The Missionary by William Ings

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 26, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 33.

The Missionary.

By William Ings

MENDOCINO COUNTY.

I HAVE recently spent some time in Mendocino County, visiting the churches and scattered brethren. At Little River there is a church of Scandinavians. I spent several days with them, and they showed a commendable zeal in stopping their work in order to make it a business of serving the Lord. This company had become somewhat discouraged and they felt the need of ministerial help. As we sought the Lord and drew near to him, he came very near to us, hearts were cemented together, and love and union were restored. The ordinances of the Lord's house were celebrated, and the promise was verified, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." This company is doing considerable missionary work among the Scandinavians, one of their number spending all of his time selling publications in his own language. He is meeting with marked success. They have an interesting Sabbath-school, and are determined to walk in all of the ways of the Lord blameless. There are also a few English-speaking Sabbath-keepers there. They maintain meetings, and have an organized Sabbath-school. A club of twenty-five Sentinels were paid for. They seemed to be encouraged by my visit.

I also spent one week with the friends at Laytonville. It had been over four years since my last visit, and I was glad to meet with them again. They had been much discouraged. Discordant elements among them had nearly shut out the Spirit of God, and those that were faithful had become disheartened. Brother Miller had been with them for a few days, and they appreciated his help. Neglected duties were confessed, and deep searching of hearts was manifested by nearly all as shown by the confessions made one to another, attended by the melting Spirit of God. One was disfellowshiped, and one was taken into the church by baptism. After which we celebrated the ordinances of the Lord's house, this being the first time since the organization. Thirty-one copies of the Sentinel were added to the club now taken, and $60 was given to assist in the erection of the chapel at the Retreat. I never felt more encouraged for the future welfare of this church than now.

There are a few Sabbath-keepers at Ukiah. I held three meetings with them, and those that attended were much encouraged, and were determined to be wholly on the Lord's side. They desired to assist in spreading the truth, and subscribed for a few copies of the Sentinel.

I visited some of the lonely ones. One brother eighty-four years of age, who had been keeping the Sabbath for several years, had never heard a sermon. He took the Signs, which was his weekly minister, and its visits were always welcome. This brother had been examining the evidences in the Bible for Sunday-keeping, and on failing to find any, was about to accept the views of the Disciple denomination that the law was abolished. In the providence of God a parcel of reading matter was sent to him by a sister, among which was the tract "Who Changed the Sabbath?" which decided him to accept the whole law, and to honor God by observing the day that he sanctified and blessed. Although alone, and deprived of many privileges, he has caught the true missionary spirit, and is doing all he can to enlighten others.

I also visited a sister who had not heard a sermon for many months, and, in fact, has never had but few privileges, yet her zeal ought to provoke many that are more favorably circumstanced. Besides other arduous and pressing duties, she sends out over fifty copies of our periodicals each week, and corresponds with the individuals. This work she says is a pleasure to her. Had all those who profess present truth, the same unbounded love for the prosperity of the cause, the warning of the last message would soon accomplish its work.

This visit, 260 miles by private conveyance, has been of profit to me, and I trust that the result will add to the number that will be sealed with the seal of the living God.

WM. INGS.

Eureka, Cal.