We have this day, September 13, received a communication from Elder J. N. Loughborough written the 5th, giving an account of their glorious camp-meeting at Yountville, California. We rejoice in God that union of action and brotherly love inspired the entire brotherhood in camp. The amount pledged at this one meeting to relieve the Pacific Press from embarrassment is $10,675. Pledges at the Southern meeting will swell the sum to near $20,000. Add to this the pledges from Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and from those in California who may not attend the camp-meetings, and the sum of $30,000 will be reached.
The report will, as far as pledges shall progress up to the first of October, will be brought before the General Conference, and measures will be taken to encourage the liberal donors to the Pacific Press, and patrons of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and to guard the managers of that institution against rash measures, involving injudicious outlay of means. Our Eastern brethren have cheerfully and liberally helped build up this now prosperous Publishing House at a time when help was much needed. And they have never regretted for a moment their action in the matter. But now the brethren on the Pacific coast are coming up to the help of the Lord and his work so nobly, that double gratitude will fill their hearts that they were induced to put their hands to a work so faithfully continued and perfected by their brethren on the Pacific coast. “Let brotherly love continue.”
The General Conference is placed under new responsibilities to do all in its power to guard and nourish this young and growing institution. Its efficiency and wants, as well as the dangers to which it is exposed, will be laid before that body at its session the first of October next, and it will doubtless be recommended that its managers act under the general supervision of the General Conference Committee.
We are also much gratified to learn by the same communication from Elder Loughborough that very nearly $4,000 was pledged for the mission to Great Britain on the Yountville campground alone. We may safely count on $25,000, of the $100,000, from the Pacific coast States and Territories alone. As the time of payment covers two years, they will find no difficulty in raising the amount. We expect at no distant day the mail sack with copies of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES from the Office of the Pacific Press to Australia will be full.
And more, we learn from the same source that the Dime Tabernacle to be erected at Battle Creek received attention after a godly sort at the Yountville meeting. According to present prospect, not far from $2,000 will be donated to the Tabernacle by the dear friends of the cause on the Pacific slope.
God bless our dear brethren and sisters whose lot is cast in the western borders of the American continent. May brotherly love continue among the brethren from the rising to the setting of the sun, and may they be held as one united body in the strongest bonds of sympathy until the war for truth be ended, and the crown of eternal life be given. J. W.