should be granted to all people when they keep within the lines of the law. The result is entirely satisfactory to the elders and members of the Church, and the praise and honor of this termination of the dispute are to be ascribed to Him who rules in the heavens above and overrules all things on the earth beneath.

C. W. P. Penny Postage.-Penny postage to and from the United States begins to-day.

MINUTES OF THE IRISH CONFERENCE.

THE semi-annual Irish conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the meeting hall of the Belfast branch at 40 Donegal Street, Belfast, on September 27th, 1908, at 11 a.m. President Charles W. Penrose, of the European mission, Sister Romania B. Penrose, of the General Board of Relief Societies, President T. J. Bennett and seventeen traveling elders of the Irish conference were in attendance.

After the opening exercises, President Bennett gave a short address of welcome, after which he read the labor and statistical report of the conference for the last six months. The report was accepted and ordered to be placed on file. The clerk presented the names of the general Church authorities, the officers of the European mission, and the officers and elders of the Irish conference, and they were sustained unanimously.

Elder E. S. Tew reported his labors in Dublin, and spoke briefly on the atonement. Elder Leo J. Neville reported his labors, bore testimony to the divinity of the mission of Joseph Smith, and spoke on divine authority.

President Penrose addressed the saints on the purpose of our existence here. He pictured to us most beautifully how the opposites in our nature tend to our advancement and eternal happiness. He also encouraged us to live in such a way that we may secure eternal salvation. If we expect to instruct others we must live right before God ourselves. Baptism, he said, is only one of the first steps in the gospel, which is a plan that demands effort on our part; it is a plan of advancement. He urged the saints to remember their prayers, fast offerings, and tithing. Meeting adjourned till 3 p.m.

There was a good attendance of saints and non-members at the afternoon meeting. President Bennett spoke of the disappointment the saints had met through the Corporation violating its contract with them with regard to the Ulster Minor Hall, but was pleased to see so many present. Invoked the blessings of the Lord upon the congregation.

Elder G. H. Le Cheminant spoke at some length on the apostasy. Elder A. G. Berrett told of conditions existing amongst the Latter

day Saints, and bore testimony to the uplifting principles set forth by them.

President Penrose then gave one of the most powerful and interesting discourses that the writer has ever listened to. For almost an hour he held the congregation spellbound while he proved by the evidences of nature, and also by revelation, the existence of God, and that men have a Divine nature, being the sons of God. In the evening Sister Penrose addressed a large congregation on the freedom of Mormon women; also told of the purposes of the Relief Societies, and urged parents to train up their children properly. President Penrose explained very plainly the origin of man and the path by which we can regain the presence of our Heavenly Father. Man cannot, he said, mark out a path that will lead to the presence of God. We must walk in the straight and narrow path marked out by Jesus Christ. The character of any man cannot alter the principles of the gospel. Noah, Moses, Peter, and others did things that were not the very best, at times, but nevertheless they were prophets of God, and were recognized as such by Him. The calling of Joseph Smith was not unlike the calling of ancient prophets. He was born under much the same conditions that surrounded prophets of old. Elder Penrose told of the first vision, the restoration of the Aaronic and Melchisedek Priesthood, the organization of the Church with the same officers, gifts and blessings, identically the same as in the Church organized by Christ in the meridian of time. He also bore a strong and impressive testimony to the restoration of the gospel and the mission of the Church.

President Bennett bore a strong and forcible testimony that the words which had been spoken during the day were true, and that the gospel taught by the Latter-day Saints is the power of God unto salvation.

A great many books and tracts were distributed, and some pleasant conversations were indulged in at the close of the meetings. Despite the inconvenience caused by the change in the arrangements, a splendid time was spent, and the saints and elders of the Irish conference thank our Father in heaven for the sublime truths which they heard from the lips of His inspired servants.

A very profitable Priesthood meeting was held on Saturday evening, when the missionaries reported their labors and received valuable instructions from President Penrose. Another meeting of the Priesthood was held on Tuesday morning. Some transfers were made and President Penrose gave additional good counsel to the brethren.

A very interesting Relief Society meeting was held on Monday evening. The members were delighted to have Sister Penrose with them, and received much good counsel from her. The society is in a very creditable condition.

A. G. BERRETT, Clerk of the Conference,

FROM THE MISSION FIELD.

Change of Address.-The headquarters of the Liverpool conference have been changed from 38 Gt. Avenham Street to 22 Fishergate Hill, Preston.

Releases and Departures.-The following missionaries were honorably released and returned home per s.s. Canada, September 24th, 1908: From Scandinavia-John P. Piepgrass, Erastus T. Christenson, Peter Mortensen, John Larsen, Hugo C. A. Petersen, Moses P. Jorgensen, Ruedora C. Jorgensen. With the company were forty-one emigrants, in charge of Elder John Larsen, Elders John J. Piepgrass and Hugo C. A. Petersen being his assistants.

Successful Social. A very successful farewell social was held on Friday evening, September 25th, in honor of Elders J. G. Bunnell and William H. Russell, who are released to return home on October 10th, and Sister Stevenson and two children who are going to emigrate to Zion on the same date. Entertainment was furnished by the saints of the Glasgow branch and each of our departing friends were presented with appropriate tokens of remembrance and love from the elders and saints.

