OUR PRESENT DUTY by Isaac D. Van Horn

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 12, 1880

OUR PRESENT DUTY.

By Isaac D. Van Horn

The North Pacific Conference has been divided, and, as far as I have been able to learn, there is a general feeling of satisfaction concerning the division, both east and west of the mountains, by all parties concerned. This division narrows up the territory of the N. P. Conference to that portion of Oregon and Washington Territory lying west of the Cascade range. The number of Sabbath-keepers in this Conference now is not quite half of what it was before. Therefore the burdens connected with the progress of the cause will fall upon us for a little while with greater weight than formerly. I say for a little while, for if all take hold earnestly we shall realize the blessing of God to that degree that many friends will be raised up to help us lift these burdens.

But we must not wait till friends are raised up before we begin to lift. There are a few things that demand our attention immediately, and I believe that I have only to mention them and our brethren and sisters will take right hold and do their duty.

1. The General Conference has rendered us much assistance by furnishing us with means to start the work here, and by granting help from those servants of the Lord that could and have given us the instruction we so much needed. Now we passed a resolution in the last session of the Conference to the effect that we appreciate all this help, and a vote of thanks was offered. Now brethren, you will agree with me that it will not do for our appreciation to pass off thus easily. We ought to, yea we must, do something more substantial. The work of the servants of God among us cost both time and money, and the General Conference is in debt. Now what shall we do? I want to tell you what we have started to do. We have set out to raise a free-will offering of one hundred dollars in this Conference by the first of January next. Pledge papers have already been placed in the hands of each of the three Directors, and they will soon, if they have not already, place one in the hands of each of the Librarians in their districts, and the members and friends will soon all have the privilege of putting down an offering to this worthy object. And I feel that this will be a step in the right direction, and the Lord will show his approval by pouring out a blessing on our Conference.

2. The PACIFIC PRESS at Oakland, Cal., is much in need of means. We should begin to feel that deep interest in that institution, which has been established by the direct providence of God, that will call forth our assistance in a substantial way. Every Seventh-day Adventist family, and every lonely Sabbath-keeper in the Conference, should take regularly one or more copies of the SIGNS, paying the full subscription price. In this way we can do much. But let no one be so small in their feeling as to seek the benefit of the paper at T. and M. rates. Let the T. and M. societies and V. M. societies in every church and company, take as many copies in clubs as possible; but let these be used in their own specific work.

If there are any in the Conference who have not taken stock in the PACIFIC PRESS and would esteem it a privilege to do so, let them take one or more shares ($10 per share), as they may feel able. Or if there are any who have money on hand and will loan it to the office without interest, they can help the cause in that way.

Now, brethren, let us all take hold and lift together. May we all work to the same end, and unitedly push the cause along until we shall see much fruit as the result.

I. D. VAN HORN.