CALIFORNIA AND THE SIGNS by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 22, 1877

CALIFORNIA AND THE SIGNS.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

AFTER reading the last three numbers of the SIGNS, beginning with the first of January, 1877, I feel as though I wanted to say something about California and the SIGNS.

Having labored sometime on that coast, having visited most of the churches and formed the acquaintance of nearly all the brethren, having been permitted to bring some of them into the light, and having been there when the SIGNS was started, and knowing much about its struggles and the labors of Bro. and Sr. White and others, I can but feel the deepest interest in this dear paper, and the prosperity of the cause there.

It seems to me that the SIGNS thus far in this volume has been uncommonly good, exactly adapted to the work for which it was designed. Who could find fault with the articles of sister White? rather, who could fail to be affected by them? They breathe the tender, touching spirit of Christ. The articles on the “Way of Life,” a subject of the very deepest interest, one that lies at the very foundation of Christianity itself, are so plainly, forcibly, and simply expressed, that a child can understand them. May they continue as good all the way through as they have started.

The Home Circle is a department which will be sure to be read. Young and old turn to that first; everybody stops to hear while that is read. How touching was the story about Grandmother’s room. And then the shorter articles on all points of our faith, we are not ashamed to have anybody read them.

We are not only thankful for the SIGNS, but we are proud of it. We say, God bless the SIGNS, and God bless its work, and bless those who have labored so hard to make it what it is. The reports from California of late have cheered us all greatly. The blessing of God is returning to that field. The reports in the last number are specially encouraging. The Tract Society is waking up. The young ministers are having success, and the brethren are not dropping off on their pledges. We hope these are but the beginning of better days and great victories for the cause on the Pacific Coast.

We can assure Bro. White that our hearts are wholly with him in his work there, that all his articles are read with the deepest interest, and that nothing does us more good than his talks about “broader plans.” We say, Amen, and will try to show by our actions that we feel it.

D. M. CANRIGHT.