The Cause in California.
By James White
We are greatly cheered by the good news of the progress of the work in California. The Signs of the Times for Dec. 3 says of the tent-meeting in progress in San Francisco:— “We had a very interesting Sabbath meeting last Sabbath in San Francisco. Part of our brethren were over from Oakland. One hundred were present. A discourse was given and many encouraging testimonies were borne. At the same time about thirty were having a meeting at Oakland. On first-day morning we retired to the bay, and five were baptized. Among these were one Dane, a Bro. Jessen, and a sister Johnson, formerly a Catholic nun. The baptizing season was very interesting. Not far from a score of new ones have taken their stand in San Francisco, and still we labor on. Pray for us.” There is a power in simple Bible truth when attended to the mind by the Holy Spirit that is beyond human conception. Again the Signs speaks of eight souls who have embraced the Lord’s Sabbath by reading before one of them had heard preaching. “At our tent meeting in San Francisco, Sabbath, Nov. 14, there met with us a brother from Lassen County, three hundred miles distant. He was one of eight in the place where he lives who have embraced the present truth, and commenced the observance of the Sabbath. He had the privilege of hearing two discourses while with us, which were the first and only Advent preaching he had ever heard. The other seven had heard none. Their friends in Napa had sent them tracts, pamphlets, and papers, which, with God’s blessing, has decided eight. ‘But the end is not yet;’ for a number of their neighbors are reading, and are about convinced that we have the truth. There is missionary work for District No. 6. A preacher of present truth would be more than welcome in their midst.” The Signs takes the liberty to publish extracts from three private letters addressed to Eld. Canright, from Santa Clara Co., and we are more than happy to repeat these extracts, as they are from those who embraced the Sabbath of the Lord only the last summer. The Signs says:— “Bro. Kundert of San Jose writes Nov. 10, ‘We had a good meeting here last Sabbath. The brethren and sisters seemed to take hold with the right spirit, and some are getting rid of their idols.’ “Bro. Stephens writes from Santa Clara, Nov. 12: ‘Dear Brother, I have felt so happy for the last few days that I thought I would write to let you know what the Lord is doing for us in Santa Clara. Our hearts are now very hopeful, and we feel that we will shortly have more Sabbath-keepers. There has been a society started here for debate upon Bible questions. At last the Sabbath question has been sprung. Bro. Swinnerton and I have defended the Lord’s Sabbath for two Sundays, and will again next Sunday. We believe the Lord will give some fruits from it, as several are inquiring into these things to see whether they are so. Brn. Smith, Swinnerton, and myself have been out evenings to visit those who are aroused on Advent doctrine, to converse with them. We hope our work will not be in vain. We hope to have a strong church at Santa Clara yet. Mrs. O. rejoices that her daughter in San Francisco has commenced to keep the Sabbath from attending meetings in the big tent. The church here remember your endeavors in their prayers.’ “Bro. Swinnerton writes, Nov. 11, ‘We have had two discussions on the Sabbath question. None stood by me but Bro. Stephens. The Lord gave us both liberty to stand for the truth. We had opposition from Methodists, Presbyterians, Adventists, and infidels. But I observed one queer thing: So far they have not attempted a reply to our positions. “I have reserved my best points for the closing round, but the negative are about spun out. They have proved (?) that the Sabbath was a merciful provision for man, but not binding. That it is a yoke of bondage, but would have been a good thing for the ‘Jews’ while in Egypt. (I guess so.) That the Sabbath has been lost, and the first day found—which is the true day. That it is impossible to keep any day, and, finally, the Sabbath has been abolished, because it was not commanded over again. Their last ditch, next Sunday, is the two covenants. “What a soul-inspiring thing truth is, is it not? I trust you will come and see us soon, and tell us how you do. I feel determined to live and die on the altar of the Lord. Love, prayers, and sympathy, for all the brethren and sisters in the truth.’” A letter just received from Eld. Loughborough reports a later Sabbath meeting, which he held in the hall at San Francisco, while Eld. Canright spoke at Oakland. The contrast between the present condition of our cause in these two cities and its condition a year since is as glorious as it is great. These are important points, and, if judiciously held, will prove the salvation of many souls, and a great support to the cause on the Pacific Coast. Eld. L. mentions the names of Bro. Diggins and Srs. James, Rowland, and others, in a connection that brings great joy to those who have known their trials, and have labored faithfully to save them from most subtle, erroneous influences. We would say to the brethren in California that we are with them in spirit, beholding their order, and prosperity in the Lord, and hope soon to see them face to face. The Lord has done a great work for us since we first met the older friends of the cause upon the Windsor camp-ground in October of 1872. We have never labored harder and happier than during the past four months, and, though worn at present, we hope there will be enough of us left at the close of the series of Biblical Lectures to rally again under the more congenial climate of your good State. J. W.