I joined the church; a shell from the islands sent by one who left home to help the natives know the light of the gospel; and here a typewritten paper-only a few words, but words that, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, changed my whole life. I read them, and again I feel I, too, would be a soldier of the cross. I gather my treasures together and with tear-dimmed eyes I lock them and their precious memories in the drawer and push my desk into place.

It may be sentiment to keep the rubbish, but I confess to the weakness, and as I go to join the others, mother says, "Did you clear out your desk?"

"No," I answer, "I cleaned it, but I did not clear it." Our eyes meet, and we smile. Mother understands; she, too, has treasures.

Travel Sketches.

III. A Trip to the Jordan by F. G. Pitt. Our hearts are made glad in the birth of two more souls in the Kingdom of God. Sister Floyd, with whom we have made our home, and an old gentleman who rooms here, presented themselves for baptism last week, which required us to take our second trip to the Jordan River. I think I told you in a former letter that Sister Floyd was baptized by Elder Brown after he had left the church and came to this country. The old gentleman, Brother Whelan, until he heard us, failed to find a church to satisfy him. Though a strong believer in Christ, he preferred to remain outside of all denominations. He became interested in our preaching from the first, and was very active in trying to get people out to hear us. He is evidently one of the sheep, to whom Jesus referred in his statement, "My sheep know my voice."

It is something like twenty miles to the Jordan, but seems much farther, on account of the rough road. It is down hill nearly all the way there, but the hills are so steep in places that we have to get out of the carriage and walk both going and coming.

We started about daybreak Friday morning, which proved to be a beautiful day. The first place where we stopped was at the Apostle's Fountain. After a few minutes' rest we proceeded on to the "Good Samaritan Inn," now only a heap of ruins; but close to the road there is a new house built, where travelers stop, feed their horses, give them a drink, and partake of refreshments themselves. Relics and souvenirs are also kept here for sale. While here we met a gentleman and his wife from the State of New Jersey. The gentleman seemed more than delighted with his trip to this country. It seems that he had lately joined the order of Odd Fellows, and he told us how delighted he was to visit this inn, from the fact that during the initiation into this order he was set upon by robbers and robbed, and then picked up by friends and carried to this very inn.

He was a great talker and I wondered if he was giving away any secrets.

Proceeding on our journey, we were soon on the plain of the Jordan, and within sight of the Dead Sea. It was this plain that Lot chose for his inheritance, rather than the hill country. I think anyone with good sense would have done the same. The land appears to be good and almost level, excepting in spots where there are certain peculiar looking mounds, and we wondered whether these were not the landmarks of Sodom, the city where Lot dwelt. I believe all that it needs is water to make these plains almost like the Garden of Eden. It is likely that some means will be found to flood this whole region, and make it most productive.

This excellent picture shows the missionary party at the home of Sister Floyd in the city of Jerusalem. Elder F. G. Pitt is in the foreground; Gomer T. Griffiths is standing on the steps.

We reached the Jordan about noon and immediately spread our tablecloth, and the good things to eat that Sister Floyd had provided, on the banks, and while the camels drank from the river a few rods away, we sat and ate our dinner. As we sat here enjoying the beautiful, warm sunshine, it was difficult to realize that we were within two days of Christmas. What a contrast with the cold, biting winds of Christmas week in our home land.

Our dinner finished, we hired a little boat and proceeded up the river and in about ten minutes we found a suitable place to baptize. We can not tell you with what emotion we sang, "On Jordan's stormy banks we stand," nor with what feelings we entered the

waters where Jesus himself had been baptized. How thankful we were that we had been privileged to come to this land with the same message that he had brought to earth, and that in performing this sacred rite we could say, "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ I baptize thee." And though our eyes did not behold the Holy Ghost descend in the form of a dove, yet we felt the Spirit's presence with us in power, approving our work. How we wished that those who read these lines could have been with us to have shared our joy, but as that was not possible we did the next best thing, and that was prepare our camera, so that while Brother Griffiths and I did the baptizing, Rose did the rest. The result is, we have some very good photos of the baptism, as well as some very fine views of many other prominent places, which all can have who desire them. We would like to say free, but that is impossible, as our means are limited, and thus far we have had to meet our own incidental expenses, because of lack of means in the church treasury, so we feel sure that those who want a photo of scenes in this land will not begrudge ten cents each to pay for material and postage. If the Herald will publish it we will give a list of photos we have taken which we will send to any address for ten cents each or one dollar a dozen. These, if ordered in sufficient quantities, may be a means of helping in establishing the work in this land. People here are mostly very poor, and it will doubtless be some time before the mission can be self sustaining. Already we feel the need of help and feel it badly, if we are to make the work a success.

