p. 164 | THE CAUSE IN CALIFORNIA by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 7, 1881

THE CAUSE IN CALIFORNIA.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

IN company with Eld. Rice, I left Oakland March 17, for Tulare and Fresno counties. We found our brethren in this part of the State in a discouraged condition. The abundant harvest of last season crowded out their prayer-meetings, and in various ways the enemy had come in, and the good spirit which had been received at their camp-meeting was in a measure lost. The course of Eld. Wood, and other circumstances combined,

had caused a state of feeling not conducive to spiritual prosperity.

Our meetings commenced Friday night, and continued, with three meetings a day, until Tuesday night. Nearly all the friends within a circle of eight miles attended these meetings. The Spirit of God helped in preaching, and in uniting hearts. The following Sabbath and Sunday we also spent at this place, and we left our friends much encouraged, with a good outside interest.

We also visited Fresno, and Church's Colony. Eld. Rice will remain in this section until the camp-meeting.

Upon returning to Oakland, we found the interest much increased under the labors of Eld. Corliss. The church has been revived and encouraged. One sister fully embraced the truth in these meetings. Six were baptized April 2. Some of these cases are very interesting. An English sea captain's wife, who accompanies her husband at sea, embraced the truth through the ship missionary work, and united with the San Francisco church on Sabbath morning, and was baptized with the others in Oakland in the afternoon. Another was an educated Swiss, who was raised in the Catholic church, understands several languages, and has traveled extensively. He has passed through sore trials and temptations over religious matters. He related that on his passage from Africa to South America he seriously contemplated committing suicide. He left the Fiji Islands on the ship Panonia, where he found our publications. In these he found the light which satisfied his mind, and embraced the truth. Arriving in San Francisco, he sought the Seventh-day Adventists and requested baptism. Another, who has been connected with our job printing office much of the time for a couple of years, and much valued for his ability, was, some time in the past winter, induced to sign the anti-whisky pledge, and subsequently, the "teetotal" pledge. To overcome his appetites, he found it necessary to rely upon the Lord for help, and thus, step by step, he fully embraced the truth and was baptized. Other cases of interest might be mentioned.

Bro. Briggs has just arrived from Newcastle, Placer Co., a new field, where he has been laboring a short time. He reports a company of thirteen there, with meetings established and a Sabbath-school organized. He also reports progress in the work in Nevada City.

The special calls for labor which I have received since coming upon this coast are more than ten faithful ministers could fill. The result of the missionary work in California is seen both upon land and sea; and from the islands of the sea, we learn of fruit from the missionary work. To God be all the praise.

S. N. HASKELL.