REPORT FROM SALINAS, CALIFORNIA.
By M. C. Israel
I HAD the pleasure of visiting this place for the first time one week ago, and meeting with those who had accepted the truth through the missionary efforts of Brn. A. D. Benton and Frank Lamb. Quite a number were present on Friday evening. On Sabbath at eleven the Sabbath-school met, consisting of twenty-three members, having been organized the previous Sabbath. Bro. Henry Reicke acted as Superintendent. All took hold in earnest. One brother brought his mother and two sisters seventeen miles, and some came fourteen, and some five miles, to attend the meetings. After preaching we had a good social meeting. Sixteen of the twenty-one who had signed the covenant were never members of any church, nearly half of them are heads of families, and all are highly respected. At the place where most of these came out, the Presbyterian minister had previously circulated a covenant through the neighborhood, pledging not to do secular work on the first day of the week. We had ten interesting meetings while there. Tuesday was appointed for baptism. All came together at 11 A. M. The Lord gave freedom in speaking on the subject of overcoming, after which a social meeting was held. Hearts were made tender by the Spirit of the Lord, many were in tears, and the testimonies gave evidence that souls had been really converted. At 2.30 P. M. we all went to the water where we found quite a congregation to witness the baptism. Twelve followed the Master and were buried in the likeness of his death, and brought up we trust to live only to him, having buried the old man of sin. A Tract and Missionary Society was organized, consisting of twelve members. Quite a number more are deeply interested in the truth, and we think will soon unite with the little company here. We visited the Reading-room of the Good Templars and found a file of the SIGNS, hanging in a conspicuous place, and nearly a whole volume nicely sewed together in two packages, lying on the table, and one of our bound books in the library. California needs colporteurs to go out all over the State to do the kind of work that is being done here; and we hope that from our coming camp-meeting, volunteers fully consecrated to the Lord will be found to enter the field. Oakland, Sept. 16, 1881. M. C. ISRAEL.