If the breaking up of the mission was a mistake, I am the man to blame for it, but I have yet to learn of a single instance where time did not vindicate the wisdom of President Young's counsels. For many years I was in close touch with the Indian missionaries of southern Utah. I knew their trials and sacrifices; Jacob Hamblin's little book perpetuates his memory, and I am glad of it. Equally worthy of remembrance are the names of Ira Hatch, Andrew S. Gibbons, Thales Haskell, W. B. Maxwell, John L. Blythe, Jehiel McConnell and George A. Adair. All have passed to the great beyond, and their names are seldom heard, but they were loyal to the cause, to their people, and to every call of duty, as God gave them light to see their duty. As pioneers and Indian scouts they had no superiors, and their names should live forever in the histories of the Latter-day Saints. GRAYSON, UTAH

New Mission Presidents

Elder Walter P. Monson, recently appointed to succeeded the late Elder Ben E. Rich as president of the Eastern States Mission, is the son of C. H. and Ellen Monson. He was born, June 30, 1875, at Richmond, Utah; baptized, July 5, 1883, and ordained a deacon when fourteen years of age. At that time

he was called on a mission to assist with the janitor work of the ward meetinghouse, which he filled faithfully and well, and to the satisfaction of all concerned. Until he was twentytwo years of age, he worked with his father at his lumber yards and planing mills at Richmond, Utah, and Franklin, Ida. He married Leona S. Parkinson, November 6, 1895. They have a family of eight children, seven of whom are living.

He has

filled several missions, the first being in 1898, to the NorthDuring that

western States.

summer he was called to be Secretary of the Oregon conference and shortly after presided at Portland, Oregon,

over the

newly made conference. In De

Icember, 1899, he was called as counselor to the president of the mis

sion, holding that position until released, February 9, 1900. Returning, he launched out in the lumber business for himself, in July, 1900, succeeding admirably until, in 1909, he was called to England on another mission. He was assigned there to labor in the London Conference, and after five weeks was called by President Charles W. Penrose to take charge of Earlscourt booth. During the four months of time spent here in giving out information and tracts and selling books he met representatives of 252 different religious denominations with whom he discussed the gospel in an informal manner, bearing testimony also to peoples of forty-two different nations. This venture was the means of distributing over 58,000 tracts and selling 5,888 books. The booth was open for one hundred days. In March, 1910, he was chosen president of the London Conference, which position he held until released, in April, 1911. During this time he met that valiant friend of peace and liberty, Mr. W. T. Stead who later fought the Latter-day Saints' battles valiantly to the discomfiture of his countrymen. Elder Monson had the distinguished honor of dining at Mr. Stead's home and forming a most intimate and affectionate acquaintance with this great man. Mr. Monson has been interested in politics, and in the civic life of the communities in which he has resided. He has served as county commissioner, city councilman, and president of a commercial club, and has taken a broad-minded view of the problems of life. He has been a friend of the poor, and has ever been willing to administer comfort to the sick. He has served as counselor in two bishoprics, and the young men of the wards in which he resided always had a friend in him. Lately he has served as supervisor of the Sunday School parents' classes in the Weber stake. In taking up his new duties as president of the Eastern States Mission, he leaves a lucrative position as manager of the Eccles Lumber Company, where he has served two and one-half years. He is a man of strong emotion, kind disposition, and fearless in upholding the truth, being greatly admired by both friends and enemies alike.

Elder LeGrande Richards, recently appointed to preside over the Netherlands Missoin, is a son of Elder George F. Richarde, a member of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Alice A. R. Richards. LeGrande was born in Farmington, Utah, February 6, 1886. In 1888, he moved with his father's family to Tooele, Utah, where he graduated from the district school and later took a business course at the L. D. S. Business College, Salt Lake City. For some time he was associated with his father in the implement and lumber business at Tooele, and was later in the employ of the Consolidated Wagon & Machine Company, Salt Lake City, as stenographer and bookkeeper. In this position he was occupied when he received his first call for a mission to the Netherlands, which he promptly answered, and labored in that mission for nearly three years. He left home, April 17, 1905, and returned February 12, 1908. Elder Richards has creditably filled sev

