Six years ago to-day (June 9th) in company with Elder Bordeaux, I left my home in Battle Creek, Michigan, for California. We landed in San Francisco with our tent, July 18th, 1868. There were, at that time, but two or three of our faith on the Pacific coast. When we looked at outward circumstances it was dark, but when we looked to the Lord, with faith in his power, and in the final success of his truth, it was light.
Opponents said, “none need fear that anything permanent will ever result from this movement.” But what do we see as the result of less than six years of actual labor expended here? Twelve organized churches. A well organized State Conference. Four hundred Sabbath keepers. Two tents in the field. A weekly paper published in the interest of the cause. Church funds pledged for the support of the ministry to the amount of about $3,400 per year. Surely these are signs of progress and permanence. Besides this we see a new mission, opening up the coast in Washington Territory and Oregon. The report comes that one church is already organized there with upwards of thirty members, and others are coming out. We cannot stop at this success, our watchword is “Onward.”
Our minds are led out to make more extensive and thorough efforts to advertise and bring our views of Bible truth before the people. Why may we not expect with the forces and facilities we now have, to accomplish as much in the next year, as we have during the whole six years? Let us plan and act for it.