appointment of General Butler as Provost-marshal is denied. The Government is said to be opposed to appcinting military men as Provost-marshals under the Conscription Act. The Federal Government is advised of movements by the Confederates for placing privateers on the Pacific. President Lincoln is expected to call for more troops within ten days. A large meeting will be held at New York next Saturday to inaugurate the Union League." VARIETIES. What is the difference between a pulse and a policeman ?-One is always on the beat and the other always off. MODEL GIRL.-The young lady who entertained moral aversion to flattery has consented to attend divine service for a year without a new bonnet, and acknowledged her indifference to a pale-faced youth, living across the street, who quotes poetry and plays upon the guitar on moonlight nights. She is a model of her sex, indeed. Snooks says he'll never go to a concert again, for the last time, he heard a man sing, "Oh! take a pil-oh! take a pil-oh! take a pilgrim's love!" Paddy, where's the whisky 1 gave you to clean the windows with.”—“Och, master, I just drank it: and I thought if I breathed on the glass it would be all the same. Major Jack Downing remarks that he has observed, "those people who have a great deal to say about shedding their last drop of blood are amazin' particular about the first drop." Beggar Woman- Please, sir, give me a penny to keep me from starving." Gent Can't stop-in a great hurry-I've got to make a speech at the society for the relief of the destitute." WILL HE DO IT?-A publisher says he will believe in the theory of spiritualism, if the dead author of an unfinished story on his hands will dictate the rest of the copy by spiritual telegraph. DRIVERS OF STAGES.-He who dies in the path of duty deserves a much nobler name than he who leads a victorious army over the ruins of a conquered kingdom. This is consolatory to drivers of stage coaches who freeze to death on the box. At a crowded concert the other evening, a young lady standing at the door of the hall was addressed by an honest Hibernian, who was in attendance on the occasion,"Indade, miss, I should be glad to give you a sate, but the empty ones are all full. : EXECRABLE.-The author of the following original conundrum is now confined in a calico strait-jacket, his feet in a wood-box and his head in a honey-comb poultice :When is a lover justified in calling his sweetheart honey?-When she is bee-loved. MEMOBY."My schoolmaster," said Carlyle, was a good Latin scholar, and of the human mind he knew this much, that it had a faculty called memory, which might be reached through the muscular integument by the application of birchen rods." "We FOR MOTHERS.-A popular authoress says, in one of her domestic articles,know by babies crying for the moon that heaven is nearer to them than to us. Mothers, bear this in mind, and do not spank the little dears when they cry with such angelic longings." Mrs. Root, wife of Jerome Root, township collector of De Kalb, Illinois, has been frightened to death by a man dressed in a white sheet, with a coat wound round his head. He knocked at her door in the evening; she gazed for a moment at the horrid figure, and then fell backwards on the floor lifeless. The ghostly joker is a merchant of respectable standing. MODERN LOVE.-A correspondent of a contemporary says:-"It is my duty to impress upon you the certain fact that one-half of our young people lose their senses when they lose their hearts. One of our party has already written five letters to his lady-love, and he goes about groaning and sighing in a most pitiable manner. He has no appetite, and sleeps up at the top of the house, close to the moon. stand by the Piazza without putting his arm round his waist, and I caught him kissing an apple to-day because it had red cheeks." He cannot TALK ROUND IT.-An old lawyer was giving advice to his son, who was just entering upon the practice of his father's profession. "My son," said the counsellor, "if you have a case where the law is clearly on your side, but justice seems to be against you, urge upon the jury the vast importance of sustaining the law. If, on the other hand, you are in doubt about the law, but your client's case is founded in justice, insist on the necessity of doing justice, though the heavens fall."-" But," asked the son, "how shall I manage a case where both law and justice are dead against me?"-"In that case, my son," replied the lawyer, "talk round it!" GALLANT EXPLOIT BY A WOMAN.-Among the American vessels captured by the Confederate cruiser Retribution, was the American brigatine J. P. Ellicott, (223 tons,) of Bucksport, Maine, A. Devereaux, master, from Boston, for Cienfuegos, Cuba. She was captured on the 10th of January, in latitude 28 degrees 12 minutes north, and longitude 68 degrees 55 minutes west. Her officers and crew were taken on board the privateer and placed in irons. A prize crew was put on board the brig, consisting of Gilbert Hay, a Scotchman, prizemaster, recently from Fort Lafayette, and John Gilbert, mate, and five seamen. The captain and mate of the J. P. Ellicott were accompanied by their wives. The wife of the mate was left on board the brig. This woman had cause to fear bad usage at the hands of the prizemaster and his mate, and managed to get them intoxicated, when she proposed to the seamen, who were mostly, if not all. negroes from St. Thomas, to make them prisoners and to re-capture the vessel. She took iron handcuffs from her trunk, and with their assistance put the rebels in irons and took possession of the vessel on the 12th of January. She had studied navigation on the voyage with her husband, and, having assumed command, sailed for St. Thomas till she spoke a French vessel, which gave her the right course. She made Tortola, one of the Virgin islands, to the windward of St. Thomas, when she was piloted by negroes to St. Thomas, where she arrived on the 17th ult., and placed her in the hands of John T. Edgar, United States Consul, who put the master, mate and five seamen on board the United States steamer Alabama.