The Pacific Mission

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Nov 11, 1875

The Pacific Mission.

THE FUTURE.

By the request, and the unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees of the Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, we have consented to take charge of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and act as business agent of the Association. We are to make full reports to the Board at the close of each three months of all the business transactions of the Office.

But it is at great sacrifice that we consent to take the responsibilities of the Office, to meet the difficulties, and endure the privations and hardships unavoidable in building up a new institution, among comparative strangers, which institution must for a time be mainly supported by the charities of our people. We have passed through this struggle once, by the help of God, in bringing into existence and nourishing the Publishing Association located at Battle Creek, Mich., until its capital stock amounts to $100,000. And this handsome sum is the property of our people, which has cost them less than $40,000, including donations, legacies, and shares of stock. Here is an amount of $60,000 which has been worked out by faithful management, hard labor, unremitting care and vigilance.

And we are still willing to be a servant of the church, if we can have the confidence of those for whom we labor. We are willing to sacrifice means, deprive ourselves of pleasures, and carry a double burden of cares, if we may live in the sympathies and love of those for whom we labor. During the last twenty-five years we have passed over Suspension Bridge more than fifty times, and have never had four hours to spare to stop over one train to go to see the grand Niagara. We are spending our fourth winter in California, and have not found time to visit the Geysers, Petrified Forests, Big Trees, or the Yosemite. We do not expect ever to enjoy the sight of them. We cannot spare time to see them in this world, and we are quite sure they will not exist in the next.

We now enter cheerfully upon the work of building up the publishing interests of the cause on the Pacific Coast; and we shall greatly prize the hearty co-operation of all its friends. Both we, and the friends associated with us, shall abide by the decisions of the Board of Directors, and the Officers of the California Conference, as to the sums we shall receive for future services during the brief period it may be our and their duty to be connected with the work on this coast. Neither we nor those associated with us in the Office are in the least dependent upon the Pacific Printing Association for a position that will give support. This must be evident to all from the fact that while common laborers and common carpenters of our brethren in California have received from twenty to thirty-five cents an hour for their labor on and about the building, our friends, competent to edit the SIGNS, and keep the books of the Association, have labored for half of one year for the mere sums of from seven to eleven cents an hour. We have offered these same persons salaries at the rate of from six to ten hundred dollars a year, and good California board, to assist in getting out a new hymn book, and preparing several other volumes for the press. But they cannot leave the SIGNS Office. And we have sent for Mrs. W.'s niece to come from the East to assist in this work. We pay her fare to California, and a salary besides, to do the very work these would do, could they be released from the Office. A brother wrote to this Office that he would like sister Driscall's place. But could he live on a salary of nine cents an hour? Our California friends generally are ignorant of how matters stand. We descend to particulars, that they may better understand how to put their feet on that grovelling jealousy which, if it should bear rule, might drive these eastern, self-sacrificing servants of the cause from the State in disgust before their work shall be finished.

We solemnly believe the time is not far distant when we shall be called to establish the press on the Atlantic. Then it will doubtless be the choice of those associated with us in the work here to be with us there. Both we and they will hail with joy the day when we can be released from our present post of duty by competent and devoted helpers taking our places, who will as cheerfully sacrifice to keep the office up in good condition, as we have done in bringing it into existence. While we shall remain, may it ever be our highest ambition to labor in the fear of God, with the true spirit of sacrifice to build up the publishing branch of the cause on the Pacific Coast.

We, and those associated with us, would be very happy to have the fullest sympathy and the hearty co-operation of all in our labors and sacrifices on the Pacific Coast. But we can hardly expect this at present, in a new locality, where selfishness and want of confidence, and their legitimate offspring are, and where some come in among us with the same spirit. The imprudent course of one whose influence among our people we have already referred to, shook the general confidence to a greater or less degree, and, in the minds of a self-reliant and independent people, caused a feeling of distrust which ripened into jealousy and envy, if not malice, in the minds of those who ever hold themselves open to the temptations of Satan.

