VARIETIES. The Lord has truly been with us each day of our travels, and we have often found opportunities to do good and of giving our testimonies to friends and words to comfort the poor Saints. To God be the honor and praise, for what he does is well done. On Monday morning, 28th ult., brother Naeglo took me to Constance in his skiff, whence we took steamer for Freidrichshafen, and train for Stuttgart, the capital of the kingdom of Wurttemburg, where we arrived in the evening. It being the king's birthday, (83 years of age) the whole country was alive with people. My letter would be too long to give you fuller decails. Brother Schramm and myself met Elder Beck here; brother Beck feels well, and I learn that nearly the whole of the Branch in this part wish to emigrate. Brother Beck will have to leave or enter the ranks as a soldier for six years. I have looked at his position on every side, to see how he can remain, but do not know how it can be done, as he is of age and will, without doubt, be called or drafted into service (drafted if peace remains, forced if war breaks out). I presume 703 he is willing to go and trust to the Lord to give him his Spirit and guide the hand to draw a number that will set him free from military service. I think from what the present prospects are, that all, without looking at numbers, especially under a certain age, will be called into the ranks, as in case of war none are free except such as are over age or crippled. I hope to visit the Saints on Sunday in Aichelberk, to give them such instructions as may be necessary for them in their present circumstances. The coming week I expect to visit the Saints in Carlesrhue, in Baden, the Lord willing. My health is good at present, for which I am really thankful. Brothers Schramm and Beck wish to be kindly remembered to you, and with me desire an interest in your prayers and in the prayers of all good Saints. Ever praying the choicest of Heaven's blessings to be with you and all who labor for the upbuilding of God's kingdom, I remain, as ever, yours faithfully, JOHN L. SMITH. VARIETIES. 0 It is related of the French family of Duke de Levis, that they had a picture in their chateau in which Noah is represented going into the ark, and carrying under his arm a small trunk, on which is written, "Papers belonging to the Levis family." At a court-martial lately held in America, the following dialogue is said to have taken place between one of the witnesses and the court:-"Are you a Catholic ?"-"No, sir.', "Are you a Protestant ?"-"No. sir."-"What are you then ?"-"Captain of the foretop.' As two gentlemen were discussing the merits of a popular preacher, one of them remarked, "He always prays for the widows and orphans, but never says anything about widowers," The other, an inveterate old bachelor, replied, "Perhaps it would be more appropriate to return thanks for them ?" CHARMING CONSISTENCY.-Scene 1st-Slightly rainy Sunday-Father(with umbrella and over-coat): Come, my dear, put on your things for church.-Dutiful Daughter: Why, dear father, it is raining so hard that I am afraid 1 shall wet my feet, and you know I take cold so easily.-Scene 2nd-Very rainy night-Dutiful Daughter: Come, dear pa, it's time to go; the opera commences in a quarter of an hour.-Father (in surprise): I thought you could not go out in the rain, for fear of wetting your feet.-Daughter: Oh, no, I have such nice rubbers, and they keep my feet as dry as a toast. THE BEAUTY OF A BLUSH.-Goëthe was in company with a mother and her daughter, when the latter, being reproved for some fault, blushed and burst into tears. He said: "How beautiful your reproach has made your daughter! The crimson hue and those silvery tears become her better than any ornament of gold and pearls. These may be hung on the neck of any woman, but those are never seen disconnected with moral purity. A fullblown rose, besprinkled with the purest dew, is not so beautiful as this child blushing beneath her parent's displeasure, and shedding tears of sorrow for her fault. A blush is the sign which nature hangs out to show where chastity and honor dwell." LIST OF DEBTS DUE FOR BOOKS, STARS, &c., EY THE SEVERAL CONFERENCES AND MISSIONS, FOR THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1863. EDITED, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GEORGE Q. CANNON, 42, ISLINGTON. LONDON: FOR SALE AT THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' BOOK DEPOT, 30, FLORENCE STREET, ISLINGTON: AND FROM ALL BOOKSELLERS. THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' MILLENNIAL STAR. "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the Prophets... The Lord God has spoken, who can but prophesy?”