Prosperity of the Cause.
By Uriah Smith
FROM the extreme wings of the good cause of present truth, most encouraging reports are received. Bro. Andrews’ reports in last week’s REVIEW, and in the present number, respecting the work in Europe, speak for themselves, and will be read by all our people with absorbing interest. And we have just received No. 16, of The Signs of the Times, from Oakland, Cal., full of life and good cheer. The special session of the California Conference held in that place, Feb. 12, 1875, is reported as a meeting of very deep interest. It brought out further evidences of the faithfulness, zeal, and willingness to bear burdens, of our people on the Pacific Coast. The Signs is to be published hereafter weekly. Twenty-eight thousand dollars, have been subscribed for a publishing house, to be located at Oakland. A lot has been purchased at a cost of five thousand dollars, and a building to cost some ten thousand more is to be erected immediately. It is designed to have the building completed, fully equipped, and a large sized Cottrell and Babcock cylinder press in operation by steam, by the last of May next, when Bro. White designs to leave California to attend the eastern camp-meetings. To this end all are called upon, who can, to pay their pledges, both the California brethren for the erection of the building, and the eastern brethren, to furnish it with type press and engine. A legally incorporated Association is soon to be formed to hold the property. Bro. and sister White and Bro. Canright held meetings Feb. 20 and 21, in Santa Clara. The friends there, though left almost without help since embracing the truth, and losing some of their number by removals, and being subjected to opposition of the meanest nature, have all stood firm. First-day afternoon three hundred were out, to listen to sister W. and gave good attention. Bro. Waggoner reports the meetings in San Francisco, Feb. 13, 14, and 20, 21, as follows:— “The regular appointments, Feb. 13, 14, I attended. The prayer-meeting on Sabbath evening was a spirited meeting, and a large number were there. The room was more than full. I spoke to them on Sabbath morning and Sunday night. The interest was good. The cause is advancing in this city. “Two persons who have been connected with the first-day Adventists in the East took a decided stand for the Sabbath and the present truth at this meeting. The Lord was with us, and we felt encouraged. “The above remarks will apply also to the meetings Feb. 20, 21.” And in the more central portions of the field, there is a steady growth and some remarkable cases of conversion, as shown by reports in our Progress Department. Sabbath, March 6, was an interesting occasion for the church in Battle Creek. The day being the regular quarterly celebration of the ordinances of the gospel, the afternoon was employed for that purpose. Some two hundred or more participated. Eight united with the church. It was a season of solemnity and interest.