p. 18 | Report From Elder Loughborough

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 11, 1906

Report From Elder Loughborough

By John Norton Loughborough

It has been some time since I reported in the REVIEW. It was my lot to be in the great California earthquake of April 18, being then at my home in Mountain View. Although our house is only three blocks from the Pacific Press, the walls of which were shaken down, all the damage we received was made whole for less than one dollar. While the chimneys round us were toppled over, not even a crack could be found in ours. After the earthquake a clerk for one of the merchants in Mountain View whose damage was about five thousand dollars, said to me, “And how much were you damaged by the earthquake?” I replied, “One dollar will cover all the property injury we received.” With a peculiar look, and with great earnestness, he said, “Well, God must smile on you.” In response I said, “I am no better than others, but these are the facts in the case.”

During the earthquake we calmly trusted in God, but for several days after the shock there was a strong electric pressure in the atmosphere which was very debilitating to feeble persons. The astronomer in charge of the Mount Hamilton Observatory, near San Jose, said, “In a scale of ten the electric pressure is nine and one-half, and if it goes half a degree higher, I do not know what will happen.” As we began to rally from the electric pressure, I received a request from Elder Santee, president of the Southwestern Union Conference, to attend their annual camp-meetings in Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. I told the Lord if my health improved, I would take that as an evidence that I should go. So much better in health was I at the end of one week, that I responded that I would comply with the invitation. This promise I fulfilled by attending, from August 2 to September 2, these camp-meetings.

It had been ten years since I had visited those conferences, being at that time superintendent of district number five. I could see a marked growth in numbers in all three of these States, and also a good showing in their finances. Especially was I pleased to find Arkansas free from the heavy financial embarrassment of ten years ago; then they hardly saw how their obligation could ever be canceled. The spiritual interest in these meetings was good. I enjoyed the opportunity of speaking of the hand of God so manifest in the rise and progress of the great second advent movement.

It was a pleasure to be associated again in labor with Brother Irwin as he attended all three of these camp-meetings. So also I was again with Brother Santee, whose society I had formerly shared in other States. At the Oklahoma meeting, Elder Thompson,

from the General Conference, and Elder Porter, from the Kansas Conference, were present, and I had opportunity to renew and form pleasant acquaintances with the local laborers in these States.

As I looked upon the great number of young people, both youth and children, assembled on those camp-grounds, and thought what a power they might be for the advancement of the truth in the world if fully consecrated to the Lord. I could but pray that the Lord would keep them from the follies of this world, and that he would bless the efforts of Brethren Hughes, Giddings, and others who have labored so earnestly in their behalf.

As others have reported particulars respecting these meetings in the Southwestern Union Conferences, I need not repeat. September 7 found me again safely at home in Mountain View. Although weary with much travel and almost a month of constant meetings, with a few days’ rest I found myself really in better health than before I went to Texas; so much so that, in response to a call to come to Michigan for a few weeks’ labor, I am on the way, writing this as our train glides rapidly through Missouri. For all these mercies I praise the Lord. Brethren, pray for me that God may still give me strength to speak of those things I have seen, and heard, and known, and handled in the rise and progress of this great second advent movement. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.