| 61 Bro. Jason W. Briggs started for the field in Michigan on the l6th ultimo. Bro. Blair left for Wisconsin on the 17th ultimo.
Read the letter of Brn. Wandell and Roger in this number, and praise God that his Spirit watches over his work. Here is an illustration of what the church might have done in preventing evil doctrine from destroying the greatness of the work. The time will soon come when elders who wish to make a sacrifice of their lives to preach to the isles of the sea may have an excellent opportunity to do so. Who will go?
We left the quiet (?) of the "sanctum" on the 13th ultimo, and visited the Saints at Canton, Fulton County, Illinois, to be present with them during their services on Lord's Day. It has seldom been our lot to have a more enjoyable visit than we had with the Canton folks. It was in Canton that we read the rudimental principles of human law, in the office of Judge William Kellogg, now deceased. We formed many acquaintances during our stay in the town, and upon returning there after an absence of eighteen years, some of them gave us a very kindly welcome. The Saints in Canton, St. Davids, Orion, and Lewiston rallied, and on Sunday we held three services; two morning and evening, in the opera house, and an afternoon session in testimony-meeting in the Saints' "hired house," a small but pleasant hall. The evening service was largely attended, some hundreds being present. Bro. Jeremiah Jeremiah has charge of the flock at Canton; but on the occasion of our visit, Bro. Mark H. Forscutt had charge of the public services, morning and evening. The singing was good and cheering; of the preaching we have nothing to say; an excellent spirit seemed to prevail among the Saints. The citizens of Canton are quite interested in our people and very respectful and attentive during worship.-The Saints' Herald, vol. 21, p. 144.
March 6,1874, Elder A. H. Smith wrote a detailed account of his trip across the continent. Leaving his companion, Elder James McKiernan, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, he hurried on to California, arriving in Sacramento on July l9, 1873, and two or three days later in San Francisco, since which he had been engaged in getting the Australian missionaries off, and in other duties.
A letter from Elder J. Avondet from Geneva, Switzerland, dated March 24, 1874, brought the cheering news that the appeal for help had been responded to both from America and England, and he and Elder Bear had resumed work with renewed courage. Elder Bear had gone to Zürich, where he was soon to be followed by Elder Avondet.
The annual conference met at Plano, Illinois, April 6, 1874
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