eral religious positions, having been active as deacon, teacher, priest, elder and seventy. He has also rendered service as ward teacher, ward clerk, and in the superintendency of the Sunday schools and the Y. M. M. I. A., in all of which callings, he was an enthusiastic and earnest worker. During his former mission, Elder Richards acquired a ready use of the Dutch language. As a result of his love for the Dutch people and his zealous efforts as a missionary, he endeared himself to that people, and was the means, in the hands of the Lord, ot bringing a number into the gospel fold. Since then he has assisted

a number to emigrate to this country, and has aided them here in securing employment, and in counseling and encouraging them in their trials and afflictions. Elder Richards, with his family, wife and three children, left Salt Lake City, for his new field of activity on November 3, 1913. The Dutch people both in the Netherlands and in Utah are greatly pleased with his appointment, recognizing his ability and character, and it is confidently believed he will fill a successful term as mission president. The ERA joins with his many friends in wishing that our Heavenly Father's choicest blessings may attend him, his family, and his ministry.

Elder Nicholas Groesbeck Smith, who has been appointed to pr side over the South African Mission, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah,

January 20, 1881. He is the son of the late President John Henry Smith and Josephine Groesbeck Smith. He left Utah for his field

In 1887, he removed

of labor on the 17th of September last. with the family to Snowflake, Arizona, and the following year, moved again to Manassa, Colorado. In this latter place he spent his boyhood days in the fertile San Luis Valley, of the Sangre de Christo, San Juan and Culebra mountains. In 1896, he returned to Salt Lake City, where he attended the high school until 1902. During the years 1899, 1900-1, he played football on the "All-Star" team, and in 1902, graduated as president of his class. After graduation he went on a mission to the Netherlands, where he labored in the Groningen, and in the Amsterdam conferences. He was a regular attendant at Sunday school, and has always been active in Church affairs, At the time of his call to the South African Mission, he was a member of the Sunday school Board of Davis

stake.

NICHOLAS GROESBECK SMITH

Returning to Salt Lake City, in 1905, he went into business for himself, and in 1909, moved to Farmington, where he took charge of a local telephone company's business in Davis county. He remained there up to the time of his call to South Africa. He served in civil capacity as justice of the peace of Farmington. He is accompanied on his mission by his wife and three sons. His wife is Florence Gay, of Ogden, whom he married in 1906. Faithful and competent, he goes to his responsible calling with every prospect of success in his work, and advantage to the cause of the Lord.

Elder William W. Taylor, who succeeded Elder Chas. H. Hyde, who recently returned home, as president of the Australian mission. was born in Provo, December 9, 1883. He is the son of Wm. Joseph Taylor and Abby Jane Scott. A few years ago the family moved to Lake View, near Provo, where they now live. Elder Taylor is a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-third quorum of Seventy, and received his call to Australia early in 1912, being set apart by Elder Rulon S. Wells, June 5 of that year. On arriving at Sydney he

labored as a traveling elder in the New South Wales confer

ence for about eight months, when he was called to preside Over the South Melbourne branch of the Victoria conference. A few months later he was called to preside over the Victoria conference. In these positions he won the confidence and love of both elders and Saints, as well as the president of the mission. When President Hyde received his release, he was authorized by the First Presidency to leave some good elder in charge of the mission till his successor should arrive, and Elder Taylor was chosen. Elder Taylor has been a most energetic and faithful worker in the mission, and will undoubtedly wield a good influence among the people of that land.

Joseph and the Land of Egypt*

This is a little work of 115 pages, including the index, published in the form of the school classics. It is one of a series of studies of Bible characters intended to be faith-promoting. While there are a few things in the work that partake of sectarianism, these are so mild and harmless as barely to be noticed. They do not hurt the work. The book is written in a pleasing style that will attract the reader. The author, however, has taken for granted that those who read it are informed in a general way in the history of the nations occupying Egypt and Western Asia during the period of the story. It will, perhaps, require some further study in this direction by many of the members of our associations that they may fully grasp many of the

*By Prof. A. H. Sayce, D. D., LL. D.; J. M. Dent & Co., London; J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia.