The Cause on the Pacific Coast.
By James White
In no part of the great field has the cause of present truth been established without a sharp contest with the powers of darkness. This has been true in the brief history of our cause East and West. It is as true in the experience of our missionaries in Europe, as it has been in America. And as sure as our message to the world is based upon the Word of God, and our mission is in the special providence of God, just so surely will the enemy of truth contest every inch of new ground we may occupy. The outside world seems powerless to oppose our progress. In fact, opposition from the clergy is necessary to wake up the spirit of investigation, and give the truth of God a hold on the minds and hearts of the people. New fields of successful labor are being opened in all directions, and we find no difficulty, so far as the clergy is concerned, in establishing the cause wherever plain Bible truth is preached in the spirit of the gospel. The tug of war, in establishing the cause on the basis of unity and vigorous action in the entire membership, comes from want of confidence in the work on the part of those newly come to the faith. Here Satan sees his best chance to hold the work, that it may not move forward with strength and vigor. This trial came on the cause in Michigan, Wisconsin, and other of our stronger conferences, twenty years since. Younger conferences have suffered from the same want of confidence at later periods. And the result has been the purifying of the body by the separation of the discordant elements. If there be an apparent loss of membership for a time in any locality, the Lord shows his approval of the plain testimony, which discovers the dross and purifies the church, by adding worthy members to the body far exceeding those who contributed to the burdens of the cause. Such exchanges are ever great victories. And it is these exchanges of jealous, fault-finding ones for men and women of worth that is constantly adding to the permanency of our cause. In such old conferences as Michigan, where real progress is being made, and success attends every effort, such trials are in the past. At their annual camp-meetings not a word of dissatisfaction is heard in all the camp. Our organization is such, the officers of the several societies chosen by the people annually, and all the business transactions connected with the cause laid open for thorough inspection, that the opinion prevails with the body that none but malicious railers will engage in general fault-finding in those localities where our cause and work are understood. Taking this view of the subject, our people in the older conferences will not for an hour tolerate the spirit of grumbling at the leaders and managers in the cause too common in our day. From the very nature of the case the evils aforementioned may be expected on the Pacific Coast to a greater extent than on the other side of the mountains. Those who have emigrated to this country had sufficient independence and enterprise to break away from home associations, and to look after their own interests after they came here. Such persons usually have more confidence in themselves than in their neighbors, and the spirit of distrust and fault-finding will find place with this class of minds more readily than with the confiding who think their neighbor's judgment nearly as good as their own. It is with these difficulties to face that the cause has progressed on this coast. And it has been found to be a task to establish the cause in unity and efficiency upon this coast, above the influence of those who would sow the seeds of discontent and murmuring. For a time Eld. Miles Grant held an influence over some minds. But operation in his malicious course cut the last cord of sympathy through which he abused certain minds. This had a tendency to strengthen confidence in our cause. And later efforts on the part of one whose church connections have their headquarters at Marion, Iowa, are proving most beneficial to our cause. The young man evidently came to this State under the delusion that he could injure the cause, and draw off a party with him. And it is not his fault that he has not succeeded. He has labored patiently and persistently under great discouragements. But after four months of toil he has nothing to show for his work here only that he may have strengthened the hands of those whose hearts were set against the cause before he came. If he has separated a single soul from the body during his four-months' tug, we have yet to learn it. But in his utter failure, our people here have a forcible illustration of the power of truth and the feebleness of error; and the result upon the cause is stronger confidence in the work, and God's servants who give their lives to it, and sweeter union in the body. Our people should not complain of opposition. Said Christ, “It must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh.” A Judas was as necessary to the carrying out of the great plan of human redemption as a John or a Paul. These men of God had decided preferences in the part to act; and, noble souls, they could spend their breath to better account than in complaining of poor Judas. We say, let God work out his own purposes for the good of his cause and people. It should be the greatest care of our people to hold themselves in a proper position, and speak and act in harmony with the providence of God. God has greatly blessed his people and cause on the Pacific Coast. If trials have been severe at certain times, our people have had better chance to learn and become united and strong. But in the midst of the furnace the good cause has fully stood the test, and has advanced almost without a parallel. The Pacific S. D. A. P. Association owns a lot and fine building worth $18,000. Its presses and printing material are worth $12,000. And books and stock on hand will very nearly equal all debts. The SIGNS Office is a place of great activity. Gentleman who call on business, or to see what we have, and what we are doing, represent our publishing house, crowded with the presses, material, work and operatives, by a beehive. Those who have liberally donated to bring this institution into existence have the satisfaction of having lifted it at the right place at the right time. This great work now accomplished will not have to be done again. And from present indications the Office will very soon be self-sustaining. It is truly wonderful that so great a work has been accomplished in a time of severe trial. And it is truly wonderful that a handful of brethren in San Francisco, and a large proportion of those of the poor of the flock, now worship in a house which cost, including the lot, about $18,000. True, they have a debt of about $6,000 on their house; but the rent of the basement to the city for schools more than pays interest and other expenses, and they are constantly reducing the debt. But above all wonders of church progress is the noble action of the church in Oakland. They now have a church ready for dedication in the very best locality of this city, which has cost not far from $15,000. Here are three enterprises of no small magnitude which have been carried forward in this great center of the Pacific Coast (for San Francisco and Oakland are really one), in the midst of severest trials. These, if preserved from disaster, are accomplished forever. If the churches at San Francisco and Oakland require more room, and a greater outlay, they will be ten times as able to do it as they were to do what they have done. And during two or three years the publishing house will need only a few thousands annually to pay its debts, and create a capital to invest in stock. God has been testing his people on the Pacific Coast, and most of them seem to stand the test nobly. And there is at the present time a gathering influence in all our churches. We are made very happy by good news from the North Pacific Mission. Elder Van Horn has some help in the ministry. Should men in that field dedicate all to God as he has, he would soon have a half a score of fellow-laborers. Elders Healy and Wood are bringing valuable accessions to the cause in California. We hope that the time is not far distant when there will be a score of active men in this State, proclaiming the message and scattering our publications everywhere. Our people are looking forward to the Biblical Institute to be held at Oakland in April, with great interest. And the liberal action of Eastern T. and M. Societies should provoke our people west of the plains to love and good works. The “Overland Mail” brings to this Office daily nearly one hundred new subscribers for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. And Eld. Haskell, our successful Tract and Missionary manager, thinks that with proper management, and faithfulness on the part of all our conferences and churches in raising the one-third addition for T. and M. purposes, and keeping it on hand for that purpose, the lists for the SIGNS for 1878 will be raised to 25,000. So let it be. J. W.