EGW
At a meeting held in Oakland to consider the wants of the cause, the brethren assembled presented the urgent demands for labor in this State. ST May 13, 1880, par. 1
Eld. Haskell spoke of the necessity of ministerial labor upon the Pacific coast, also of the need of missionary labor not confined to the ministry. He dwelt particularly upon the importance of those ministers who do go out, going with faith and confidence in God, doing their work with thoroughness. Reference was made to the many calls from the different fields, and of the few ministers ready to answer these calls, and of the discouraging state of health of most of these. ST May 13, 1880, par. 2
I spoke at some length upon the duty of our ministers to control the voice, and not pervert their powers by speaking too loud. Every minister should do his utmost to become an acceptable speaker. If one forms the habit of pitching his voice to an unnatural key, he does great injury to the vocal organs, as well as violence to the ears of the people. The minister should conform his life and manner of teaching as nearly as possible to the life and manner of Christ. During his whole ministry Christ was never heard screaming his lessons of instruction. He modulated his voice, speaking plainly and distinctly, with an earnestness and pathos that ever deeply impressed his hearers. ST May 13, 1880, par. 3
Remarks were made by several of the brethren with reference to the many openings for labor. Bro. Rice spoke of Chico, a place where an effort had been made and forty had signed the covenant, but that further labor was essential to confirm and establish a church. He also spoke of other places where a few had come out and were observing the Sabbath, that if further labor could be had, others would probably take their stand for the truth. A tent would be needed as our people have no meeting houses in these places. Bro. Chapman spoke in favor of laborers going to Santa Barbara county. He has relatives who have sent urgent requests for some one to come and preach the truth there. Several other places were mentioned as good openings. ST May 13, 1880, par. 4
Bro. Butcher then spoke particularly of Suisun, Vacaville, and Dixon. The miracle of his tongue being loosed, had created great excitement in these places. He states that when he was ordained elder of the church he objected because of impediment in his speech, saying that he could neither read nor speak on account of stammering so badly. Eld. Healey told him that Moses made the same excuse, but the Lord told him, “I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what to say.” Bro. B. decided that if the Lord had chosen him for the place he would help him to fill it. He felt the power of truth and longed to talk it to his neighbors. He prayed most earnestly that God would remove the stammering and help him to talk the truth. He received the assurance that this would be done, and upon the strength of his faith he invited his neighbors, not of our belief, to come out to the meeting. They came, and he was able to talk with great freedom and convincing power. Those who have known Bro. Butcher for years are filled with astonishment at the great miracle wrought. He has had many invitations to talk the truth, and has done so with joyfulness. He believes quite a number are convinced that we have the truth, and if some laborer could come with the tent a good work might be accomplished. Another in pleading for Vacaville, says the case of Bro. B. has stirred the whole community, and individuals who had not attended church for years have come out to hear him explain the Scriptures, and now they want to hear more on these subjects. ST May 13, 1880, par. 5
Eld. Healey says, there are so many openings they can hardly determine where to go; openings at Shasta, San Diego, Vacaville, Dixon, good fields everywhere; but where are the men to respond to the calls? ST May 13, 1880, par. 6
Bro. Israel spoke of the calls that had come from Kern county, stating that the tent could be pitched at the county seat, and he thought, meet with success; also that San Francisco should have tent labor, that the church was in need of help, many of their members having moved away, and a heavy debt upon their meeting house. He expressed his anxiety to do all that he could to advance the cause; spoke of his gratitude for what the Lord had done for his family, through a testimony from sister White, is releasing his wife from the cruel bondage of despair, which had come upon her in consequence of poor health, and had held her for months. In accepting the testimony she was restored to her family in her right mind, and is now cheerful and hopeful, praising God for the great deliverance wrought. ST May 13, 1880, par. 7
Eld. Waggoner remarked that he did not come to this coast to labor as a preacher, yet he felt the same interest for these fields of labor as though he were engaged exclusively in preaching. He expressed a special anxiety for San Francisco, stating that light had been given that this was a missionary field. Many that have embraced the truth here have moved to other places, some have died, and at present the church is very small. He urges that the tent be pitched at different points in the city, and meetings continued through the favorable part of the season. He also urges that the different fields be carefully and prayerfully considered. We must not study to keep the efforts of our ministers in a narrow compass. Elders White and Bates started in Massachusetts, and Maine, and they went out in different directions in different States, planting the standard of truth, from which the light should shine forth to others. These men who led out in the work had the fullest confidence in God's power to help them in their work, and he did help at the very time they most needed help. ST May 13, 1880, par. 8
This precious truth gathers up one here, and another there, and from every truly converted soul the work will enlarge and spread. ST May 13, 1880, par. 9
E. G. White.