p. 1 | To the Churches in California

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 22, 1870

To the Churches in California.

By John Norton Loughborough

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I have had it in my mind for several weeks to say a few words to you, through the REVIEW, which I now attempt. We have reason for gratitude to God that the effort made to spread the truth on this coast has not been without fruits, and that a goodly number, amid all the pressure of opposition, cares of life, and Satan's snares, still maintain a love for this cause. But it does not become us to settle down in a spirit of self-complacency over past attainments. How much greater progress we ourselves might have made, and how much greater our influence for good might have been, had our zeal been in proportion to the importance of the work in which we are engaged, and adequate to the short time in which we have to work. But he prospers best in life, who profits by his mistakes in the past; so it may be with us here, if we do as we should in all respects relative to the future, “redeeming the time.” The most of you who have taken hold of the Sabbath, desire to make progress; but, with many of you, the Christian life, and cross-bearing, and burden-bearing, is a new work.

“Diligent application to business, is the price of success in any enterprise.” In the work of serving God, it is those who are active, are ready to do every duty in its time, that make progress; while those who fail in this, are almost at a stand-still, or else lose their interest in the work.

We need to avail ourselves of all the means of grace within our reach. These commence in our hearts, and at home; but they do not end there. We must daily read the word of God, examine our own hearts in the light of God's word, striving to learn our own faults, with a determination to put them away. In order to do this aright, we must daily have our times to go before God in secret, pleading with him for strength; and not do this in a hurried manner, as a mere form, but plead until we realize that our petitions are heard. With those who have families, what a source of strength is the family altar, and what an influence for good it exerts upon our children, and those near to us, if rightly conducted. Let us remember that God threatens a curse for this time on “the families that call not on his name.” These duties rightly performed, bringing us to taste of the divine, create in us a relish for the public worship of God. They strengthen us to withstand the temptations and trials of the world, and self, and Satan.

It is made a duty, in the Scriptures, for the people of God to assemble themselves together on the Sabbath for “a holy convocation”—religious meeting. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Heb. 10:25. As we try every day to have before us, as the greatest object, our advancement in Christian duties, we do not feel, when the time of public meeting comes, a lack of disposition to assemble with God's people; but we long for the assembly of the saints, and, like David, can say, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Ps. 122:1. When thus assembled for the worship of the God of the Sabbath, does he not regard us? Assuredly he does; and that promise of Mal. 3:16, is ours: “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” The one who has a sense of this promise, as well as of what follows in verse 17, will not say, when the time of meeting comes around, “I am tired; I think I will not go to meeting to-day.” Yes, you have become so weary following your secular pursuits that you will dare to take God's time, in which you should assemble with his people, to simply get physical rest, so as to use your recuperated strength to yourself through the next week, to act the like again on the next Sabbath. I am sure, if we realize these things as they are, that we shall do so no more.

Some desire to make advancement. Look over those of your acquaintances who have started in the service, who have made advancement; those who have been active, who have availed themselves of the means of grace, and been ready to do duty promptly whenever they saw it; and who are ye that are desiring progress, but making little? Are you availing yourself of all the means of grace within your reach, and doing your duty in all respects? When met with God's people, they are encouraged to see you; but do you also gladden them still more by bearing your humble testimony? Some say they do not believe in a religion which is “all talk and no do.” Neither do I. Have “faith that works,” and overcome “by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony.”

I have found, by observation, that a lack of energy in attending the social meeting, creates a lack of interest to attend the preaching of the word. Judge of the feelings of the minister, when, with a sense of the want and condition of the people of God, he has tried, prayerfully, to select portions with which to instruct, reprove, and encourage the flock; but, alas! when he rises to speak, he finds that some of the very ones who need the help he has for them, have thought they were not in need of it, and have stayed at home to take rest. It is hopeful they will not be asleep when the Master comes.

Our quarterly meetings were appointed for the express purpose that all the church, by making a little extra exertion, might have the benefit of preaching once in four or six weeks, without our few ministers on this coast having to take time from labor in new fields to go to every church. What, think ye, are the feelings of a minister, when he rides much of the night to get to and from the quarterly meeting, to meet one solitary church, and perhaps one or two members from one or two other churches, and they say, “Our church gave up their meeting to attend this quarterly meeting, but I dont know why they are not here.” Why? Perhaps they have thought it a good time to get some physical rest, instead of having a spiritual feast. There seems to be some failure in our quarterly meeting arrangement. The lack is somewhere. Where is it? We have thought perhaps the church considered that one sermon and other duties would not pay the effort of getting to and from the meeting; so we have decided for the present round to have all the quarterly meetings two days' meetings, and see how that will work. Other changes still will have to be made soon. The calls for labor in entirely new fields here, must be responded to; then, as new companies are raised up, they, for a time, will need, and should have, more ministerial labor than the older companies. At the same time, the older companies must not be neglected. It may be duty, at the next State meeting, to so arrange the quarterly meetings for the older churches, that they will be further apart than now, and have them two days' meetings, and make it a point to attend them. Think of it, brethren.

