Meetings in Battle Creek.
By Editor
THE General Conference closed its meetings Nov. 20, and most of the delegates have gone to their homes, and the ministers to their fields of labor. The work has been arduous, especially to those who had many burdens to bear. An unusual amount of work has been done. If the work increases on our hands at the present rate (and it ought to increase at a much greater rate), some plan will have to be devised to relieve the General Conference of some branches of its present work. The present session occupied three full weeks, and some more time might have been profitably employed. Very important steps have been taken, some of which have been briefly noticed; and amid all the changes and removals which have taken place, excellent feeling prevails, and all are encouraged and animated with new hopes for the future and new zeal in their labors. The cause in all its branches is prospering—not that all is being done that should be, but in every direction the work is enlarging, and prosperity seems to attend every well-directed effort. First of all, the publishing house in Battle Creek is rising above all apparent chance of embarrassment; it is extensive, and has facilities for doing an immense amount of work; and, to the satisfaction of all who are interested in present truth, is pressed to its utmost with denominational work. We hope the time may come when there will be more of this class of work demanded than can be done here, and we shall be able to use our complete machinery in our printing house in Oakland for the same purpose. The Sanitarium was never so prosperous as it is now. The College is well attended, and there is considerable interest among the students for the cause and work of God. There is good prospect that missionary work will be done by them, even before they leave the school. We believe the College is in a healthy condition, with every prospect that it will accomplish the work for which it was founded. We also hear very favorable reports of the school at South Lancaster. It would give us great pleasure to visit the Academy, and see for ourselves, but our time in the East is too limited. The weather has turned quite cold, and we begin to appreciate the climate of Oakland. But “there is a better land” to which we are looking with longing eyes. “No chilling winds, nor poisonous breath, Can reach that blissful shore; Sickness and sorrow, pain and death, Are felt and feared no more.”
“Oh, how unlike the present world, will be the one to come!” And who will be there? We may all say, we want to be there; but it is an easy matter to want to be there. The important question is, Who will be there? Who, by patient continuance in well-doing, will make his calling and election sure? It is a great work, but the grace of God is sufficient for every one. Battle Creek, Mich., Nov. 24.