REPORT FROM BRN. LOUGHBOROUGH AND BOURDEAU by John Norton Loughborough; D. T. Bourdeau

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 28, 1868

REPORT FROM BRN. LOUGHBOROUGH AND BOURDEAU.

By John Norton Loughborough; D. T. Bourdeau

Thinking that the friends of the cause would be interested to hear from us often, and to learn how we are progressing in our journey, we improve this our last opportunity of sending a few lines to the Review before reaching the place of our destination. We are now a little less than 200 miles from Aspinwall, at the Isthmus, and about 1800 from New York. We expect to reach Aspinwall to-morrow; and after spending about three hours in crossing the Isthmus by railroad, we hope to get aboard of the “Golden City” (the name of our steamer on the Pacific Ocean), and to get all settled in our minds by the commencement of the Sabbath.

Before connecting this report with our last, we would refer to one or two circumstances which occurred before we left New York city. The first was our going into the steeple of Trinity Church, at an elevation of 250 feet, to get at once the most commanding view of the city, which we had but little time to visit. The scenery was most imposing. We had in a short time a view of the most important parts of this large and populous city. This church is situated on Broadway, which was crowded for miles with people of every age and distinction, and near Wall Street, which is bounded by buildings occupied mostly by the principal bankers and brokers in this city. Here a flood of thrilling thoughts crowded themselves into our minds in quick succession. But we have not time nor strength to mention all. We thought of Satan’s taking Christ on the pinnacle of the temple; of Christ’s weeping over Jerusalem from the descent of mount Olivet; of the voice of God in the time of trouble, which will cause the mountains, and the cities of the nations, to crumble and fall. And the thought occurred to our minds, How few in this proud and corrupted city were prepared for this time of trouble. But God knows those who are his, and will open for them a way of escape.

The next circumstance we wished to mention was, that the bridge connecting the wharf with our boat, broke down under the heavy weight of those hurrying to the boat before its leaving the shore, causing a tumbling of passengers and baggage together toward the water, and terrible shrieks, and great excitement. But no lives were lost. We could not refrain from praising the Lord that we had previously retired to our rooms in the boat, and were not in the crowd at the time, but were only where we could witness this occurrence unmolested by it.

At the date of our last report, we had passed some of the Bahama Islands. Since then, we have passed by Cuba, and in sight of Hayti. It will be remembered by our readers that it was in Port Au Prince on this Island that J. W. Morton was sent as a missionary by the Presbyterians, and where he embraced the Sabbath. He afterward wrote the celebrated work, entitled, “The Vindication of the True Sabbath.”

We have suffered much from the heat since writing our last. This is a far more wearing journey than it would be to go to Europe. First, the distance is nearly double; and second, there is a greater variation in climate and temperature than there would be in going to France or England. Though we have all been more or less weakened, yet our minds are clear, and we are of good courage, trusting in the Lord. The more we journey toward California, the more we become convinced that we are in the path of duty, and that the Lord is going before us. We at times feel the sweet blessing of the Lord. We know that if we go with your prayers and with our lives in our hands, having no other object than to glorify God by saving souls, that we will see good fruits of our labors.

We have also learned that there are many French from France in California. This makes our mission the more interesting to us. But we will need weeks and perhaps months before we can show much fruit of our labors, as it will require time to rest from the wear of this journey, to select a proper place for our head-quarters, and to commence active operations.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. D. T. BOURDEAU. Caribbean Sea, July 2, 1868.