| 553 branch, but what good would it do, as on but few islands could they get the articles translated, for even if men could be found capable, yet they would in most cases be Catholics, and they would not translate honestly, and besides they would not know what to select for translation. . . .
While there are many extremely discouraging matters connected with this mission and many, very many of the natives seem not to be worth the expense and labor connected with it, I can not conscientiously advise an abandonment of the mission; but think that at least two earnest, intelligent elders be sent out here, and that at once.-The Saints' Herald, vol. 34, p. 246.
A seven-day debate was held at Tunnelhill, Illinois, between Elder E. L. Kelley and Elder Thomas Williams of the Christadelphians, commencing November 12, involving consciousness after death, immortality of the spirit, annihilation, resurrection of the dead, the premillennial existence of the kingdom of God, the attribute of divinity in Christ while in the flesh, divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon.
Elder Joseph F. Burton, under date of December 23, communicated to the Saints' Herald the following gratifying news of the progress of the work in New South Wales:
We got back here about the first of the month, leaving the branch at Nambucca in excellent condition spiritually, and with an addition of ten to their membership, added during our stay among them. The ire of the clergy of orthodoxy was raised to so great a pitch, that one of them met me and challenged for debate upon the divinity of the Book of Mormon. I accepted; all the arrangements were made; we then talked an hour or two upon our faith, and before he left he backed down and out from the proposed debate, though the Bush missionary who came with him urged him to go on with it. . . . Shortly after we arrived here we baptized eight more, and the following week we went out to the Manning to see what we could do. We were all the week there before we could get a meeting-Saturday evening being the first.
Elder I. N. White held a six-day debate at Schell City, Missouri, commencing December 27, on the respective claims of the Latter Day Saint and Christian Churches, the latter being represented by Reverend Blalock.
December 30 a branch was organized by Elder I. N. Roberts, at Medina City, Texas, with J. A. Currie, Jr., president, and Hattie Wight clerk.
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