Dear Brethren and Sisters :—The Lord, in permitting us to see the light of present truth, has laid great responsibilities upon us, to use the utmost of our ability in extending the light of this truth to others. We publish these few lines to call your attention to a few facts, and to appeal to you in regard to duty.
A good work has been done in planting the standard of truth upon this coast. At our camp meeting last fall, the Spirit of the Lord stirred us up mightily to the importance of more extended efforts to spread the truth. Since then it has seemed apparent to your State Committee, and the laborers on this coast, that the time had come when there should be a paper published in the interest of the cause here.
Bro. White made propositions to our State Committee to start a paper here. Our State Committee did not feel like taking the responsibility of starting the paper. Bro. White has since commenced the publication of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, with the understanding, however, that our people here desired such a paper. He has called on the brethren in all parts to send in subscriptions and pledges for the SIGNS. The brethren east of the plains express a willingness to raise means to help in starting the press here, if the brethren on this coast manifest a corresponding zeal in the work. In establishing the press here, of course more in proportion would naturally be expected of the brethren on this coast, than of the brethren in any distant locality.
A great interest has been taken in the establishing of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES here, by our eastern brethren, both in furnishing lists of subscribers, and in pledging means. This, in itself, is a proof of the unbounded confidence of the eastern brethren in Bro. White, and in any moves he may decide to make for the advancement of the cause. Their acquaintance with his past course has given them confidence; seeing that such moves are not made by him without deep thought, humble, earnest prayer, and moving in the fear of God, and seeing the success crowning such movements, gives them confidence.
Brother White, who is now in the East, expresses to us a willingness to return and run the paper here, and spend another winter upon this coast in publishing the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, provided there is a lively interest taken in giving him a list of subscribers on this coast.
A call has been made to know what you are willing to do. A few have responded. There are more that should be acting, and sending subscribers, and making their pledges. Are our missionary officers in each church looking after such cases, and getting pledges of $100 men to establish the press, and pledges and donations to the SIGNS? Are each one of you, individually, active in getting persons to subscribe to the SIGNS, according to the plan proposed in No. 5? Now is our time brethren and sisters to act. If we are not mistaken there are several of our sisters on this coast who would be blessed of the Lord in paying $100 each to establish the press. Let such respond.
Bro. White does not hold the people in California responsible for what he has done in starting the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. He has assumed all the responsibility, and made the fullest promises to California for what they do in the matter whenever we get ready to act in starting a Publishing Association here. Bro. White is surely left in a condition to act from his own sense of duty. That sense of duty, relative to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, will undoubtedly be governed very much by the way we act, and by the zeal we manifest here. Shall we respond to his call?
Different ones will perhaps plead poverty and make excuses. Some indeed are poor. All are not. Do you realize what was done in early times of this cause to start the work? Several men in the East sold their farms and lifted nobly with their means to establish the press, and publish the truth. It told mightily. God blessed them. They have never come to want for it, and now have the blessed consolation that such investments are "bags in Heaven."
When the press was established in Battle Creek, four men came forward and furnished means and put up a building in which to publish the Review and Herald, and books. They were not rich men by any means, but they were men who had the cause of God at heart. There are more than one score on this coast better able to give $100 each towards establishing a press here than these men were to do what they did. The question we put to you is, will you do it? Make your pledges immediately. State what you can pay on your pledges in 1874, and what in 1875. Plan for the cause of God. Watch for lawful opportunities to gain means to advance the cause, and God will open ways before you.
From personal knowledge of one of the Conference Committee, we can say that our people on this coast are just as able to do as those eastern brethren who are pledging to the press here. They make their pledges, and then study economy and self denial, that they may advance the cause of God, and the Lord can in such a course bless their lawful efforts to obtain means. He will do the same for us here, if we give him a chance to work for us. What shall we do? It will not do for us to settle down with the idea that the Lord has favored us with much talent in the ministry, and a paper in our midst, and that we have not much to do, and may bury ourselves up in our cares and give what we can spare as well as not, without making any particular sacrifice of time, means or effort on our part. If we do thus, we may be aroused sometime to find the ministerial talent gone to other fields, and we left to realize and feel a sense of our own burdens and duties.
Shall we be fully awake to the golden opportunity we now have to act? This matter must come up in our California camp meeting. In order that it may come up right we ask you each, individually, to respond to this call. Let the officers of the churches and Missionary Society on this coast move. Get pledges of $100 men and women, and pledges for the SIGNS. Act upon these suggestions. Please act immediately, and write to J. N. Loughborough, St. Helena, Napa Co., Cal., giving the result of your efforts.