Gilroy by D. M. Canright; J. H. Waggoner

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 10, 1875

Gilroy.

By D. M. Canright; J. H. Waggoner

WE have now given ten lectures in this place. We have a good, fair, steady interest, not great and stirring as some that we have seen; but still very promising. No evening have we had less than 150 out. And there has been all the way from this up to 500. We took up one collection and received $17.65. This indicates a good interest. Have sold quite a lot of books. Several families have attended from the country. We have had a number of invitations out to dinner and food has been sent in for us. So we have friends here now and hope soon to have brethren and sisters in the blessed hope. Our friends from Watsonville and San Jose have supplied us quite largely with food so that we do not go to the hotel at all.

We have dwelt upon the prophecies so far; but to-day we take up the destruction of the wicked.

The Gilroy Leader, the ablest and most popular paper of the place, gives us the following notice :—

“THE TABERNACLE.—The tent erected last week for the purpose of conducting religious exercises in, has so much resemblance to a circus tent, that from old associations people naturally went there at first. The most unnatural feature about its external appearance is the absence of a ticket wagon, and to see the look of disappointment on the faces of many as they looked about for this important auxiliary, was really amusing. Once within the pavilion, instead of being confronted with the familiar, good-natured, frank-looking countenance of the elephant, a chart containing Bible scenes attracted the eye, and as they, to very many, are as novel as the form of the elephant would be familiar, the interest is fully as great. Once there, and having heard the lectures given, it requires no circus tent attraction to secure attendance in future, as the lectures are full of interest and very instructive to all. Whatever difference of opinion may exist as to the views presented, the different subjects have been discussed in an intelligent manner, and in such a way as to interest all who have attended them. During the first evenings of the lecture a small wooden image was used for the illustration of prophetical eras of the world's history, and the Chinese population were largely attracted by it, thinking it was one of their gods, no doubt, and our almond-eyed brethren attended in large numbers, listening very attentively through entire lectures, of which they understood not a word. Their eyes bobbed however when the lecturer had finished the first line of prophecy and yanked off the head of the image, by which it was represented.”

The more we become acquainted with this part of the country, the more we are satisfied that we have come to the right field. We shall now have plenty of openings near by for labor indefinitely. The climate is good, the soil rich, and it is on the line of the southern emigration down the coast.

We are of good cheer in this glorious work. Every day we have new evidence that this is not only the truth of God, but that it is just what the people need. Many come to us and say that they do not get spiritual food at the nominal churches any more; but that this seems like old days when they could hear the gospel fresh and with life from the Bible itself.

D. M. CANRIGHT, J. H. WAGGONER. June 6.