California by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 19, 1871

California.

By John Norton Loughborough

My last report was made in Vol. 38, No. 16. We had then just opened our meeting on Minna Street in this city. Bro. Cornell returned shortly after from his visit to Sonoma County much improved in health. After laboring together a week here, it was decided that Bro. Cornell give a brief course of lectures while I held meetings with the churches in Sonoma County.

At Healdsburg I had two interesting meetings, besides a business and social meeting. I found that the brethren had their meeting-house, 30x40, enclosed and temporarily seated so as now to be occupied for meetings. One, who had ceased some months since to obey the truth, was dropped, and three new ones were added to the church. One of these was a brother who sailed into San Francisco from China just before our tent-meeting commenced, heard the truth, embraced it, left the sea, and is now happily situated with Bro. Bond of the Healdsburg church.

Another brother who united with the church received the truth by reading some books I sold an individual in Alexander Valley. As the result, he commenced to obey the truth before even hearing a lecture. How often we see instances of books sold or given to one person, who lays them aside, falling into the hands of another who does prize and obey the truth. This certainly should incite us to zeal to scatter the truth and reach all we can.

While at Healdsburg I went with Bro. Bond to view one of the great natural wonders of California, the Geysers, only twenty miles from Healdsburg. The day, I trust, while it was one of recreation, was also one of profit.

To see water boiling out of the earth at a heat that will cook an egg hard in a minute, and steam hissing into the air fifty feet with a sound like that of blowing off steam from a high pressure engine, can but produce solemn feelings on the candid beholder. Two apertures we examined, only two feet apart, both ejecting water at boiling heat, one as clear as crystal, the other black as ink. From the top of what is called “The devil’s pulpit” we took a lump of brimstone some six inches square, and two inches thick. We left the place, not only impressed with a sense of the wonders of the world, but deciding in our minds that these manifestations of heat were proof of the plainly taught Bible doctrine that under the earth “is turned up as it were fire.”

As I started from Healdsburg to Green Valley I saw a copy of a paper from Buchanan, Mich., in which a writer makes bitter complaints concerning our work here in San Francisco. He refers to what Bro. Reed of Santa Clara said, and had considerable to say about our seeking justification by the law and leaving Christ. How often will first-day Adventists have to be told that we do not believe that we can do anything without Christ, before they will cease their cry of leaving Christ and seeking justification by the law.

Again, this writer raises a great complaint about our dividing their company. We “can’t see it” here. And it seems that in a recent Crisis, over the signature of “C,” a statement is made by a San Francisco reporter, that he witnessed but few persons in our meeting that attended Eld. Grant’s meetings.

That is the fact. Most of those who have embraced the Sabbath, and are with us here, knew but little of the Advent doctrine until the tent was pitched in San Francisco.

This man complains of S. D. Adventists’ breaking up their churches; but I think there is room for both of us, in a city of 175,000 inhabitants, unless they are anxious that the truths we hold in common with them shall all be “hammered on their anvil.” They believe the Lord’s coming is near; so do we. They believe in life only through Christ; so do we. We believe the seventh-day Sabbath is still binding; they quote the text, “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” If it is a matter of so little consequence as that, to them, why be so greatly alarmed when we make prominent those truths which they regard as important?

In Green Valley, we found our numbers somewhat diminished by persons’ moving away; yet a few faithful ones still remain. Our two days’ meeting was not without profit, although, as in other States, there are some trials growing out of a lack of consecration on the part of some. We trust that this may be remedied by patient labor.

In Bloomfield, we found they were still having interesting meetings, and growing in the work. Some in the vicinity of Bloomfield are subjected to great trials because of taking a firm stand for the truth. The Lord will sustain them in all their trials if they humbly trust him, and in their trials will make a way for their escape so that they may be able to bear it. We trust soon to be able to spend more labor at Bloomfield, and organize a church there.

In Santa Rosa, I held one evening meeting, which was well attended. With very few exceptions, this church are trying to be active and do duty, and there is a growth in them corresponding to their efforts to do. Some, alas! are covered so much with the cares of this life that they have no energies in the cause of God.

At Petaluma, our meetings were encouraging to us. This company all hold on firm to the truth, yet have had the least preaching of any of our churches in the State. They unselfishly pay their means to push on the work, and try to do their part that interest may be kept up in their own meetings. May the Lord help them to be faithful in all things, and thus they will be found at last among the overcomers.

The 13th inst., we returned to this city and found the work still progressing. I took hold with Bro. Cornell to present the subject of order. Some twenty-four have already enrolled their names, and a leader is appointed. This evening we commence on the organization of Systematic Benevolence. We have no doubt but they will be prompt as they have shown a disposition to bear their own burdens as much as possible, and in this they have acted a noble part. The expense of the San Francisco effort to this date is about $630. Of this, there has been raised in this city about $510. On last Sabbath there were thirteen baptized, and five the Sabbath before.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

San Francisco, Cal., Nov. 1871.