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VISIT TO CALIFORNIA

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 12, 1877

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 49, No. 15.

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VISIT TO CALIFORNIA.

By Uriah Smith

A CONTINUOUS ride of six days and five nights brought us from Battle Creek, Mich., to Oakland, Cal., where we arrived in the late afternoon of March 31. And pleasant as was the transition from the two feet of snow which we left in Michigan, to the green fields and blooming flowers of this land of warmth and spring, the cordial greetings of the old friends from Battle Creek, and the new friends of California, were more pleasant still. We find Brother and Sister White with the armor still on, and still kept bright by constant use. They are, as well they may be, encouraged by the measure of success which has crowned their arduous efforts on this coast, and are still laying plans, and consecrating themselves anew, for the advancement of this work, which by Heaven’s immutable decree is marching on to still more marked success and final victory.
And we were happy to meet Eld. Loughborough, after a separation of nine years, since he came to introduce the message into this part of the land; and Eld. Waggoner who has been laboring for two years in this Conference; with others who might be named.
The Signs office, so like the parent institution in Battle Creek, seems like a familiar acquaintance. Here the presses are publishing the same truth, and books and papers are going out speaking the same things. Through the efficient management of those who have had charge of the work here, and the co-operation of the Tract Societies, this Office will probably prove to have been more than self-sustaining the past year, which will be a most encouraging record.
On the evening of the 31st, a meeting was held to arrange preliminaries for the Biblical Institute. Bro. White, under whose management this enterprise will go forward, set forth the matter before those present in a clear light; and the prospect seems every way fair for a profitable season.
To-day, April 1, a State quarterly meeting of the California T. and M. Society was held. The reports showed the same interesting results that follow the distribution of books and tracts in other places.
This evening has witnessed the dedication of the S. D. A. meeting-house in Oakland. This house deserves more than a passing notice. In architectural design and finish, it is a credit to Bro. Jones, the builder, and the other members of the building committee; and while it is not so large as some other churches, it is generally conceded to be, so far as it goes, as neat and pleasing a church building as there is in the city.
In the dedicatory discourse, Bro. White was unusually free, and happy in his choice of points to present to the people. The house was crowded to its utmost capacity; and the earnest attention of the intelligent audience, gives good assurance that the strong points made will not soon be forgotten by them.
Thus has closed our first day in California; and the words of the closing song of the evening’s service may fitly close these few lines, as an expression of the feelings of the writer,—
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”
U. S.