That there are such books kept we will now show. In Mal. 3 : 16, we read : “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another ; and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” Here it is stated positively that a book is written before the Lord, and that in it is recorded the conduct of his children. Then this is the way that all our words and actions are to be remembered ; they are written down in books. That the deeds of evil men are also written down is evident. Speaking of the wicked who have committed abominations, the Lord says, “Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me ; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. Behold, it is written before me.” Isa. 65 : 5, 6. Again, speaking of the same class, he says, “For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord.” Jer. 2 : 22. But wicked men have no knowledge that their deeds are thus being written down against them each day, and hence they think that their actions pass unobserved. Referring to this the Lord says, “These things hast thou done, and I kept silence ; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself ; but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.” Ps. 50 : 21, 22. Because I have not seemed to take any notice of your wicked deeds by punishing them, you thought that I did not see them ; but I warn you that the day is coming when I will set them all in order before your eyes. This language very strongly implies that these deeds are all written down. Much is said in the Bible about “books” in which the deeds of men are said to be written. “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.” Ps. 69 : 28. Says Moses to God, “Yet, now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” Ex. 32 : 32. “And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her ; and the highest himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.” Ps. 87 : 5, 6. Daniel, in describing the Judgment, says, “The Judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Dan. 7 : 10. Here the books are introduced in connection with the Judgment. What these books have to do with that event, we may learn from Rev. 20 : 11, 12. “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God ; and the books were opened ; and another book was opened, which is the book of life ; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Thus we have the facts plainly before us. At the Judgment day, the books in which men’s deeds are recorded, will be opened, and they will be judged according to what is there found written.
Now the question is, Who writes all this ? We think that it is the angels. Who should do it if not they ? As they are always with men, taking cognizance of their words and deeds, that they should note them down from time to time, would be but a natural and reasonable conclusion, even though the Bible said nothing about it. But it does say that all these things are written and will be brought forth in the Judgment. We have63already shown that the angels are always with us, and that each person has a guardian angel attending him through life. The conclusion, therefore, is a natural one that these angels are the ones who keep a record of men’s deeds.
What a solemn fact it is, that we are never alone, but that holy angels are always with us ! that they hear every word, and know every thought, however wicked, foolish, or vulgar !! How careful we ought to be not to grieve away these holy messengers of God by our filthy conversation. What fearful accounts they must have to bear to Heaven from this apostate and wicked world ! Dear reader, what account does your attending angel have to bear to Heaven each day ? What will it be for this day ? Will it be a record of earnest prayers to God for the pardon of sins, and for strength to do his will ? or will it be a record of oaths, of falsehoods, of foolishness, and of sin ? Remember that each day you are making another page in your record in Heaven. This record will have to be met in the Judgment day, word for word, thought for thought, and deed for deed, just as you are now making it. We are making marks which can never be erased. With fear and trembling, we can say with the poet :
“And must I be to judgment brought,
And answer in that day,
For every vain and idle thought,
And every word I say ?
“How careful, then, ought I to live !
With what religious fear ;
Who such a strict account must give
For my behavior here !”
THE ANGELS ASSIST IN THE JUDGMENT.
The angels will also have a part, and will assist the Lord, in the final judgment of the world. This is plainly declared in Dan. 7 : 9, 10. “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool. His throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him. Thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him ; the Judgment was set, and the books were opened.” A careless reader might conclude that it was the dead who thus stood before the Lord in the Judgment to be judged. But this is not the case, for it says they ministered unto him. Men will not minister to God while they themselves are being judged. By Rev. 5 : 11, we see that these were the angels who stood before God. Have they any part in the Judgment ? Daniel says, “Thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.” They ministered unto him. To minister is defined by Walker thus : “To attend, to serve in any office ; to give assistance.” Then these angels were assisting the Lord.