This is a great misfortune. For while probably not one in ten of those who have unwittingly fallen into it will ever be fully rescued from the snare of Satan, they will, doubtless, continue to make it very hard for those who are laboring with a deep, unselfish interest to build up the cause. But, by the grace of God, the influence of these shall not hinder us in our work. They may add to our perplexities, and make the sojourn of our eastern friends in this country far less pleasant. But we shall go forward in the line of our duty, in the fear of God, looking for the reward in a Land where selfishness, jealousy, envy, and murmuring will not be.

But while we reluctantly speak in terms of sorrow and deep regret of only a portion of those who profess our faith, we are happy to say that there are true-hearted men and women among our people on the Pacific Coast. We have found none more true and devoted anywhere. To these we look in confidence for co-operation and true Christian sympathy in our labors of benevolence and love. We shall be happy to see these at our Office, at our home in Oakland, and at their homes and their places of worship.

We have received a very fine Stock Book as a present from the Michigan Association. Certificates of stock should be issued to all those in California who have paid the amount, no more and no less, that they wish to hold in shares. We have waited for the payment of pledges made more than a year since before issuing certificates. We will, however, issue them immediately to those who may request them, and to all a long time before the next election.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

Volume one of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES cost, postage paid, $6,190.93. But this has been accomplished by economy, such as using the wheelbarrow instead of the express wagon, night work, and working for nothing, and for sums near to nothing, which has probably lowered those who have made these sacrifices in the estimation of our brethren in California, who have been accustomed to do business in a more fashionable, business-like manner. But notwithstanding the economy and self-sacrifice of those who have conducted the SIGNS, which has been more than any liberal people would ask, the expenditures on the first volume of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES exceed receipts $3,532.88, and whoever will take the trouble to cast his eye upon the receipts on the last page will see that the SIGNS is still running behind about one hundred dollars each issue. We have plainly stated the financial condition of the SIGNS Office, and have delayed and waited for responses from patrons, and but little help comes, as the receipts plainly show. If our liberal friends wish to relieve us from our present humiliating manner of doing business now is a good time.

HOW SHALL THE SIGNS BE SUPPORTED?

The lowest estimate for 5,000 copies of the SIGNS, one year, postage paid, is $9,000. We hope for 1,000 full paying subscribers at $3.00 each a year, which will amount to $3,000. And the next 4,000 copies at $1.50 would amount to $6,000, making the sum of $9,000 for the first 5,000 subscribers. The next 2,000 copies could be afforded for $3,000, and at the rate of $1.50 a year to any amount, as all the cost of editing and type setting is put in the estimate of the first 5,000.

We ask our friends in the Pacific Coast States and Territories to give us 1,000 full paying subscribers, and 2,000 at half price. And let our numerous eastern friends furnish 10,000 subscribers. Our eastern people will, we are confident, act the part we here assign to them. And we cannot ask all our friends on the Pacific Coast to furnish less than 3,000 subscribers at a cost of $6,000 per year.

Our eastern friends may object to these suggestions on the ground that the Voice of Truth has been furnished for $1.00 a year. But such a hazardous proposition will never be made again. They should here understand that a paper the size of the Voice, the SIGNS, and the Review, in which there is not a single paying advertisement, cannot be sent out, postage paid, for $1.00 a year. It may also be objected, that the Review is only $2.00 a year, while the full price of the SIGNS is $3.00 a year. Very true, but the Review has 5,000 regular subscribers at $2.00, which amounts to $10,000 for 5,000 copies, and we have estimated 5,000 copies of the SIGNS at $9,000, which is $1,000 less. Why the price of the first 1,000 copies is put at $3.00 each is to make up for furnishing the next 4,000 copies at $1.50 a year.

The Review is self-sustaining at $2.00 a year. When the SIGNS shall have 5,000 regular subscribers, it can be furnished, postage paid, at $2.00 a year. We do not ask any person to take the SIGNS in exchange for the Review. We do not ask those who are too poor, or too stingy to take both papers, to take the SIGNS at all. But what we do ask of our friends who are able, and who wish to help the SIGNS Office just $1.50, is to take the paper one year at $3.00. If you have both papers, then after you have gleaned the good of both, you can hand them to your neighbors and friends.

