The Work in California.
By M. C. Israel
OUR good meetings held at Healdsburg and Woodland were, in some respects, the best we have ever had in the State. The Bible-readings and close, practical sermons, attended by the Spirit of God, caused all to feel that in the past we have come far short of our duties and privileges in love to God and man. Earnest petitions ascended to Heaven for a nearer walk with God, and answers of peace were returned. Testimonies of gratitude to God were given and an increased spirit of brotherly love was manifested on the part of ministers and people. We feel grateful for the evidences of God's willingness to bless his people and prosper his work in California. He has planted our pioneer missionary paper, THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, in our midst, which is visiting thousands of families, introducing to them in all parts of the world the precious truths of the last message of mercy to the world. Then we have the School at Healdsburg, where scores of our young people are being fitted for usefulness in the cause. Not less than twenty will be ready to enter the field as laborers at the close of the special Biblical course of study, April 4. Some of these are from Oregon and Nevada, and will go out as canvassers or colporters, and quite a number to preach the message. The prospect for laborers never has been so favorable in this Conference, and with the blessing of God a great work may be done the coming season. At the Healdsburg and Woodland meetings, and one more recently held in Healdsburg, March 1, the wants of the cause in this Conference were quite freely discussed, and calls for labor considered, and as far as practicable, plans were laid for work during the coming season. A general meeting will be held in Oakland, April 18-28, similar to the one in Healdsburg, in connection with the State Quarterly T. and M., and Publishing Association annual meeting. This will be a very important meeting, at which it is expected Elders Loughborough, Waggoner, and White, and Sister White and others will be present. The spring camp-meeting will be held at or near Los Angeles, preceded by a tent-meeting to be conducted by Elders Healey and Briggs, and others. We hope to charter cars or obtain reduced rates, so that many of our brethren and friends from the northern portion of the State may attend this camp-meeting. Elder Ballou and Bro. Rieck will labor in Humboldt County until July, when, if thought best, they will go to Nevada and hold a tentmeeting171there. Bro. and Sister McClure and Bro. Henry Scott expect to labor in Humboldt County. Brethren Lucius Church and Frank Lamb go to Etna Mills, Siskiyou County. Brn. L. A. Scott and A. La Rue expect to go to Honolulu in May, after spending a few weeks with Brn. Ings and Brorsen at the mission in San Francisco. Elder Healey and myself expect to visit the churches in Fresno and Tulare Counties, commencing meetings Thursday evening, 13th inst, at Fresno. After the Los Angeles camp-meeting it is expected a tent-meeting will be held at Modesto by Elder Healey and Brn. Buckner and Swayze; and another at Orange or Santa Ana, by Elders St. John and Briggs. We ask an interest in the prayers of all that are interested in the work, that a great harvest of souls may be the result of the labors of the tent season of 1884. M. C. ISRAEL.