With my blessings and hoping that you find something interesting to read. Wayne Webb On July 20th a young sister was received by baptism at Mt. Carroll, Ill. There are two live Sunday-schools in the Arnold's Grove Church, Ill. One at Arnold's Grove, and the other at Mt. Carroll. Bro. E. J. Bueghly, of the Sabetha church, Kan., says, "One more was added to the church by baptism on Sunday, July 20." Bro. J. A. Clement, of the Sandy congregation, Columbiana Co., Ohio, says: "Two young persons were received into church fellowship by baptism." Any of our brethren desiring a good farm close to a meeting-house, now have an opportunity to purchase one at a fair price. See advertisement on last page. We have received a letter from our friend Cornelius Jansen, of Beatrice, Neb., containing an acknowledgment of some money received, and a letter for publication, but too late for insertion this week. Sister Elizabeth Foutz, of the State Creek church, Kan., says, "Your paper is indeed a Gospel Messenger. How glad we are to see the mail come, which brings us the news from all over the Brotherhood." The Greeley expedition, so long locked up in the icy north, has at last been found and the survivors, seven men out of twenty-three, have been returned to our country. After September 1st, the address of Eld. John Murray, and his sons, N. B., and Ezra Murray, will be Grenola, Elk Co., Kansas, instead of Quarry, Marshall Co., Iowa. Bro. S. Burket, of the Rock Run church, Elkhart county, Ind., says: "One has recently been received by baptism, making eleven by baptism this year and one reclaimed. Bro. Silas Hoover, of Thornville, Ohio, under date of July 24th, says: "The old ship Zion, is still moving on. Two precious souls were lately buried with Christ in baptism and we believe others are near the Kingdom." Bro. Jacob Negley, of the Coal Creek church, Fulton Co., Ill., says, they have started a Sunday-school and hope for prosperity. We advocate temperance in all things and preach obedience to the Word of God. We are blessed with good crops." In another column Bro. Eshelman gives an account of a storm which has severely affected several of our brethren. It is to hoped that none of our brethren who have had their crops destroyed will be allowed to suffer. Brotherly love, if it is real, will prompt us to relieve those in want. Bro. A. M. Dickey's address is changed from State Center, Marshall Co., Iowa, to Melbourne, same county and State. We have on hand a temperance sermon by Eld. S. T. Bosserman, that will appear at an early date. It is a live sermon on a live subject. Bro. T. C. Weiand, a minister, who had been attending the Huntingdon Normal, is now at his home near Smithville, Ohio. He says he is more than ever interested in the Brethren's schools. Bro. A. F. Clapper, of York Co., Neb., sends us an account of a severe storm in that vicinity. (See correspondence.) Thus far he has been among the fortunate, as his crop was unharmed. Bro. Jacob Furry, who moved from Illinois several years ago, had his entire crop destroyed. He estimates his loss at about two thousand dollars. We understand that the brethren in Maryland are thinking of asking for the Annual Meeting next year. It has been a number of years since the meeting was held in that State, and the members there would no doubt be entitled to it. Bro. S. D. Royer, of the Upper Stillwater Church, Ohio, says, at a recent council meeting, they made up their quota for the A. M., and appointed a treasurer for m ission funds, and are now ready to proceed according to the plan, as soon as the Minutes appear. Bro. K. Heckman, of Cornell, Ill., says: "Your paper is a welcome messenger. Another soul was made willing to make the good profession and was baptized on last Lord's day." Bro. Heckman also informs us that he will start west on the 30th of July to look out a location where he can better himself in this life, and be of more use to the Master.-He expects to travel in northern Kansas and southern Nebraska. Correspondence. >From Weatherford, Parker Co., Tex. Dear Messenger:- I have been a reader of your columns for one year. At first, I was not a member, and never heard a brother preach. I thought you advocated some strange doctrines, and I more carefully examined the Scriptures, until I became willing to follow Christ in all things. I thank God that I have found a people that preach and practice all the Gospel. I have lived in this county fourteen years, and can recommend the country to all Brethren, wanting cheap homes and a mild climate. There are only five members here. They much desire some good brother to locate here and preach for them. I believe much good could be done. Some express themselves pleased with the doctrine. We feel lonely in our isolated condition. Brethren, there is a great field here, and no laborers. Can we not get a few crumbs? W. B. Buckley. July 21. >From Alvada, Ohio. Dear Messenger:- The members of the Rome congregation are still trying to carry on the work of the Master. We have two interesting Sabbath-schools, with a good attendance. We have had our dark hours. A number of our members have been influenced to join in with those who are not of us. But we rejoice that a brighter day is dawning. Our members seem to be more united, and in better working order than for some time. We have received some eight or ten members by baptism, during last winter and spring. May the Lord keep them faithful. The Lord having blessed us with an abundant harvest, which is now about all gathered in good condition, we feel to bless his holy name. We expect, in a short time, to have a harvest-meeting. L. H. Dickey. >From Baltimore. Dear Messenger:- Having completed my work here in Woodbury and Baltimore, I will give you a synopsis of it. I commenced preaching at Woodbury on the evening of June 21, and continued until the evening of the 30th. - Two were buried by baptism into Christ. Many more seemed to be counting the cost, but did not decide to build. We changed our appointments to Baltimore for three