-New York Herald. MARRIED: In Liverpool, on the 25th March, Elder Robert Wilson, late from South Africa, to Jane Ann Swift, of Upholland, Lancashire. EDITED, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GEORGE Q. CANNON, 42, ISLINGTON. LONDON: 224 FOR SALE AT THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' BOOK DEPOT, 30, FLORENCE STREET, ISLINGTON; AND 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. 15, Vol. XXV. MINUTES Saturday, April 11, 1863. Price One Penny. OF A CONFERENCE. Present-George Q. Cannon, of the Twelve, (President of the European Missions,) and Elders C. W. West, W. C. Staines. (President of the Conference,) Richard Bentley, Joseph Bull, S. H. B. Smith, Brigham Young, jun., Thomas O. King and M. B. Shipp. The morning meeting was called to order by singing and prayer. when, after singing again, Elder W. C. Staines, President of the Conference, expressed his gratification at meeting with the Saints in a Conference capacity, for, after laboring with them for two years, his love for them had increased. He wished that men would investigate the principles taught by the Saints and seek to obtain an understanding of them. They would know that those principles were revealed by Jehovah by him who formed the heavens and the earth, who was the object of the worship of the Latter-day Saints. The Saints have investigated for themselves, and they know what they teach to be true. They have read the Scriptures with prayerful hearts, and find it written there, By their fruits ye shall know them;" and they wish men would judge them in that way, for the fruits spoken of in the Scriptures are to be found in their midst. He inquired why we have not now a right to expect revelation, to receive the blessings of God and an answer to the prayer of faith; and testified that the angel spoken of by John the Revelator, who should bring the everlasting Gospel to the earth, had appeared; that God now, as anciently, calls on men everywhere to repent; and men are required to be baptized for the remission of their sins, and have hands laid on them that they may receive the Holy Ghost, when the Gospel is taught unto them; and that signs follow believers now as in the days of Christ and the early Apostles. The Gospel preached on the day of Pentecost brought visions, tongues, prophesyings and other blessings to those who received and obeyed it: and the same effects follow believing and obeying it now. He said that in the possession of that testimony he did not stand alone: hundreds and thousands were in a position to bear it equally with him, having proved the truth of the doctrines taught by the servants of God. He continued by saying that, though about to leave them, he felt it would not be the last time he would see them; and exhorted them to have faith in God, who has declared his determination to gather scattered Israel. In reporting the state of the Conference, he said that things were in a satisfactory condition, more of the Spirit of the Lord was among the Saints than formerly; over ninety had been baptized during the previous quarter, and prospects for the future were encouraging. Elder Brigham Young, jun., said he was happy at meeting with so many familiar faces, and to those who were strangers he wished to say that he had a testimony to bear to them of the truth that God has spoken from the heavens in these last days. He felt pleased to report his District in a good condition. The Branch Presidents were doing their duty; and though there were some errors in the Branches and the people were not all perfect, still, as a whole, he could say they were a good people. He expressed his satisfaction with the Saints in the various Branches and their Presidents, and concluded by bearing testimony that the kingdom of God is established on the earth and that all who pursue the path of righteousness will be led to happiness. Elder Thomas O. King expressed his gratification at meeting with the Saints in Conference, and reported the Branches in his District in a good condition. The Saints, generally, were seeking to live their religion, though some had done things they ought not to have done. After a few words on the position of those who were about to emigrate and those who were remaining behind, he exhorted the Saints to increased diligence and faithfulness, and bore testimony to the continued manifestations of the power of God in behalf of his people if they will exercise faith in him and keep his commandments. Elder C. W. West said he felt the good influence of the Spirit of the Lord, and rejoiced that he had a testimony to bear to the truth of the Work in which he was engaged. During seven months that he had been engaged in travelling through the Mission, he had had many interesting times. The Saints were increasing in faith and more desirous than ever of being gathered home that they might be more fully instructed in the plan of salvation and keep the commandments of God. He quoted many passages of Scripture to show that when men had the Gospel preached to them and embraced its principles, they received a testimony of its truth from CONFERENCE. heaven and knew for themselves that it was from God and not of man. Possessing this knowledge, he rejoiced continually; and being always actuated by a desire to know the truth, he counted nothing a sacrifice to obtain it. Obedience to the truth, alone secures the blessings of the Gospel, whether in this age or in any previous one; and though men may receive the first principles of the Gospel and emigrate to Zion, yet, unless they remain faithful to the truth and continue to keep the commandments of God, they will fail in receiving the blessings which they set out to obtain. And if they should give way to a