THE CALIFORNIA MISSION.
By D. T. Bourdeau
Four more have come out on the Sabbath the past week, making upwards of twenty in all, who have embraced the message in this place since we commenced our labors under the tent, about ten weeks since. If we had closed our labors here, even four weeks ago, not more than half a dozen would have come out as the result of our efforts. This shows the importance of remaining till the truth is thoroughly presented. I intend to remain here over two more Sabbaths, at least. Next Sabbath we will do something toward starting a Bible class and Sabbath school, and appointing one to lead in the meetings, for the time being. Last Sabbath and Sunday, we held meetings in Hopper's hall, which was quite noisy on the Sabbath, yet we had a good attendance. At the close of our first effort at Windsor, where Bro. Loughborough is about to commence operations, we design to give a second course of lectures in this place, if the Lord will, including discourses on Systematic Benevolence and Organization, after which we hope to organize as the way may open before us. We have felt that it was very important that our first effort in this State should prove successful, as it will tell on the future prosperity of the cause here. This is quite a business place, and an important point, furnishing a market for farmers, etc., for more than one hundred miles around; and the complete victory of the Bible Sabbath over human tradition has made a favorable impression for the cause of truth in this country. Praise the Lord forever! The cause here being in its infancy, it is perfectly natural for the people to look upon it with a cautious and jealous eye, especially as other isms have arisen only to prove a failure, and to bring the truth into disrepute. But when the work gets fairly started so that the people can form a correct idea of its nature and true merits, then may we expect that the progress of the cause will be more rapid and apparent. Meanwhile we will not despise the day of small things, but do our duty, trusting in God, and still craving an interest in the prayers of his people. The terrible earthquake that happened last week, destroying several lives and millions of dollars' worth of property, serving as a premonition of coming judgments, and especially of that great earthquake, caused by the voice of God, which will shake the heavens and the earth, and cause the cities of the nations to fall, the islands to be moved out of their places, the mountains to be broken down, the works of men's hands to be demolished, and the unprepared to cry for the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath is come, has helped the cause of truth on this coast more than a thousand discourses would have done. The skeptic may try to philosophize this event away; but the humble child of God will believe that the great246Jehovah has controlled it, that he may be feared. He who numbers the hairs of our heads and notices the sparrow that falls to the ground, must have controlled the causes of so terrible a catastrophe. Petaluma, Cal., Oct. 26, 1868.