Beyrout, Syria.

May 30", 1894

Dear Father;

You were in California when you last wrote and it seems such a long time since hearing from you. I am happy and well and getting along nicely; have quite an insight into the language, took twelve lessons from a native which helped me out materially, am now making pretty good headway myself. About two and a half I paid for the twelve lessons.

Through the letters received Saturday I learned that yourself and Aunt Mary came home looking and feeling well after your enjoyable trip. It was just the thing for you. I should invite you to come and take a trip through the Holy Land to see Jerusalem, Damascus, Bethlehem etc. were the weather not so warm and that is what you wish to avoid and times are pretty close too besides. By the paper I learned that you were in attendance at conference with the branch of the church in California. The newspapers have been a treat; the herald and juvenile were intensely interesting. What a commotion you are having in the U.S.; and what it might have resulted in by this time I cannot imagine will be eager to look into the next paper. Armies stationed at Washington; other armies crossing the continent to their capital; imprisoned anarchists at Paris; disturbances in Austria and Bohemia; and the threatened rebellion on some of the islands; together with the disturbances of the earth in Greece are fulfillment to the letter of the prophecies concerning this day. The Later-day Saints will no longer be the object of chief observance by the United States except it is in a far different light. I expect they will be able to do just about as they please and that will be just as trying to us and more so perhaps than great opposition because we have become so accustomed to the latter. 

I shall be pleased to hear from you whenever you feel like writing. Doubtless there is a letter on the way now, and if you have been able to send a few dollars it will be quite acceptable. 

My Companion sends his kind regards to you all. Elder Robinson (my companion) has been appointed president of this mission. Where I will be required to go after leaving here I am not certain, but in the meantime shall be getting the language. There are only four of us left in this mission now Elder Musser has gone. (You will doubtless see him.