Baptisms. A baptism took place at Ystrad, Rhondda (Bristol conference) September 12th, when another member was added to the Church. The ordinance was performed in Rhondda Brook, by Elder John Minson.

A baptismal service was held at the Darlington Public Baths on Sunday, September 20th, 1908, a large number of saints and friends being present. Elders John J. Gillett and E. A. Walton administered the ordinance to four candidates. Confirmations took place at the afternoon meeting. The Darlington branch (Newcastle conference) is in a very prosperous condition.

Elder William A. Jones writes: "It gives me much pleasure to report another baptism held in the Belpher Street Baths, Blackburn, on Sunday, September 27th, 1908, which was witnessed by a goodly number of saints and friends. Very interesting and appropriate remarks on the principles of the gospel were made by Elders George Parry and John Carter. Four converts were baptized by Elder John I. Gledhill, two of whom were from Blackburn, one from Accrington and one from Chorley branches of the Liverpool conference. The work of the Lord is progressing in this part. Our hall is altogether too small to accommodate the saints and investigators. We are meeting with great success on all sides.

A baptism was performed on Wednesday, the 23rd ult., in the Chadderton Baths, Middleton Road, Manchester, when two converts received the ordinance at the hands of Elder William Glenn.

A baptism took place in the Gorton Baths (Manchester conference), September 26th, 1908, when four souls were added to the Church. Two of the converts were from Manchester, and two from Hyde. Elder D. H. Clayton spoke a short time upon the ordinance of baptism. Elder C. N. Gibbs officiated.

At Armagh, Ireland, on the 25th ult., a convert received baptism at the hands of Elder Larson Andrus. A baptismal service was held in the city of Belfast on the 26th ult., when three members were baptized by Elder Albert Black. The following day, the 27th ult., two converts were baptized after the close of the afternoon session of the conference in Belfast. Elder Wm. W. Dummer officiated. These two converts were from Portadown and Moira. One of the converts that was baptized on Saturday evening had been an invalid, confined in her home for seventeen years. She came twelve miles to have the ordinance administered to her, attended the three meetings on Sunday, and returned home alone on Monday, feeling fine.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR THEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT. LESSON XXXIII. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND TOLERATION.

Text: We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.-Articles of Faith, 11.

I. Worship.

1. Meaning of the term. (a) Derived from the Anglo-Saxon tongue, signifying "worthy-ship." (b) Applied therefore as expressing adoration for some being or some thing deemed to be worthy of reverence.

2. Capacity for worship. (a) Dependent on the worshipers' comprehension of worthiness characterizing the object of his reverence. (b) Knowledge of the divine personality and attributes is therefore essential to our intelligent worship of the true and living God.

II. Religious Intolerance.

1. An infringement of human rights. (a) It implies interference with man's free agency, which is a gift of God (see Lesson 2-"Free agency)." (b) Note that the constitution of the United States professedly safe-guards this right by forbid ding the enactment of any law "respecting an establishment of religion, or preventing the free exercise thereof" (Constitution of the United States first amendment).

2. Intolerance is unscriptural. (a) Intolerance restrained (Mark 11:38-41: see also Luke 9: 49, 50, and compare Numbers 11: 27-29. For another instance see Luke 9: 51-56; compare John 3: 17, and 12: 47). Study the lesson taught in the parable of wheat and tares (Matt. 13: 24-30). (b) Toleration positively enjoined (Matt. 5: 44, 45).

3. Religious liberty proclaimed as an inalienable right of man, by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Doc. and Cov. 134: 2, 4, 7, 9, 10).

III. Toleration is Not Acceptance.

1. Note that the heathen who have known no law are to have part in the first resurrection (Doc. and Cov. 45: 54; 76: 72; compare Romans 2: 12). Yet this is not assurance that heathen idolatry is sanctioned. In justice, those who have lived without opportunity of learning the law are to be tolerated until the law is made known unto them. 2. Distinction between sin and the sinner (Doc. and Cov. 1: 3133). (a) “For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance" (verse 31). (b) "Nevertheless he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven" (verse 32).

General reference: "The Articles of Faith," Lecture XXII.

DIED.

RUSSON.-On July 22nd last, at Lehi, Salt Lake County, Utah, U. S. A., Eliza Round Russon, in her 77th year. Deceased was born on the 21st of October, 1830, in Netherton, near Dudley, Worcestershire. On December 25th, 1851, she was united in marriage with Lott Russon. She and her husband joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints August 11th, 1852, and emigrated to Utah in 1871. She was the mother of eleven children, ten of whom, together with her husband, survive her. Her son Enoch is at the present laboring as a missionary in Great Britain. She has a posterity of seventy-six grandchildren and thirty-nine great-grandchildren, making a total of one hundred and twenty-eight souls. She lived and died a faithful Saint of God.

EDITED, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY CHARLES W. PENROSE, 295 EDGE LANE,

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