Devotion to the Cause by James White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Apr 5, 1877

Devotion to the Cause.

By James White

THE present prosperous state of the cause on the Pacific Coast has been reached by sacrifices on the part of ministers and people. Elders Loughborough and Bourdeau, who landed in San Francisco with their congregation tent, July 18, 1868, set a good example of labor, industry, economy and self-sacrifice. And many of the worthy brethren have, in a degree, more or less followed the example. And the future prosperity of the cause will be determined by the action of its friends.

In the course of W. C. White in connection with the Office of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, we have a good example of that devotion to the cause of God which secures the presence of the Guiding Hand. During the first year of his connection with the SIGNS Office, before our press was set up, he cheerfully took the forms and bundles of paper several blocks to and from another office on a wheelbarrow, and labored in other humble positions for less than one dollar a day, wherever he could serve our young Office and save means.

During the second year of his connection with the Pacific Press he has served as president of the board, and also business agent. He took these positions with great reluctance, but when urged into them, he submitted and determined to do his best to build up this Office. He has succeeded in securing the confidence and respect of all connected with the Office, and of all in this city and San Francisco with whom he has done business. He has matured to a cautious, affable business man with sufficient breadth of calculation and enterprise to secure success where success is possible.

And as he leaves this post of duty to fill others more important, he leaves here a record which few young men make. He leaves a well-organized Office, with many improvements and advantages which he has introduced. He leaves a flourishing business both in the department of denominational work and in the general outside book and job department. And he leaves $2,000 net earnings above all expenses of the Office during his official year. It was hardly expected by any one that this young printing association would be self-sustaining. The most that any one hoped was that it might reach that point at the commencement of the third year. And that it has gained $2,000 the second year seems incredible.

Mrs. M. K. White, local editor of the SIGNS, has been by the side of her husband, W. C. W., in all his labors and plans of improvement in this Office, and cheerfully goes with him to any field of labor that the providence of God may indicate. They design to return to Michigan in a few weeks, give the French and German languages some attention, and hold themselves in readiness to join Elder Andrews in Europe when it shall please the General Conference to send them.

These children are worn. They must have the rest which the change they contemplate will give them. They go to Europe to counsel with Eld. Andrews respecting the location of a publishing house, the purchase and organization of it, to teach the printing art to certain young members of the church there who may be secured to that branch of the work, and to perfect the French and German languages.

When in the Rocky Mountains for health a few years since, in a solemn covenant with God, we gave ourselves, our children, and our property to God to serve his cause. And evidence that he does accept us, them, and it, constitute our highest joys. J. W.