But, in what were they assisting ? Ans. The Judgment, as the next sentence explains it to be : “The Judgment was set, and the books were opened.” This is decisive proof that the angels will assist in the work of Judgment. How they will be enabled to do this is explained by the statement that “the books were opened.” The angels write down in books all the good and bad actions and words of every person. When a man dies, these books are closed and laid away till the Judgment. Then they are brought forth and opened. Although the person whose history is thus laid open, has been dead and forgotten by all for hundreds of years, yet here is recorded with fearful exactness the very thoughts and secrets of his heart. Every wicked deed, every impious word, and every sinful thought, is now laid open before the inspection of Heaven. In this light we can understand Eccl. 12 : 14 : “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” How this will be done we may learn from Rev. 20 : 12. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God ; and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life ; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
Thus we see that the Judgment is no mere imaginary or fictitious work, but a real transaction, in which books and records are examined. The angels of God assist in this examination. Will they not be competent to do this ? They have been with man, have seen all his actions, have known his motives, and the circumstances that surrounded him. Being pure, holy, and wise, are they not, then, prepared to judge men justly ? We conclude that they are ; and the Bible bears us out in this conclusion. We have repeatedly shown that the angels perform an important part in the plan of salvation. They assist our great High Priest in his priestly office in the heavenly sanctuary. This will be seen by reading Rev. 8 : 3, 4 : “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer ; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” As the priests assisted the high priest in his work in the earthly sanctuary, so the angels assist Jesus in his work in the heavenly sanctuary. Heb. 8 : 1–6 ; Rev. 8 : 1–6.
If all the deeds of the whole world have been written in books, and these books are to be separately examined, how long will it take to perform the Judgment ? If one alone had it to perform, it would manifestly take countless ages. But this is not the case. Angels of God assist in this work ; and of those not a few, either. Daniel says, “Thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.” Ten thousand times ten thousand would be one hundred millions ! With these facts before us, we can understand how the great work of judging the world can be performed in a reasonable length of time.
Some may object that this limits the power of God. We fail to see that it does. It is not necessary for God to perform a miracle in everything that he does to show his power. The wisdom and omnipotence of God are nowhere more clearly seen than in the laws by which he rules the sun, moon, and stars, and by which he causes the rain to fall, and the grass to grow. As well might we object that it limited his power to send an angel to deliver Daniel or Peter, or to commission one to resurrect his Son, or to destroy the Sodomites. It is what God does, not how he does it, that shows his omnipotence. The angels are his servants ; and if he uses them to accomplish his work, it does not diminish his power in the least. So far as we know, with God, law is the rule and miracle the exception. Besides, the Judgment must be conducted in such a manner that finite beings can comprehend it, so that they may know that it is right and just. Otherwise they would not be able to see the righteousness of his judgment.
It may further be objected that God is called the judge of all the earth (Gen. 18 : 25), and that it is declared that he shall judge the world (Ps. 96 : 13). But Jesus also said, “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto his Son.” John 5 : 22. How shall we reconcile this ? Let Paul explain it : “For as many as have sinned without law, shall also perish without law ; and as many as have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law ; in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” Rom. 2 : 12–16. Then God will judge the world by, or through the agency of, his Son. It is on the same principle that Christ will judge the world through, or by the assistance of, the holy angels.
THE ANGELS WILL GATHER THE SAINTS.
When Jesus finishes his work as priest and mediator, then he comes after his people and all the holy angels come with him. “When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.” Matt. 25 : 31. See also 2 Thess. 1 : 7. Long and zealously have Jesus and the angels labored together for the salvation of men. Now they are to reap the reward of their labors, and the angels will share in the joy of their Lord and the triumph of the redeemed. Says Jesus, “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven ; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matt. 24 : 30, 31. Paul says, “For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God ; and the dead in Christ shall rise first ; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air ; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4 : 16, 17. As Michael, in mid-heaven, sounds the trump of God, the earth trembles, the graves are opened, and the sleeping saints arise, clothed with immortality. The same angel who had watched over that humble saint through life, and had marked his final resting place, now stands by the grave ; and, as the child of God comes up from his dusty bed, he clasps him in his arms and bears him away in triumph to their common Lord. O, glorious scene ! Victory to the saints, and triumph to the Son of God ! And will not the angels, also, rejoice ? Will they not share in the glory of their Lord and the joy of the redeemed ? Ah ! yes ; they have borne an important part in this great work, and can now rejoice in its final success.
