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

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 15, 1868

REPORT FROM BEN. LOUGHBOROUGH AND BOURDEAU.

By John Norton Loughborough; D. T. Bourdeau

As our labors here have fairly commenced, we trust our reports may, in the future, be more interesting, if the Lord shall be pleased to crown our labors with success. We are now in Petaluma, fifty miles from San Francisco.

In this city of two thousand inhabitants, our tent is now pitched on a beautiful, retired spot.

We completed the preparation for our meeting, Thursday, Aug. 13, and held our first meeting that evening. The meeting was attended by about forty candid persons, and an opening discourse was given on the importance of truth, and what it is designed to do for us. As the report had gone out that we were Mormons, it became necessary to show our principles, to some extent, in our first discourse, and meet this report

The report of the fanatical moves of some who have had the name of Adventists in the past, and disgraced it by their course, such as the Fentonites, and those who claimed that the Lord had come, &c., is here before us. People have heard unfavorably of the Advent doctrine, but have not heard it. They need to hear the truth of course, to remove these prejudices. Again, some individuals who have more zeal than knowledge, in declaring the doctrine of the Advent, attacking people roughly, in the streets, using these things as a club, has created more disgust than interest, on the part of those who have been brought under the immediate influence of these things. More especially has this been the case in San Francisco. These things for a time make our labor harder, until the people have an opportunity to hear us and learn our manner of communication.

We have now had in this place seven meetings in the tent, and the interest has gradually increased from the first. At our second meeting, seventy-five were present. At the third, over one hundred. On Sunday, in the day meetings, of which we had one at 11 A. M., and one at 2½, there were about two hundred present. In the evening there were four hundred present. Last evening about three hundred. The increase of interest has been proportionate to the increase of the congregation, and we find, thus far, that tent meetings move off about the same in California as in the States, notwithstanding some friends here thought it would be difficult to get any one out to hear. We have offered books on every subject we have yet presented. All we had were readily taken, as also two copies of “Thoughts on Revelation.” We regretted that we had no more books on these subjects, as the people came forward eager for them. But as we expect our second box this week, we are in hopes to supply the demand. Over $8.00 worth in gold, of books were sold on Sunday, and about $2.00 worth more on last evening, on ministration of angels. The story had been circulated, that, although we advertised “Admittance free,” it would not be “exit free,” that they would be called upon to put into the hat, for there must be some speculation at the root of all this novel way of holding meetings. When the people learn that we have not come after their money, they do not seem to be afraid of us or their money. But some, of their own accord, came forward and laid down money amounting to upwards of $6.00, to meet our expenses. Such a circumstance never took place in our experience, so near the commencement of a tent meeting. We look on these things as tokens for good, and are in hopes to see the work of the Lord advance here in power. We do not mention the fact that strangers here are donating to our wants because we are after money, or because we have any fears that our brethren in the States will not be willing to do their part to help forward the work. But, on the part of the people here, we view it as fruit to their account, and an evidence of their sincere interest in what they have heard.

The news of our meeting is rapidly spreading, and we expect by next Sunday we shall have all the congregation we can take care of. We find already many here who were in the Advent movement in 1843, who have come to this State. They have had no Advent preaching here, and are hungry. Two such, living thirty miles north of this, hearing that there was an Advent tent meeting in Petaluma, immediately mounted their horses and came down to see what it meant. They have heard now five discourses, and earnestly urge us to go to their place and preach the truth. This is the second opening that has been presented already for future labors, since this meeting commenced. We think there is no lack of places to labor in this State. May the Lord strengthen us for the work, is our daily prayer.

The church members in this place are some of them already alarmed to see their fellow members flocking out to our meetings, and try to keep them away. But no; these Californians are too independent for the gag law, and say to them, “Well you may say what you please, I am going where I think best.” May the angels of God stir up the people, and the good work still go on.

There are some pleasant features connected with tent meetings here, in contrast with tent labors in the States, to which we would call attention. We have no rain here, so that everything is dry and nice as on the day we erected our tent, all the time. For this reason, a tent here, with care, will last till the Lord comes, as it will not rust out, or mildew. You have not to spend an hour each day pulling at ropes, tightening and loosening to suit the weather. A tent once fairly pitched here is fixed for the entire meeting, as it is not wet at all. Again, our ministers in the States know what it is to speak and sit in a damp, heavy atmosphere in the tent. There is none of it here. It is just as easy speaking in the evening in the tent, as in the day time, and we sleep in the tent with no more fear of cold than in a house. We have not here to watch the clouds for fear the people will be scared away from our meetings, we have only to watch at meeting time, and see them come in. There has been no rain of any consequence here since April, except a thunder shower in the middle of July, and that was an unnatural occurrence in this climate. No rain is expected till the middle of November. The nights here are cool, not uncomfortably so at present, although it may be before we come to the rainy season. When we learn the climate of the State in various parts, we can so shape our labors as to accommodate ourselves to this also, as the nights hold warm later in some sections than in others.

In conclusion, we would say that a friend who has lived in this place thirteen years, has just informed us that he had never seen so great an interest manifested in the discussion of Bible subjects in this place before. We trust that friend has not seen the “beginning of the end yet.” Believing that we have your prayers and sympathies, and co-operation in this work, and striving as much as in us lies, to labor so that God may crown our labors with his blessing, we remain your brethren in hope of deliverance.

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

Petaluma, Cal., Aug. 18, 1868.