During the year 1875 we have sacrificed $3,000 in the cause on the Pacific Coast. And we ask the friends of our general cause everywhere to show their sympathy with us in our efforts and sacrifices at this time by things tangible in the way of gold, silver, and greenbacks. Mrs. W. and the writer feel that we have light for the people. We are confident that God has committed a ministry and mission to us through the press, and we ask his living people everywhere to help us. Before the middle of December we shall issue our first large edition of 13,000 copies of the SIGNS, so as to be able to furnish it to all new subscribers on and after that time. With that number we shall commence sketches of Mrs. W.'s life and experience, and also a series of sermons on the reasons of our faith and hope which shall extend one year from that time.

We shall also commence at first principles and continue the several branches of the faith of Seventh-day Adventists in order, as our experienced ministers give courses of lectures in new fields. By the grace of God nothing shall deter us from this grand object. Should we fail to keep up the series with matter from our own pen, then we shall select from books written by others. Our people shall not be disappointed this time. Those associated with us are awake to the wants of the cause, and have shown themselves competent to carry out our plans should we fail. But God will help us to accomplish all his Spirit impresses us to do.

The Voice of Truth has not been what we intended it should be. It has been but little more than the Review with a new heading. It never has contained the reasons of our faith, covering the whole ground, as we designed, and as the SIGNS shall. And it has contained many things of a local nature, and which could not interest any only our people. Elder Smith has been from the Office a part of the time, but when in Battle Creek he cannot do everything. He should be in the field holding Biblical Institutes in different States, and at different points where his counsel and help are needed on important matters pertaining to the general good of the cause.

There should be more of that true spirit of devotion to the work, and real enterprise to improve and excel at the Review Office which is already manifesting itself at the SIGNS Office. Our print, or “press-work,” as the printers term it, is excellent, while that done at the Review Office is decidedly bad. With equal advantages in other respects, the more experienced men at the Office in Battle Creek should excel our pressman, who had no knowledge whatever of press-work three months since. The want of a good pressman was our greatest anxiety in establishing the press in California. But to prepare for the emergency, a few weeks before the new press came, our pressman took his heavy forms of type across the bay to San Francisco, and begged the chance to work them himself on the press of another, paying the usual rates for press-work, and doing the work himself for nothing. Thus he gathered up the art in a few weeks, and now excels as a pressman. We have more interest in the Review than we can possibly have in the SIGNS. And while we thank Elder Smith for his compliment to the SIGNS, we sympathize with him in deploring the state of things at the Review Office, which, without decided improvement, must result in a change of hands very soon. We are both grieved that men with every facility for printing of first quality under the heavens should not do first-class work.

There is no want of devotion to the work, and the spirit of true enterprise in the line of real improvements on the part of our wide-awake associates at the SIGNS Office. They are bound to excel and make the enterprise a glorious success, pay, or no pay. They will prove very hard to starve out. And we do not wish to conceal the fact, that we covet that spirit of competition which will improve both papers. “Competition the life of business,” is a maxim which may apply, in a restricted sense, to religious printing as well as to other branches of business. God save us from a dull, stupid monopoly, especially in printing at a time like this. We expect that our helpers, in their inexperience, will make some mistakes; but that will afford them a fresh opportunity for improvement.

The Advent Review and Herald of the Sabbath is our church paper. That is the proper medium through which to give appointments of Tract and Missionary meetings, and explanations, and directions, and the reports of the workings of the Society. As such, we urgently recommend that paper to our people on the Pacific Coast, as well as all other parts of the field. That paper carries the idea in the very title that it is denominational, which makes it objectionable on first sight to those who cherish feelings of prejudice against our faith. While, therefore, the Review is adapted to fill its place as a church paper, it is not the best for the missionary field.

The SIGNS OF THE TIMES is a title that well expresses the character of the paper, and yet is sufficiently general not to be objectionable at first sight. In fact, it is a heading that will strike the eye of the beholder favorably. We briefly state our plans as follows:

1. The SIGNS will be free from those church matters of no special interest to new readers. These things, sometimes objectionable to those who cannot justly appreciate them, will find their proper place in the Review.