Now the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of glory, ascends with all the saints escorted by the angels, up to the heavenly Jerusalem. As this glorious and mighty retinue approaches the gates of the city, Jesus gives the command, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.” A strong angel at the gates inquires, “Who is this King of glory ?” The answer comes back, “The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, even lift them up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.” Ps. 24 : 7–9. Then the glittering gates are thrown wide open, and Jesus, with his redeemed saints marches into the holy city and there presents them to his Father. What a meeting ! what a presentation ! O glorious day, may it soon dawn ! And thus the saints will be forever at home.
The saints are so intimately connected with the angels that they are called one family. “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in Heaven and earth is named.” Eph. 3 : 14, 15. Their work, their object, their interest, and their Lord, are one. The angels now co-operate with the saints in overcoming Satan and his hosts. What a glorious time it will be when all this heavenly family shall be gathered home to their Father’s house ! The good, the pure, and the just, will be there ; the saints, the prophets, and the holy martyrs, will be there ; the bright angels of Heaven will be there ; the blessed Jesus in all his glory will be there ; and the Father himself will be there to smile upon them ! Oh ! what will it be to really be there ?
“We speak of the realms of the blest,
That country so bright and so fair,
And oft are its glories confessed ;
But what must it be to be there !
We speak of its pathway of gold,
Its walls decked with jewels so rare,
Its wonders and pleasure untold ;
But what must it be to be there !
“We speak of its freedom from sin,
From sorrow, temptation, and care,
From trials without and within ;
But what must it be to be there !
We speak of its service of love,
Of the robes which the glorified wear,
Of the church of the first-born above ;
But what must it be to be there !
“Do Thou, midst temptation and woe,
Still for Heaven my spirit prepare ;
And shortly I also shall know
And feel what it is to be there.
Then o’er the bright fields we shall roam,
In glory celestial and fair,
With saints and with angels at home,
And Jesus himself will be there.”
Dear reader, shall you and I be there ? Do we belong to this heavenly family ? God grant that it may be our happy lot to sing the song of the redeemed with the angels in Heaven.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
(Continued.)
Proceedings of Cal. State Conference.
In accordance with appointment the third annual session of the California State Conference was held near Yountville, Napa Co., in connection with the Camp Meeting.
FIRST SESSION.
Friday, Oct. 2nd, 1874, at 5 P. M.
Conference was called to order by the President, Eld. J. N. Loughborough and opened with prayer. Delegates being called, fourteen Churches were represented by Delegates whose names were read as follows:—
Green Valley,—W. T. Ross.
Healdsburg,—Wm. Harmon, G. W. Mills.
Woodland,—H. C. Yerby, Geo. N. Andrews, G. C. Martin.
Santa Rosa,—Géo. D. Hager, John Morrison.
San Francisco,—E. A. Stockton.
Bloomfield,—John Judson.
Petaluma,—Edwin Moore.
Napa,—John Custer.
St Helena,—E. J. Church.
Red Bluff,—J. D. Bandy.
Oakland (not fully organized),—D. B. Rickey, J. W. Cronkwrite, John I Tay.
Vallejo (not fully organized),—J. S. Howard.
Santa Clara (not fully organized),—Eld. D. M. Canright.
San Jose (not fully organized),—Juan M. Santa Ana.
The President reported the presence of Eld. G. I. Butler, delegate from the General Conference, who, with Elds. M. E. Cornell and D. M. Canright, members of the Michigan Conference, was invited to take a part in the deliberations of the meetings. All members in good standing in our Churches were invited to take part in the deliberations of the Conference, except in voting.
The Conference being now fully organized and ready for business, the proceedings of the last Conference were read by the Secretary, and approved.
