San Francisco | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 28, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 33.

San Francisco.

IN San Francisco, all parts of the work are being carried on vigorously and successfully.

THE SABBATH-SCHOOL

Now numbers eighty-two regular members, and enough visitors attend each Sabbath to run the number up to nearly one hundred. The change in the nature of the lessons, which began with July, has had the effect of renewing the interest. The lessons are generally well learned, and thus there is thrown into the recitations, and especially into the general question exercises, that liveliness and interest that can be attained in no other way. Another thing which we can only think is a mighty help in stirring up the minds of all, and keeping the interest up to a high level, is the present plan of the printed lessons: that is, the questions, and the references to chapter and verse only, given, which drives all to the search of the Scriptures. We think we can see already, marked benefits from it, and in the very nature of things it can but increase the mental and spiritual vigor of all who take an active part in the Sabbath-school. Eighty copies of the Instructor are taken. At present there are thirteen classes, but some of these have grown so large that a further division will have to be made, forming at least two more classes.

THE MISSIONARY WORK,

Through the loss of the labors of Brn. Scott and LaRue, who have gone to the Sandwich Islands to labor, and through a further loss caused by the sickness of several of the most active workers, was for a short time somewhat disconcerted. But now Bro. Buckner has taken the place of Bro. LaRue, and the sick are recovering, so that the work is assuming its former strength, and the fruits of former labor are being gathered. From the April meeting in Oakland, till his departure for Honolulu, Bro. LaRue, in San Francisco, distributed 20,418 pages of books, pamphlets, and tracts (of which $10.75 worth were sold), and 220 copies of SIGNS and Instructor; obtained 13 new subscribers for the SIGNS, and visited every house in seventeen streets, making 637 visits. Bro. Scott, working in the city only a short time before he left, made 132 visits, distributed 5,098 pages of tracts, etc., and 64 periodicals.

Bro. Buckner, in carrying forward the work of Bro. LaRue, reports several who are specially interested. One case in particular we think worthy of mention. He rang the door-bell, and a lady came to the door, who, when he had made known his mission, said she had just been reading the prophecies of Daniel, and was wishing she could see some one who could explain them to her. He immediately explained to her what she wished, when she exclaimed, "How strange that you should ring the bell just at the minute when I was wishing for some one to show me this." He reports further that of the people whom he visited, just one-half took reading matter, some of whom bought it.

Bro. Palmer reports a good interest on the part of some whom he has visited, so much as to have him hold Bible-readings with them.

Besides these labors, the Church T. and M. Society takes 140 copies of the SIGNS weekly, has distributed 61,838 pages of tracts, etc., written 108 letters, obtained 35 subscribers for the SIGNS, 24 for the French Signs, 5 for Review, and 5 for Good Health, in the last quarter.

THE SHIP WORK,

Carried on by Bro. Robbins, is very encouraging. Here is a list of the ocean and river steamers upon which he has been allowed to place distributors, with the number in each:—

STEAMSHIPS.—Columbia, 2; Orizaba, 1; City of Chester, 2; Wilmington, 2; Mariposa, 2; Queen of the Pacific, 1; State of California, 3; Santa Rosa, 2; Eureka, 2; Mexico, 2; Alameda, 2; Oregon, 2; Los Angeles, 2; Humboldt, 2; Idaho, 2.

STEAMBOATS.—Onward, 2; Constance, 2; Gold, 2; Pride of the River, 2.

Of the ships which he has visited, sixty-six took reading matter free, besides which he has sold over $50 worth. He also uses fifty copies of the SIGNS weekly. All of this ship work has been done also since the April meeting aforementioned. He reports having met the captain of the American ship Alfred Watt, who said he had bought some of our books in Liverpool. The mission owns a new sail-boat, eighteen-foot keel. It also has a real nice free reading-room in the basement of the church, 914 Laguna Street.