The Second California State Meeting of Seventh-day Adventists.
By D. T. Bourdeau
This meeting has just closed. It was an excellent meeting. Our expectations in regard to it were more than realized. It may safely be said that it has given a good impetus to the cause in California. About one hundred Sabbath-keepers were present; and on Sunday our commodious house, with its present temporary seats, was well filled. Seven discourses were given with good liberty on various practical and doctrinal subjects, and six prayer and social meetings were held, in which nearly all took part. At several points two or three were on their feet at once; and at one of these meetings, which was necessarily short for want of time, thirty-three spoke in twenty-eight minutes. The blessings of the Spirit of God were enjoyed in rich effusions, and the general feeling and expression was that God is good; that we should praise him for the truth, and for what it has done, and try to be more in earnest, and arise on higher and holier grounds. Some who had served the Lord for years said this was the best meeting they had ever attended, and of course this was the sentiment of young beginners. Many rejoiced and expressed gratitude that they had at last found a people who served the Lord in simplicity and truth, and enjoyed so much of his spirit. It was indeed interesting and cheering for the brethren and sisters to form so many new acquaintances; and to worship together. And we also realized that our distance from the brethren East did not exclude us from them, and from the blessing of the Lord, and that our dear brethren and sisters abroad were remembering us in their prayers. All expressed a strong desire to have Bro. and Sr. White come to this State the coming season, as Bro. White intimated in the Review last fall. And we believe that if they should come prepared to remain from one to three weeks at each important point, much good would be accomplished, not only for the churches, but also for those from without. At this meeting three were baptized, one of whom had been raised a Roman Catholic and had recently embraced present truth. For two months past I have had an increasing conviction that the time was approaching for me to labor for my people; and for the past five weeks myself and wife have been closing up our labors with the churches, trying to do all we could in public and from house to house to raise them up to their duty and privilege at this stage of the work. During this time, we helped to complete the religious organization at Petaluma. We leave this dear people with feelings of gratitude for their kindness to us, and for what the Lord has done for them, and with the expectation that God will still work for them and the cause in California, if they carry out their recent resolutions, and advance in the way of holiness. If they and the preachers will dedicate themselves wholly to the cause, work with God, looking to him for strength and wisdom and having no higher object than to glorify him by furthering the present truth, and working for the salvation of their fellow-men, we shall expect to hear of still greater success in California; for the work is now started. When Bro Loughborough and myself came to California, there was but one in this county keeping the Sabbath; the work was naturally looked upon with caution; preachers and the press came out against it; we had to meet a great amount of prejudice, and had no funds in the State to depend upon. Now there are over one hundred keeping the Sabbath; four churches have been raised with reliable funds amounting to over $800, in gold, to say nothing of what may be received and raised in new fields the coming season; with the blessing of God and promptness on the part of the churches in paying their pledges, the mission is self-sustaining. Over one thousand dollars' worth of books are being read; the opposition from preachers is subsiding where the merits and strength of their position have been tested; the press in the country is favoring us in publishing for us such matter as is calculated to set forth our people and their views in their proper light before the public; and we think that the work generally is commanding the respect of the candid. Wherever our lot may be cast, we shall remember California, hoping to meet with all our dear and tried friends when the war is over. Santa Rosa, Cal., April 11, 1870.