Missionary Work at Healdsburg College.
It may be of interest to the friends of the College, and all missionary workers, to learn of the progress of the work in the T. and M. Society with which our students are connected. During the last college year it was decided to hold the regular meetings of the society weekly as well as quarterly. Since that time, College students have constituted almost the entire membership and active working force. The zeal and interest which they have manifested are truly commendable, and the results of their labor highly gratifying. Even some under sixteen years of age have become active members, engaging with the others in mailing our publications, writing and receiving letters, and distributing reading matter. Almost all of those who went out into the field to labor during the summer vacation, under the direction of the Conference, obtained their first experience in connection with this society. The success of their efforts, with the blessing of God, is already well known to the readers of the Signs. They rendered great assistance in raising up the company at San Jose, and many copies of "Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation" were sold by them during the summer. Many interesting and encouraging letters have been received by the society since its organization, extracts from a few of which are here given. The following is from a letter received from a gentleman in Kansas, who had previously accepted our views on the nature and destiny of man. He writes:— "Yours at hand. As to the books, I ask a little more time, as I have been extremely and unusually busy. Lately I have taken up Eld. Smith's 'Daniel' and perused it with interest. I have long wished that I might understand the true principle of interpreting prophecy. My mind has wavered between the literal and the allegorical methods. Latterly, since I changed my views on the state of the dead and the destiny of the wicked, I have inclined rather to the literal meaning of God's word. The Bible is too much of a fog-bank on any other hypothesis. And the mystical nonsense that the meaning of the Scriptures was divinely intended to be hidden beyond all finding out, I cannot brook. I often think that your conception of the kingdom of God, as a thing wholly in the future and to be ushered in by a soon-coming Messiah, is verily so. In many respects my faith is confirmed in harmony with yours. I am willing to walk in the light when it dawns upon me. Pray for me, dear brother, that I may be directed of the Lord. If you do not need the books for awhile, I will read more, or will pay you for them ere-long. Fraternally yours." The writer of the above is a prominent Baptist minister and editor of a paper. Another writes: "I have received copies of your truly interesting paper, for which I return my sincere thanks. If I should leave this city, as I now contemplate, I will drop you a few lines. I will be glad to hear from you again, and to receive and read your excellent journal." We have had, as a society, much to be thankful for, and feel full of courage and zeal in this glorious work. And why should not all feel thus who are engaged in the Master's vineyard? Have we not the sure promises of God upon which to rely? "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." Ps. 126:5. "Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters." Isa. 32:20. "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isa. 55:11. Healdsburg College, Aug. 30. C. C. RAMSEY.