Meanwhile let us avail ourselves of the present means of grace, that we may obtain that growth which will enable us to stand alone, if need be, that perishing souls around us may have the light. What I have said of neglecting meeting on the Sabbath, is only applicable to a few cases here in this State. I trust those few will reform. The neglect of the quarterly meetings has resulted from a lack of realizing the benefit of them. If we all now take hold in these meetings as we should, they will be a source of good

to ourselves, and to our interested friends, who should be induced to attend them.

Another point that I will say a few words upon, is our finances. It was decided by the Committee of this State, after our State meeting was organized, to make this mission self-sustaining, and release our Eastern brethren who have such promising fields in other directions to claim their aid through the General Conference fund. A burden was taken that was new to the most of you, and s. b. was organized only in one church, Petaluma.

By economy in the expenditure of means, and the promptness of most of you, we have come to that point where we can say, for the first time, The California mission is out of debt. But if this could be said of all who still have unpaid pledges on the s. b. books, there might also be surplus means in the treasury with which to push out the work into new fields. We are not fault-finding in this matter. The majority of you have made a fine start, both in pledging and paying s. b. For instance, Petaluma closes its fiscal year, all square on s. b. Healdsburg closes its first year, overpaid. Green Valley closes its first quarter, square. Santa Rosa closes its first year with all the active members square. As a general rule, those who are behind are those who are dilatory in other matters also. Now, a little calculation and foresight can cure all this tardiness. Although it is the treasurer's office to act as collector also, do not make it his duty to call on you for the sum you have pledged to the Lord's treasury. Pay up your dues. Have you pledged beyond your ability to perform, have the book adjusted accordingly, and then be as prompt in rendering to God, “the things which are God's,” as you are in rendering, “to Caesar the things which are Caesar's.”

We plan for our taxes to the government; and why should we not plan in relation to our freely made pledges to the Lord, and pay all our vows? But, says one, If the cause is out of debt, there is not that necessity of my paying up with promptness. “Faithfulness becometh” the house of the Lord; and “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully”—negligently, margin—are the declarations of holy writ.

With the large field of promising labor that is open before us on this coast, we should have more laborers. And if we all do our duty with promptness, the present laborers will not only be kept free from embarrassment, but we may have wherewith to sustain another laborer. Let us be active and do our part, praying God to still work and raise up laborers.

Time is short. A mighty work is to be done in getting these truths before our fellow-men. Shall we come short on this coast, in manifesting our gratitude for the truth? or shall we diligently fulfill the trust committed to us, of trying to do all we can to warn our fellow-men of what is coming? There are some interesting cases of persons' embracing the truth on this coast, by reading our publications. I have thought a fund should be raised here outside of our s. b. funds, with which to purchase tracts to be distributed freely at meetings, where there is an interest awakened, and to put books and tracts in the hands of the candid, who may not be so situated as to purchase them. I have distributed, on my own account, the last year, some $30 worth. I did not know but others might wish to share in the work. Some may say, Did we not send $100.00 to the general book fund? Yes; but they had already sent us $100.00 worth of books, which are mostly distributed, and doubtless they would send us more, should we ask them to. But, after our brethren East have bought the tent, and sent laborers here with it, and in the main sustained the work here for one year, shall we not do all we reasonably can, to sustain the work in this State, without demanding more of their means?

Now, dear brethren and sisters in California, do not get the impression that I am complaining of you. You have been exceedingly kind to us, gratuitously moving us and our tent from place to place, and helping us in various ways. The same promptness and good-will that has been manifested by you in the past, if carried out by all in the future, will keep the work free, and greatly extend its borders. Shall we dedicate ourselves unreservedly to God, ready to do his will in all things, and share largely of his blessing? So may the Lord help us all to do.

A sister, on hearing this proposition, gives $10.00 for a book fund; who else in this State wishes to share in this matter? Let those respond who can, and who wish so to do, when they see me, or write to me at Healdsburg, Sonoma Co., Cal.

If others denied themselves of tobacco and other injurious articles, and, with means so saved, sent the tent and truth to this coast, what can we do to send it to others? “Consider it, take note of it, and speak your mind.” Pray that God may bless and guide in the work here. Your brother in Christ,

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.