The Missionary by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 5, 1881

The Missionary.

By S. N. Haskell

MEETINGS IN OAKLAND.

The meetings just closed in this place have been of a very encouraging nature, and we trust profitable to all who attended them. We have reason to believe that the cause in California will receive from this quarterly meeting, an impetus it has never felt from any similar gathering in the past. The missionary meetings on Sunday were well attended, and much interest manifested. The church at San Francisco was well represented; also the churches at Woodland, St. Helena, Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Petaluma, and Newcastle.

Many incidents were related, showing what is being accomplished by our tracts, and the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, which seemed to inspire all hearts with new courage in the work. Some cases were related which we will briefly mention. In one place a company of thirty have embraced the Sabbath, and given up tobacco, tea, and coffee, as the result of reading the paper, followed by Christian correspondence on the part of those who furnished the reading. All this too, without ministerial labor.

In another place, fifteen took their stand for the truth, and after two days' labor by a minister, five more united with them. These in turn, are now ready to purchase a tent and support a minister if one can be sent them.

Still another remarkable case was related of a company of eleven Germans who have embraced the truth after hearing a few discourses. These are so anxious for preaching in their native tongue, that they have written to the General Conference Committee, asking if a man can be furnished them. They promise on their part, in the event help is sent them, to furnish a tent and support the minister. All these cases cited are in different parts of the country outside of California.

There are, however, openings of equal importance in this State. A company of four, who have never heard a discourse on present truth, but embraced it from reading, sent an earnest appeal for help. Ten ministers could not answer the calls of this kind in California alone.

The Seaman's mission also claimed a share of attention at the meeting. The report given by Bro. Palmer (ship missionary) was truly cheering. Nearly every ship which has left this place for foreign ports during the last fifteen months, has been visited and reading matter placed on board. The fruit of this labor has already appeared. Some have embraced the truth fully, and others are much interested.

The business meetings on Monday were of unusual interest throughout, and passed off in perfect harmony. We do not think there has ever been a meeting of this kind in the State where more evidences of God's special care for his people were manifested than at this meeting. All could see, as never before, the hand of God in the establishment of the press on this coast. Already, demands for publications come from New Zealand, England, and the Sandwich Islands. We look forward to no distant day when Oakland, Cal., will become as important a point from which the light of truth will go forth to the different nations as any other spot on the earth. It certainly possesses greater advantages in many respects to do such a work than any other place.

Another source of encouragement is to notice how cheerfully the captains of vessels offer to transport our publications, or carry missionaries to the different places where the publications are sent, and in fact to almost any part of the globe.

The V. M. Society of Oakland, have enlarged their club of SIGNS and adopted a system by which in due time, every family in that section can have the truth set before them with proper missionary labor. The brethren from other places returned to their homes apparently much encouraged and we trust to labor with more zeal than ever.

S. N. HASKELL.