—AMOS. No. 45, Vol. XXV. Saturday, November 7, 1863. Price One Penny. MINUTES OF A DISTRICT CONFERENCE HELD IN THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS, NOTTINGHAM, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH, 1863. condition of matters may be understood by all; and in order to effect this, I want all present to give due attention to what may be advanced, that our meeting not only now, but throughout the day, may result beneficially to all. Without lengthening my remarks, I will give way to my brethren. Present-President George Q. Can-free in their remarks, that the existing non, of the Twelve Apostles, Elders John D. Chase, President of the Nottingham District, Joseph Bull, President of Sheffield District, Parley P. Pratt, President of Nottinghamshire Conference, Alex. Ross, President of Leicestershire Conference, James Bullock, President of Lincolnshire Conference, W. North, President of Derbyshire Conference, and Heber J. Richards, Oscar F. Lyons, Stephen W. Alley, Henry Amott, John Day and John Bird, Travelling Elders in the District. At 10.30 a.m., the Conference was called to order, and after singing, President John D. Chase engaged in prayer. The choir sang, and then President Chase arose and said, I feel truly thankful to the Lord in granting me the privilege of meeting with my brethren and sisters in a Conference capacity, under such favorable eircumstances. This morning the time will be occupied by the Conference Presidents in reporting the condition and the prospects of the Work in their respective fields of labor. desire the brethren to feel perfectly 1 Elder P. P. Pratt said, I rejoice that I with you have the opportunity of uniting in a capacity such as the present, to receive those instructions necessary for our individual welfare in the Work of God. In reporting the condition of the Nottingham Conference, I can say, as far as I know, it is good. Brother Amott and I, in visiting the various Branches, find the Saints enjoying the spirit of the Gospel, which plants within them a desire to do right; at the same time I realize there is room for all to improve. Out-door preaching has been attended to without meeting with much opposition, and I believe the exertions of the brethren in this respect will result in much good. The Conference numbers about 600, and is on the increase, 706 MINUTES OF A CONFERENCE. by baptisms taking place occasionally. Concerning my own desires and feelings, I can say I never felt better and more desirous of doing good than on the present occasion. I rejoice in my labors and in the understanding I have of the principles of life and salvation restored to mankind in these latter days. The experience I have gained while laboring in this country gives me much satisfaction, and while I remain I shall endeavor to make the best use of my time and talents in circulating the principles of truth among my fellows, and in the faithful discharge of every duty devolving upon me in my calling as a servant of God. Elder James Bullock said, -I feel well this morning in standing before you to represent the Lincolnshire Conference. The Conference numbers 190, and these are scattered over a wide extent of country. With my brethren I have done considerable out door preaching this summer, and the Lord has crowned our labors with success. In Oakham we have baptized eight individuals and raised up a Branch there. On the whole I consider the condition of the Conference good; still, there are those who are careless and backward in the discharge of their duties here, as in other Conferences. As for myself, I desire to do all the good I can by laboring faithfully in my lot and calling. Elders Bird and Day, along with the local Priesthood, are united with me in carrying out the counsels of God's servants placed in authority over us. By unitedly cultivating such feelings, I feel assured the Lord will bless our labors and enable us to do a good work. Elder Alex. Ross said,-In standing before you this morning I feel glad. The Leicestershire Conference is in a favorable condition. The debts incurred have been liquidated, consequently for the last six months I have enjoyed more freedom than hitherto. During the summer season the Priesthood have done considerable preaching in the open air, and on all occasions, I may say, have had the attention of the people. Few baptisms have been attended to as yet, but I realize there will be many of the honest-in-heart added to the Church ere long. In the Leicestershire Conference there are warm-hearted people, yet there are exceptions among them as in all other Conferences. I continue to rejoice in my labors and watch with interest the spread of the truth, and my desire is to labor energetically in carrying out the counsels of those placed in authority over me, that I may always merit their approval and blessing. Elder W. North said,-I rejoice that I have the privilege of meeting with you to-day as I have done on former occasions. The Derby Conference was much in debt when I went there, but, through the exertions of the faithful and the blessing of the Lord, it is now nearly clear. Brother Alley and my brethren are united with me in trying to do all the good we can, and I feel assured the Lord is blessing our labors with success. President Chase, in endorsing the reports given in, said,—I labor in the four Conferences comprising the Nottingham District with much pleasure and satisfaction to my own feelings. My visits are visits of joy, and 1 believe they are appreciated and productive of good. Throughout the District the Saints are a good people. Their circumstances are hard, many having hardly means enough to live upon. Under