Eld. Butler, delegate from our General Conference, by invitation of the President, made some general remarks as to matters which would come before this Conference, and in relation to standing committees of the Conference, and the usual mode of selecting them.
It was then voted that the Chair appoint a committee of three on nominations, a committee of six laymen to act with the executive committee in auditing and settling accounts, a committee of three on credentials, and a committee of three on resolutions.
SECOND SESSION.
Monday, Oct. 5th, at 8½ A. M.
Session opened with singing, and prayer by the President.
Admission of Churches to the Conference came up, and on motion the Churches at St. Helena, Red Bluff, and Napa, were each separately received into the Conference.
Voted, that the watchcare of the Conference be extended to the Churches at Oakland and Vallejo, they having so requested by resolution.
The President announced the appointment of Committees as follows:—
Committee on nomination of officers,—Wesley Diggins, J. S. Howard and E. Moore.
Auditing Committee,—Geo. N. Andrews, Wesley Diggins, John Morrison, Wm. Harmon, D. B. Rickey and John Custer.
Committee on Resolutions,—G. I. Butler, M. E. Cornell and D. M. Canright.
Committee on Credentials,—J. W. Bond, G. D. Hager and E. J. Church.
The President made a report on the cost of double tent arrangement made for the Conference, as follows:—
No. 2 double top tent and fixtures, $670.00
Cost of splicing with No. 1, 184.00
Cost of three camping tents, 49.00
Total, $903.00
Size of double tent, 125 by 60 feet, with capacity for seating comfortably 2,000 persons.
The following Tent Report was made by Eld. Loughborough on running expenses with the tent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $201.60
Received collections and for rent of tent, . . . . . . . . . . $166.20
State funds to balance, 35.40—$201.60
THIRD SESSION.
Tuesday, Oct. 6th, at 4½ P. M.
Conference opened with prayer by the President.
Eld. G. I. Butler, General Conference delegate, read an address by Eld. James White, President of the General Conference, in which the brethren in California were urged to duty, and offering a donation of six thousand dollars from the eastern brethren, to purchase steam press and all material complete sufficient to print the SIGNS OF THE TIMES under the supervision of the General Conference Committee.
A recommendation was made by the Auditing Committee that the Conference accept the liberal proposition of the General Conference and that it take the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and assume the control and support of that paper in accordance with the proposition in Bro. White's letter.
The Committee on Nominations made its report, recommending the officers of last year as officers of the California Conference for the next year, as follows:—
President, J. N. Loughborough; Secretary, Wm. Saunders; Treasurer, T. M. Chapman; other members of the Executive Committee, J. Judson, J. W. Bond. Being put to a vote of the Conference, these officers were unanimously elected.
The recommendation of the Auditing Committee concerning the SIGNS OF THE TIMES being called up, Eld. Butler was requested to express his views which he did freely and fully, referring to the recommendation made by the Auditing Committee, that the California Conference take charge of the publication of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES in harmony with the proposition made by the General Conference. He further explained the communication of Eld. James White made to the Conference, and stated that in addition the 6,000 donated by the brethren at the East for the benefit of the publishing interest on this coast, it was also proposed by them to start a pioneer paper at Battle Creek, for use especially in new fields. He also spoke of Bro. White's connection with this cause from the first, that he had intended to continue the publication of the SIGNS here himself, but that circumstances had called him back again to act a part at the head of the work, and that in response to urgent and repeated calls from those in charge of the work there, he had finally consented and returned to Battle Creek, where he is now laboring with might and main.
Moved by Bro. Moore, and carried by vote of the Conference, that a committe of three be appointed by the Chair to inquire into the financial standing of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Wesley Diggins, D. M. Canright and Wm. Saunders were appointed.
FOURTH SESSION.
Wednesday, Oct 7th, at 4 P. M.
