p. 3 | THE CALIFORNIA MISSION SELF-SUSTAINING

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 29, 1869

THE CALIFORNIA MISSION SELF-SUSTAINING.

By D. T. Bourdeau; M. G. Kellogg; John Bowman

By the recent noble lift that the brethren and sisters in Santa Rosa have made on Systematic Benevolence, pledging to the amount of $461.50 in gold, which will go about as far in sustaining the cause in California, as the same number of dollars in currency would East, the reliable State funds in California are raised to upwards of $750, in gold. And for the encouragement of those East who have nobly and cheerfully aided by their means and prayers in planting the standard of present truth on this coast, we are happy to say, that, with economy used in spending means, with punctuality on the part of those who have pledged on Systematic Benevolence, to meet their pledges, with the blessing of God attending the work, and the expectation that more friends will be raised up, who will have the cause at heart, in harmony with all with whom we have consulted, we believe that from this time and onward, the California Mission will be self-sustaining. And with heart-felt gratitude to the brethren East for what they have done, and an appreciation of their sympathy and fraternal greeting, as expressed in a resolution passed by the late General Conference, we would, in behalf of our brethren and sisters in this State, release them from further assisting with their means in advancing the cause in California. May God bless you, dear brethren and sisters, as you shall now spend your energies and means in other directions for the furtherance of the message until its final triumph. But still pray for the cause in California.

While the work on this coast is promising, we believe it can for a time be retarded in various ways. This can be done by a lack of consecration, and by a spirit of exaltation on the part of our preachers. God forbid that this should ever be the case. But much depends on the faithfulness of the people, on their still maintaining the position of learners. They must necessarily be thrown measurably on their own resources, as the preachers must enter new fields. But this will turn to their spiritual advantage, if it leads them to act more. If they will now be faithful in their private and public duties and devotions, study the word of God, read up in our works, and humbly act the part of home missionaries, then will the preachers be encouraged in their labors, and the cause will be furthered on. But if there is a lack in these things, the opposite results will be realized. God, the salvation of souls, the ness of time and the coming kingdom will be lost sight of; self and the world will come in, and the demands of God and his cause will be forgotten, and there will be a general lagging in the different branches of the work.

Our scattered brethren and sisters on this coast are also invited to co-operate in sustaining the mission, and to correspond freely with the preachers in regard to new openings, ect. They can bring their means to our next general gathering, which we expect will be held in the fall, and which they are invited to attend, or they can send their means to the State Treasurer, J. M. Loughborough, Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., Cal.

Now, dear brethren and sisters, let us be faithful, keeping the glory of God, the shortness of time, the salvation of souls by the last merciful message to man, uppermost in our minds; and in thus doing, may we not expect a gradual and steady rise of the cause in California? For this, and that success may attend the preaching of the truth, let us watch, pray and labor.

D. T. BOURDEAU, M. G. KELLOGG, JOHN BOWMAN, | California | State-Meeting | Committee.

Healdsburg, Cal., June 11, 1869.

P. S. Monday, June 14. Our tent meetings in Santa Rosa closed Sunday, the 6th inst., leaving a good influence on the side of the truth. There was a good attendance. Two more were baptized, one of whom had been infidel in his sentiments. After the subject of Systematic Benevolence had been set before the people, thirty-two readily pledged to the amount of $461.50 a year in gold. We have many friends in Santa Rosa who have not decided to obey the truth. Yet they see and acknowledge it. Say they have courage and grace to carry out their convictions. Not far from twenty have received the Sabbath as the result of our tent meetings at Santa Rosa. Upwards of one hundred dollars' worth of books have been sold. About thirty-five have been baptized in Santa Rosa township. Enough have come out to form a good church if they persevere.

The tent was pitched in this place (Healdsburg) the 9th inst. We have held six meetings. At our first meeting, there were about forty present. The numbers and interest have been increasing until last evening (Sunday) there were about four hundred present. Fourteen dollars' worth of books were sold yesterday. We rest every Monday night. The people are already commencing to call on us at our home. We feel the importance of dedicating ourselves wholly to the work.

Last Sabbath Bro. Loughborough met with the brethren and sisters of Santa Rosa, near the Mourve school-house, midway between Santa Rosa and the Piner settlement, to accommodate all. He had appointed to preach in the Mourve school-house on the authority of one of our brethren who was one of the trustees, who, with others, said there would be no trouble, as the house had been opened to other denominations. But when the brethren came to the school-house, it was closed against them, with some unkind words. With the kind permission of one of the neighbors, the brethren met under an oak tree near by, and had a very good meeting. No retaliation was manifested. Bro. Loughborough said that they had no hard feelings toward those who had treated them thus, and hoped they would be led to see the error of their way.

D. T. B.