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North Pacific Mission

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Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Apr 26, 1877

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 3, No. 17.

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North Pacific Mission.

By I. D. Van Horn

On the 9th day of March, I left Salem to spend a little time with the churches in the Walla Walla valley. On my way I had to remain in Portland over Sabbath and Sunday in order to avoid traveling on the Sabbath. Nothing occurred here of any particular interest except I formed the acquaintance of a Bro. Raymond, who was preparing to attend the Biblical Institute at Oakland.
I arrived in Walla Walla, March 14, and held meeting with the church there that evening. After a year's absence I found them very anxious and highly pleased to see me. I found a spirit of revival among them which betokened a good meeting and a good work at the time of their quarterly meeting.
March 15, I went on to Waitsburg where I preached in the evening. I was made glad to find one sister here firm in the truth. She is a member of the Walla Walla church. She lives alone with no others of like faith around her, yet she loves the truth. Here we met with such high water from recent rains, some bridges being swept away and others damaged, that we had fears we would not be able to fill our appointments at Dayton.
From the 16th to the 21st I held in all eleven meetings with the Dayton church and in the vicinity. I found them in deep trial. It took all our time to adjust the difficulties among them, which we succeeded in doing to such an extent that good feeling was restored among them. There was a good interest on the part of many outside who would have taken a stand with us had the church been in a condition to have received them. This was a great loss to the Dayton church. They ought to feel it and mourn over it many days. How sad to allow Satan to cheat them out of so rich a blessing! How sad to think that many were asking the way to Zion, but the church could not help them!
I think they have had an experience that will be of value to them hereafter. Our good Bro. Maxson rendered me much assistance in this meeting.
Thursday evening I held meeting again in Waitsburg, which was quite well attended and the influence was good. The seed sown there may yet bear much fruit.
On Friday evening, the 23d, I began meetings with the Walla Walla church, and continued over two Sabbaths and Sundays. The interest was excellent from the very beginning, and it kept growing as the week passed on. There was deep feeling. The Lord came very near to us. The church in Walla Walla never enjoyed such a blessed season before. Our congregations increased as well as the interest. Quite a number arose for prayers. Some came out clear in their experience. Members who had grown cold, revived and took hold with new courage.
Sabbath and Sunday, March 31 and April 1, was the time of our general quarterly meeting. Several of the Dayton church and nearly all of the Milton church were with us. The meeting still kept deepening in interest. Following the discourse on the Sabbath a call was made for all who wished to join the church to come forward. Nine responded; eight of whom were candidates for baptism. The church was all ready to receive them with open arms. We went to the water, found a beautiful place in Mill Creek, and the Lord blessed us there. We were made very happy in administering the solemn rite. We returned from the water with light beaming from every countenance and joy in every heart.
At 4:30 P. M., we assembled again in the house of worship. We were there this time to bring fresh to our minds the sufferings and death of our divine Redeemer. It was a happy hour. More than fifty participated in the ordinance of humility, and then in the Lord's supper. This seemed to prepare the way for the meeting at 7:30 the same evening. After a short discourse we gave the meeting into the hands of the brethren and sisters who improved the time bringing in their testimonies. We could not close the meeting before 10 o'clock.
Sunday was also a good day for the cause. Our meeting-house was full of attentive hearers both morning and evening. A good impression was left on the minds of all. Our business meeting to-day was harmonious, and showed a determination on the part of every one to push the cause on in its several branches to their utmost ability.
On Monday evening, April 2, I preached in Weston. There were but few out to hear. This place is waiting “for a more convenient season.” It may never have it.
The 3d, in company with Bro. Foss, I went on to Pendleton. We were happy to see again, in good health, and active as a young woman, our good and aged Sr. Townsend. She is devoted to the truth, has a good word for everybody, and her willing hands administer to the wants of all who stop at her good home. I gave three discourses in this place. The attendance was good, and the interest good. We have no established church here, yet there are a few representatives of the truth. Prof. Arnold, the county superintendent of public schools of Umatilla Co., Oregon, and a very able and successful teacher, is with us in theory, respects the Sabbath, and only needs a little heart-work to make him an able defender of the cause of truth. His good wife is wholly with us.
Thursday evening, the 5th, we commenced meetings with the Milton church. I remained with them till Sunday morning. The members of the church were prompt and faithful in attending the five meetings I held with them, and many others were present. Here again we met the rich blessing of the Lord. The church is in union, and every member was ready to take hold and work. The result was glorious, as was manifest before our meeting closed. Two united with the church by letter from the Dayton church, and two others came in, one of whom was baptized. All could say, “It was good to be there.”
My round of meetings in the Walla Walla valley closed here on the evening following the Sabbath, April 7. I would here thank God that he enabled me to fill every appointment, thirty-five in twenty-five days. On the whole, the weather was favorable, and we enjoyed a blessed season. The Walla Walla valley and the country around it is as good a field for labor, even now, as I know of anywhere in this N. P. Mission. Calls were pressed upon me while going my round of meetings sufficient to keep me busy for a year. Bro. Foss, a young man and a member of the Walla Walla church, will from this time on improve his gift as the way may open before him, and will answer to some of these calls.
I find the brethren and sisters willing to support the cause by their means. The cause is about self-sustaining here now. Means was handed me to run the tent in the Willamette valley the coming summer. Other points of interest I may write out hereafter.
May God bless the friends and the cause of truth all through the Walla Walla country.
I. D. VAN HORN.
Portland, Or., April 11, 1877.