Visit to New Orleans

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 12, 1885

Visit to New Orleans.

Because the Seventh-day Adventists are establishing a mission in New Orleans, it was thought best for us to take that city in our journey from the East to California. We had held meetings in Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Chicago. In every place our meetings were encouraging to those who attended. But the weather was severely cold most of the time and the thought of getting into “the sunny South” was very pleasing. The last day we spent in Chicago was one of suffering because of the intensity of the cold. We came to the conclusion that it is not duty to subject ourselves to the rigors of such a climate again. Had we the privilege of remaining at home and making provision for personal comfort it would be different. But in years past we have been used to much exposure, both in traveling in the cold and in tent-meetings, and it has so told on our system that we have concluded to avoid it hereafter as much as possible.

But what we anticipated in regard to the sunny South was not to be realized. We were told that it had rained almost incessantly for a month previous to the time of our visit, and only once while we were there did the sun seem to make even a feeble effort to show its face. It was rain day and night. As the Exposition was in the Park in the south-west part of the city, where the streets are unimproved, the constant rains rendered them impassable except on the railroads, of which there are five lines to the Exposition grounds. This was a great detriment to the Exposition, both as regards the attendance and the preparation of the exhibits. We expected, from reports made in the papers, that there was much unfinished work in the Exposition, but we were surprised at the amount of it. In the “Government Building” there were a great many things unpacked, the allotted space not being prepared to receive them. Even many of the United States exhibits were unprepared, some lying around in confusion, and some not yet removed from the boxes.

And the same was true of the Main Building. The noise of the saw and the hammer was heard in every direction. The Machinery Annex to the Main Building was sadly late, comparatively few machines being in motion. And the Art Gallery was not opened.

Our interest was in the space allotted to our mission. And here again we were doomed to disappointment. The space was indeed secured, which was an important point gained, but nothing had been done to prepare it for mission work. However, the books and papers had but just arrived, and work commenced in its preparation January 26, the loss sustained was not what it seemed to be. Under Elder Haskell’s supervision the space promised to be ready before many others in its immediate neighborhood.

The gallery of the Government Building is set apart to the “Educational Department.” Our mission room is in this department, adjoining the room occupied by the American Missionary Society. The location is desirable and we hope for good results from the effort.

On account of the floods, traveling in the South was very uncertain, and by reason of failures to connect trains Brother Haskell did not arrive until Sabbath, January 24. On that day we held a meeting at the temporary residence of Brother Frost, in the grounds of the Bloomingdale Nurseries. It was a good time, and as Brother Daniels was present, and reported the remarks which were made, we shall notice it fully hereafter. A number of workers were present, who expressed a desire to more fully consecrate themselves to the work, and to do with their might that which may present itself to their hands. It was proposed to commence immediately in the city. It is not as easy work to canvass in New Orleans as in many other cities, but, as was well said at the meeting, doubtless the Lord has people in that city, and to those who labor in faith he will open the way to gain access to them.

Of the exhibits in the Exposition we shall speak next week. We do not propose to give a notice of the great aggregate of articles on exhibition. It is an immense affair, and weeks, instead of a few days, would be required to take in the whole, and to barely mention them would require more room than we have to spare. It was our purpose to take items only of the State exhibits, as presented in the United States Building, generally called the Government Building.

When we arrived in New Orleans and found that the mission was not in operation, and that Elder Haskell was not there, and no one could tell when he would be, we resolved to cut short our stay, and leave on Thursday evening, Jan. 22. But on going to the depot of the “Star and Crescent Route,” the agent informed us that the train would not go out on account of a washout in the road near the Texas line; and he could not tell us certainly when we could go. We appointed to return on Sunday afternoon to ascertain the state of the road. Thus we were permitted to meet Elder Haskell, and to speak to the friends gathered there.

Sunday we improved all the time we could spare in taking notes of the exhibition, and went to the depot toward evening. We learned that we could pursue our journey by means of a transfer around the washout, though one official thought we would better enjoy a little more delay. But we were anxious to pursue our journey, and preferred the risk, whatever it might be. We arrived at Orange, on the Sabine River, the boundary line between Louisiana and Texas, about half past five on Monday morning. After waiting nearly two hours, we started down the river on an old freight boat, antiquated in appearance beyond anything of which we could conceive. We thought if any one wished to prove that steamboats were in use before the days of Fulton, he might forcibly present this boat as evidence. However, it safely carried us down the river into Sabine Lake, and across to the mouth of Neches River, and up this to Beaumont, twenty-two miles from Orange by the railroad, but a ride of full six hours around by water. Our “time” at Houston was 9 A. M., but we arrived there late in the afternoon. Then our train was canceled, and we lay there until 9 the next morning, thus losing twenty-four hours in the transfer. The washout was between the two rivers.

The Tuesday morning express carried us onward, and this day we saw some fine country in Texas. Between Houston and San Antonio the land is excellent; not subject to floods as the country through which we had passed, and cotton and sugar plantations abound. But as we near the Rio Grande (Grand River) the scene changes. The land is suited to grazing, not to tilling. Along the river it is high, dry, and hard. Here the river runs through a cañon, bold and grand, presenting an appearance quite different from that which it presents farther up, in New Mexico. For some distance the railroad runs in this cañon, about midway between the water below and the summit of the bank above. Across the river we view the largest of the Mexican States—Chihuahua. (Pronounced Che-wha-wha. Ch as in church; i as e, and then nearly as if saying what, what, dropping the sound of t; accent on the second syllable.) Aside from this the journey by this route is rather monotonous, and the scenery uninteresting.

And now we feel that we have great reason to express sincere thanks to the God of all mercy and grace for his kind preserving care over us these past months. In the very arduous labors of the General Conference, and the meetings held in several States since then; in the intense cold of the North and the excessive wet of the South; and in the delays and discomforts of the journey, our life and health have been preserved, and we return to our labors with an abiding faith in God and his truth, and with a determination to dedicate anew our powers to the work of the spread of “the present truth.” And we are truly thankful also that the Lord has blessed and aided those who have labored in the office in our absence. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES is growing in favor with its many thousands of readers, and we trust it is fulfilling its mission as a disseminator of the religion of the Bible.