After the baptism we went to Jericho and put up for the night at the Bellevue Hotel. On our journey we passed near Gilgal, where the manna ceased. The ruins of old Jericho were near our hotel. We were made quite comfortable at a cost of ten franks a day. The only reading matter we saw was some American magazines twenty years old. Next morning we were up and on our way home about sunrise. We were a happy company, singing most of the way home. We made use of our camera at all important points and took a good photo of Mount Zion.

Sunday afternoon we held meeting at Brother Carr's, at which time those baptized were confirmed, and the Holy Spirit was with us again in power; all were edified and strengthened. Some stran. gers present said they never felt such power of the Spirit before; as a result they are thinking very seriously concerning our work. One Arab, quite an intelligent man, thinks of uniting with us, and it is likely his family of six will follow. The editor of the paper here is our friend. He gave us his hall free of charge, attended our lecture, and gave us a very good write up, on the difference between us and the Brighamites. Of course the great enemy is at work, and the preachers are warning the people to stay away, but we have no fear of evil results so long as the good Spirit is with us. We are already talking of renting a place in which to hold meetings. Brother Grifhths has great faith that the Bishop will be able to come to our rescue in furnishing means to push the work forward. I hope he is not mistaken, for we can not hope to do much here without means. I think this mission is different from all others

in many respects. We need literature very much. I trust we shall be sent some tracts in the German and other foreign languages. There are so many different nationalities here, that one needs to be able to speak several languages. If the work can be sustained I believe there will be men raised up right here, in a short time, who will be able to preach in several different languages.

"We reached the Jordan about noon and immediately spread our tablecloth, and the good things to eat that Sister Floyd had prepared, on the banks; and while the camels drank from the river a few rods away, we sat and ate our dinner."

I have been requested to continue my labors here for a time, perhaps till after the April conference. We are sadly in need of hymn books and Sunday school supplies. We have only two books between us. Will not some one, or more, take pity on us and send us some books. Your old ones will do. Only be sure to put enough postage on, or it will become a burden rather than a help.

The climate is beautiful. Little if any frost, and but little rain as yet, yet enough to make the ground right for plowing. We continue to take in the wonderful sights of this truly wonderful land. Last Sunday, coming home from meeting, we visited the Tombs of the Judges. We walked along the Brook Kedron, now quite dry, and one is filled with astonishment at the number of tombs in all directions, either in caves or quarried out of the solid rock. It is sad to think of the amount of labor, all in vain, in making these tombs, which are now empty, and their contents scattered over the earth to supply the museums with mummies, whereas if these bodies had occupied an ordinary grave, they would doubtless have remained

where they were placed undisturbed. But lest my letter becomes too long for publication, I must stop. We are feeling well and happy in the work.

JERUSALEM, PALESTINE, December 27, 1910.

A Saint in
in Society.

By Earnest A. Webbe.

CHAPTER 3.

HE VISITING Civic Cadets were idolized during their brief sojourn in New Orleans; and why not? They were as fine a body of northern brains and brawn as ever donned the cherished gray uniform of the South; with its smart white facings and nodding shakos. The company that afternoon made its official march past the municipal grandstand, to the accompaniment of the city's crack military band and its own bugle corps.

Bro. John Morris sat among the palms with the Lovemores over the main entry to the Continental and watched the happy crowds below and the marching friends in the esplanade. He noticed the flush of interest on the girls' faces beside him as they recognized this one and that of the Cadets.

Said Mabelle, "I think our Cadets are just the prettiest boys going, don't you, Mr. Morris?"

"Now, Miss May, you see me turning green with jealousy? Pray don't aggravate the attack."

And then as Alice called her cousin's attention to a little figure with a shiny black belt in the visitor's section of the reviewing stand opposite, with the words, "Miss Fribbles," John went on using that little lady's actions as a shield. "It's just like you ladies to urge on the interests of war, when all your hopes and virtues rest in the power of peace! You laud and praise the gold lace and buttons and belts and send them forth with songs and kisses to prey upon the troubles of others, to break up homes, defile flags, and tear asunder the ties of humanity, those very things which by all the rules of love and logic you should seek to knit together." Alice turned a moment as if questioning his bantering tone, then said, "Ah, yes, but we live in another age, an age of make-believe. When the call came for volunteers against Spain, how many of our Cadets responded? I know that papa said that things had changed since his time."

"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Lovemore to Mrs. May, "her father won his spurs among dozens of his neighbors' sons in the '60s. Now their sons are stay at homes."

"Because it's so much a matter of society," put in Mabelle, “but the commoner boys from High School West were missing by scores; it crippled the ball team and took all our best beaux."