SABBATH, APRIL 7, AT HEALDSBURG.
By Alonzo T. Jones
SABBATH, April 7, was a memorable day in the experience of the Healdsburg church. After a discourse at 11 A. M., on the "Nature and Obligations of Baptism," nine precious and happy souls were buried by baptism into the death of Christ, and raised again to walk in newness of life. All but one of these were beginners in the Christian life, five of them being from among the students at the Students' Home. The baptismal scene was one of the most beautiful and most impressive that I ever attended. At 4:30 P. M. we met again, when to those who had been baptized in the forenoon was extended by the church the right hand of fellowship, and the ordinances of the Lord's house were celebrated. This brought us near to the close of the Sabbath, and the remaining half-hour was spent in a praise meeting. The testimonies of praise and gratitude to God were given rapidly and gladly, nearly all pronouncing it the happiest day of their lives, and it was expressed so feelingly that there was no room to doubt that it was so. From the exercises of the Sabbath-school in the morning to the praise meeting at the going down of the sun, the blessing of the Lord seemed only to accumulate with each succeeding service. And it is only the expression of devout thankfulness for me to say that the day was fuller of the blessing of God and the true joy in the Holy Spirit than any other in all my experience. The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.