San Francisco by I. D. Van Horn

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Sep 28, 1882

San Francisco.

By I. D. Van Horn

On the 1st day of June we began tent-meetings in this city. We closed them and took down our tent on the 3d day of September. During the time we moved the tent once, thus holding two series of meetings.

We had as good freedom in preaching the present truth in these meetings as we ever enjoyed. The Lord was present with his Spirit and blessing many times. As we canvassed the different points of our faith, our confidence was made stronger and our hope brighter.

We did not have as large an attendance from the outside as we had hoped for, but the most of those who did attend were steady hearers, and became deeply interested. Our congregation was never less than fifty, and sometimes reached three hundred.

The result has been up to this date, that ten have joined the church, eight of whom decided to keep the Sabbath during our effort here with the tent. Sixteen have signed the covenant to keep all the commandments of God and faith of Jesus, who have not yet joined the church. We hope for most of these to join not far in the future. There are also a few who are keeping the Sabbath who have not signed the covenant. Some of these we hope will come fully into the truth.

Quite a large amount of books was sold, and many tracts were given away. Voluntary contributions were received to the amount of $79.60.

But this is not all. The church has been built up and greatly strengthened by the meetings. Wrongs of long standing have been adjusted, and there seems now to be a good degree of love and fellowship existing. The church has withdrawn fellowship from three of its members, which leaves it in a better condition spiritually.

When we began tent-meetings here the first of June, the Sabbath-meeting was attended by about forty. Now the number is fully double.

The Sabbath-school has increased at least one third. Courage has filled the hearts of the desponding; life and energy has taken the place of a careless indifference. There has been a general reviving in every branch of the work, and we hope for good results. The Lord is blessing the church by giving them his Spirit, and they have gained an experience that will be valuable to them as they go through the perils before us.

I. D. Van Horn.

San Francisco, Sept. 19, 1882.