Closing Meetings in California.
By Uriah Smith
SABBATH, May 19, we had the pleasure of meeting with the brethren in Santa Rosa according to appointment. Members of surrounding churches were in, so that their pleasant and commodious house of worship was well filled. Two services were held, terminating with a social meeting, in which the limited time was well filled, the testimonies of those who spoke showing that they were intelligently and soundly converted to the truth, and filled with love for its principles and progress. Sunday at 3 P. M., spoke in Healdsburg. When the appointment was given out, the proprietor of the opera house, the largest audience room in the place, not only freely offered our brethren the use of his house, but requested that the meeting be held there. The people responded in the same liberal spirit, and the largest number ever gathered in that house or in the place, as we were informed, came out to hear. They gave most excellent attention as we tried to show from the far-seeing visions and positive testimony of the prophets that we have about reached the last station of the world's journey through its period of probation, and in some individuals an apparent spirit of carelessness at the commencement gave way to a spirit of thoughtful consideration before the close. Monday evening spoke in Petaluma, the Presbyterians granting the use of their house of worship for the meeting. Commencing the Sabbath, May 25, spoke to the little church in San Jose and a few who came in from without to their hall of worship. Sabbath morning spoke to the church in Oakland. Sunday evening stopped at Dixon where Brn. Healey and Stephens are holding a tent-meeting with increasing interest, and spoke to about 300 assembled in the tent. Monday evening spoke to the church in Woodland, in their good house of worship. Tuesday morning we joined, at Sacramento, a company eastward bound, and now write from the train as it moves slowly on toward its destination. Though these visits to the churches were but flying visits, it was a privilege thus to be able to meet with more of the brethren before leaving the State. We return East abundantly pleased with our experience in California. Many friends have contributed to make our brief stay among them most pleasant and agreeable, to be, we are well aware, but poorly repaid by the thanks we now return them, and the assurance we can give them of grateful remembrance in the future. And we are especially pleased with the strength which has thus far been developed in the State in behalf of the cause of truth. We return East feeling new interest in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and the cause on the Pacific Coast, and new hopes for its prosperity in the future. As we took our final leave of San Francisco, by steamer, the sun hung midway in the western heavens, and marked a dazzling path of light across the waters of the spacious bay, directly out through the golden gate—fit emblem, thought we, of the path which the truth has opened in this noble State. There is before the church here a path of light, a path of prosperity, if they walk in the light, a path which will lead at last not merely through a golden gate, but through a pearly gate into a golden city. From all lands there leads such a way of light to the haven of rest; and if we pursue it, wherever we are, we reach at last a common goal, the heavenly harbor, the light of which outdazzles every earthly emblem. “And the glory of God like a molten sea,
Bathes the immortal company.”