evenings. Feeling worn out, we took recreation by visiting the brethren on the eastern shore, resuming our work at Woodbury on the evening of the 6th of July. Continued until the 9th, when I came into the vicinity of the Pipe Creek church, where I will remain for some time. Our congregations in Woodbury and Baltimore were small, being in the private houses of brethren Henry and Little. The brethren here have no church, and must make many sacrifices. I trust the Lord blessed our little work here, by binding all with a stronger tie of love and union. We organized a little Bible class of the Brethren, to meet every Sabbath afternoon, at 3 o'clock. The meetings are to be held and conducted consecutively by the different brethren at their houses. The brethren here want more work, and we trust they will find a field of usefulness in their Bible class. S. N. McCann. Westminster, Md. A Severe Storm. Seven miles south-west of where the writer lives, is a place called Switzer's Gap-a pleasant little valley, about two miles wide, between the bluffs. It is inhabited by a thrifty class of farmers, among them brethren James L. Switzer, a minister; Henry Wyland, a deacon, and Geo. Detrick, and their families. Last Sunday, July 20, we had a right royal meeting there, and before midnight of that day, a storm swept down from the north, tearing the school-house into fragments, scattering it fearfully. It was not only a great storm, in some places cyclonic, accompanied by rain, but hail came with it, in sufficient quantities to beat the corn into shreds, and thresh the grain as with a flail. On Sunday, the valley blossomed as a garden of flowers; on Monday, it looked like a desert, grain, grass and vegetables torn, beaten and cut to pieces-in many places, the bare ground only being visible. My heart ached, as I looked upon the dreadful scene. A part of Mr. Stansberry's house was blown down, and two of his boys narrowly escaped. Mr. Lawrence's house was spread out over the prairie. He had two ribs and his wife an arm broken. South of this, we have not yet heard from. Gardens annihilated, potatoes even forced out of the ground, fruit trees hacked, forest trees stripped of leaves, and the bark jagged with hail, which, in places, was four or five feet deep, horses and cattle forced through wire fences, and, in one case, a colt of Bro. Switzer's rolled up in wire, wind wheels broken in pieces, small buildings completely wrecked, lights broken, thousands of acres of grain cut to pieces, and general devastation everywhere. Brother Switzer sustains a loss of ten or twelve hundred dollars; Bro. Detrick about one thousand, and Bro. Wyland about five hundred. The losses, in the entire track of the storm, run about in this proportion. - When we take into consideration, that these brethren suffered severely last summer, by hail, we can see their trials and needs. We do think, they should receive prompt assistance from such as have pity. Bro. Switzer, especially, comes in for sympathy, and the others, to me, equally so. Of course, the Brethren here will do what they can to aid them, one brother at once pitying them to the extent of fifty dollars; but with all our pitying, we cannot near do for them what should be done. If, there-fore, those who read this, are moved to pity, they can forward their evidences of compassion to me, and I shall see that receipts from the receivers are returned to the givers. - Would prefer the givers to name the brother to whom the gift shall be given. God bless the cheerful giver, and he will. M. M. Eshelman. Hardy, Neb. Wind and Hail Combine in the Destruction in York Co., Neb., July 20. After years of immunity from those terrible storms, which have devastated so many homes and vast tracts of grain, in all parts of the country, York county has, at last, been visited by one, which, we are thankful to say, destroyed no human lives, though the destruction of crops, in its course, was complete. Its wake is strewn with the wreck and ruin of thousands of acres of as good crops as ever grew. Sunday, broad fields of waving grain, ripe for the sickle, and of corn in silk and tassel, gave every assurance to the industrious husbandman, that his arduous labors were soon to be abundantly rewarded. Rye and barley were in the shock, corn was "laid by," and wheat harvest would have begun "all along the line" on Monday. Sunday evening, dark, ominous clouds continued to bank up against the sky in the west, and many anxious eyes were turned in that direction, and as they rose steadily, against a south-east wind, it was remarked, that their appearance was peculiarly angry and threatening. It was, unfortunately, the fact, that two storms, one from the west, and one from the north-west, struck the county at about the same time; one had passed over Central City and done considerable damage there, while the other came by the way of Grand Island and Phillips, nearly destroying the latter place, and spending its main force before reaching our county. If the two had met in full force, the destruction of life and property would have, doubtless, been terrible. - Both struck the county at, or near the same time, and only a couple of miles apart. The strip traversed by the two storms, is about five miles wide, at the west county line, and gradually narrows, until the two are merged in one, at a point nearly south of York, about six miles from the city, from which place, the track is only about one mile in width, but the fury of the storm was simply terrible. The fury of the storm may be partially realized, when we reflect, that, for an hour or more, hail fell with an uninterrupted rattle, that drowned all other noises. Mr. Nosser, in a very vivid description of the storm, said, "Without any warning the hail commenced to fall, with a noise like an explosion of artillery; every pane of glass on the north and west side of the house was instantly broken, and two strong men were hardly able to hold the door closed, so furious was the wind. - This lasted for an hour and twenty minutes, during which time the noise was so great, that if a gun had been fired off in the house, the report could not have been heard." The damage consists mainly in the loss of crops, about sixty square miles of which are entirely destroyed, and not a stalk of corn, nor a blade of grass remains. Trees and hedges are, in most cases, entirely ruined. - Pigs and chickens, which were exposed to the storm, were killed, some stables and wind-mills were blown down. A number of horses were injured, and a few killed.