NORTH PACIFIC CONFERENCE.
By I. D. Van Horn
THE camp-meeting held in this Conference in June last, though small, was nevertheless a good one for the cause. The meetings and business of this annual gathering have been fully reported by others and published in the SIGNS. Having at this meeting resigned my official position, and decided to move from the Conference, I esteem it a privilege to say that my connection with the work in this field, though attended with some difficulties and discouragements, has not been an entire failure. Many have been permanently grounded in the truth and have become firm pillars in the cause. Many others have received light they cannot easily shake off, and may yet be led to follow it unto the salvation of their souls. We have many friends who have become dear to us, and we shall ever remember their kindness. Financially the Conference is recovering from the heavy discouragement it has been wading through the past two years, and the outlook for the future is cheering. Since the camp-meeting we attended the quarterly meeting with the Beaverton church. The calling of the roll showed the membership in good condition, and they all stand in harmony with every branch of the work. Sister Miller, formerly a member of the Tenhassen church, Minnesota, presented her letter and was received into this church. A few others are expected to join soon. The second Sabbath and Sunday in July we were in Salem. Since passing through a severe trial, this church is growing. At the quarterly meeting last April, four joined the church, and two more were baptized, and united with the church at this meeting. There is union and strength in this church now, and there is every reason to believe that the cause will prosper here. Sabbath, July 16, our last day in Oregon, we met with the little company of Sabbath-keepers in East Portland. We found a larger number present than we anticipated. Regular Sabbath meetings and a Sabbath-school are now kept up in this place, and quite a determined feeling exists to maintain them, and as soon as possible form a church. There is good prospect of this at present. Evening after the Sabbath we went aboard the fine steamer State of California, and at 3 o'clock next morning were on our way down the river. We had a safe passage over the Columbia river bar, and down the coast, reaching San Francisco Tuesday at 7:30 A. M., making the trip, including six hours stop at Astoria, in fifty-three hours. We shall remain a few weeks in the beautiful city of Oakland for Mrs. Van Horn's benefit before journeying East. I. D. VAN HORN.