MEETINGS AT VACAVILLE by Stephen Nelson Haskell

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

MEETINGS AT VACAVILLE.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

WE met with the friends at this place last Sabbath and Sunday. Notwithstanding two of the members of this church run threshing machines, and employ many of the other brethren with them quite a distance from the place of meeting, yet a goodly number meet regularly each Sabbath. Those employed by Bro. Butcher, although at times many miles distant, usually are present at their Sabbath meetings. They have an interesting Sabbath-school, with an average attendance of between thirty and forty.

There was a better attendance at the meeting than we expected to see under the circumstances.

We enjoyed a degree of freedom in speaking, and nearly all took part in the social meetings. At a business meeting one name was dropped, and three added, to the church record. The brethren unanimously expressed a desire that Bro. Winfield Swayze should be appointed as the director, and Bro. Saunders as librarian instead of Bro. Barr, who is with his machine, and not able to attend meeting.

A Temperance Club was organized. Bro. Bolton was chosen leader, and Sister C. L. Meeker, secretary. Five signed the Teetotal Pledge, and became full members. Twenty-eight had previously signed, making thirty-three full teetotal members of the club. We see no reason why, with a little effort on the part of our friends in this place, as prosperous a club might not exist here as in any part of the State.

One young man who signed the pledge, previously used tobacco. To put forth an effort in behalf of the temperance cause and rescue the young men from the use of tobacco, or any other vile habit, is a missionary work which Heaven will smile upon, and which will secure the co-operation of the angels of God.

There is no branch of the cause of God which is unimportant, and the more devotion we possess in every branch of this work the more healthy will be our spiritual condition. Ephraim is described as a "cake unturned," cooked only on one side—a good Christian in some things, under favorable circumstances. But the true Christian is one who is ever true, whose influence is on the side of right wherever principle is involved.

S. N. HASKELL.