The Cause in California.
By M. E. Cornell
A BRIEF history of the rise and progress of the cause of present truth in this State may be of interest at this time. Bro. M. G. Kellogg, who is now one of our tent company, came with his family to this State from Battle Creek, Mich., in the summer of 1859, and in the autumn of 1860 located in San Francisco. For two years they stood alone in this great city, and becoming tired of living without any of like precious faith to associate with, and finding no opportunity to return to the States, Bro. K. obtained permission to use a court room where he gave lectures once a week for a few months; and when this place could no longer be had, he rented a hall for six weeks, and had three meetings each week. As the result of this effort and the reading of books lent by Bro. K., fourteen persons embraced the truth, and kept the Bible Sabbath. A Bible-class and regular Sabbath meetings were then established and kept up for two years, but some moving away, they were discontinued. In October, 1865, the brethren and sisters again met at Bro. K.'s home, and after talking over the wants of the cause here, agreed upon sending a call for help to the General Conference. This call they accompanied with $130.00. In due time there appeared in the REVIEW a note informing the petitioners that the money had been received, but that no man could be spared from the work east. In the spring of 1867, the friends again met to make an effort to get help, and decided to send Bro. Kellogg, as a delegate to the General Conference, but finding that there was not time for him to reach there in season for the Conference, they sent their call; but no one could be spared. In the following autumn Bro. K. decided to go east and remain till after the session of the General Conference in 1868, and make a personal appeal for help for this city and the Pacific coast. In answer to this appeal and the many urgent requests from the friends here, Elds. Loughborough and Bourdeau were sent out by the Conference, and they arrived in the city July 10, 1868. They made it their home for a few days at Bro. St. John's. He had been an Adventist since 1843, and embraced the Sabbath in 1863. The brethren here were urgent that the tent should be pitched and labor commenced at once in the city, but Bro. L. and B. did not see the way clear, and went up to Sonoma County, where so large a field opened before them, that until this season, they could not leave without doing injustice to the cause there. Meanwhile the anxiety of the Sabbath-keepers here to have an effort made in this city continued, and when Bro. St. John learned through the city papers that Eld. Miles Grant had arrived here, and was stopping at a hotel, he took him to his own home where he remained several weeks. The Sabbath-keepers here did all they could to get people out to hear Eld. Grant, and were themselves glad to hear on the prophecies and the nature and destiny of man, spiritualism, &c. Eld. G. succeeded in awakening quite a general interest on these questions, and between fifty and one hundred embraced the views set forth. In the height of the interest, Eld. G. left, advising his converts to join the Methodist church south, Eld. Bailey, pastor. Several who did not feel free to join the Methodist church (even after Bro. Grant had read extracts from the discipline to them), met and organized a separate society, and hired a hall so that they might have freedom to speak and hear the whole truth. Bro. St. John was one of a committee of five to arrange for hall, &c. By special request, Bro. Kellogg preached several times to this congregation numbering about fifty. Next an invitation was extended to Bro. Loughborough, and he spoke several times. Then hearing of my decision to visit San Francisco on my way to Oregon and to Washington Territory, the committee were instructed by the society to wait on me at my arrival, and secure a course of lectures before their society. But as before stated in REVIEW, on my arrival I found the tent pitched and the opening lecture given. The majority of the society have been in regular attendance at our meetings in the tent, and seem to be greatly encouraged in the increasing light of Bible truth. The interest came up rapidly and is still increasing, many coming out who did not hear Eld. Grant's lectures. We have now given thirty-five discourses and sold $125.00 worth of books. About two hundred and fifty acknowledged by a public vote that they were fully convinced that we had preached the truth on the law and Sabbath questions, and at least fifty voted a resolution henceforth to keep the Seventh-day Sabbath. Many who are disinterested think there were many more than we have stated; but we choose to make safe estimates in our reports. Only one man raised his hand for Sunday, and when we pressed him for his Scripture for it, he coolly replied that he did not believe in the Bible! These votes were taken on Sunday evening when the tent was crowded to its utmost capacity. The effect was thrilling. Since that vote we have learned of several others deciding to keep the Sabbath. Bro. M. G. Kellogg has been made to rejoice greatly, not only in seeing so many decide for the truth, but in seeing his own companion take so earnest a stand upon the truth. We were all rejoiced to hear her testimony, and see her return and express her entire confidence in this cause. Our prayer-meetings have been seasons of special interest. Many excellent testimonies have been given, and we are much encouraged. The work is the Lord's, and we unite in giving him all the glory. Our running expenses, aside from the time of those who labor with the tent, have been $178.93, of which $151.58 have been raised by collections and private donations. Eld. Bailey of the Methodist church, who professed so much interest in the truth while Eld. Grant was drawing the crowds to his church, has announced to preach against it. On Sunday last he disgusted several of his members by a discourse on the Rich Man and Lazarus, in which he attempted to establish rewards and punishments at death. Many of his members are in regular attendance at our place, and several are withdrawing from both the Methodist and the Baptist churches. It was my privilege to attend the Sabbath-school convention of Seventh-day Adventists in Sonoma County, July 4. It was held in a beautiful grove, where a stand and seats were neatly arranged, and everything passed off pleasantly and profitably. The youth and children, as well as the parents, entered into the spirit of the occasion, as was becoming their profession, and their gratitude for American independence on its anniversary day. The tables in the grove were filled with California fruits and grains, and after all had partaken with a good relish, more than seven baskets full was taken up. I was agreeably surprised at seeing so many Sabbath-keepers assembled on this coast, and to see so much devotion to the cause as they manifested. In a few minutes they subscribed more than three-fourths the amount of my entire expenses from Michigan, besides pledging liberally for tract and mission funds. After laboring so patiently, and enduring so much in pushing forward the work here in California, Bro. and sister Loughborough could but rejoice to see the happy fruit of their labors. “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but when the desire cometh it is a tree of life.” Prov. 13:12. As I saw these pilgrims saluting their numerous friends, so joyous in heart and free, I could but unite with them in thanksgiving and praise to God. At present there is a prospect of a good work here and we expect to remain until those interested are established in the truth. We desire the prayers of all for the success of the work here. Our address for several weeks to come will be San Francisco, Cal.
M. E. CORNELL.