such circumstances there are those who despondingly say,-"I don't believe we will ever get emigrated; we have been years in the Church, and we have done our best to gain our deliverance, and we are here yet, and are likely to remain. All others will get emigrated before we will." Influenced with such feelings they cease their exertions to lay past the little means they can spare for their emancipation. Thus they place barriers in the way of their progress. This is not right and ought not to be indulged in for a moment by any Latter-day Saints, however abject their lot or poor their circumstances. They are the insinuations of the Evil One, to allure them into the ways of sin and error. They should go to work from this time with renewed diligence, and if they have been struggling, struggle on, and the Lord, seeing the integrity of their hearts, the truthfulness of their desires, will ultimately effect their deliverance in his own way and in his own due time. I MINUTES OF A CONFERENCE. would, therefore, exhort the Saints to faithfulness in living their holy religion. All our actions are known to God whether in the dark or in the day time, and as each will be rewarded according to the deeds done in the body, as his servants and Saints we ought to act consistently with the principles of the Gospel we have obeyed. Elder Joseph Bull said,-I feel very happy in being permitted to meet with you in this place, and to stand before you for a short time; and, while in this position, I desire an interest in your faith and prayers. I have listened with pleasure to the reports given in by my brethren concerning the progress of the Work of God in this District. I can see that the condition of the Saints is of a similar character to that of the Saints in the Sheffield District. Since my appointment I have proved that the people among whom I labor are kind and generous-hearted, and desirous of doing all the good they can. My brethren whose time is exclusively devoted to the ministry, are one with me in their exertions to circulate the principles of life and salvation. The success attending our efforts prove that God is with us. Above all people on the earth we ought to be the most thankful to our Father in heaven for his goodness unto us in sending us upon the earth in this momentous age, when his Gospel is being preached in its ancient purity, and when that kingdom spoken of in such plainness by Daniel and other Prophets is being set up never more to be thrown down. Inasmuch as we are a highly favored people in being privileged to obey the Gospel, we ought to do all in our power to teach its principles to our fellows, because if we are not diligent in magnifying our callings and bearing faithful testimonies of what we know concerning God's dealings with the inhabitants of the earth, we shall see others raised up in our stead, who shall honorably perform the work God requires at their hands, consequently they will receive the reward, while the lukewarm and careless will be passed by. The ancent Saints and servants of God would have been glad to have had the privilege of being on the earth now, but *707 had to lay their bodies down in the grave without realizing those desires ; therefore, we who are so highly favored ought to be up and doing, nor let any time go to waste. The religion we have obeyed is a practical relig on. I feel glad there is a disposition among the Saints to do right, and I know that if they cultivate an acquaintance with God's good Spirit, they will be enabled to overcome all things and endure unto the end, and the Scriptures say that "whosoever endureth unto the end shall be saved." My own desires are to do right, that I may always have the approval of God's servants. With me the kingdom of God is everything; and since I became acquainted with the principles of truth, I have realized the force of what the Savior said,-"Seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all other things will be added unto you.” I have had many temptations set before me since I obeyed the Gospel, but up to the present time I have had power to overcome, and I trust that I may have all the days of my life. The Gospel has taught me what I know of myself, of God, and from whence I came, and I want continually to increase in that knowledge, that I may be saved and exalted in the presence of God. the world oppose and my kindred forsake me, I will always strive, in my weak and feeble way, to do my duty, and then all will be well with me, and with every one that does so, for the path of duty is the path of safety. May the Lord bless you all. Amen. If After a few remarks from Elders S. W. Alley and O. F, Lyons, the choir sang, and the meeting was dismissed with prayer by Elder P. P. Pratt. 2.30 p.m. After singing, Elder Joseph Bull engaged in prayer, and after singing again the Sacrament was administered. Financial and Statistical reports were read by Elder P. P. Pratt, and accepted. President Cannon presented the Authorities of the Church, which were sustained unanimously. He said,It is unnecessary for me to say anything concerning the object we have in presenting the Authorities of the Church Before the Saints from time to |