CALIFORNIA

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 7, 1878

[From the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.]

Dist. No. 3.

Since last report my labors have been with the companies of Sabbath-keepers at Middletown, St. Helena, Napa, and Vallejo, constituting district No. 3. These churches have pledged s. b. for 1878 to the amount of $520.08, and $166.72 to the one-third missionary fund. This is doing well considering that two of these companies are small, some are paying large pledges on other matters, and the most of those in the district are in moderate circumstances.

At Middletown I found some had moved away, so that less than a dozen now meet for worship. These were much encouraged by the meetings.

At St. Helena all were firm in the truth. A marked feature of the work here has been a steady advance from the very first of their accepting the truth. May God bless these substantial souls.

At Napa I found the church of special good cheer. Our meetings, business and preaching, were truly blessed seasons. Since completing their church, several years ago, there has been a debt hanging over it. At one time their s. b. almost entirely run down, with the excuse that they owed for their church; and for one year they neither paid their church debt nor much s. b. Some over a year ago they rallied to take hold again on finances with the rest of the State. At this meeting they stated that their church was now free from debt, s. b. and missionary one-third paid up, with a small exception, and they were happy over the new state of affairs in the cause there; not that the gift of God is bought with money, but as Paul said, it is “fruit that abounds to their account.” Another evidence is seen here, as in other cases, that the Lord’s people share his blessings, both spiritual and temporal, in proportion to the sacrifice they make for the advancement of the cause.

At Vallejo the few are still firm in the truth. These renewed their s. b. pledges and entered into the missionary one-third pledge. Our opponents have reported that “the cause was dead in Vallejo.” The facts are, not a soul that embraced the truth here has ever given up the faith. One is now in Washington, D. C., one in Michigan, two in Napa, two in San Francisco, and two new ones have accepted the Sabbath and united with those that remain in Vallejo since I last met with them. When active members move from one place to another, to live out and to spread the truth, this is not the death of the cause. The Lord met with and blessed the few in Vallejo. We enjoyed a precious season with them in speaking Bible truth to them and their neighbors. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Vacaville.

The debate here has resulted in more good than we at first supposed. We are frequently hearing of those who attended, and became interested in our views. Our people were greatly strengthened. Friday two went forward in the ordinance of baptism. Five have signed the covenant since the debate.

The dragon spirit has been manifested here to a fearful extent. For example, a gentleman died here last week who did not belong to any church, but his wife had been a Methodist till a few weeks ago, when she commenced the observance of all the ten commandments. After her husband’s death she asked me to preach the funeral sermon. The Methodists persisted that she should have their minister, and when they saw she was decided in having an Adventist, they refused to attend the service, even when especially invited. Can it be that these persons think they are showing a Christian spirit? If they do, the words of Paul in 2 Thess. 2:10–12 are fulfilled in them, for they have “strong delusion.” W. M. HEALEY.

Lone Oak.

This company now numbers over fifty, though less than a year ago there were only two Sabbath-keepers in this part of the county. Bro. J. L. Wood reports a profitable season at the time of their regular quarterly meeting. The s. b. pledge was raised $42 over that of the previous year. Monday was a day long to be remembered, on account of the presence of the Lord by his Spirit. Three were baptized.

Bro. E. L. McCapes says a number at Eureka are convinced of the truth as the result of reading tracts. He has spoken a few times, to interested audiences.