D. D. FITCH by D. D. Fitch

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 13, 1913

D. D. FITCH

By D. D. Fitch

California

DOWNEY.— A series of tent lectures, which continued for nine weeks, was held in this city. The message had not been preached here for fifteen years, and at the close of the meetings the interest was such that a place for Sabbath meetings seemed to be imperative. A store building was rented, and fitted up not only in a suitable manner for the above-mentioned purpose, but also for a free reading-room between the times of service.

The personal library of the writer, some six hundred volumes on history, biography, travel, health, and religious subjects, was arranged on racks. Upon tables in the center are a liberal supply of such periodicals as Signs Magazine, Life and Health, Watchman, Protestant Magazine, Youth’s Instructor, Popular Mechanics, Review of Reviews, Literary Digest, Scientific American.

The room is comfortably heated, well lighted, and open at all times to those who desire to take advantage of it. To transform it from a reading-room to a lecture hall requires but little time and energy. The collections taken during the services have more than covered the expense of rent. The citizens of the town have shown their appreciation of the reading-room by voluntarily contributing enough to cover the expense of light and to purchase the popular magazines. This gives the writer the use of two rooms in the rear, with electric light, free of charge.

Those desiring to make inquiries concerning our faith feel greater freedom in coming to a worker living in connection with a public work of this kind than they do in going to his rooms in a private dwelling.

The prospects seem favorable for the organization of a church in the spring. To this end I am spending my time in study with those who are interested.