Institutions on the Pacific Coast.
By Stephen N. Haskell
No higher honor can be conferred upon the human race, than to be connected with the work of God. It is a condescension on the part of the Creator to thus connect man with himself. But on the part of man, it is a great exaltation. A great exaltation, indeed, to be lifted above his fallen condition, united with the unfallen angels, and with the author and finisher of our faith, our Creator, Preserver, and constant Benefactor. The institutions that God has established here on the earth to forward his work, are means whereby we can co-operate with him in the salvation of souls. When we exert our influence for the upholding of these institutions, we are supporting the cause of Christ. The people of California have been highly favored by having, in the providence of God, the publishing association established among them. While in the East there is a large publishing interest, supported by over twenty conferences, numbering from five hundred to over three thousand members to each, we have in California a large publishing interest supported principally by one Conference of about one thousand members. The less the number that support the cause, the greater must be the sacrifice; but the greater the sacrifice the greater will be the reward, and the more we may expect the blessing of God. He will be pleased to have his people on the Pacific Coast have all the advantages in preparing to meet the Saviour that any people in the world can have; and for this reason his providence is leading out in the establishment of a school, and health institute, where the sick224can be treated according to the principles of God's laws. With these three, you have all the advantages which can be offered any people in respect to such institutions. But in order that these institutions may prosper, and the salvation of God be seen, some things are absolutely necessary. First, devotion on the part of the people. We do not expect, when we say this, that we shall ever see the time this side the kingdom of God, when every individual professing the name of Christ will possess that devotion which God can accept in the fullest sense. But God has never left his people destitute of men and women who can give the trumpet a certain sound in leading out in his work. Such persons you have in your midst, and God requires that devotion to his service on the part of his people by which, in the advance steps which they are taking, a strong and united front will be presented to the world. Secondly, it is necessary that there should be promptness on the part of those who have means to support these institutions. This will require great sacrifices. There must be a conformity to the work itself. Business interests will be interfered with; personal plans will have to be sacrificed. There are men in your midst who have means, and many will feel that they ought to lift largely; but it is often the case that such individuals, even when the voice of Providence calls them as distinctly as the Saviour called the young man, the rich ruler, to sell what he had, take up his cross and follow him, turn away sorrowfully as he did. If such men could hear and understand the voice of God's providence in the demand for means in the financial upbuilding of these institutions, so as to return to God the talents he has intrusted to them, great would be their reward in the kingdom of Heaven. But while a few such men may possibly, like Joseph of Arimathea, use their influence in a crisis like the present, the burden of sustaining the cause financially will come on men of less means and ability. This is as it was in the days of our Saviour. There was Nicodemus who finally gave his heart to God, and there was Zaccheus, a rich man, who divided his wealth and gave half of his goods to feed the poor, and four-fold to those from whom he had taken by false accusation. These were grand, noble exceptions to the general rule. There were men possessing less means who sold all that they had and brought their money and laid it at the apostles' feet. We do not say that God requires men to do this at the present juncture in the message, neither do we say that God would not accept such a sacrifice, were it made at the present time. But in either case, the cause of Christ should be dearer to us than our worldly interests, our pleasant homes, our everything. There will be great sacrifices to be made if you go forward and carry out the plans which have been laid for the prosperity of the cause on the Pacific Coast. It is therefore essential that there be union of sentiment and action in these things, if you would see the work of God prosper. Thirdly, we should never forget that the day of the Lord draweth near, and that a great work remains to be accomplished by us. On account of the institutions which are established there, greater responsibilities are resting upon the young cause in California, than in other portions of the field. There should not be a debt upon them. By an united effort California could, in a brief space of time take measures to free every enterprise they are entering upon from embarrassment. Will our brethren realize the magnitude of the work? the importance of the trusts God has committed to them? The publishing interests are the most important of all; the school stands second, while the health institute is a necessity for the advancement of the cause of God. It is here that those principles should be tested which relate to the laws of our being, and here that the sick among our people should learn how to recover their health, and keep free from disease. The principles of health reform are important, and they should be correctly presented to our people, by an application to the diseased and disabled. Those not of our faith who would come to be treated for some physical malady, would not only be relieved of this, but brought in contact with the truth and work of God. Of the importance of the school I will not speak. All can see the utility of surrounding this institution with proper influences, and providing facilities where those who wish to enter the harvest field can have the benefit of a preparatory drill. The cloud is rising, and the providence of God says, Move forward. We shall look forward with most intense interest to see what God will do for his people on the Pacific Coast.