Pacific Union Conference by E. E. Andross

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 4, 1915

Pacific Union Conference

By E. E. Andross

God is moving upon many hearts by his Spirit, to turn them to this blessed truth, and is prospering the work in California and in the other States of the Pacific Union Conference. Our workers in the field say the interest to hear the truth is greater than ever before. They are laboring earnestly and faithfully so to present the truth that the Lord can work to convert the people. Our lay brethren are giving their hearty support to these efforts.

A worker who has just completed an effort in Bakersfield, reports that thirty signed the covenant, and that others are keeping the Sabbath. Nine were baptized recently, and others will soon be baptized. Opposition to our meetings developed, but the Lord did not permit it to injure his cause and work. The Bakersfield newspapers were very liberal, printing during the meetings ninety-two articles, covering eighty-two feet of space, or more than ten pages of newspaper type. Practically all points of the message were covered in these articles.

This worker is now holding a series of meetings in Fresno. These are held in our own church building, which is centrally located. The attendance runs from five hundred to eight hundred, while a counter-effort, which has been begun by others, draws an attendance of from thirty-five to fifty. During the camp meeting held in Fresno last summer, the newspapers gave large space to reports of the meetings and business sessions. Quite an interest was created, and the people are now having the opportunity of hearing the truth preached. Elder B. E. Beddoe, president of the Central California Conference, is giving his active support to this series of meetings, which promises such good returns. The older members of the church say that never in the more than thirty years since the church was built have so many not of our faith been in regular attendance at the meetings.

At Santa Ana and near-by towns a good work is also being done, twenty-eight having been baptized by one worker in that district since the first of the year. We expect that at least twelve others will be ready for baptism very soon.

Some in other parts of the State have manifested a keen interest in the message. Following the Oakland camp meeting last summer, to which large publicity was given, a lot was selected about six blocks from the camp ground, and a series of meetings held for thirteen weeks. The interest was good throughout, four hundred attending the last service. The workers report sixty-three adults keeping the Sabbath as a result of this effort, about one half of these having been baptized, while others are studying and making good progress. Although persecution came to some who began to keep God’s commandments, the Lord has helped these dear ones to hold firmly to their faith. In several instances husbands are reported to have driven their wives and families from home, making threats—one even of murder. Some have since been permitted to return home; others have not.

Even those of little experience in ministerial labor have had good success. Two students of Pacific Union College held a tent effort in Ukiah last summer. During the Christmas vacation they returned with a few other students, and held a week’s meetings in the Ukiah church. Including those now awaiting baptism, it is reported that the membership of the church will be doubled as a result of their labors. The little church was crowded to its capacity during the services. One of the students, speaking of the experience, says:—

“Including four children, twelve have asked for baptism this time. Another, a woman who was baptized in another church, is keeping the Sabbath with her twelve-year-old boy, who said he was going to keep the Sabbath whether any one else did or not. She feels that her former baptism is sufficient. Three or four others have begun to keep the Sabbath, and wish to be baptized a little later; still others are convinced and say they are going to keep the Sabbath, but they have not the courage to begin immediately.

“One young woman was intending to go to a dance, but changed her mind, and came to the meeting instead. She was immediately so deeply interested that she came every night. One night her brother wanted her to go with him to the theater. She replied that she had determined to give up everything like that, and that she might as well begin first as last.

“As various calls at the close of the meetings were made during the week, she responded. Sabbath came, and she was out to morning meeting, and in the afternoon was present at the meeting for candidates for baptism. One of our young sisters had a personal talk with her, and asked her about the Sabbath. She answered, ‘Why, I am keeping it today,’ and then added, ‘If my Saviour kept the Sabbath, I can.’ She knows but little about the Bible, but is receptive, and eager to learn. One of our sisters at Ukiah will give her further Bible readings, and I believe she will be ready for baptism as soon as the baptismal service can be held.

“One aged man, the husband of one of our sisters, became interested toward the close of the meetings last summer, and has now given up his tobacco and drink and begun keeping the Sabbath. He desires baptism.

