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attending church regularly. It was also noted in the Session's minutes of that time that Reverend Mounger had chosen to live in the manse and that it had been decided to see about enlarging the fellowship hall, as a result.
The bids for the latter were rejected on June 8,	1969. It was also then noted that there had
been a steady decline in offerings, which would continue through 1970. Problems had also arisen in the Diaconate, with Messrs. Schweizer, McLaurin and Warner resigning. This was soon after followed by the additional resignations of Messrs. Taylor and Clark. Moreover, John Landon and his entire family resigned from the church on October 6,	1969.
Problems were afoot!
The worst problem of all, though, arose the night of August 17-18, 1969 when Hurricane Camille surged out of the driving rain and hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The surge of water was in excess of 25 feet above normal tide. Moreover, howling, shrieking winds of more than 250 MPH also spread destruction.
This was the most devastating hurricane ever to hit the continental United States. It destroyed some 5,600 homes, with another 12,900 incurring significant damage and 25,000 more sustaining some damage. Sixty thousand families were affected, and
22,000	required recovery assistance. Hundreds perished, including 26 in a single "Hurricane Party" at the Richelieu Apartments in Pass Christian. Three bodies of females were never even identified.	The situation was literally
indescr ibable.
Homes, automobiles, furniture, clothing and personal belongings were ruined or lost in the hurricane's high winds and tidal flooding. Among those who lost much if not all were members of this church. The Dossetts' house was gone, so was that of the Schaefers, the Tarletons', too, as well as Dr. and Mrs. Cox's beautiful beachfront property. Eight homes in all were completely gone owned by members of the church and thirty-eight others suffered severe damage.	Fifty-four	church
families, consisting of one hundred and sixty-four persons, were affected by the storm, and most of the officers of the church barely escaped with