FAR to the North-land, in the waters of the Baltic Sea, floats a small craft called "The California." Its name would indicate that it had sailed into strange waters and was far from home; but not so, for it was built near the scene of its travels.
Some eight months ago the brethren of Finland wrote us saying that they needed a boat to do missionary work with, and asked us if we could not assist in securing such a boat for them. California readily responded to the call and sent the needed funds to purchase the boat. Our Finnish friends were kind enough to call it "California," in recognition of its donors.
The boat is thirty-three feet long and ten feet wide, and draws five feet of water. Six persons can be nicely accommodated on it.
Evangelists Hoffman and Sandberg accompanied it on its trial trip and report that it is a much better sailor than they had anticipated.
There are about one hundred and fifty islands along the coast of Finland, which have never heard the truth or received much if any religious instruction, and it is the design of this boat to visit all these islands, selling our books and distributing reading matter among them.
Our hearts say, "Speed on, O California, and carry the seeds of truth to all these islands!" Our prayers shall follow you in your work, and may God help you to gather out all the honest, hungering souls in these lonely fields.