Committee on financial standing of SIGNS reported in favor of adopting the recommendation of the Auditing Committee to accept the proposition of the eastern brethren. The committee also stated that they had examined an inventory of type and materials on hand amounting to between $800 and $900, and that it was all just such material as would be necessary in the publication of the SIGNS, and the prices were reasonable. They also reported that the estimated cost of $150 per number for publishishing the first seven numbers of the SIGNS, was a fair estimate.
Report of committee was accepted by unanimous vote of the Conference.
FIFTH SESSION.
Thursday, Oct. 8th, at 8½ A. M.
Conference opened by prayer, after which the President stated that the matter of printing would be first in order, and as the committee on Resolutions had handed in a preamble and resolution touching the matter of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, the Secretary was called on to read, as follows:—
Whereas, In the providence of God, the Third Angel's Message is now being extensively proclaimed upon this coast, and we have strong hopes and good prospects that it will be greatly extended in the future; and,
Whereas, A weekly paper advocating these views is needed for the benefit of the church, for the missionary work, and to aid our lecturers in their work in new fields; and it is a great disadvantage on account of distance and time required to do all our business through the Office at Battle Creek; and,
Whereas, Such a paper as we shall need has already been started here; and it would be a great discouragement to the friends of the cause every where, and a disgrace to the cause here to allow the paper to be taken from the coast; and,
Whereas, Our brethren east of the Plains now offer to help us so liberally; and,
Whereas, In our judgment, the strength of the cause here is now sufficient to warrant the undertaking of such an enterprise; therefore,
Resolved, That we accept the offer of the General Conference made through Eld. James White, and purchase the SIGNS OF THE TIMES with the material on hand, and assume the work of publishing it hereafter.
Several brethren made remarks setting forth their views in favor of the proposition. Eld. Canright, chairman of the committee on Resolutions expressed his views of the importance not only of a regular weekly paper, but also of having a depository for books, tracts, etc., in connection therewith as important aids to the general spread of the work. Elds. Butler and Loughborough also expressed similar views.
After another reading of the Preamble and Resolution the question was called for, and upon being submitted to the Delegates received a unanimous vote, every one voting in favor of the resolution.
The Delegates requested an expression from the audience, which was taken by a rising vote. With one or two exceptions the whole house arose.
Bro. Morrison moved, and it was voted, that the Chair appoint a Camp Meeting Committee of three for the ensuing year. G. D. Hager, D. B. Rickey and Wm. Harmon were appointed as such Committee.
SIXTH SESSION.
Thursday Oct. 8th, at 5½ P. M.
Session opened with prayer. The President called up the matter of publishing, etc., when a resolution from the Committee on Resolutions was introduced that "the oversight of the business of purchasing and publishing the SIGNS OF THE TIMES be committed to the California Conference Committee."
This resolution drew out remarks from several delegates and other brethren, when the following amendment was proposed to be added to the resolution—"until such time as a legally organized Association shall be formed and its officers elected."
The resolution was passed as amended, by a unanimous vote of the delegates and by a unanimous rising vote of the congregation.
Resolutions were also passed in the same manner thanking Bro. and sister White for their labors on this coast; thanking the friends East for their liberal donation for establishing a publishing house on this coast, and also recommending careful attention to the testimony given through Sister White.
A motion to raise a Tent Fund of one thousand dollars was passed unanimously.
Conference voted to renew the credentials of Eld. J. N. Loughborough.
(Concluded on page 64.)
California Conference Report.
(Concluded from page 63.)
SEVENTH SESSION.
Friday, Oct. 9th, at 8 1/2 A. M. Committee on Credentials and Licenses reported in favor of granting Minister's Credentials to Bro. M. G. Kellogg; and in favor of granting Licenses to improve their gift to the following brethren: W. N. Healey, E. F. Uhl, C. A. Carey, Andros Brosen, Knud Brosen, E. A. Stockton, J. S. Howard, A. W. Bartlett and John Judson.
