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

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 23, 1868

REPORT FROM BRN. LOUGHBOROUGH AND BOURDEAU.

By John Norton Loughborough; Daniel T. Bourdeau

Monday, June 8, we left Battle Creek, Mich., to fill our appointment at Lancaster, N. Y., on our way to California, having spent the previous Sabbath with the church in that place, to whom we gave two discourses, which we endeavored to adapt to the occasion. Several of the brethren and sisters accompanied us to the depot, where we had an affecting parting scene, which, with other past acts of kindness, strengthened our attachment to these dear friends, leaving an impression which we expect to retain as long as memory lasts.

Soon after leaving Battle Creek, we fell in company with a gentleman who had been to California, and who kindly gave us information respecting the routes, and the climate and seasons in the different parts of California, which was interesting to us, and showed us the necessity of taking advantage of the seasons in our labors in that distant land.

From this point nothing uncommon occurred, until we reached Windsor, C. W., in the evening. Here the third car before us in the train got off the track. There was no serious injury, nor loss of life connected with this occurrence; yet we were thereby detained nearly two hours, in consequence of which we broke our connection, and reached Rochester at 10 A. M. instead of 7 A. M. But we had a good night's rest in a sleeping car, and awoke in the morning, feeling that our journey thus far had been a source of refreshment to us; and we all felt that thus far the Lord had led us on, and that the prayers of our brethren and sisters were following us. We immediately came to Bro. J. B. Lamson's hospitable home, where we improved a few days in resting and making further preparations for the journey. We found no ready-made tent that was suitable for our mission, therefore ordered one made 60 feet in diameter, all new, for $480. But as the canvass of the N. Y. tent had been sold on account of its being so worn that it was unfit for use, leaving no use for the iron and tackle, the brethren offered us all that could be of service to us. In consequence of this, and because we left out the standards and small ropes, a deduction of $65 was made on the price of the tent, leaving the cost of the new tent at $415.

The Monthly Meeting held at Lancaster last Sabbath and first-day was an excellent meeting. We will ever look upon it as a bright spot in this journey, a spot where our souls were watered as we tried to water others, and where our spiritual strength, and that of others, was renewed. Every feature of this meeting seemed to be of an encouraging and reviving nature. The Lord gave unusual freedom and clearness in preaching, and there was a readiness, yea, an eagerness on the part of the brethren and sisters present to receive our testimony. We gave four discourses in all, on topics dwelt upon at the General Conference, besides taking part in social meetings and business transactions, and all the brethren and sisters responded to the truths spoken without being urged. The social meetings were lively and interesting, yet characterized with solemnity and a deep settling into the work of the message. Especially were we interested in Bro. Fuller's indorsement of the truths spoken, which evinced a consecration to, and a lively interest in, the work, a true missionary spirit, and a strong love for souls, blended with childlike simplicity. God is making this dear brother a blessing to his people in this part of the field. May the blessing of the Lord still attend his labors.

In a short business meeting, on first-day, the wants of the cause in its different branches were briefly set forth before the brethren, who at once pledged $184.50 for the Benevolent Association, and raised $133.50 for the California Mission. We were told that the brethren in this district would swell up the figures for these two objects to $400. This, we think, is doing well, considering that the brethren in this part of the State are not numerous, and that the meeting was simply a Monthly Meeting.

We were struck with, and tried to appreciate, the sympathy shown us on this occasion. The brethren and sisters seemed to be deeply affected by the thought of our leaving them, though most of them were strangers to us. They manifested that childlike simplicity, and spontaneous, fervent love, which are free from stiffness and extra polish, and which generally characterize brethren and sisters living in the country. May God increase in us all this childlike and fervent love for each other.

Last Sabbath we took dinner at Bro. Wallace Eggleston's, and after dinner Miss M. E. Tinkham, a school-teacher, who, though not a Sabbath-keeper, showed us much sympathy in our work, played and sung to us the following words, which, we trust, are expressive of the true sentiments of each of our hearts. May this dear friend soon identify herself with God's Sabbath-keeping children.

