and possess absolutely no authority to administer the same. This is their deplorable condition, and in such will they continue to remain until they are willing to recognize the priesthood of God; for the Church of Jesus Christ was established in 1830 for the last time and to remain forever, and it will continue to do as it has always done, build Temples and perform the work ordained and revealed to be performed therein until the Son of God comes to reign permanently upon the earth.

The New Paper.

With this number we suspend publication of the ELDERS' JOURNAL at Chattanooga. The new paper, Liahona, The Elders' Journal, which is to be published at Independence, Mo., will take the place of the ELDERS' JOURNAL and Liahona. The first number will come from the press June 22.

The new paper starts upon its career of usefulness under the most auspicious circumstances. Its management is in the hands of men of experience and ability. It has back of it and supporting it all the missions. of the Church in the United States. Its policy will be dictated by an advisory board composed of mission presidents. The first number of the paper will be sent to nearly twelve thousand subscribers, and it is safe to predict that this number will be swelled to twenty thousand before the close of the year.

Independence is an ideal place to publish a missionary paper to circulate in all parts of our country. It is not only centrally located but is a place of great historic interest to the Latter-day Saints. It was a storm center in the early history of the Church. Its sod has been made sacred by the touch of the feet of prophets and apostles who were valiant and heroic defenders of the faith in the dark hours of the Church's history. A paper published at this place will partake of and send out to its readers the spirit which inspired courage, constancy, and fidelity in the hearts of those grand men who nurtured "Mormonism" in the critical period of its infancy.

Liahona, The Elders' Journal, will be pre-eminently a missionary paper. It will defend the truth, vindicate the Saints, and expound the first principles of the Gospel of Christ. Much of the matter will be selected with great care from the writings and sermons of those early missionaries of the Church who possessed the happy faculty of presenting the Gospel in a convincing way. These articles will be supplied from the headquarters of the Southern States Mission and be taken from early volumes of the Millennial Star and other rare publications. The paper will also give the missionary news from all the American missions. But best of all, it will bring with it the missionary spirit that spirit which inspires men and women with the courage and love to go out into the world and plant that others may harvest, and sacrifice that others may enjoy...

Each number will contain thirty-two pages laden with good things.

It should be in the home of all seekers after the truth. Get it, read it, and imbibe from it truth, wisdom, and inspiration.

THE ELDERS' JOURNAL has only had a short lease of life, but it has done wonders during its brief period of existence. It has succeeded because of the generous patronage of our many readers, and we wish to thank them for their support. We are sure they will approve of the consolidation and rally to the support of the new paper. We most earnestly recommend to them Liahoma, The Elders' Journal, knowing it will be a most worthy successor to the ELDERS' JOURNAL.

Our subscribers will receive the new paper for the unexpired term of their subscriptions.

Brother and Sister Stokes.

Elder Jeremiah Stokes, Jr., and his wife, Eugenia Neff Stokes, who were honorably released to return to their home June 7, came to the Sunny South two years and a half ago. They have been at the Mission head

quarters ever since they joined our ranks. Elder Stokes filled in an able and creditable manner the office of associate editor of the ELDERS' JOURNAL, and Sister Stokes, in her genial, lovable way, assisted in the Mission home.

This is the second time Elder Stokes has been honorably released from the Southern States Mission. He was here seven years ago, and labored two years in the Georgia conference. He now has altogether four years and a half of missionary experience to his credit.

While here on his second mission he found it convenient to take the

law course in the Grant University and at the same time keep up his work on the ELDERS' JOURNAL. By dint of hard work and constant application he maintained a place in the front rank of his class. He was a favorite with both students and professors, who respected him for his studious habits and manly deportment. On June 4 he graduated and reecived the degree of LL.B.

On his return home he will enter upon the practice of his chosen profession. Success is sure to come to him, for he is a young man of energy, determination, and ability.

We shall miss Brother and Sister Stokes at the Mission home, where their voices were wont to mingle with ours in songs of praise each morning and evening. But although they will be absent from us in person we shall have the assurance that they are with us in spirit. We shall cherish their memories and count ourselves richer for having associated with them.

The Difference.

Commencement week at the Grant University, of Chattanooga, Tenn., ended June 5. On the evening of that day students, professors, divines, and friends of education gathered at the First Methodist church to witness the closing exercises of the week and listen to the last words of counsel and advice. Rev. George P. Eckman, D.D., of New York City, and Vice-President C. W. Fairbanks were the speakers of the evening. The burden of their address was practical Christianity. Both gentlemen were emphatic in affirming the need of a religion which concerns itself about feeding the poor, clothing the naked, and uplifting the downtroden.

Mr. Fairbanks spoke in very endearing terms of the little Methodist church in a secluded spot in Ohio where he first attended divine worship. He eulogized the churches and spoke eloquently of the civilizing power of the pulpit. He agreed with Dr. Eckman that the church should concern itself about the practical affairs of life. On this point the distinguished statesman was very outspoken. Said he: “I believe it is the duty of the church to look after the temporal as well as the spiritual welfare of the people." Referring to civic affairs, he said: "THE CHURCH MAY INFLUENCE POLITICS."

The audience listened to these statements unmoved. No one turned to his neighbor, with bated breath, and exclaimed: "CHURCH COMMERCIALISM! CHURCH INFLUENCE IN POLITICS!" All sat as quietly as if they were listening to a recital of the beatitudes. As we listened to the Vice-President we could not help wondering why some of the good Methodists who heard him say, "The church may influence politics," go into hysterics when they hear it falsely rumored that the "Mormon" church does what Mr. Fairbanks advises the churches to do. Can it be that church influence in politics is good in Tennessee and bad in Utah? Or are we to infer that the Methodist church may "influence politics" but the "Mormon" Church must keep hands off?

Report of Mission Conferences for Three Weeks Ending June 7, 1907.

Just as we go to press we learn with profound regret of the death of Elder Geo. Teasdale, one of the twelve Apostles of the Church. He died at his home in Salt Lake City, Sunday, June 9.

The death of Elder Geo. Teasdale removes from the councils of the Church a man of great character, faith, and fidelity. He never wavered in his devotion to the truth, for he knew that "the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation." He showed his faith by his works, having obeyed every principle revealed by the Captain of our Salvation through the Prophet Joseph Smith.

The spirit of George Teasdale will be welcomed on the other side by the Apostles and Prophets who have gone before him. He was true to the principles they were true to. Like they, he never was ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. Like his worthy predecessors, he showed his faith by his works.

God bless the memory of suca men! May we who know the truth, when our time comes, be as well prepared to meet our brethren on the other side as was Apostle Geo. Teasdale.

PUBLISHED BY

THE SOUTHERN STATES MISSION

CHATTANOOGA, TENN.