2. The SIGNS will give the reasons of our faith and hope in a series of articles, one in each number, commencing Dec. 9, and extending at least one year. These articles will be written in a free style, easy to be understood, setting forth the Bible doctrines of S. D. Adventists. Those who wish to have our views and positions set before their friends in a connected, clear, and favorable manner will do well to avail themselves of the present opportunity of sending our paper to them one year at least. We shall expect very many subscribers through the influence, and by the persistent effort of individuals.

3. With the same issue we shall commence sketches of the life and experience of Mrs. W., and continue them in each number. These sketches will be presented in a style, and be sustained by such proofs, as will meet the demands of the inquiring public. For some time we have felt that it was due the public that the many remarkable incidents and facts in the Christian experience and labors of Mrs. W. be made known. In the providence of God she has been led to take a position before the world as a speaker and writer, and the people should know more of her life, Christian experience, and work. Her name is widely known, chiefly owing to the fact that almost every opponent of our faith, in preaching and writing against the Sabbath and other Bible sentiments our people hold, refer to Mrs. W. and her work in a scoffing style in order to please the unholy rabble, and prejudice honest people. And many, from want of knowledge of the facts in the case, take unfavorable views of the work of God in the last message with which Mrs. W. has held close connection from its earliest existence. It is therefore necessary for the good of the cause of Bible truth that her work be correctly represented, and properly defended before the people.

These sketches may occupy a space in the SIGNS for one year or more, after which we may put them in a humble volume for very extensive circulation. Those who are anxious to learn the facts in the case, and do not wish to wait one year or more for the volume, should at once subscribe for our paper.

4. Besides gathering brief abstracts from the progress department of the Review, and some other important reports of the progress of the cause in Europe and elsewhere, the SIGNS will not copy from the Review to any great extent. It will contain live matter, new and old, carefully selected, and faithfully prepared for the new readers in the missionary field.

5. The SIGNS will also contain a Health Department, general Religious Miscellany, and matters of secular News and Miscellany. These will be very select and valuable, and will fill one page or more of the paper, making it quite an object, not only for our brethren to subscribe for the SIGNS, but for other candid, reading people within the range of missionary workers.

6. Finally, it shall be the highest object of the conductors of the SIGNS to make the paper interesting, useful, and in every way a paper that our people will wish to send to their friends, and such as the Tract and Missionary workers can offer to the people of the outside world for the small sum of $1.50 to those able to pay for it.

We believe there is no form of reading matter that will accomplish as much good for the amount of money as the regular visits weekly of a paper such as we design to issue for the especial benefit of the Tract and Missionary Societies. And we would say to individuals who furnish our paper to their friends, and also to missionary workers who furnish it to those who do not pay, that if in doing their duty in seeing whether the paper is valued or not, you wish to change it from a disinterested receiver to another, you can do so at any time; but we cannot consent to refund money paid for the SIGNS.

We now ask for 10,000 new subscribers before the first day of January, 1876. We shall issue the SIGNS only once in two weeks until December 9, then we shall commence with at least 13,000 copies, and wait until we have that number of subscribers, so that all the readers can have the matter in order, from first to last, without receiving bundles of back numbers. We notify our co-laborers that there is no time to be lost.

The fact that money is scarce must not stand in the way of our work. Let more energy take the place of the want of cash, and let the work move on. This is no time to slack our hands, and fail to do our duty. That we should increase, and not decrease, our efforts, and work as never before, must appear evident to all who accept as the teachings of the Spirit of God through Mrs. W. the following

REMARKABLE DREAM.

Several speakers had addressed large and attentive congregations at the camp-meeting at Rome, N. Y., on First-day, September 12, 1875. The following night I dreamed that a young man of noble appearance came into the room where I was, immediately after I had been speaking. This same person has appeared before me in important dreams to instruct me from time to time during the past twenty-six years. Said he, You have called the attention of the people to important subjects, which, to a large number, are strange and new. To some they are intensely interesting. The laborers in word and doctrine have done what they could in presenting the truth, which has raised inquiry in minds and awakened an interest. But unless there is a more thorough effort made to fasten these impressions upon minds, your efforts now made will prove nearly fruitless. Satan has many attractions ready to divert the mind, and the cares of this life, and the deceitfulness of riches all combine to choke the seed of truth sown in the heart, and in most cases it bears no fruit.

