To the Brethren in California.
By Gen. Conf. Committee
We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your remittance of $133.00 to pay the expenses of an Evangelist to your coast; also, your earnest appeal for help. We appreciate your situation and your wants; but see not how we can at present comply with your request. Never did we feel more forcibly the truth of our Lord's declaration, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few." There are five-fold more calls for help at our own doors than the laborers now in the field can possibly fill. What then can be done for the more distant appeals to come over and help? When will the Lord of the harvest raise up a competent body of earnest, conscientious, God-fearing men, who will feel the weight of this great work upon them, to go forth and supply the wants that exist in the wide harvest field? and what is our duty in reference to the Lord's direction, "Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest?" Yet we would say to you, Do not be discouraged. We believe that in due time the Lord will provide men and means for the proclamation of his truth in California. Meanwhile we can pray the Lord to restrain the self-sent and incompetent from eating the good pasture, and treading down the residue with their feet. We will hold the money subject to your order, and if you choose to let it remain here till a messenger can be sent, it shall be devoted to that purpose.