The S. D. Adventist Meeting at Healdsburg.
By A Stranger
EDITOR OF THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES: I feel that I was providentially detained during the ten days’ meeting just closed. I came from one of the Eastern States, nearly three thousand miles away. Two days after taking the cars, I was attacked with fever, which prostrated me during my journey. I stopped one day with a kind family in this town. They urged me to tarry with them till I could recruit my health, and enjoy the privilege of the meeting. I was thankful for their offer of hospitality till I might regain my health, but the idea that I would consider it a privilege to attend the meeting, I thought was preposterous. My early prejudices had bolted and riveted my heart. I made up my mind, through courtesy, to go with them to the four meetings of the first day. They had religious services and Bible lessons connected with all their business meetings. It was new to me, to see hundreds come in with their Bibles, and join in the search for the truth connected with every principle of our holy religion. Some portion of the meetings each day was devoted to relating religious experiences and a consecration of hearts to the service of God. In their Bible lessons, everything was brought to the test of the law and the testimony. I became thoroughly convinced of their orthodoxy in the faith of the gospel. My prejudices all gave way, and I looked upon them as a people consecrated to the service of God. I wished and prayed that I might know the truth. The Spirit of God was manifestly felt by every one who came into the crowded congregations. A spirit of love and brotherly kindness was prevalent among all the members of the church, and near the close of the meetings there were more than fifty persons earnestly inquiring, “What must I do to be saved?” I am thoroughly convinced that there is no divine command to change the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week. I am also convinced that the Seventh-day Adventists in their belief and doctrines are orthodox. I know the common expression is, There is no good thing in the Seventh-day Adventist Church! To such I would say, “Come and see.” Healdsburg, Jan. 16, 1884.