p. 172 | Progress of the Work

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Apr 8, 1875

Progress of the Work.

AT this time, when important movements are being made which have a direct bearing upon the prosperity of the cause on the Pacific Coast, it is proper that we should make statements of the real condition of things. And we are very happy that we have no discouraging reports to make. We have no apostasies of note to record, and no disheartening divisions among brethren to make public. God has greatly blessed the labors of his servants on this coast during the past year, and a cheering state of things exists in all parts of this field.

The North Pacific Mission has been a decided success. The labors of Elder Van Horn in Washington and Oregon have resulted in great good already. He is a judicious laborer, always carrying a good influence, and never rashly destroying his own work. If less fruits appear at first under his labors, in a few years more will be seen than under the labors of those who incautiously cut off the ears of the people in ripening an interest too soon.

Elder Van Horn reports improved health for himself and family, and good courage in the work. He asks for a fellow-laborer that he may enter the larger places in Oregon with the tent this season. Elder E. B. Lane and his wife are both worn by ardent labors, exposures and privations in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, and we are confident that the Pacific climate would improve their health, and that their faithful labors would result in great good to the North Pacific Mission.

Elder Canright reports a good work at Petaluma, and that his health and spirits are good. Discouragements have been hanging over the little church at Petaluma; but the clouds are breaking, and the light is shining.

Brother Saunders reports progress of a decided character in the church at Woodland, under the labors of Elder Waggoner. He states that a dozen or more voted to keep the Lord's Sabbath in a recent meeting. These are new cases of persons who have reached the point of decision under Elder Waggoner's recent labors.

And we were very happy to meet Elder Loughborough at the Napa quarterly meeting with the armor on, and his face still set toward the city of God. He has rested from his labors only a few days to be with his faithful companion in her last sickness, and is now in the field again. The meeting at Napa was excellent.

One year since aggressive movements on the part of certain parties who in the spirit of the dragon would make war on those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, caused some solicitation. But from the time of the Napa discussion the matter has seemed to be in the hands of God, who has turned determined opposition to indirectly serve the cause of truth, and unite firmly with the body some who were wavering. And while not one of our number has been led from the truth by the Sabbath-abolished Adventists, not less than a score have left their ranks on this coast the past year, and are keeping the Sabbath of the Lord.

The season for lectures under canvass in the larger cities is at hand, and very soon the three tents on the Pacific Coast will be welcoming within their cotton walls those who come to hear the word of God. The California Conference is favored with the labors of the aforementioned three able and experienced ministers, besides several young men who are already making their mark in bringing souls to Christ. With God's guiding hand, and his special blessing to attend the word spoken, we may hope for a large ingathering this season.

The incorporation of the Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, and the building of a Printing House in the beautiful and rapidly growing city of Oakland, Cal., are events in the history of the cause on this coast of no small importance. The facilities the Association will have for printing THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, tracts, books, and for extensive advertising at greatly reduced cost, will equal in completeness any other printing house in the United States. The important bearing this institution will have upon the cause here can hardly be estimated.

Oakland and San Francisco are destined to be large and growing cities, and will ever be as important fields of missionary labor as can be found on the globe. These cities are seven miles apart, and are connected by the most pleasant and cheap means of travel we have seen from the Atlantic to the Pacific. From San Francisco to Broadway, Oakland, the conveyance is by water across San Francisco Bay a part of the way and the remaining distance by steam R. R. cars. There are twenty-four trains and steamers each way which pass not less than 10,000 persons to and from the city of Oakland daily. Fare, 15 cents.

Oakland and San Francisco are in the world's great thoroughfare of travel. All nations are represented in the Pacific metropolis. From this point the light will shine forth to the nations by our publications in the different languages, and by persons who may hear the word of God in these cities. There must be houses of worship at San Francisco and at Oakland, where speakers, necessarily connected with the press, can address large audiences gathered in by annual efforts with the tents, and by missionary labors. After the California Camp-meeting, lectures should be given in the tents in San Francisco, provided there can be a place to accommodate the people at the close of the tent meeting. Otherwise such an effort would not be practicable.

The question now comes up, Shall the work in all its branches go forward? In a few days the Pacific S. D. A. Publishing Association will receive a Deed for the site for THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES Office building, and the builders will be at work in earnest. We propose to be one of ten persons to take stock in this Association to the amount of $10,000. The ten will be found. If any of these want time, they can have it. We advance a second $1000, without interest, to help the case of those who need time to raise the $1000 each. We urgently invite all who can raise means for this enterprise, without paying high interests, to forward it immediately, that the work be not hindered. Let those who have money out at from ten to fifteen per cent. interest, now avail themselves of the benefits of infinitely higher rates. Shall the Steam Press be running in the new building in season to print a daily advertising sheet of a tent meeting in San Francisco? Shall an ample place of worship be opened in that city? And all other things being equal, shall a telling effort be made in that city with the portable, double, cotton church at the close of the tent season? Who is there among us that will not come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty?

Firmly we are advancing in all parts of the field. Steadily and surely the work goes on. We are too far advanced, with the bridges all torn up behind us to waver now. The times demand men and means, and they will be at hand. There are those who will esteem it their highest pleasure to give themselves to the work, and their means for its advancement. God is evidently with Bro. Andrews in Europe. Those who have the cause at heart, as they read his report of the work in Prussia, will readily adopt these words: "As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." Prov. 25 : 25. As the closing work for sinners presses on, the love which Christ felt for a ruined race kindles in our hearts for sinners, the heavenly country in its greatness and glory nears, and this poor little world dwindles and fades away. Who will work for God in earnest now? Who will gladly make sacrifices, and suffer weariness, deprivations, and reproaches, through the brief closing strife, and enter upon the eternal reward at the soon coming of the Son of God?