should be happy, if allowed I am thoroughly impressed with the divinity of the Gospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints, and find it to agree in every respecet with the teachings of the Apostles of old. servants of the been raised from a bed of sickness to I can truthfully testify that I have health by the laying on of the hands of the Elders, and this to me is one testimony that Joseph Smith was a Prophet, for, as recorded in the doctrine and covLord, who went forth in the name of the eenants, he told the Lord, that such could be accomplished. All or most every denomination that I have heard of deney the signs following the believers now as anciently, Joseph Smith said they should follow the spoke the truth. Therefore, he, in this believer, and I am a witness that he respect, as in many others, told what could be accomplished in the name of the Lord, and this is evidence to me that nication. I am thankful that the Elders he must have enejoyed heavenly commucame to our home to bear the glad message of great joy, and although it brings persecution upon me for being a Saint, yet I can endure it cheerfully, as Í know that God will bless me if I am faithful to the end. Sincerely your sister in the cause of truth, Carrie McKnight. Ackerman, Miss. |