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THIS WEEK'S PAPER

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California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · OAKLAND, CAL. · Dec 31, 1874

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 1, No. 12.

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THIS WEEK'S PAPER.

By Editor

WE are happy to greet our readers again, with a good variety of reading matter, and, as most of you will receive the paper about January 1, 1875, we greet you with "a happy new year."
The year 1874 is numbered with the past; what has its record told upon our cases? We think, as we cease to use it in our dates, and as we prepare for the new—1875—one year nearer the execution of the judgment and the consummation of our hope; one year less of probationary time in which to prepare to meet our Lord and to labor to save our fellow men; one year less of toils and conflicts and temptations.
It has been the year in which many of our readers have first learned of the precious truths which are advocated in the SIGNS. It has thus become to us a year in which new responsibilities have been laid upon us. As we enter upon 1875, shall we, realizing these responsibilities, so devote our talents of ability, strength, and means, as to lead others to the truth, that they in turn may rejoice with us in the love of God and his cause?
In this number we give the concluding article of Bro. White upon Our Present Position : or the Waiting Watching time. It is excellent, setting forth in a concise manner some of the duties and responsibilities of these times. One would conclude from a perusal of his article that he had no sympathy with the idea that watching meant to sit down and wait in idleness, but rather that he had caught the spirit of the parable.—"For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore : for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning. Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping." Mark. 13 : 34-36.—Working watchers.
Ministration of angels and Saints' Inheritance, each deal in an important chapter in the thread of argument upon which they treat. Morality of the Sabbath is a demonstration of the fact that, God in giving man the Sabbath made a merciful and wise provision for his physical wants, and that the Sabbath has its origin in the nature of things as much as any other of the commandments.
We give another chapter of the Rise and Progress of the Seventh-day Adventists, and publish some advance instructions, and reports of progress in our missionary work. The SIGNS, like its predecessor the Review, is almost mysteriously finding its way into different parts of the world. Already is fruit beginning to appear. I know of a number who have already embraced these precious truths and commenced the observance of the Sabbath by reading the few numbers of the SIGNS which have already been issued. This stimulates us to push on the work, and extend the circulation of the paper.
About a week since, we opened a letter addressed "SIGNS OF THE TIMES, California." It was evident that the writer of the letter knew, or had heard, that there was such a paper somewhere on this coast, and committed his letter to the mails to try its destination. Of course, if it came at all it would come to the grand distributing office of the coast, San Francisco. There it had laid three weeks. Our paper passes through that office for distribution to other States; some generous clerk discovered that said letter belonged in Oakland, and sent it over. It proved to be a letter from a man, away down in the State of Mississippi who wants the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. He gave his name and address clearly and distinctly, and the SIGNS is on its way to him. God bless the paper to his good and the good of his State.
The reports, from different counties of this State, and different parts of the field, are full of encouragement. We see that many are embracing the truth from reading; this is surely an incentive to our missionary workers to press on in their efforts in judicious tract and periodical circulation. In the letter from San Diego, you will notice the brother mentions four besides himself that are keeping the Sabbath. These were brought into the truth by reading our publications furnished by this brother.
The whole paper contains much that is instructive both theoretical and practical. May those that read be blessed with the same spirit of good cheer that has characterized those engaged in the preparation of the paper. May we all learn the truth, learn to cheerfully perform our duty as revealed by the truth. May we "shine as lights in the world," and have the consolation at last of seeing others saved in God's kingdom as the result of our faithfulness. So may it be. John Norton Loughborough