Memorial Service at Richmond
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associate, Elder A. O. Tait, because of Elder Wilcox’s absence in the
East. In the introductory paragraphs the principle was set forth that
“God makes much of individuals. All the great movements, awaken-
ings, and crises of the centuries have centered around individuals, so
that the story of the lives of these persons must include the history of
God’s work in the world, or the history of the crises or movements.”
Citing the biographies of Noah, of Abraham and other Hebrew wor-
thies, of Wycliffe and Luther and the Wesleys, the writer continued:
“And in the advent movement, the giving to the world of the last
message of reform, there are two persons whose biographies must
include the beginning and the establishment of the movement and its
worldwide growth. Nay, more, God’s hand through them will affect
it to the end. I refer to Elder James White and his beloved wife, Mrs.
Ellen G. White.”
In this review of Mrs. White’s life history, as read at Richmond,
her labors on the Pacific coast were outlined thus:
“The work in California had been inaugurated by Elders J. N.
Loughborough and D. T. Bourdeau in the summer of 1868. In the
autumn of 1872 Elder and Mrs. White visited San Francisco, Santa
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Rosa, Woodland, Healdsburg, and Petaluma. Here her messages were
received by earnest souls, and her labors were greatly appreciated.
“In February, 1873, Brother and Sister White went to Michigan,
returning to California in December of that year to take up new and
greater burdens and start new enterprises. In 1874 they assisted in two
tent meetings held in Oakland. Here Mrs. White spoke with telling
effect on the temperance question, in a local option campaign.
“It was at this time that publishing work was begun in Oakland,
the first issue of the Signs of the Times being dated June 4, 1874.
In 1875 the Pacific Press Publishing Company was organized, with
capital stock first at $28,000. This corporation is now continued in the
Pacific Press Publishing Association, with a present worth of nearly
$250,000, and a yearly output of over a million dollars in religious and
educational literature.
“God revealed to Mrs. White that a great work would be done
upon the Pacific coast and in the cities around the bay. This began
to materialize very early; for church buildings were erected in Oak-
land and San Francisco in 1875 and 1876. In helping to build these
churches, Mr. and Mrs. White sold all they had in the East.