Report of committee accepted. Eld. Butler spoke to the point, reciting the imperative necessity of more laborers in the field in order to spread these living but unpopular truths, and what he considered to be the necessary endowments and qualifications the men should possess to whom licenses are granted to preach the Word of God under the sanction of the Conference; and stated further, that unless those who go out to labor in this direction do benefit the cause, the Conferences generally do not feel under obligations to pay them for their time and efforts; but that it has been the rule to pay all successful laborers. Also, that when any that have been granted license to preach are found to injure rather than benefit the cause, the Conference Committee may revoke such license.
Eld. Loughborough also made remarks for the benefit of these candidates, cautioning them of the danger of getting puffed up, and of the great need of care as to how they demean themselves.
By a vote of the Conference licenses were granted according to the recommendation of the Committee.
Eld. Butler remarked that he hoped every one of the brethren to whom a license had been granted would start out with a determination to succeed—not to expect to do so very much at the outset, but working with determination in the smallest and most remote fields at first if need be with all their might; and success would crown their efforts.
Eld. Loughborough counseled them as a general rule to avoid commencing labors in meeting houses of other denominations which would be closed against them as soon as an interest was awakened.
By request of the Conference the Chair appointed D. M. Canright, Alfred Mason and C. A. Carey as a committee to examine Church and Systematic books, and sisters Lucie Bush, Emma White and Sarah Judson as a committee to assist the Secretary in examining Church Reports.
The following resolution was then introduced by Eld. Canright, of the Committee on Resolutions:—
Resolved, That the Ministers laboring in this Conference be hereby instructed to solicit pledges of means to be paid within the coming Conference year, for the purpose of establishing a publishing office upon this coast and issuing reading matter upon the great principles of the Present Truth.
After remarks by several persons, the resolution passed by a unanimous vote.
EIGHTH SESSION.
Sunday, Oct. 11th at 5 P. M. Conference opened with prayer, after which the President called up the matter of the Camp Meeting Fund, and made some remarks as to the disposition of the moneys of that fund during the past year. Following is the report:—
Bal. of fund rec'd from State Treas., $137.06
Rec'd for lumber during Camp Meeting, 39.42
Sale of Sierra tent, 15.00
Rent of Restaurant, 20.00
Donated toward Expenses, 4.50
Total Receipts, $215.98
Paid for meeting of 1874.
Printing, Lumber, Freight, Oil, &c., $148.64
Watching gap ten days, 20.00
Five cords Wood for camp fires, 25.00
To Mr. Brann for examining Tent, 4.00
Total Expenses, $197.64
Balance on hand, $18.34.
The President announced that the time had now come to receive pledges to the Publishing Fund, stating the desirability of raising at least ten thousand dollars, to be paid any time before Jan 1st. 1876. One brother started the list with a thousand dollars, a sister followed with another thousand, several followed these with $500, others $300, $250, $200, $150, and then followed a list of fifty with $100, and many $50, $30, $20, and $10 pledges, in all amounting to $19,414.
A subscription was also taken to a Tent Fund for purchase of tents, amounting to $1616.20; these subscriptions to be paid by Oct. 1st. 1875.
The State Treasurer, T. M. Chapman, made his annual report showing—
On hand from last year, $705.16.
Rec'd during Conference year, 3150.83.
Amounting to $3855.99.
Paid out at different times, $3447.95.
Balance on hand, $408.04.
Report accepted by vote of the Conference.
The following resolution was unanimously adopted by vote of the Conference:—
Resolved, That in view of past benefits received from General Conference laborers, we donate $500 of our State funds to the General Conference fund.
Eld. Butler thanked the California Conference in behalf of the General Conference for the donation.
The amount of Systematic Benevolence pledged by the fourteen Churches represented in this Conference, per year, based upon reports for quarter ending Oct. 1st. was shown to be $4127.64.
There being no other business to transact by the Conference, it was proposed by Bro. Diggins of San Francisco to take the double tent to that city, and he would find a place to erect it, pay the expense of seating and carpeting with straw, all free of charge to the Conference.
After some little friendly discussion, it was decided by vote of the Conference to accede to Bro. Diggins' proposition and erect the tent in San Francisco and give a course of lectures therein as soon as this meeting closes.
