Sacramento, Pleasant Grove, and Dixon.
By Wm. Ings
At our late meeting in Oakland, the question of the practicability of establishing a mission in Sacramento was discussed, and in harmony with that action it was thought advisable for me to make a visit to that place, to ascertain the feasibility of starting the work there. This city has a population of 25,000. Being the capital of the State, it is visited by many transient people. This would make it a desirable field for our work. I visited all the leading hotels and lodging-houses, to ascertain if it would be agreeable to have our distributors placed in their reading-rooms, and it was evident that the Lord had sent his angels before me to prepare the way for them. All treated me with courtesy and were more than willing to grant the favors asked. We already have three distributors in use doing a good work. Sacramento is a railroad center, and trains with their hundreds of passengers halt a sufficient time to place our publications in the hands of such as desire to read on their long journey East. Besides, there are hundreds of families in the city that ought to be visited, some of which have never heard the warning note of the Third Angel's Message. If two of our trained sisters could enter that promising field, good results would follow. And it does seem to me that the time has come for this to be done and the work followed up. The Lord has, by his providence, clearly opened the way. In order to accomplish this it will require an outlay of means, and this will be another test to prove us and see how much we love to see the truth advance. Sacrifices will have to be made clear through to the end. But our brethren have learned how to give, and I am satisfied that their noble hearts will be ready to give of their means to extend this branch of the work in that city. There are four Sabbath-keepers there who came together, with a few of their friends, to listen to some of the evidences of the near coming of our Saviour. I trust the meeting was profitable to all present. May 14-16 I spent with the little company of Sabbath-keepers in Pleasant Grove, Sutter County, and found them making advancement in divine life. They have had no ministerial help since I was with them over two years ago, and they were glad to receive help. There are ten members, and every one has faithfully paid the Lord's tenth, which accounts for their spiritual prosperity. While with them I held five meetings. Our meeting on Sabbath was of unusual interest on account of the presence of God by his Spirit. Hearts were melted, and the Spirit witnessed to the excellent testimonies borne. There seems to be an ear to hear, in this place. We were granted the use of the Methodist house of worship, and at all our public services we had a good hearing. Could I have remained to follow up the increasing interest, I have no doubt but that others might have been added to this little company. The friends at this place have shown their love and desire to see the work carried forward in Sacramento, by their offerings, amounting to $140. I left this company, feeling that my visit had not been in vain, and that we were more strongly united in the bonds of Christian love. May 18 and 19 I spent a few miles east of Dixon, with a lonely family who love the truth and who are doing all in their power to extend the message by mailing the SIGNS, and giving of their means. One other Sabbath-keeper is living near them, and they, with others, came together and we held two meetings with them. Here I sold one set of “Testimonies;” took orders for ten copies of the SIGNS, and an offering of $20 to assist in the work in Sacramento. This, with the amount above reported, and $25 from another source, will make $185 given by liberal hearts towards the work there, and I hope that others will feel it a privilege to send in their pledges and donations to the State Secretary, Anna L. Ingels, Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.