In every effort, such as you are now making, much more good would result from your labors if you had appropriate reading matter ready for circulation. Tracts upon the important points of truth for the present time should be handed out freely to all who will accept them, without money and without price, which might eventually result in a hundred-fold returns to the treasury. You are to sow beside all waters.

The press is a powerful means to move the minds and hearts of the people. And the men of this world seize the press and make the most of every opportunity to get poisonous literature before the people. If men, under the influence of the spirit of the world, and of Satan, are earnest to circulate books, tracts, and papers of a corrupting nature, you should be more earnest to get reading matter of an elevating and saving character before the people.

There should be more earnest efforts made to enlighten the people upon the great subject of health reform. Tracts of four, eight, twelve, sixteen, and more pages, containing pointed, well-written articles on this great question should be scattered like the leaves of autumn. Small tracts on the different points of Bible truth applicable to the present time should be printed in different languages and scattered where there is any probability that they would be read. God has placed at the command of his people advantages in the press, which, combined with other agencies, will be successful in extending the knowledge of the truth. Tracts, papers, and books, as the case demands, should be circulated in all the cities and villages in the land. Here is missionary work for all to engage in.

There should be men trained for this branch of the work who will be missionaries, and will circulate publications. They should be men of good address, who will not repulse others or be repulsed. This is a work which would warrant men to give their whole time and energies as the occasion demands.

Those who distribute tracts gratuitously should take other publications to sell to all who will purchase them. Persevering efforts will result in great good. Very many souls have been converted to the truth by reading papers and tracts alone, who would not have been reached without them. God has committed to his people great light. This is not for them to selfishly enjoy alone, but to let its rays shine forth to others who are in the darkness of error.

You are not as a people doing one-twentieth part of what might be done in spreading the knowledge of the truth. Very much more can be accomplished by the living preacher with the circulation of papers and tracts, than by the preaching of the word alone without the publications. The press is a powerful instrumentality which God has ordained to be combined with the energies of the living preacher to bring the truth before all nations, kindreds, tongues and people.

Many minds can be reached in no other way. Here is true missionary work in which labor and means can be invested with the best results. There has been too great fear of running risks, and moving out by faith, and sowing beside all waters. Opportunities have been presented which have not been grasped and made the most of. There has been too great fear of venturing. True faith is not presumption, but it ventures much. Precious light and powerful truth is needed to be brought out in publications without delay. There is much lost in waiting to originate matter while there is already in print that which is valuable and appropriate for this time. These delays risk too much. Opportunities are lost which might be improved. Said he, Your husband and yourself can do much in the preparation of publications. You have a better knowledge of the wants of the people than many others. God has brought you in close connection with himself, and has given you an experience in this work which he has not given many others.

He has connected you with this powerful agency—the publishing department. Others cannot take your place in this, and do the work God has appointed you to do. Satan has been making special efforts to discourage your husband by controlling the minds of some who ought to be helpers. They have cherished temptations. They have been murmurers, and have been jealous without cause. God will not leave nor forsake his servant while he clings by faith to his wisdom and strength. He has upheld him through the ministration of angels that excel in strength. His strength has not come from natural causes, but from God. He will be beset with the enemy on the right hand and on the left. Satan will lead the minds of some to be distrustful of his motives, and to murmur against his plans, while he is following the leadings of the Spirit of God. In God he must trust, for he is the source of his strength. The enemy, through agents, will harass and vex his patience, for the infirmities of human nature are upon him, and he is not infallible. But if he clings in humble confidence to God and walks softly before him, God will be to him a present help in every emergency.

