The North Pacific Mission.
From Bro. Van Horn's report to our late General Conference, we take the following interesting account of the North Pacific Mission:— Sixteen months ago, I, in company with my companion, left San Francisco, California, to labor in this Mission. During this time, we have labored according to our best judgment, and God has blessed that labor to the salvation of a few who have been willing to obey the truth. When we arrived at the Walla Walla Valley, we found about thirty keeping the Sabbath, and a church of eighteen members partially organized. They had adopted the plan of Systematic Benevolence, with a pledge of about one hundred dollars per year. Our first meeting with them was held in a small school-house on the Walla Walla River, in Oregon, about ten miles from the city of Walla Walla. About twenty Sabbath-keepers were present, and S. B. was re-organized, and increased to $185.00 for the year 1874. Since that first meeting, we have pitched the tent in five places with some believers as the result in each place. The number of Sabbath-keepers has been increased to about one hundred. Seventy-five are enrolled on the church record at Walla Walla as members of the church. At the beginning of the year 1875, at the quarterly meeting held Jan. 2, 3, 4, S. B. was pledged to the amount of $270.00. A meeting-house has been built in Walla Walla, costing $3000, $2000 of which has been paid, and provision has been made for the payment of the balance. Considering the hard times for money, and that wheat is only 40c per bushel, our people have showed a zeal for the truth in building their house of worship which has astonished the people, and which has been a subject of remark even in the newspapers. This Valley, or upper country as it is called, has now been canvassed as far as the use of the tent is concerned. School-houses and neighborhoods might be entered with profit. The tent is packed, ready for shipping to the Willamette Valley. We planned to commence the work at Oregon City, but have been prevented by the sickness of my wife. With her present poor health, I could not carry on a tent-meeting alone and do justice to the work. This is a very unfavorable country for persons with weak lungs. There are several Sabbath-keepers living in the Willamette Valley, who report to me that the way is open in several places, and that the people are waiting and anxious to hear the truth. This is a large and promising field for labor, and there should be sufficient help here to carry on the work without interruption. There are two men here who have proved themselves of sufficient ability to present the truth in an acceptable manner before the people. One of them, Bro. J. F. Wood, had labored with success before I came here, but his family, debts, and other hinderances, prevent his engaging in the work at present. The other, Bro. A. T. Jones, is a young man, a soldier in the United States service, who is here with the garrison stationed in Fort Walla Walla. He came out clear and decided on the truth about one year ago. Having but little duty to do as a soldier, he has employed the greater portion of the time in study, with the idea that as soon as he was released from the army he would immediately enter into the service of the Lord by preaching the truth. He has already preached a number of times to the entire satisfaction of those who heard him. His term of service in the U. S. army will close the 3d of November next. At our last quarterly meeting, held July 3, 4, the church passed the following resolution respecting this young man by a unanimous vote:—
Resolved, That this church petition the General Conference to grant Bro. Alonzo T. Jones a license to improve his gift in preaching this truth to the people of this North Pacific Mission. By order of the church, I would hereby add my recommend to the above resolution, and say that I believe him every way worthy of your favorable action. We have full confidence in the truth, and in the different institutions established by our people to carry it on. Our courage is good to labor in this cause. I do not ask you to send any one to help me, though with my wife's present health I am unable to do much, and a good, efficient laborer, would be of great service to the cause here. Should my wife become a confirmed consumptive, and of this there are some indications already, it may be duty for me to return home, that she may be among her friends. We shall hope and pray that this may not be necessary; and we believe that we have the prayers of all our brethren. My wife especially desires you to pray for her. May the Lord aid you by his Spirit in all your deliberations and decisions; and may the mighty work move on until all the world shall hear the last note of warning; and may we all, though weary and worn, be gathered home, with all the faithful, to rest.