Return to California by W. C. White

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 29, 1883

Return to California.

By W. C. White

SATURDAY night, February 17, I left Battle Creek on my way towards home. I stopped four days in Chicago, where I was joined by Bro. H. W. Kellogg, who rendered valuable assistance in the selection of carpets for our Healdsburg College boarding-house, and the purchase of some new and improved machinery for the Pacific Press bindery.

Thursday, on the way to Omaha, I stopped at Davenport to see Sister Lizzie Hornby, Secretary of the Iowa Tract Society. This society has arisen during the last four years from being one of the most discouraged, to one of the strongest and most active. It has taken the lead in some branches of work during the last two years. But this winter less has been done than formerly, probably because no State meeting has been held since the General Conference. Sister Hornby does not have the encouragement and assistance which many State Secretaries enjoy who live where there is a large church and a strong Vigilant Society.

Sabbath, February 24, I spent with Eld. Cudney at Fremont, Neb. In many respects this is a prosperous Conference. The people of this State are industrious, economical, and thrifty. Our brethren seem earnest, and determined not to lack in any good work. They are now planning the establishment of a denominational school. The brethren in this State seem to have some opportunities which older States do not offer, and if they move cautiously, I believe they will be prospered. In this I do not refer to financial success, for I am very doubtful whether any of these State schools can pay their way without help from the Conference, or donations from the brethren who prize the value of education.

At Omaha I met Bro. Wilton Smith, who will labor a year at the Pacific Press as stenographer. We purchased third-class tickets by way of Denver, Pueblo, Deming, and Los Angeles, for we wished to stop at Denver and Los Angeles.

Thursday I spent at the home of Eld. E. R. Jones, Boulder, Colorado. This new Conference is composed of some earnest souls who embraced the truth in Colorado, and a larger number of brethren who have moved in from the East. It is not an easy field to labor in. Many of the people are transient, being tourists, prospectors, or speculators, and a smaller proportion seem to be interested in religious truths than in some other new States. I believe the work will be most rapidly advanced in this State by the thorough organization and renewed efforts of the missionary forces.

Our long, tiresome journey from Denver to Oakland was made as pleasant as possible. We had the best of company in our car, and received much more courteous treatment from the railroad employees than on a similar trip one year ago. I reached home the morning of March 10, and found my family and friends in good health. The three and a half months of my absence have been a very busy time at the Pacific Press. The SIGNS is more widely circulated than ever before, and our subscription books have been meeting with a favorable reception. We hope to see much good done by our colporteurs and canvassers.

Of course my absence has thrown additional labor upon others, especially C. H. Jones and W. K. Vickery, but aside from the injustice done them by this additional burden, I cannot see that the work has suffered from my absence. It is a pleasure to be connected with the faithful workers at the Pacific Press.

At Healdsburg we find the school just commencing the spring term. All of the teachers are of good courage, and are doing faithful work. Professor Brownsberger is in much better health than last fast. It was a pleasant surprise to see several brethren at the school who have felt that they should fit themselves for usefulness in missionary work, but who have been hindered heretofore by unfavorable circumstances.

The boarding-house is nearly plastered, and the work of finishing is well under way. We are very much pleased with the building and the way it has been constructed. It is plain in appearance, but commodious and substantial. It will be finished in time to furnish during the summer vacation, and will be opened at the commencement of the fall term in July.

We find that the industrious sisters of the Healdsburg church, and some of the students, have anticipated the wants of the boarding-house, and at no small sacrifice to themselves, have met each Sunday in the large new attic to make bedding for the house, and comfortables, sheets, and pillows have multiplied rapidly under their hands.

The Sabbath-school and church have outgrown the measure of the Healdsburg meeting-house and occupy at present the college chapel.

To-morrow we return to Oakland to resume our work at the Pacific Press, and to prepare for the annual meeting in April. W. C. WHITE.

Healdsburg, March 25, 1883.