REPORT FROM CALIFORNIA.
By D. T. BOURDEAU
We have now held forty meetings in this section, and the people have paid good attention to the truths spoken. We came to this place by invitation of Bro. Lyttaker, who had recently moved here from Petaluma, where he had embraced the Sabbath as the result of the tent-meetings held in that place. We came here in the heart of the rainy season, yet the people showed great interest and punctuality in attending the meetings, notwithstanding the rain and bad roads. But as the heavy rains came, the creek passing through this valley swelled so high that the bridges were either removed or covered with water, thus proving an obstruction, as the only way of crossing it was by passing over on foot on a tree which nature had graciously bent over the stream, seemingly for our accommodation. So to obviate this difficulty we appointed to hold meetings on both sides of the creek, speaking at Bro. Lyttaker's every other day, in the afternoon, and at the Blakely school-house on the other side, every evening, giving three discourses on Sunday. We continued this arrangement until last week, when we commenced labors at the Piner school-house on this side, to better accommodate the people and make the interest more general, while keeping up our meetings, half of the time, on the other side. The school-houses are about four miles apart. This gives us plenty of exercise, in connection with our visiting, as we generally travel this distance on foot several times a week.109 We have met two opponents since coming to this place. Our first opponent was Mr. Kirk Patrick, who wished to speak but twenty minutes at the close of our discourse. We gave him twenty-five minutes, and Bro. Loughborough replied immediately. But the elder broke in upon him several times, showing much excitement, though Bro. L. had positively stated that as he had been silent while the elder had spoken, he wished not to be interrupted during his reply. Among the views entertained by this singular man, is the idea that Christ's personal coming will not take place till at the end of the 1000 years of Rev. xx, which, he says, are symbolic, and therefore represent 365,000 years. Our second opponent was Mr. Crawford, a Presbyterian preacher, who gave a lengthy and written discourse yesterday (Sunday), on the change of the Sabbath, at the Blakely school-house, while I was taking notes, and Bro. Loughborough was having a good time at the Piner school-house, which was well filled with interested hearers. I replied to Eld. Crawford's discourse in the evening, before as many as the house could hold, and some outside, who were listening at the windows. The Lord gave unusual strength and freedom, and the interest was intense though I was under the necessity of speaking much longer than usual. At the close of the discourse some expressed it as their conviction that we had the truth on the Sabbath. May they and others have courage to embrace it. We have held one Sabbath meeting, and have appointed another for next Sabbath. We know not what the result will be, but feel thankful for divine aid, and will try to do our duty, trusting in God. After reviewing Eld. Crawford's discourse last evening, a feeling of gratitude came over us for such a work as our History of the Sabbath. May God bless Bro. Andrews in getting out the revised edition, and may we all take an active part in circulating this excellent work. We approve of the suggestion of including this work among the books to be distributed as far as practicable, at the expense of the Book Fund. Also we are glad for the forthcoming works from the pen of Bro. White, and that our works on Spiritual Gifts are to be republished. We would be lame without these. The cause demands them. We have already disposed of 13 full sets (52 vols.), of Spiritual Gifts. Our hearts beat in unison with the moves of the brethren East. We feel that the cause is one; and may God speed on the message in its work. Santa Rosa Creek, Cal., March 1, 1869.