Let me go! I still would labor, In the vineyard of the Lord; For the fields are ready, whitening, Jesus says so in his word. Let me thrust the Spirit's sickle In the fields already white; Let me blow the gospel trumpet; Let me do, with all my might.

Let me go and wear the armor That my Father doth supply; Let me cheer the broken-hearted, Help the pilgrim on his way; Let me point the poor and needy To a boundless store of grace, To a mansion in the heavens, To behold the Saviour's face.

Let me urge, constrain, persuade them, To forsake their sins so dear, Lest the God of Heaven visit Them with judgments most severe. Let me tell of Pharaoh's troubles, Of old Sodom's fearful hour, Mercy's gone, now lingers judgment, Oh! the fearful, fearful hour.

Let me stay a little longer, Gathering for the garner great, Golden sheaves; oh, precious jewels, Stars in Jesus' crown complete; Let me finish all my labor, Then my armor I'll lay down, And with Jesus Christ, my Saviour, Ever wear a starry crown.

Then I'll range the fields of Heaven, And with angels ever sing Hallelujah, glory, glory! Hallelujah to our King!

Then with bright-robed seraphs, worship Round the Father's great white throne, Always crying, Thou art worthy, Thou, my God, and thou alone.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, D. T. BOURDEAU.

Victor, N. Y., June 16, 1868.

P. S. The 12th inst., I had the privilege of performing the rite of holy matrimony between Eld. J. N. Loughborough and Sr. M. A. Newman, at the residence of Sr. Newman's father, in Victor, N. Y. I believe the Lord is in this union; and may it alleviate the wound that has been made in our dear fellow-laborer, and may our present Sr. Loughborough be truly a help-meet to her husband, and to us in our important mission. We welcome her as a laborer in the Lord's vineyard.

I would here say that we appreciate the pecuniary aid that we are receiving from the friends of the cause, and will try to make such a judicious use of the means placed in our hands, that our brethren will have no occasion for lessening their confidence in us. We will use all lawful economy in the application of means. Bro. Loughborough has already entered into negotiations with agents of ship companies, offering inducements to have a reduction made on our fare, and we have already had an offer of a reduction of $50 in the fare of each, thus saving $200 in this thing. And this is done in an honorable manner. To-day Bro. Loughborough has gone to New York to make final arrangements, settle on which line we are going, secure proper berths, etc. Perhaps all are not aware of the distance to California. It is 5875 miles from New York City to San Francisco, Cal., by way of the Isthmus of Panama. So this cannot be a pleasure trip as some have supposed. We would express our gratitude to those who have sent us letters of sympathy and encouragement, to Rochester, N. Y.; but would here say that our friends should not expect that we will answer all their letters. To do this would impose a greater task upon us than we could well perform, and hinder us in our important work. It would take most of our time to correspond with from fifty to one hundred of our friends. Think of this, you who wonder why we do not answer your letters. You, perhaps, have from one to five to correspond with, and most of you have no reports or sermons to write. Don't you see that it would be ten or twenty times more laborious for us to hold a regular correspondence with you all, than it would be for you to correspond with us and a few others? How would you feel if you kept us from writing one or more sermons for the REVIEW, or important articles for the Reformer or Youth's Instructor? Or if by hindering us by causing us to write many letters when we ought to rest, or labor to save souls who are deciding for life or death, you should greatly exhaust us and unfit us for labor, and prevent us from reaching those who are on the brink of ruin, and whose salvation depends on the course we pursue toward them? But some will say, Your wife can write. Yes, she can write, and I intend to have her favor me on this point. But she has something else to do besides writing. There is keeping house for us, cooking, taking care of her clothing and our own, traveling at times, visiting, laboring in meetings, and watching for every opportunity to help us and others in the Lord. Our women do not follow us to be waited upon and play ladies, without taking any special burden; but they follow us to work, to stand by us shoulder to shoulder, to save perishing souls. Do not, therefore, expect too much from them in the line of writing.

Now let none take an extreme view of these remarks. Let your letters come in like clouds full of rain to water and refresh a weary and thirsty land, with the expectation that the fruit we bear under your watering will be partaken of by others, if not by yourselves. And again we ask to be remembered in your prayers.

D. T. B.