p. 96 | Salem, Oregon by I. D. Van Horn

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Mar 21, 1878

Salem, Oregon.

By I. D. Van Horn

The church of Seventh-day Adventists in this place was never more prosperous than now. Since the new year came in, four have united with the church, and greater activity is manifest on the part of all the other members. Every Sabbath there are several strangers in the meeting, who seem to be interested. They have a good Sabbath-school, well attended, and a lively interest is manifested by old and young, teachers and scholars, making the school profitable to all.

The tract and missionary work receives the approbation of the entire church, and when our books for record and accounts come, and other arrangements perfected, they will enter the work with becoming zeal. Much is being done for the good of the cause even now in this branch of the great work. The Lord is blessing the labor put forth, and souls are being brought to the knowledge of the truth. Since moving from Portland to Salem, and by conferring with the church here, we have about decided to have our camp-meeting near this place instead of near Portland. I think we can get a much better place, and that the brethren of this church will cheerfully take hold and do the work of clearing up the ground.

Let me here say to all our brethren and sisters in this Conference, Make every effort in your power to be at our camp-meeting. It will take place the last week in June, and continue for about one week. If you begin now to plan and arrange your worldly affairs for the meeting you can attend. It will be a great help to the cause in this Conference, and a great blessing to all who attend it.

The almost constant rain this winter, and the nearly impassable roads in western Oregon, make it about impossible to hold meetings in any place with any degree of success, yet we are trying to advance the work here. I am now laboring to strengthen and build up the Eola church, and there is hope springing up that something may be done. I. D. VAN HORN. Salem, O., March 5, 1878.

Pacheco.

I met with the church at Pacheco, Sabbath, March 10; found them all of good courage in the work. Notwithstanding strong opposition, they are determined to press forward, and let their light shine. A Congregationalist minister had undertaken the task of proving divine authority for Sunday keeping. We heard his last discourse. His positions were, "no law," the "seventh part of time," or "Sunday is sufficient for a Gentile Christian." After making many broad assertions, he closed. We gave notice that we would review this sermon the following evening at the house of Sister Burress. After explaining the texts that our opponent had based his arguments upon, I spoke on the Sabbath and law of God in the New Testament, showing the importance of keeping the seventh-day Sabbath according to the commandment. All present acknowledged that it was the proper day to be observed. I spoke six times in all. As the result, three signed the covenant. We think there are others who will soon identify themselves with this church. A. BROSEN.