ST. HELENA, CAL by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 21, 1881

ST. HELENA, CAL.

By S. N. Haskell

SABBATH and Sunday, April 10 and 11, I spent with the friends at St. Helena. There were not as many of our friends present on the Sabbath as on Sunday, as it was quite rainy. The missionary spirit is quite largely infused into this church, and, as a natural result, they are not troubled with bickerings and heart-burnings towards each other which result in serious church trials, as is frequently the case where no special interest is taken to impart to others the light God has given us. The spirit of Christ is disinterested benevolence. It shows itself in sacrificing personal ease and interest for the salvation of others. Happy is that church that possesses much of this spirit.

Nearly every family here takes the Review and Signs for their own use, besides many copies of the SIGNS and our other periodicals for missionary work.

On Sunday night a temperance meeting was held, and I spoke on Bible temperance with a degree of freedom. In this branch of God's cause a commendable zeal is manifested. All the members of this church, and nearly all their children have signed the teetotal pledge and become full members, and at each temperance meeting there is a continued increase of membership of those outside their church.

On Sunday a district quarterly meeting was held which could but show, in a church and district like this, a good share of missionary labor performed. It was unanimously voted that if a tent could be pitched for a series of meetings somewhere in their district this season, they would pay for all the SIGNS OF THE TIMES which might be necessary to supply each family in that section with one copy for one month.

If they continue humble, and faithful to the cause of God and the temperance work here, they will truly be a light in that wine growing community.

S. N. HASKELL.