Upper Columbia Conference.
By William Ings
According to arrangements made by the leading brethren, I have spent five weeks among the churches in this Conference, namely, Echo, Walla Walla, Milton, Dayton, Pataha, and Farmington. I have aimed to visit all the friends accessible. Have held forty meetings in all, and obtained 167 yearly subscriptions for the SIGNS to be used for missionary work in Idaho. According to the plan introduced by the president, these SIGNS are to be sent out by the assistant secretary, Sister Halleck. The brethren have shown a commendable zeal in giving of their means for this work. I hope, however, they will not consider their duty done, but will not only keep up their club of SIGNS but increase it, and engage in missionary work themselves. Many more SIGNS than are now taken could be used to good account in that Conference. Hundreds of people are settling up that vast Territory, which gives an excellent chance to circulate our reading matter, and thus bring the light before the people. Five hundred copies of the SIGNS could be used in Idaho the coming winter; thus that unexplored field might be prepared for active labor in the spring. The times demand activity, and the spirituality of a Conference can be measured by the amount of missionary work done. Inactivity brings spiritual death and its sad results. The example of the Head of the church should be followed more closely than it is. His labors were unceasing and their fruits we are privileged to enjoy. Thus we are placed under great obligation to Him who has said, Go, labor in my vineyard. Some of the churches visited have newly come to the faith, and need to be educated in the duties that devolve upon the Christian. I was gratified to see their readiness in taking hold as fast as duties were presented. Others have been very negligent, either through a lack of knowledge or lack of consecration, in carrying out the requirements of the fourth commandment. God has given us great light, and we shall be held responsible for this light. If we desecrate his holy day by speaking our own words (Isa. 58: 13), or doing our own work (Ex. 20: 10), we cannot expect the smiles of Heaven. Exodus 16: 23 should be read each day until the duties enjoined therein are fully impressed upon the mind. Then all work would be done upon the preparation day, and there would be a readiness for the holy Sabbath of the Lord. I tried, in the fear of God, to set before these churches practical duties. Confessions were made, and a willingness was manifested to take advance steps in the Christian life. I have reason to hope that the resolutions formed will be carried into effect. If the health reform were more regarded, there would be increased spiritual discernment and a clearer perception of Christian duties. The Spirit of prophecy teaches us that the health reform is as closely connected with the message as is the arm with the body. Brethren, we cannot afford to be indulging in tea, coffee, tobacco, and swine's flesh, when our soul's salvation is at stake. The counsel that Paul gave to the Romans should be heeded by us who are expecting soon to be ushered into the presence of a just and holy God. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Rom. 12: 1. I had the pleasure of spending two days with Brethren Colcord and Bartlett at the tent at Garfield. They have a few interested hearers, who seem to be anxious to know what the Bible says. The harvesting and threshing season, and the scattered condition of the inhabitants, are against the work, but our brethren labor on in hope. May God bless their labors abundantly. On the ocean, Sept. 15, 1884.