AFTER a journey of five days from Oakland, devoid of unusual incident, I reached Chicago the morning of May 22. At the mission rooms, 26 and 28 College Place, where I at once went, I met Brethren Olsen and White, just from the camp-meeting at Ottawa, Kansas, and Brethren Saunders, Hope, and Hutchinson, who had preceded me from California, and had reached this point on their journey to England. These brethren went on to Battle Creek, Mich., the same day, while I remained at the mission till the next day. This was a privilege which I had long desired to enjoy. The mission is in a most delightful location, and is as well equipped for carrying on the business for which it was designed as can be imagined. I greatly enjoyed the hospitality of this family of workers, with Elder G. B. Starr at the head, and still more did I enjoy the privilege of uniting with them in their regular weekly prayer and missionary meeting, and in their family worship. Brother Starr laid before us his plans for the missionary training school to be held in the fall, and we feel sure that it will be a means of much good to those who attend.
After spending three days with my mother, in Michigan, and one day with the Book Committee in Battle Creek, I came on to Williamsport, arriving here May 28. The workers' meeting had then been in session just one week, Elder A. T. Jones in charge. About fifty workers were present, and a good degree of interest was exhibited. Several expressed themselves as already having received light on the subject of the righteousness of God, and how it may become ours through faith in Christ.
At the present writing, June 6, the camp-meeting proper should have been in session three days, but owing to the great flood, the attendance is just the same as during the workers' meeting. To-day a train leaves Williamsport for the first time in six days. All communication with the outside world has been cut off, and it was feared that no Conference session could be held; but after viewing the situation, the brethren have concluded that the churches are well enough represented to allow of the business being transacted. So the exercises will go on to the close of the appointed time, just the same as though there was the expected attendance. But for the flood, the camp-meeting would have been the largest ever held in this State, as more tents had been ordered than ever before; but the brethren in charge are of good courage, and doubt not that even this will be made to work for good. Sister White arrived yesterday, having been six days making the trip from Battle Creek, and three days making the last fifty miles of the journey by wagon.
Of the terrible calamity that has befallen this section of Pennsylvania, the readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES have learned ere this from the secular papers. But no tongue can ever describe the situation. Next to Johnstown, which was almost entirely swept out of existence, Williamsport was the greatest loser. The loss in this town is many millions of dollars of property and quite a number of lives, how many is not yet known. In the section of the town nearest the river, it is impossible to tell where the streets run. Houses, mills, logs, lumber, and almost everything else, are left in one confused mass. The stock of goods in nearly every store in the city was almost completely ruined. Not the least feature of the calamity is the danger of disease from the decaying matter that fills the streets.
Although the camp-ground was on the outskirts of town, near the hills, it was covered to a depth of three feet by the waters, which rose so rapidly Sabbath, June 1, that all were compelled to flee. No one was injured, however, and comparatively little loss was sustained by the campers. The inconvenience suffered was nothing compared with the suffering of those who lost their homes and members of their families in the angry flood.
The weather now is pleasant and seems to be settled, and the prospects for a happy termination of the meeting are good. E. J. W.