-Ex. >From Irvin Creek Church, Wis. The Brethren met at brother Samuel Crist's residence, June 28, for Communion services. Had public preaching at 10 o'clock, after which refreshments were served to all present. At this stage of the meeting, an election was held for deacon. Nathaniel Kincade was chosen, and installed into office in the presence of an attentive audience.-While the brethren were speaking on the important subject of self-examination, our dear old brother, C. F. Wirt, of Minn., came in, and made our hearts rejoice. Good attention was given to the services. S. H. Baker. >From Hylton, Va. Dear Messenger:- The good cause is still moving on with us slowly. We have a Sunday-school in the Mountain Normal Hall, which is tolerably well patronized. We also have prayer-meeting every Sunday afternoon. We have received sixty members by baptism, and two by letter, since the beginning of the present year. There are three congregations of Brethren in this (Floyd) county, known as the Brick Church, Pleasant Valley, and Red Oak Grove congregations. Myself and wife attended a meeting in the latter congregation on last Sunday, July 13. We had the pleasure of seeing five precious souls put on Christ in baptism, all of whom were comparatively young people; making ten additions here in the last two months.-This church is under the care of Eld. John Naff, and from the manifested zeal, we think there is a good work going on at present; and the indications are, that many souls will soon be gathered into the fold here. A series of meetings here, conducted by an energetic brother, would have a telling effect; we pray these good brethren will see the need, accept the opportunity, and success is sure to crown their efforts. The brethren at Pleasant Valley are also alive to their work and are gathering in some souls. We understand that they propose holding a series of meetings in the near future. The Mountain Normal School, in our congregation, is receiving encouraging news.-It has promised patronage from Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, Kentucky and West Virginia, besides many counties in our own State. May God bless the cause of religion and education everywhere. C. D. Hylton. July 16. >From Phoenix, Arizona T'y. Dear Messenger:- We left Prescott last Thursday morning; traveled by stage all day, all night, and until near noon Friday, when we arrived here. Distance from Prescott, 110 miles.-Our route was over a rather rough and uninviting country, until we got into this, the Salt River Valley, which, at this point, is some fifty miles long, and on an average of fifteen wide. It is a beautiful valley, containing many fine farms, and thousands of acres of as fine land as we ever saw, California not excepted. The climate is similar to that of California. It is one of the finest regions for fruits, grain and stock, that we have ever visited. Thousands of acres of land here, ready to be occupied. To-morrow we leave for California. Brethren Myers and Hadsell are well. J. S. Flory. July 15. Notes of Travel. Dear Messenger:- I left Pennsylvania the latter part of May; attended A. M. in Ohio, and from there went to Illinois, to see a sister in the flesh, then to Falls City, where, ten years since, the 11th of August next, I was baptized by Eld. S. C. Stump. From there I journeyed to Nemaha Co., Kansas, and visited two brothers in the flesh, and now am home again, in the far north-west of Kansas. This is the last organized church in this part of the State. Crops are abundant, and the members feel encouraged. Corn, wheat, oats and rye are surely all that we could desire, and the prospects for a colonization of Brethren, seems a matter of fact now, and not of speculation. The old sod church, built in 1879, shows signs of falling in, and is considered dangerous. The incessant rains have proven, conclusively, that sod dwellings must give place to wood and stone. The country needs good, efficient workers in the vineyard, and all such will be welcomed. Homesteads and filings can still be se-cured, and Brethren are invited to come. - We need eight or ten speakers for the little bands of Brethren in different localities. - We want them Now, and we will cheerfully show them land. We want men sound in the ONE FAITH of the Gospel of God, and who are in unity with the church. If, dear brethren, you are troublesome where you are, do not come to us. We have had trouble, and want no more. There are fifty to sixty claims, that can be secured, but you must come in person, as men are here, each week, putting in their pa-pers. We ask you to enclose five cents post-age, for expenses, etc., and write to H. P. Brinkworth, I. L. Harader, or J. R. Garber, of Rockwell City, Norton Co., Kansas, who will immediately respond. We need the trades-people for the new town. We heartily invite members to fill these places. School lands are good and cheap; one-tenth down" the balance annually. Deeded places, cheap for cash, as it is a very scarce article here,. and will secure brethren a good home. Now, brethren, you have, in a few words, the condition of things here. About thirty members are here, in a colony, and many, of all denominations, are seeking the truth. - We ask your co-operation and prayers. We hope soon to meet, in worship, many from the East. Who will respond to this call to extend mission labor in the counties of North-western Kansas-Norton, Decatur, and Rawlins, Red Willow and Furnas, in Nebraska, also Phillips and Rooks, south-east of us? H. P. Brinkworth.