California by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 12, 1872

California.

By John Norton Loughborough

My last report was made Feb. 2, since which we have had some very interesting meetings. Our meetings, since the heavy rains commenced, have been confined to places where companies had already been raised up, as it is so stormy and muddy it would prove a failure to undertake entering new fields. This has been the hardest winter ever experienced in California, by the oldest settlers. They say they never knew so wet a winter. There has more rain fallen the past winter than in all the three previous winters that I have been here, combined. Our heavy rains here, have been snow upon the mountains, so that we have had no overland mail for four weeks, in consequence of the snow blockade.

After being blockaded a few days, it opened just long enough for us to get the REVIEW, numbers 3 and 4, containing report of the General Conference and the appointment of the fast, then the road was closed and we have had no REVIEW since. We shall be glad indeed to see it again, and presume we shall soon, as news this morning is, that eight passenger trains will arrive in San Francisco to-morrow night.

My labors, since my last report, have been in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, San Francisco, and Healdsburg. At Santa Rosa, the church are overcoming former trials, growing in spirituality, and awakening to more and more of a sense of these times.

In Petaluma, the meetings were encouraging to the church. I was glad to learn that one more had united with the church, a few days before my visit there.

At Healdsburg, yesterday, another one was baptized and united to the church.

In San Francisco, the work still advances steadily, and those who have taken their stand are growing stronger, and learning to be earnest workers in this cause. I was with them during fast days, Feb. 10 and 11. It was a solemn, precious, heart-searching season. One brother remarked that he had been trying to serve the Lord for the last sixteen years, but he must confess that this was a new atmosphere to him. One new one came out while I was there.

During the fast, Bro. Cornell was at Santa Rosa, Bro. Ferguson at Petaluma, Bro. Kellogg at Healdsburg, Bro. Wood at Green Valley, and Bro. Morton at Bloomfield. The fast was observed with services each day, abstinence from business and food as directed, humiliation, confession, and earnest prayer to God to raise up laborers. It was a precious season at every point on this coast. God has signally blessed us, and we confidently expect to see the answer to our petitions. What shall we expect? What did we ask? We plead with the Lord to raise up laborers. We shall then expect to learn, that from the ranks of those who have had experience in the truth, men are moved to proclaim the truth of God, and, as one of our leaders remarked, in response to a letter I wrote him before the fast, “If we consecrate ourselves to the Lord in accordance with his word, by self-examination and prayer, and a determination to do all the good we can, the result will be that we shall all find ourselves laborers in the great harvest of the Lord. We can all become helpers in the work. If the most of us have not the gift of tongues, we have the gift of action, if we are inclined to use it. I think the way has opened through the missionary plan, whereby the work, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and with consecrated action, will be effectual in bringing many into the fold.”

May God grant that with all there may be a disposition to do what we can and a solemn inquiry “Lord what wilt thou have me to do?”

I will note an item or two of affairs in the city.

Our first-day friends have boasted much of “wiping out” the work commenced by the Sabbath truth there. Some said, “When Eld. F. comes, the Seventh-day hall will be closed up in about three weeks.” In this, they were disappointed. Immediately after his arrival, during the first three weeks, we organized the church, commencing with nearly thirty members, and organized Systematic Benevolence amounting to over $1000.00 per year, in coin. Several, in the mean time, took their stand upon the truth. And from that time there has been a steady progress in the work, both in a growth in grace, and numbers.

Then they said, “When Eld. G. comes, he will set matters to rights.” But his meetings have not, as yet, jarred one of those who had taken a stand on the truth. During the first week of their meeting, however, one brother, formerly of their number, commenced to keep the Sabbath. The Elder went from house to house among our people, telling them that sister White was influenced by a demon, and that the whole work of Sabbath-keeping was a trick of the devil, gotten up to scatter and divide the flock. Our brethren and sisters had read too much of sister White’s writings to conclude that these are “the words of one that hath a devil.” They also referred him to the consecration, devotion, and spirit of sacrifice connected with this work. “Oh, yes!” he said, “these are good people, and wherever they go, their doctrine takes the very best; they are a self-sacrificing people, I admit.” Our people were not quite ready to admit that the good and excellent fruits of God’s Spirit would flourish on a tree of Satan’s planting, or that Satan’s work should take “the most devoted” and “the best.” So, judging the tree by its fruits, their decision was that the work was of God. So his visits made our people the stronger on the truth, and more confident than ever that “this work is of God.”

But the next effort was to get up a discussion between Eld. Cornell and Eld. Grant, some of their number declaring that Bro. C. “didn’t dare to meet Eld. Grant.” So an arrangement was made for a discussion to commence the evening of Feb. 26, on the Sabbath question. Our prayer is that the Lord may signally help in the vindication of the truth. The sequel is yet to be known. We wish to calmly trust in God at all times, ever feeling our dependence upon him.

I see in the report of the standing of the different Conferences, as appears in the proceedings of the General Conference, that our figures in California stand the same as two years ago; namely, one hundred and thirty Sabbath keepers with $800.00 S. B. The cause of this, I perceive, was on account of our report for the Conference, being detained by storm last year. The secretary fell back on the previous year’s report, and the same happening this year, it only reports matters as they stood two years ago. Our present number is 208; S. B. pledges for the year are over $2100.00, in coin. Our people stand united, and desirous to know their place and act their part in the great work of the third message.

Just before closing this report, I received REVIEWS, No. 5 and 6. It seems indeed, after a month’s delay, like meeting an old and dear friend again. Pray for us.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Santa Rosa, Feb. 18, 1872.