spirit of darkness, apostatize and try to do injury to the Work, they would only bring evil upon themselves; they would sink and be forgotten, but the Work of God will grow and increase until it fills the whole earth. Let the Saints be prayerful and humble, and earnest in the discharge of their duties, ever seeking to obtain and retain the spirit of peace, and the blessings of God will increase upon them and ever be with them. Elder Joseph Bull bore witness to the truth of the remarks be had heard. He knew for himself that God has established his kingdom on the earth for the last time-that kingdom of which the Prophets spake and wrote, and that every obstacle to its onward progress would be overcome, and it should spread and continue to accomplish the purposes of God until all that the Prophets had predicted should be fulfilled. Elder S. H. B. Smith followed in a few remarks, declaring his faith in the sentiments and principles enunciated. It is the Spirit of God, he said, that binds the Latter-day Saints so closely together, and gives them the power and influence they possess. When the Gospel is rightly received it brings substantial blessings: it did so formerly and it must do so now, for it is the same Gospel. Those who receive it enjoy the Spirit of God-that Spirit which is felt in this room and by which men of God in every age who enjoyed its teachings received the revelations of God. Elder M. B. Shipp felt the responsibility of bearing his testimony in conjunction with those already borne, but he knew the Work was of God. He MINUTES OF A CONFERENCE. adverted to the travels of the Elders of Israel from their homes in Utah to the various nations of the earth. without purse and scrip, as a proof of their sincerity, and to the opposition and prejudice with which they had to contend, and said that those who desired to know of the truth could do so by obeying the teachings of the servants of God. President Cannon said,—As the afternoon is far advanced I will not occupy much time in speaking. My feelings are similar to those expressed by the brethren who preceded me. When I see a disposition in a man or woman to listen to the truth, to cast aside prejudice and investigate the principles of salvation, it affords me pleasure. The brethren have testified that this Work will roll forth. For thirty-three years, since the Work was organized, it has continued to spread and increase, and its progress is more rapid now than heretofore: its progress not only continues, but continues with increased acceleration. In the early history of this Church every effort was made by the enemies of truth that they could make to impede its progress. The most bitter persecutions were instituted against us; pamphlets were published containing the vilest slanders and the most corrupt insinuations; the pulpit, the press and the platform teemed with statements of the most disparaging character: yet the Work continued to spread, and we can now look back and view them with composure. We have grown past them, and with every fresh endeavor to arrest our progress we rise and soar above every obstacle placed in our way. The mobbing of a city or a county at one time caused many to tremble and fear, for it seemed as if we would be overwhelmed by the power arrayed against us. But is it so now ? No; with our experience we can look on such things as comparatively trifling. The united opposition of a nation fails to awe or even ruffle us: and this will continue to be the case with all who keep the commandments of God, until no power known among men will be able in the least degree to affect the Work. Wicked men killed the Prophet and the Patriarch of the Church and many other good and holy men, because of their faith in God and in his revelations; 227 but the sons of many of these martyrs are growing up to manhood, a mighty army to accomplish the purposes of God. Two of the nephews of the Prophet Joseph are now in this Mission, one of them in this hall at the present time, and the testimony of their martyred relatives lives with them. With the sons of other mighty men of God who have sealed their testimony with their blood, they are laboring to build up the Work of which their fathers laid the foundation. The Work of God cannot be stopped; his word cannot be nullified, but all that has been spoken by the Prophets shall be fulfilled. Brother Staines says this, probably, will be the last time that he will be among you. He can return to Zion satisfied, for the blessing of God, the confidence of his brethren and the love of the Saints will accompany him. He has labored diligently and disinterestedly, with an eye single to the glory of God, and the reports to-day of the condition of the Conference have becu to me very gratifying. To you who are going to emigrate I would say, Give heed to his counsels and you will profit by them. I trust brother Bentley will have your confidence and love in coming among you. Sustain each other, and particularly the brethren who are called to preside, by your faith and prayers. Go to God in secret and ask him to give them strength that they may perform. their duties worthily and acceptably before him. Pray in your families and sustain each other there by calling down the blessings of God on each other. Do this, husband for wife and wife for husband; do so for your Teachers, and you Teachers do so for those you preside over. It will give you faith in the sight of God; for it is a course acceptable in his sight. He then made a few remarks on emigration, calling attention to a certain kind of letters written from the Valley, in which the writers advise their friends to bring all kinds of articles with them, alluding to one in particular, in which the writer, who ought to know better, mentions everything he can think of, from a brad-awl to a broad-axe, as necessary to be taken over the Plains; and counselled the Saints not to be influenced by such |