“Their son, who has been a heavy drinker and smoker and would not come near the tent last summer, was home from his ranch a few miles out in the country, and came to the first meeting. He continued to come throughout the week, not missing an evening, I believe. He told me at the meeting Saturday evening that he had intended to attend only two evenings, and then return to his ranch, but that the meetings were so interesting he could not miss any. I urged him to take his stand then, but he could not decide to do it, though the Spirit of the Lord was striving with him.

“That night his mother spent the entire night, I understand, in prayer for him. The next evening Brother Dayton spoke on the judgment, and at the close of the meeting asked those to arise who would take their stand fully on the Lord’s side. He tried to stand when his father and others did, but seemed to be drawn back to his seat. But soon after a personal invitation, he suddenly sprang to his feet, trembling from head to foot, so intense was the struggle. Immediately at the close of the meeting I had a talk with him. The perspiration was standing in beads on his face, but he seemed to be very happy. He at once spoke of his sister, who had also back-slidden, and hoped that something could be done for her. He has asked for baptism.

“So I might go on, giving experience after experience. The Lord blessed so abundantly that we could hardly realize what was going on. We all would much rather have remained in Ukiah to follow up the interest than to return to school. School work seems pretty dry to me just now.”

Pacific Union College has more than three hundred students this year, a larger number than it ever has had since it opened. Lodi Academy also is enjoying a good school year, and Fernando Academy has a large enrollment. During the week of prayer the Lord’s Spirit was felt by both teachers and students in these institutions in a special way. Our other institutions and our people generally were likewise much benefited spiritually during this season of seeking the Lord.

Although many interests demanded the earnest effort of our people during the autumn and winter, the total contributions to missions for the entire union field during 1914 averaged 18 1-3 cents a week per member, or a total of $84,600.46. Our aim was $92,258. We hope by God’s help to be able to reach the mark this year, and are receiving the cooperation of our people to this end. Three of our local conferences raised twenty cents or more a week a member, the amounts being as follows: Arizona, 55.3 cents; Nevada, 25.4 cents; Northern California, 20 cents; Southern California, 17.9 cents; Central California, 16.3 cents; California, 15.8 cents; Utah, 15.2 cents.

The temperance and religious liberty campaigns were carried on vigorously during September and October. Thousands upon thousands of “dry” tracts and papers were distributed throughout California. Similar work was done in Arizona, and that State is now freed of the liquor evil. As the liquor interests bought a large amount of newspaper space in California, and used the billboards extensively, the vote, when polled, stood 524,781 in favor of the saloons and breweries, and 365,536 against them. Nevertheless our literature helped a great many to see the evils of the liquor traffic.

No less than 575,000 leaflets exposing the evils of Sunday laws were distributed by our people throughout the State, and the publicity department of the Pacific Union Conference sent a series of eight articles on religious liberty to every newspaper in the State, besides the articles which our brethren in different cities wrote, calling attention to the principle of church-and-state union involved in the passage of the bill, and to the jokers it contained. We learned definitely that more than one hundred articles were printed in the newspapers, reaching hundreds of thousands of readers. Since the union conference meeting in Oakland last March the publicity bureau for this union has secured publication for nearly five hundred articles in the newspapers of this field, these dealing with all phases of our message.

The California Sunday bill was defeated, doubtless as a result of these united efforts. The vote stood 457,890 against it, and 290,679 for it. Two one-day-rest-in-seven measures have been introduced thus far into the California Legislature, now in session in Sacramento.

Paradise Valley Sanitarium is having a large patronage, almost to overflowing. Loma Linda Sanitarium, and the College of Medical Evangelists, which is connected with the sanitarium, are doing exceptionally well. A good class of students is studying in the college, and the patronage in the sanitarium has been good this year. The Loma Linda institutions had, on November 30, made a showing $4,718.08 better than for 1913. There was an improvement of $7,735.29 in the financial condition of Loma Linda Sanitarium for the five months from July to November, 1914, as compared with a similar period in 1913.

Steady progress is being made in the raising of the $150,000 fund to liquidate the indebtedness on Pacific Union College and other educational institutions. Thus far $65,441 has been raised on this fund in pledges and cash. Elder G. W. Reaser is leading in the effort.

We praise our Heavenly Father for the providential openings he has made for the truth, for sending conviction to the hearts of those who have heard this message, and for his blessing upon our institutions. E. E. ANDROSS.