The Cause on the Pacific.
By James White
WE have now been in the State of California three months, and our readers may expect a more definite report of the progress of the cause than has appeared in the REVIEW AND HERALD since the report of the last camp-meeting. That was a wonderful meeting; and a reaction, as we intimated, in some minds, at least, would of course follow. But we are happy to report a firm condition of the cause in California, and a decided advance in some respects. The coming of Bro. Canright to the State seems to have been providential. His speaking organs are nearly or quite recovered, and he enjoys his usual good health and spirits. His success at Watsonville in bringing out a small church, and his discourses at the late quarterly meeting at Santa Rosa, have given him a large place in the hearts of our people here. And the coming of Bro. and sister Van Horn to this coast also meets the hearty approval of all. Bro. Van Horn has labored at Woodland, St. Helena, Napa, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and Green Valley, with more than usual freedom and acceptance. Sister Van Horn is improving in health. They have gone to their new field of labor in the Walla Walla Valley, situated in North-eastern Oregon and South-eastern Washington. They find friends there. May God bless them with health, freedom, and success. Sister Van Horn’s efficient and unremitting labors as Secretary of the Publishing Association, which did very much to break her down in health, secures to herself the sympathy and prayers of all who are acquainted with her and her work. We expect to see her raised above feebleness, and all that discouragement generally attendant, and take her place beside her husband in the lecturing field. NORTHERN PACIFIC MISSION.
Bro. Van Horn took a tent with him which will cost, including transportation to his field of labor, about $550. We became personally responsible for this. The sum of $1700 was raised by donations to sustain the California mission until it became self-sustaining. We now propose to become responsible for $1000 to sustain the Oregon and Washington mission until it shall be self-sustaining. We shall furnish means as it shall be needed, and invite the friends of the cause everywhere to assist us in this enterprise. We do not ask help from the poor or the stingy, but from the liberal, who will do not one dollar less for other branches of the cause for helping the Northern Pacific Mission. It will be expected of the church and friends in the Walla Walla Valley that they will do all they can to sustain the mission, after we furnish tent, some books, and pay traveling expenses, from the proposed fund. Elds. Loughborough and Canright will probably labor together at present in this State with the tent. The last season was one of success and encouragement. And the brethren express strong faith and hope for greater success the present season. They would be very grateful for the labors of Eld. Cornell; but the urgent calls from such eastern fields as the New-York and New-England Conferences move them to consent to his leaving the State at present. We now design to spend one year at least in this State, and with Mrs. W. hold quarterly meetings and follow up tent labor. We are now in the midst of a discussion in this city on the Sabbath question conducted by Eld. D. M. Canright on the affirmative, and Eld. Miles Grant on the negative, “Do the Scriptures teach that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment of the decalogue is now binding on mankind.” Bro. Canright opened the debate in the spirit of candor and true Christian dignity. His first speech was based upon the words of Christ, Matt. 28:20, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” He then took up Christ’s first, or his inaugural, sermon upon the mount, commencing with the fifth chapter of Matthew. His arguments were very clear, and his words impressive. In our heart, we felt the deepest gratitude to God that he who had the truth on this question could afford to be fair, candid, and preserve the solemn dignity of the true servant of Jesus Christ. This discussion has not been sought for by our people, or by our ministers. But Eld. Grant pressed the matter to that degree that it was thought best to engage in it. Elds. Loughborough and Cornell came to this place last summer with the tent, and about fifty have embraced the advent faith and observe the Sabbath. Eld. Grant had no interest in Napa to defend. His mission to this place is evidently to tear down. He first gave a few of his revival and sanctification sermons, and was careful to keep back his peculiar views which would be objectionable. These discourses took well with a few who came out to hear them. Having gained this foothold, he then proposed a discussion. We have a copy of a letter from Eld. Cornell to Eld. Grant giving reasons why there should not be a discussion in Napa between two second advent ministers. The reasons are forcible. But Eld. Grant proposed to preach against us if there could be no discussion. If there had been an interest to defend in this city, represented by Eld. Grant, his consistent course would be more excusable. But as there was none, his movements can be regarded in no other light than prompted by the spirit of war, to tear down. And his course since the debate commenced fully justifies the very worst constructions that could be put upon his movements in urging the discussion. Space, time, and regard for the patience of the reader, forbid even an outline of the positions, contradictions, evasions, and dishonorable dodges of this man. Is it true that he cannot afford to be fair? Would it be fatal to his position to take an honorable course? And does his success depend upon the art of deception? He does not meet Bro. Canright’s strong points. He dare not undertake a fair and candid review of them. He will change the issue, create a man of straw, and charge upon it most valiantly. He also has a way of appealing to the prejudices of the people in a sneering way—“Now must we all be damned because we don’t keep Saturday?” It is when he is hardest pressed that he will resort to such means to confuse and to prejudice. Eld. Canright has repeatedly called Eld. Grant’s attention to the fact that he does not, and that he dare not, notice his strong points. And Eld. Canright’s repeated exposures of this fact has killed Eld. Grant in the minds of the candid. A few will cling to him to the last, while the general opinion is that his strong fort is in evasions and misrepresentations. But what makes Eld. Grant appear still more odious in the eyes of those who can read him like a book is, that all his efforts to put his opponent in false and ridiculous positions, and in handling the word of God deceitfully, are done under the garb of sanctification. The Sabbath question is a sensitive subject for discussion. But few who are convinced that the seventh day is the Sabbath ever keep it. The people generally would be gratified if the Sabbath could be disposed of in a candid and honorable way. The ministers of Napa have not been able to satisfy the people. And when it was announced that Eld. Grant, the revivalist, would take up the subject, the hopes of many were high. They have cherished the hope that the man could be found who could satisfy the people on the subject, and felt quite confident that Eld. Grant was the man. And now that they see that he fails to honorably meet the question with sound and candid arguments their disappointment is greater than before. The committee of the California Conference had their attention called to the unchristian conduct of Eld. Grant toward Bro. J. N. Andrews and Bro. and sister White in particular, and Seventh-day Adventists generally, passed a resolution that Eld. Grant should be regarded by our people as unworthy to speak in their places of worship, or to hold discussions with our ministers. The facts in the case will be given in an extra next week. Our people will then be prepared to indorse the action of the California Committee. And we trust they will be able to excuse the present discussion on the ground of its being pressed by Eld. Grant. The debate has been held four evenings, and has been adjourned from Thursday evening, the 26th, to Monday evening, the 30th, to continue three evenings. More about it next week.