Correspondence. Pleasant Meetings. April 28, the St. Joseph Valley church, St. Joseph Co., Ind., met in council, with a number of elders present, for the purpose of selecting one to take charge of their church. It was agreed that the members of said church make their selection by private voice, which resulted in calling the writer to the charge as above mentioned. On Saturday, June 30, we had our first council-meeting together, in our new relation, and as everything was said and done in the best of Christian feeling, it was a very pleasant and enjoyable meeting. The annual visit not having been made this year, it was decided to do that, and report it at a meeting, appointed for that purpose, on Saturday, Aug. 25. This church has no resident minister, and must depend upon those from abroad for their preaching. I was pleased to learn that they had been pretty well supplied in that way during the months of May and June. Besides those from adjoining congregations, there were two from Virginia,-Bro. John Wrightsman and another brother, whose name I can not now recall,-who gave them some good meetings, which were much appreciated. The next day, July 1, we had a good-sized audience, and, judging by the interest manifested, the people in general, as well as members, are glad to hear the gospel preached. We hope soon to arrange to have preaching every two weeks instead of every four, as now. July 7 we attended the La Porte council, which was another pleasant place to be, because everything passed off peacefully and agreeably. After the general business was disposed of, it was found that we could, with propriety, appoint a communion meeting, which was agreed, the Lord willing, to be held Sept. 22, in the meeting-house, four and one-half miles north of the city of La Porte. Brethren, note this date, and be with us at that time. I returned home July 8, much pleased with the future prospects in the localities visited. May peace, love and unity prevail! Thurston Miller. Wawaka, Ind. >From Shideler, Ind. In Gospel Messenger No. 28, July 17, Bro. D. C. Moomaw gives an account of his visits among the churches. He stated in his article that the writer presided over the congregation he visited in Delaware Co., Ind., namely, the Massissinewa church. That statement is incorrect, as the Massissinewa church is presided over by Eld. John U. Studebaker, assisted by Bro. Samuel Younce, Jr. Bro. Moomaw began meeting on Monday evening and gave us three appreciated sermons. As Bro. John U. Studebaker is old, he was not present at the meetings, as they were held at night. Bro. Younce was in Ohio at the time, and Bro. Karns and the writer were the only home ministers present during the meeting. This, we presume, left Bro. Moomaw under the impression that the church was presided over by the writer, assisted by Bro. Karns. Bro. Moomaw should have said Bro. " Gabriel Karns," a co-laborer in the ministry, instead of Bro. Geo. Karns. He has an invalid son (a brother) by the name of George. With due respect to Bro. Moomaw and to our elders, I make this correction. We certainly enjoyed Bro. Moomaw's visit with us, and I certainly will remember May 31 as a day well spent by Bro. Moomaw and myself. Brethren, let us not neglect that one injunction, "Visit the sick." It is a part of the makeup of pure religion. We would have been glad had Bro. Moomaw stayed with us longer, and regretted to see him go so soon. Come again. We were glad to hear that he, with his traveling companions, daughter and cousin, arrived home safely and found all well. Geo. L. Studebaker. >From Greenwood, Nebr. The Brethren of the Weeping Water church, Cass Co., Nebr., met for their quarterly council June 16. Considerable business came before the meeting, and passed off to the general satisfaction of all. Among the business before the meeting was the appointing of our fall feast, which is to be Sept. 22. We note this for the interest of our neighboring churches. In this arm of the church there are now five ministers and six deacons. Our elder thought best to make more appointments for preaching. We now have appointments at six different points, and more are still desired. Since our last report there were three added to the church by baptism, and we have reason to believe that if all that have been "called out " will act out their part well, there will soon be more to say, "We will come and go, with you." It is true that if the members of Christ's body are all in a healthy condition, spiritually, it will work mightily in creating in others a spiritual hungering and thirsting after righteousness. If Christians get so poor and lean in this direction that they almost starve, they can not be much help to any one else. We must not forget that, according to the constitution of man, he learns better from example than precept, but he needs both. Now, if you observe, you may see, somewhere in your life, where there should be more of a distinction between you and those who live in sin. If God expects sinners to quit sinning, what will he expect of us who profess to love him, and be Christians? Consider the principles you have professed, and be careful where you draw the line. James 4: 4, 8. J. L. Snavely. >From Tuhunga, Cal. Our quarterly council at Covina, Cal., was held July 7. We had a good meeting, and six additions by letter. Everything passed off in love and union. A movement was put on foot to raise funds for home mission work. The solicitors appointed are: Sister Houser, Covina; sister Bichett, Los Angeles; sister (Edward) Finch, Timberville; Bro. D. P. Flory, Tuhunga. Members will take notice, and pay to those solicitors whatsoever the spirit of the Lord may dictate as being the portion due him, in accordance with the manner in which he has prospered his children in earthly things. To withhold the Lord's