Pacific Union Recorder, Vol. 3 (1903-1904)

1903

October 22, 1903

“To the People of the California S. D. A. Conference” Pacific Union Recorder, 3, 6, pp. 5, 6.

ATJ

The season of busy work with the crops is now practically pat, and the winter is at hand. now why should not the winter be spent in just as busy work in the field of God’s work of the third angel’s message, as the summer has been spent in the fields of grain or fruit? The work in the fields of grain and fruit, the Lord hath blessed with an abundant harvest; and as busy work in the field of the great message committed to us, will just as surely be blessed with a more abundant harvest. And should not pure, Christian gratitude for the abundance of the harvest which God has given from the field, vineyard, and orchard, cause all to put forth earnest effort in the field of God’s great message of truth now during the winter? This field of God’s message in California is just as ripe unto harvest, as has been any field of fruit or grain in California this year. I earnestly pray that all who know this message will now enter upon the work in this field with as good heart and as diligent hand as you enter that other field during the season just closing. PUR October 22, 1903, page 5.1

This work that has been done this season in the field of God’s message by the workers of this conference, has been greatly blessed. In Spain, as a result of the work of the Bond brothers, a whole family has embraced the truth, in which the father is a teacher of a number of years’ experience. In the North England Conference, where several of our workers are, the results are such that we are informed by the president of that conference that the conference is expected to be self-supporting within a few months. PUR October 22, 1903, page 5.2

At the St. Helena Sanitarium, with not a crowded, but a fairly good patronage that six thousand dollars has been cleared and paid on the debt within this present year, and since Dr. Evans took charge. PUR October 22, 1903, page 5.3

In Healdsburg College there is good promise of the most prosperous year in the history of the institution. The school opened September 30 with sixty students present; and at the time this letter goes to press, there are over eighty present; and it is confidently expected that the number will reach the two hundred mark before the students for this year are all in. From last year’s school, and from the Young People’s Conventions, thirty-two young men and young women, with some of the teachers, went into the field to place the truth, by means of our literature, in the hands of the people. They were successful in disposing of over $5,600 worth of books. That is excellent. But even more excellent than that is the effect of it upon themselves. It would do you good to see them and hear them tell of it all. Many of them sold books enough to carry them through school for two years. Indeed it is found, and has been abundantly proved, that this is the easiest and the very best way for our young people to obtain the means to carry them through college. And we hope, and are endeavoring to have it so, that there shall be constantly in the field many of our young people thus preparing for college, and at the same time publishing the truth of the grand message committed to us. We hope that at the close of school next year there shall go forth from the college and the Young People’ Convention, a much larger number than there was this year, to do only a so much grander work. In addition to all this, the Conference Committee, in conference with the College Board and the teachers, has ascribed that at the close of the school year, each college teacher who is a preacher shall take with him two students of those who have made the best progress toward the ministry, and go into the field to preach the message. And all through the school year this is to be held before the students as an incentive to their putting forth their very best endeavors in preparation for the ministry. PUR October 22, 1903, page 5.4

Thus Healdsburg College is proving itself entirely worthy for the full confidence and hearty support of all the people. And to finish the sale of “Object Lessons” and so wipe out the old debt, is the worthy way in which all can just now help the college in the best way. All that shall be done in this way only helps the College to do its true work. PUR October 22, 1903, page 6.1

To all who have copies of “Object Lessons,” yet unsold, there has been sent, and to all who have not yet taken their copies of “Object Lessons,” there will be sent, on application, a leaflet to be handed out with the book, that will itself practically do the selling of the book. Please ask your librarian for them, or send to the Tract Society for them. PUR October 22, 1903, page 6.2

The church-school work is growing in strength and in the character of the work done. At the end of this school year the work of the church school will be finished for a considerable number of children in all parts of the conference. These children are not old enough, nor far enough advanced to go to college. Therefore intermediate schools must be established for carrying these forward in their education. There will be needed three of these at the opening of the next school year: one in the Hanford, Armona, Fresno district; another somewhere in the Bay district; and the other in the Humboldt district. The people in each of these districts should begin to think now on this, to consult together where will be the best place for each school. Let each person in each district ask himself not where he wants the school, but where is the true place for it. With each of these three schools there must be a tract of land sufficient to give occupation to the students in gardening, fruit-growing, etc. Who will give this land in each place? There will be needed also, in each district, donations of money to buy the necessary material for the buildings and the planting. In the actual work of building and planting, let us have it that the students themselves, under competent leaders, shall do all the work that can possibly be done by them. For these must be schools of industry—schools in which industry and the industries shall be as truly taught as is book-study. Now, please, let each person in each of these districts begin to think on this, make it a constant study, until our annual camp-meeting next spring, begin now to save and to lay up money to be given to this enterprise in each district when it shall finally be decided to actually start it, so that when it shall be done it shall be done without debt. And then, at our next annual camp-meeting and conference, if by all this study and by thorough counsel, all things shall indicate that the time has fully come to “rise and build,” it can be promptly done. PUR October 22, 1903, page 6.3

The people of this conference have done a good work in giving liberally in donations to other fields. Now just as good work can be done in giving liberally to built up the work in our home conference, where it is just as much needed to save and bring into the work of the Lord our now splendid young people, and train them to go forth to other fields. Bear in mind that this is not a decision to do all this. It is only a statement of a need that is certain to come, and that is almost at the doors, so that when the time comes, you, to whom the deciding belongs, shall be ready to make the decision, and to make it wisely and effectually. PUR October 22, 1903, page 6.4

The abundance of crops all over the conference this year, and the good prices that have prevailed, make an abundance of means. This ought to largely increase the amount of the tithes to the conference treasury, if all are faithful in the payment of the tithe. So far, the tithe for the year hold equal to that of last year. In one average church of which we know, the regular tithe from the usual sources is considerably more than it was last year. This indicates that it ought to be so in at least most of the churches of the conference. I believe that it will be so as in the coming quarter the crops shall be finally disposed of and the money all received. Please, brethren and sisters, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith; saith the Lord.” Do not slack in faithfulness in this. With the amount that you have bestowed in support of our workers in other fields, and the liberal support of the work in our home conference, I can not see how that it would be possible to devote your tithe more truly to its true purpose than is being done. This gives true encouragement to all to truly “bring all the tithes into the storehouse;” for you know that it is being truly devoted to its true purpose. PUR October 22, 1903, page 6.5

And now, dear brethren and sisters, be faithful. You know the good meetings that we have held over the greater part of the conference. You know the precious truth that was opened to us in our study of the Bible. Cherish that and all other truth. Let that truth reign in your lives. And so “I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified.” PUR October 22, 1903, page 6.6

Alonzo T. Jones.