In my last letter to you, I stated that many of the Elders were preaching in the open air. They continued to do so until last month. They have enjoyed much of the Spirit of the Lord while thus engaged many hundreds have listened attentively to their teachings, and I believe much good will result from their labours.

The Conference held on the 24th of August last, when you and so many of the Elders from Zion were present, will long be remembered by the Saints for the good instructions they received. Since that time brother J. G. Bigler has spent a few days with us, blessing and encouraging the Saints to be faithful in all things pertaining to their holy religion. In addition to the above, other Elders from different parts of the Mission, while visiting London, have met with us, imparting much good instruction to the Saints; end if they have not lived their religion it has not been for the want of good teaching. Letting those severely alone, who used to disturb our meetings, has had the desired effect; the consequence is our meetings are better attended, and the Spirit of the Lord is with us. We have baptized about 200 during the past year, and many more would have been, were it not that they would lose their situations were they to become members of the Church. We have over 200 children belonging to our Sunday schools. I have visited several of the schools, and am much pleased with the progress the children have made since their organization, and with the course the Teachers have pursued.

We held our monthly Priesthood meeting on the 4th inst., at which was presented our Financial Report, ending September 30, 1862, showing a small balance on hand. After the report was read and accepted, I informed the brethren that I had just received the 49th No. of the Star, and as the Editorial was very important it would be read; after which I gave some instructions in relation to the course the Priesthood should take, contrasting that with the course many had taken. I was followed by Elders Brigham Young, jun., Thos. O. King, and George Reynolds, The Spirit of our calling rested upon us and we had an excellent meeting, all feeling desirous to put away evil and so live that they might enjoy the blessings that

are in store for the faithful. The brethren in connection with me are desiring to carry out the instructions we have received, realizing that the time has come to prune the vineyard. In doing this we wish to be cautious, desiring to be dictated only by the Spirit of the Lord at all times and under all circumstances, that we may deal righteously with those who have sinned, and by so doing have the approbation of our Father in heaven.

The spirit of emigration is on the increase with us, and we expect many more will leave the Conference this season than did the past. The Lord is blessing many of the Saints in a marvellous way in preparing the means for their deliverance. I am confident he would do so for many more, if they would have faith in him, and do all that is in their power. I do know the Lord will deliver his Saints who put their trust in him, I care not how poor they may be. Every faithful Saint believes the Lord has promised to gather Israel from the nations, and that "the earth is his and the fulness thereof." We are his children, if we do right; and for us not to rely upon his promises is as much as to say, that he has commenced a work which he cannot perform.

Some of the Saints appoint the time and the way they are to be gathered, and if it is not according to their way and at their time, their faith fails them; they cease their exertions and give up in despair, when if they had left the matter in the hands of the Lord, and had continued to work themselves, they would have accomplished long ago the object they so much desired. Others, who have for years been blessed with the good things of this world, are in trouble and doubt, fearing that they never will be so situated again, if they should sell all they have and gather with the Saints. They know that the Lord has blessed them for years past, but they are almost afraid to trust him in the future; the consequence is, instead of such rejoicing that the Lord has so provided for them that their deliverance has come, and going up to Zion with songs of gladness, they too often become weak in spirit and cast down, and do not obtain the blessings which the Lord has for his people, for "without faith it is impossible to please

God." Then, let those who are blessed with an abundance, have faith and do what they have covenanted-obey the commandments of God. Let those who have not been so blessed, be humble and faithful that they may obtain the promises; for they are sure to all those who put their trust in the Lord. Please remember me to the brethren.-Your brother in Christ,

W. C. STAINES.

SCOTLAND.

EDINBURGH CONFERENCE.
Dec. 30, 1862.

Editor Millennial Star.
Dear Brother, Thinking a few items
from this part of the Mission would be
of interest to those who are watching
the progress of the great Latter-day
Work, is my object in writing at the
present. Since my last communication
I have visited the Branches of the
Church comprising the Edinburgh Con-
ference, also most of the families con-
stituting the Branches. I am happy to
state that the Saints express their desire
to do right by setting good examples,
thereby assisting to build up the king-
dom of God, and to gather to Zion as
soon as circumstances will permit. On
the 21st inst., a Conference was held
in the Union Hall. There were present
on the stand:-Presidents George Q.
Cannon, David M. Stuart, George Pea-
cock and William S. Baxter; Elders M.
M'Cune, James C. Brown, Alexander
Letham, and George Swan, Clerk of
Conference.