tithes is a sin in his sight, and will pave the way for him to withhold his blessings. Arrangements were made to complete our meeting-house at Covina at an early date. Our Sunday-school seems to be in a thriving condition. After preaching on Sunday, wife and I accompanied Bro. G. Bowman and sister Middaugh on their way to Pomona, where we tarried with the members until Monday. J. S. Flory. July 10. >From Covina, Cal. We are still sojourning near Covina, in the Upper San Gabriel Valley, one among the many beautiful valleys of Southern California, and, should the supply of irrigating water prove to be sufficient to meet the demands of the people, I believe that within five years it will be the most delightful valley in the State. We, however, expect to make our home in the Conejo Valley, Ventura county, on account of being able to obtain a home here. The San Gabriel Valley is, of course, not the only good section in California, for there is the Santa Monica country which is hard to excel. It is a rich, beautiful and healthy country, and those who have plenty of means, and desire a home near the ocean, could be suited there. It is the most productive soil I ever saw. In fact, the soil is too rich, and in order to prevent the barley and wheat from growing so rank that they fall down, the farmers must sow late or pasture. They sometimes do not get through seeding before the last of January, and they are ready then to make their barley hay and wheat hay by the last of May or the first of June, and harvest their grain by the last of June, or the first of July. They sometimes grow as many as three crops with one sowing, each crop averaging from thirty to fifty bushels per acre. Brethren with means who are dissatisfied with their present location and want to live in a good country and a healthy climate, can certainly be suited in or around the places herein before mentioned. Real estate in either of these locations is high priced, ranging from $200 to $1,200 per acre, owing to location and improvements. So you see it takes considerable money to purchase a home in either one of these valleys mentioned. While we, as a family, have so far found it pleasant to live in California., we would not, for a moment, insist, or hold out any inducement, to get any person, or persons, to leave their old homesteads of contentment and prosperity and locate here. If you are satisfied and blessed with good health, act wisely and remain where you are, for health, contentment and prosperity are the chief corner stones of happiness in any country, but if you are seeking a location where everything goes as if by steam, California is the place for you. So far, in this communication, the poor brethren who want homes in the Golden State, have found no comfort or hope, but I am glad that I can speak of another good country in Southern California where brethren in limited circumstances can yet obtain homes and enjoy a good climate, without paying so much for it. It is a good stock country, and wheat and other products grow to perfection. Conejo is the name of this valley, located in the southern part of Ventura county. It is within sixteen miles of the ocean, and it is a little cooler there than here at Covina. I am satisfied it is a healthy location and a good fruit country. An abundance of water can be had by digging from sixteen to thirty feet. Now, brethren, you who are determined to escape the heat and cold of the northern and eastern States, and not able to obtain homes in a better improved country, blessed with good towns and railroad facilities, come and cast in your lot with the Brethren in the Conejo Valley. Land can be had in this valley, in small tracts, for from $30 to $75 per acre. Large ranches can be purchased much cheaper. There are now eight or nine members and one minister here. They have a very interesting little Sunday-school, but no church building, and if all the members locate there that have bought, it will increase the membership to twenty. The valley is large enough to form a nice colony of members. From what I have been told, the valley is six or seven miles long and from one-half to two miles wide. D. A. Norcross. A Good Example. Bro. John Miller, who was born April 2, 1798, near Hagerstown, Md., died in the Newton church, Ohio, June 30, 1888, aged ninety years, two months and twenty-eight days. He was a faithful member of the church for nearly half a century. By industry, economy and honesty he gathered a large estate. Having no heirs, after providing for his aged and faithful companion, he bequeathed his entire estate for benevolent uses in the church, to be cared for by the Covington and Newton churches. Two large farms are to remain unsold. It is to be hoped that prudence and wisdom will characterize the disbursement of the proceeds of the above large estate. If so, what an amount of good the fruits of Bro. Miller's labors will be doing for the cause, while his body is sleeping in the grave! [Note from Wayne: I find it interesting that this John Miller is not mentioned anywhere (that I could find) in the Southern District of Ohio history book of 1920. He was married to Chistina Deeter in the 1820s there in Miami county, Ohio and no one, apparently knows of his ancestry. It may be recorded in Gale Honeyman's Deeter book but I did not go check it. I would be more interested to know what ever became of the large estate he left to these two congregations. No property / land value is listed for 1880. However, in 1870 his personal property was valued at $17,400 and his real estate at $10,000. Assuredly his estate, when probated in 1888, should have been in excess of $35,000. Whatever became of his estate and what did the congregations do with it? An interesting question worth answering by staff members of the Brethren Heritage Center perhaps.]