Your husband must not be discouraged in his efforts to encourage men to become workers, and responsible for important work. Every man whom God will accept, Satan will attack. If they disconnect from Heaven, and imperil the cause, their failures will not be set to his account or to yours; but to the perversity of the nature of the murmuring ones, which they would not understand and overcome. These men whom God has tried to use to do his work, and who have failed, and brought great burdens upon those who were unselfish and true, have hindered and discouraged more than all the good they have done. And yet this should not hinder the purpose of God in having this growing work, with its burden of cares, divided in different branches, and laid upon men who should do their part, and lift the burdens when they ought to be lifted. These men must be willing to be instructed, and then God can fit them and sanctify them, and impart to them sanctified judgment, that what they undertake they can carry forward in his name.

Your husband must be humble, and trustful, and walk carefully and tremblingly before God, for the ground whereon he treadeth is holy. God has strengthened him for great emergencies. He has given him strength, and light, and power like a running stream. This is not of himself, but of God. He has an inexhaustible fountain to draw from. He must not forget that he is mortal, and subject to temptations and weariness. His mind should have periods of rest, which will result in great good to himself, as well as to the cause of God which he represents. He can with a mind invigorated do a greater amount, with greater perfection, than he can accomplish by steady labor and constant effort with a wearied mind.

Elder Andrews is God's chosen servant to do a special work; but he made a mistake in keeping the Sabbath History from the people in order to present a perfect work, and in allowing his mind to be diverted from the work God would have him do. He should have given this important work much sooner, and then improved it as he could do so. The enemy has been permitted to gain a march upon us in consequence of long delays on our part. He will throw hinderances in our path, and if we will be hindered he will exult. Long delays must not be permitted. Satan must be met in his bold advances, and be repulsed.

Elder Haskell has done a good work in the tract and missionary department. He needs to ever connect closely with Heaven, that he may be led and taught of God. He has made some mistakes, but not intentionally. His zeal and concentrated efforts in one direction led him to lose sight of other important considerations. He has pressed the subject of giving means in some cases too far. Some of the poor have done more than they should, while those who have been entrusted as God's stewards with a large amount of means, have done but little. God's servants must discriminate, and work cautiously, judiciously, and ever give right counsel to the liberal, conscientious souls who are poor. God will have his servants connect so closely with him that they will have the mind of Christ.

WE GO FORWARD BY FAITH.

By faith in God, in his holy word, in the doctrines and positions of Seventh-day Adventists, and faith in the providential dealings of the great Disposer of events, in opening the way before us, and helping us hitherto, we go forward. Faith, more faith, is needed as the very mainspring of all our efforts. As a people we must come nearer to God by confession of our sins, and by those sacrifices which his cause demands of us to make at this time.

One will show in his life all the faith he has. Says the apostle James, “I will show thee my faith by my works.” Faith in the soon coming of Christ is wanted. Faith, brethren, a little more faith in the last message, and in the great work it is doing, and is destined to accomplish in the world, is very much needed to keep you from the spirit of this world. We must venture out by faith on the light God gives us. This has been necessary from the very commencement of this work.

Twenty-three years since, when we were not worth a dollar of the perishable things of this world, and had but a few scores of denominational friends, we issued 24,000 copies of one of our Sabbath tracts. And as we asked some of our brethren of small faith, not as large even as a mustard seed, to assist us in meeting the expenses, they murmured at our risky course. They could not see why we should publish 24,000 books for a few score of brethren to read. But we did not publish them for the brethren to read, but to go to the outside world. And by faith they went out, and brought in hundreds to the faith. And since that edition was exhausted, we have published more than 100,000 copies of the same work. As a people we want more good Advent faith, that brings the soon coming kingdom with all its rewards, and glories very near, and causes this poor little world to recede.

Come nearer to God, brethren, and get the missionary spirit, and learn to love poor sinners more than the good things of this life. Come where the Spirit of God shall rest upon you, where you may feel happy in using a portion of your means, and a share of your time in missionary work. Resist the spirit of the world. Resist the Devil that he may flee from you. In one sense, he is a conquered foe. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you. It is your privilege to walk with God, commune with Christ, be guarded by good angels, and filled with the Holy Spirit. There is work to be done, sacrifices to be made, and crowns of glory to win. Are you in doubts and darkness? Then do the works of faith, and light will shine away the darkness.