After opening the meeting in the usual manner, a Statistical and Financial Report was read and accepted, after which the Authorities of the Church were presented by President Cannon and unanimously sustained. Elder M. M'Cune then delivered an address upon the subject of life and its enjoyments. President Cannon addressed the Conference in the afternoon and evening, treating upon the principles of salvation and the redemption of the Saints in the various dispensations; shewing, that instead of building an ark or gathering out of the land of Egypt, the Saints in this dispensation are required to gather from all parts of the globe to establish the kingdom of God upon the earth, and prepare them

47

selves for the second Advent of Christ and the great Millennial reign. At the conclusion of each address, he admonished the Saints to live up to their professions and set a good example. He said the time had come when the evil-doer could not have a standing in the Church.

The attendance throughout the day was good, and the Saints returned to their homes feeling refreshed by the instructions and wise counsels given. Many were from a distance, among whom was an old sister Drummond, aged seventy-eight years, who walked twenty miles to attend the Conference, returning the same way.

On Monday evening, the 22nd, the Saints held a social party. The hall was decorated with evergreens, and flags bearing appropriate mottoes. A lively interest was manifested during the evening by those assembled; and they who contributed to the enjoyment of the company, with songs and recitations, exerted themselves to please and were highly successful. Mr. Thompson played some tunes on the concertina in good style, with which the audience were highly delighted. The committee appointed to purvey for the evening gave a bounteous supply, which amply satisfied all. Towards the conclusion, President Cannon made a few appropriate remarks, and, after the meeting had given an expression of their appreciation to the committee, and to those who had contributed to the evening's entertainment, the "Mountain Dell" was sung, and President Cannon offered up the closing benediction. The general feeling and expressions of the Saints were, that the Conference and party were the best they had witnessed in Edinburgh for years. It is evident that the Conference meeting and your visit will conduce to much good, and will long be remembered by the Saints of Edinburgh Conference.

No. 4, Vol. XXV.

Price One Penny.

By the progressive counsels and arrangements of the Priesthood in these lands the Emigration Fund has been put into operation. It has proved a blessing to hundreds of the Saints, by which means they have been enabled to realize the desires of their hearts, in obeying the commands of God in gathering to Zion, there to put themselves in a position to bring about his purposes concerning themselves and his work. The small means deposited by them in the fund would, no doubt, in thousands of instances, have been spent. Economy, for their own good, has been taught them; and great care has been taken to give the due and proper credit, to all parties depositing, on the Conference ledgers. To collect the pennies, twopences, sixpences and upwards, has caused much work, anxiety and arrangement, and the Saints generally have obeyed the words of instruction; and instead of uselessly throwing away or spending the money, they have, to their credit, that which will do them good towards their deliverance from Babylon. It does us good, as ministers to the people, to know that they show a zeal and willingness to thus work out their own salvation. It is a fact obvious to all, that if such a fund and such arrangements had not been put into operation, very, very few would have

had a penny saved or laid by. Many pounds that are now to the credit of the Saints would have been squandered, and no visible or sensible good enjoyed; nay, many might have been worse, for they might have indulged in things which might have resulted to their injury. The benefits arising from the careful husbanding of the little means of the Saints are incalculable, and the anxiety and honesty of the Priesthood to bring about such a result are highly praiseworthy. Such a system imposes great and responsible duties on the Presidents of Conferences, which are generally acquitted with patience and assiduity.

It is the duty of the Priesthood not only to encourage the Saints to continue in the wise work of saving, but to teach them so as to prevent them from unwisely and unnecessarily using the money in the fund for any other purpose than that great one of emigration. We would not be true to the Saints' best interests, nor performing our duties as faithful teachers of the people, if we allowed any extravagance or thoughtlessness on their part to draw the means from the fund for any other than the original and legitimate object, without warning them candidly and reproving them kindly. True, the money belongs to the depositors, and is