Among the Churches by M. C. Israel

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 20, 1883

Among the Churches.

By M. C. Israel

SINCE my last report I have visited churches and scattered brethren living in and near Salinas, Castroville, and Soledad, in Monterey County; Hollister and San Juan, in San Benito County. Eld. Healey was with me part of the time. A few meet at each of these places and hold Sabbath-school and social meeting. But the Sabbath-keepers in these two counties live so far from each other, only a small number can get together for Sabbath meetings. We met with them at each place and arranged where we could for Bible-readings to be held, to add to the interest and profit of their coming together. We also visited from house to house, with very few exceptions, all the Sabbath-keepers.

At San Jose, where Eld. Healey has been laboring, forty or fifty meet together for worship. We organized a Tract and Missionary Society which ordered a club of the SIGNS to extend their efforts in doing missionary work.

During the last three weeks I have visited the churches in Healdsburg and St. Helena. Within the last two years the church in Healdsburg has increased from a small number until now there is a membership of ninety-six. This is principally owing to the influence of the School; quite a number of the pupils have become converted and joined the church.

Our people need have no fears in regard to the influence exerted in the College Home or in the School. A careful and prayerful effort is being constantly made for the best interests of the boarders and scholars. Physical exercise is interspersed with the mental in a way that is useful and instructive, leading to habits of industry in the household and in the daily duties of life. The advantages here are far superior to those of our public schools, and the moral and religious influence and discipline in the family at the College Hall is not second to the good influence in any of our homes. This is claiming considerable, but a week's visit at the place has convinced me that this is a fact. A large number of this family are laboring to get a fitting-up for the work of the Lord. I believe the Spirit of the Lord and angels are helping them, and it is a pity that hundreds are not getting the benefit of this special effort. Yet it is encouraging to know that such a goodly number are preparing to enter the great harvest-field. We would invite parents and guardians to attend the general meeting to be held at Healdsburg, from January 3 to 13, at which time they will have a chance to judge in regard to the desirableness of the school for their children.

M. C. ISRAEL.

Oakland Dec. 13, 1883.