A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Finnell for the free use of the Camp Ground.
Voted, that the proceedings of this Conference be published in the Review and Herald, and in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, President.
WM. SAUNDERS, Secretary.
Those who pledged to the publishing interests on this coast, or to the tent fund, who can pay immediately a part or all of their pledge are requested to do so, as we wish means to purchase a stock of paper in the East, and cannot wait for it to come in in the shape of subscriptions to the SIGNS. And further, we learn from private letters that there are others west of the plains who were not at the camp meeting, who wish to subscribe to the Publishing and Tent Funds. Let such send their pledges to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Woodland, Cal., stating what they can pay on the Tent Fund by October 1st, 1875, and what they can pay to the Publishing Fund by January 1st, 1876.
CAL. CONF. COM.
Get all the subscribers you can for the SIGNS at $2 00 per year. Send in your donations, and send names of those you have the promise will read and pay the postage. State this in connection with all the names you send, as we can send no free papers on any other condition.
ALL letters or business for the SIGNS should be addressed "SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Woodland, Yolo county, California." All drafts or money orders, should be payable to THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
In seeking to comply with postal law as published in No. 5, we may have neglected to send to some who have promised to read and pay postage. Be patient friends, write again; we will try to get this matter of the list all straight as fast as we can. So help us.
We have a supply of Hygienic Almanacs for 1874, and can fill orders by mail for this coast, at ten cents per copy, post paid. Address SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Woodland, Yolo county, Cal.
CAL. CONF. COM.
ALL money sent by mail to the SIGNS office should be in drafts or postal orders, payable to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, if the sum exceeds $2 00. Sums less than $2 00 can be in currency or postage stamps.
CAL. CONF. COM.
THIS WEEK'S PAPER.
By Editor
THIS number of our paper is filled mostly with long articles, which seemed to be a necessity, especially in getting in our Conference and Missionary reports. Hereafter we hope to present our readers with a greater variety.
Of the stock itself on which our paper is printed, it is the best we could do in San Francisco this time. We hope soon to give our readers good substantial paper, the same as that on which the Review is printed.
Of the reading matter with which our paper is filled:—The poetry, "Hold the Light," seems very appropriate in a number where so much is recorded of devising and vowing to do, as appears in the record of the business of our late Camp Meeting. This looks like preparing to "Hold the Light" so that others may see it. May the labors of God's people in doing good, go on, until light shall shine to all "who are in the house."
The article from the pen of Bro. J. N. Andrews, entitled "The Sanctuary," is worthy of deep study; it is a clear, instructive and forcible elucidation of that subject. It is one of his most powerful articles. "Maxims for a Young Man," are worthy to be written in letters of gold before the eyes of every young man who wishes to make a mark in this world. We give another slice of the argument on the Saint's Inheritance.
"Hear Ye Him," is excellent, showing what Christ did change, and what he did not set aside by his ministry. Bro. White's article on the "Ark and the Mercy-seat" is mighty, and should be read in connection with Bro. Andrews' Sanctuary argument.
Bro. Butler's account of his visit to California will interest all, especially our people on this coast, as we were so glad to have him come, and regret that afflicting circumstances and urgent duties demand his departure so early from us.
The business reports of our yearly meetings speak for themselves. They speak of vows, which, if fulfilled, must bring in much of God's blessings. Of course what is said to "our patrons" will have its effect to move some, and we hope it may be heeded by all.
"Ministration of Angels" is instructive, showing that, although angels of God do not come directly to teach the gospel to mortals, they have a grand and important part to act in the great plan of salvation.
We have not room to call especial attention to all that is in the paper, but we will say, read it all, pardon the imperfections, and profit by that which is good, and pray for the conductors of the paper, that God may guide and then bless this instrumentality to the conversion of many thousands. CAL. CONF. COM.
Quarterly Meeting Appointments.
