Spread of the Message to the Pacific Coast
By J. O. CORLISS
Experiences of Former Days— No. 13
Spread of the Message to the Pacific Coast
DURING most of the year 1868 Elder White remained at his home, near Greenville, Mich., and completed the story of his early labors in the advent message, which was issued in the autumn in book form, under the title of “Life Incidents.” During the preceding winter, while this book was being prepared, Elder J. N. Andrews spent much time at the White homestead, discussing with Brother and Sister White ways and means by which to hasten the pace of the message. In the meantime, as though Providence had ordered affairs, Dr. M. G. Kellogg arrived from California, and remained several weeks. During his stay he pleaded earnestly that something be done to proclaim the message on the Pacific Coast, on the ground that everything was then ripe for its introduction there. His visit to the East on that occasion was at the instance of a mere handful of Sabbath-keepers residing in San Francisco, who, having heard that the General Conference would meet in Battle Creek early that year, had induced Brother Kellogg to take what was then that long journey to Michigan, to plead their necessities. When the conference convened in May of that year, the leading brethren were all agreed that the time had come to send the truth to California. The only question which seemed hard to settle was as to who ought to go to that distant field. Ministers were scarce, and the territory of the Middle West was an inviting one, having then been worked only in a desultory way. Many attractive fields were near at hand, and the problem of providing more distant parts with laborers was an entirely new one. And yet, strange as it may now seem, our people in general then believed that time was about to close. So anxious were those who had the matter in hand that no mistake be made, that no one ventured to suggest the names of those who ought to go. Not even was a “distributing” committee appointed. Matters seemed to rest, indeed, for several days, awaiting developments. Finally when the question was asked as to who had been called of God to undertake the mission, Elder J. N. Loughborough acknowledged that his mind had been greatly exercised in that direction, because of realistic dreams which had followed him for several nights. After this the matter was soon settled by a vote to send him and Elder D. T. Bourdeau to the Pacific slope as soon as the necessary arrangements could be completed. Everything being in readiness, these brethren left New York, June 24, going via the Isthmus of Panama, and landed in San Francisco on July 19. Arrangements were quickly made for setting up their tent in Petaluma, and meetings began August 13. So great was the interest in the message in that vicinity, that at that series of meetings, and the one which followed it, three hundred dollars' worth of publications was sold. To many, the opening of the Pacific Coast Mission was the beginning of the end. Some said that surely time could not last much longer, now that the message had gone so far abroad. One result of this sentiment was very marked, — money and goods were freely given to hasten the Lord’s work in the earth, and few were found who were laying up treasure on earth. Looking back to that time, it seems almost inexplicable that people did not then see the broad stretch of missionary ground to be covered before the Master could possibly return to earth to gather its final harvest. But without doubt their judgments were clouded by the thought that the United States having so many foreign-born dwellers, the reception of the truth in this country would affect all the countries of the world, by its alien element sending the message in writing to their native lands. But as time went on, this idea was quite thoroughly dispelled. To meet the theories of those who based the time of the Lord’s coming by the march of events about Constantinople, Elder White would frequently say, during the last few years of his life: “We are not to determine the nearness of the Lord’s coming so much by the trend of the Eastern question, as by the progress of the third angel’s message in the earth. Watch the growth of the message, brethren.” This is sound sentiment for to-day as well. When the contributions of men and means toward mission enterprises shall have given the message to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, then and not till then, may we expect the12Master’s return. But if the people were so disposed, this could be accomplished in an incredibly short time. May the event rapidly hasten.