Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 21 (1906)

Lt 190, 1906

Taylor, C. L.

St. Helena, California

June 22, 1906

Previously unpublished.

Elder Taylor:

I have this morning read an excellent letter from Sister Haskell. She speaks freely in regard to the work they are doing in San Bernardino and says that the Lord is giving them great freedom in presenting the truth. I thought this letter had been copied and that I would send you a copy. But as it is not yet copied, I will copy some portions of it now. 21LtMs, Lt 190, 1906, par. 1

“We have an excellent family of workers. Have never had a better one together, and they are interestedly taking hold, and, I think, gaining an excellent, good experience. They are learning to work territory thoroughly, whereas in our large cities we often go from spot to spot and do not work the locality as thoroughly as we are obliged to do in a smaller place, to keep fifteen or sixteen workers busy. 21LtMs, Lt 190, 1906, par. 2

“There is a good healthy interest in the meetings held in the tent. We are gaining all the time. I think we would have to keep our eyes shut not to see this. There seems to be a good impression made in the city. We have yet to hear the first discouraging word from the city, and our workers are constantly going out day by day in all parts of the city, and we feel that this is a token of victory. There is hardly a day, but some of the workers come across individuals who speak highly of the meetings being held and of the “Bible Training School.” 21LtMs, Lt 190, 1906, par. 3

“They watch us quite closely. We have a good audience every night at the cooking class. A nice class of people attends and seems fully to appreciate the instruction given. Dr. White had to leave for Loma Linda, so we are running the classes alone. 21LtMs, Lt 190, 1906, par. 4

“The other night at the health school, there were seven or eight nice, intelligent-looking men present. I judged from appearance that they were physicians, and they watched with closest attention when the nurses were putting their patients into a chest pack and bent forward to see every movement that was made. 21LtMs, Lt 190, 1906, par. 5

“Elder Haskell has been presenting the Sabbath question for the last two weeks, and there have been intelligent people interested. Elder Haskell has just come in, and he says for me to tell you, if Elder Taylor would like to come here and is willing to engage in house-to-house work, such as we are doing, it would be a great help for us to have him unite with us, as there are many families that are greatly benefited by visiting; and it would relieve Elder Haskell in this work of instructing the people. 21LtMs, Lt 190, 1906, par. 6

“We have not been doing much preaching. The only preaching services we hold are on Sabbath morning, Sunday afternoon, Sunday night, and Friday night. These four services a week Elder Haskell manages without difficulty. But if Brother Taylor should come, he could take right hold and help in our meetings and do a good work in this city, as there are scores of families now, that if a young minister should call on them and talk with them and pray with them, it would be a great blessing to them in bringing them to a decision to take their stand decidedly for the truth. 21LtMs, Lt 190, 1906, par. 7

“There is a good influence in the town, and I think if Brother Taylor came and united with us in this work, he would be welcomed in many homes. I am sure he has talent and ability for the work needed to be done. House-to-house work helps to bring to a decision and establish all that are interested to investigate all the points of our truth. The sooner Brother Taylor can come, the better. Elder Haskell finds it hard to fill all of his appointments in the warm weather. He would be thankful for some one to help him in the preaching.” 21LtMs, Lt 190, 1906, par. 8

I am much interested in this movement, and I hope you will unite with Elder Haskell; for Loma Linda is to be entered and the same work done there. They selected the worst place first, and their success is surprising. Redlands is also to be worked. There is a much better class of people there. Eleven miles from Redlands is Riverside, a beautiful place. I looked for a place beside a river, but there is no river there. But there are miles and miles of orange groves surrounding the town. We have a nice little meetinghouse in Redlands and one in Riverside. But both of these places have had but little done in them. 21LtMs, Lt 190, 1906, par. 9

I leave you to the Lord, to be guided by Him. I think you would be a great help to Brother Haskell. I will write no more, for you have the matter as it has been written to me. 21LtMs, Lt 190, 1906, par. 10