The first State quarterly meeting of California under the new Missionary Constitution will be held with the church at Oakland, Sabbath and first-day, Jan. 2d and 3d, 1875. All the Directors of the nine districts, and all the State Missionary officers are requested to be present, and as many of our brethren and sisters as can make it convenient to attend. At this meeting we shall expect a quarterly report from every district as required by the new constitution.
The district quarterly meetings will be held as follows:
District No. 1. At Petaluma, Dec. 19th and 20th, 1874. John Judson director in charge.
District No. 2. At Healsdburg, Dec. 19, and 20, 1874. Wm. Harmon director in charge.
District No. 3. At Napa, Dec. 19 and 20, 1874. J. W. Bond, Vice President and John Mavity director in charge.
District No. 4. At Vallejo, Dec. 19, and 20, 1874. J. S. Howard, director in charge.
District No. 5. At Woodland, Dec. 19 and 20, 1874. H. C. Yerby, director in charge.
District No. 6. At Red Banks School House Tehama county, Dec 19 and 20, 1874. J. H. Disher, director in charge.
District No. 7. At Oakland in connection with the first State Quarterly Meeting, Jan. 2 and 3, 1875.
District No. 8. At San Jose, Dec. 19 and 20, 1874. J. N. Loughborough, and Wm. Swinerton director in charge.
District No. 9. At San Francisco, Dec. 19 and 20, 1874. Charles Chittenden director in charge. By order of the Board of Directors.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, President.
LUCY BUSH, Secretary.
Note to Correspondents.
By Editor
F. M. Smithhart.—For reply to your question concerning Rev. 13 : 17, 18, see Thoughts on Revelations, advertised in our publication column in this number. J. N. L.
Donations for the Signs.
$2.00 EACH. Julian Osborn, M E B, F M Smithhart, F Schneller, L M Chandler, C Townsend, J T Richards, R F Cottrell, S E Healey, D P Heath, M Shepard, M A Anderson, M J Cole, Mrs Jane Weaver, J H Hall, Francis King, Sarah Spencer, R C Cruey, Mrs E R Wood, Anna Boyd, J G Walker, W W Smith, M Snook, A Simmons, Clarinda Bowers, Tamar Hickox, B F Harris, F J Otis, Albert Wike, Laura Curran, B S Freeman, L Skinner, M Lyttaker, Hester Ferguson, L J Ross, R D Hicks, Thos Billings, Mrs Laycock, Augustus Geary, Charley Solomon, John Ewing, O E McCord.
$1.00 EACH. Marion Colwell, Mrs Knight, Mrs M Wallace, Mrs E Thomas, Chas R Quimby, A Chase, Mrs Eliza Murphy, Wm A Aldrich, Oliver Rouse, Ruth Spencer, Jane Platt, C A Burt, N V Waggoner, John Baum, C St John.
$0.50 EACH. C A Phelps, Wm H Ireland, Margarett Porland, W D Calloway, Robert Elrod, W G Myers, B A Stephens, D C Abbott, George Smith, G J Taylor, L Wilkinson, Adam Switzer, D L Moody, S A Maddock, J E Peck, Mrs M A A Lewis, S D Haskin, W M Guffey.
MISCELLANEOUS. 5 Children $1.25, Mary Husted $5, J W Williamson $5, E Moore $8, R S Rickett $5, J J Hevelin 20c, C K Ackley 25c, Judith Kelley 40c, A P James 0.6c, James Dougan $2 50, I Vicars 20c, T Wells 20c, J. Holmar 20c, W. McCoy 20c.
North Pacific Mission.
Amy Dart $15.
Books! Books!! Books!!!
By California Conference Committee
☞ OUR BOOK LIST.—Any persons on the Pacific Coast wishing any of the publications named in our book list can obtain them by mail or express by writing to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Woodland, Yolo county, Cal., enclosing the published price of the same. When sent by mail, books will be post paid; when by express, at the expense of the one ordering the books; but in this case a liberal discount will be made when ten dollars worth or more are paid for with any one order.