Solano Co., Cal by W. M. HEALEY

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jan 11, 1877

Solano Co., Cal.

By W. M. HEALEY

For the last two months we have been sowing the seed of Bible “Truth” in this County, commencing at the little town of Elmira where we held twenty-five meetings in the M. E. Church (south). An effort was made to meet our positions, not with the “Word of the Lord,” but with the lock and key argument. The house was built with the express understanding that it was to be free for any and all denominations as several non-professors had contributed toward its erection for that purpose.

The Methodists gave as a reason for closing the house that I had offered books for sale in it on Sunday, and the same day (being Sunday) they took up a contribution to purchase a stove. They also claim that the fourth commandment only requires the observance of the seventh part of time. Now I was weekly observing the seventh part of time. Then pray what evil had I done? “O consistency, thou art a jewel!”

But some seed fell into good ground, and we followed the interest to Binghamton, where we held twenty-six meetings with some good results. There are ten or twelve adult persons keeping the commandments as the result of these labors, and we hope for more soon. We are having regular Sabbath meetings at Binghamton. I have given six discourses in a school-house six miles north of Elmira, where there seems to be a growing interest to know the full reason of our hope. Last night I spoke there on the subject of Spiritualism and was challenged by a Spiritualist lecturer from Winters to debate the question from a Bible standpoint, he claiming that the Bible indorses it. Pray for us that in this discussion God’s word may be triumphant.

W. M. HEALEY.

Jan. 5, 1877.