California by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 28, 1872

California.

By John Norton Loughborough

My last report, dated April 20, gave an account of the discussion in San Francisco. Since the discussion, my time has been spent with the churches in Sonoma County, in an excellent State meeting, and in San Francisco. Bro. Cornell has given lectures in Bloomfield, and Santa Rosa. In Bloomfield, two more have come out and united with the church. In Santa Rosa, six new ones have united with the church, and we expect others will unite to-morrow.

In San Francisco, last Sabbath, we had the ordinances—a most solemn and impressive occasion. Six more united with the church, and were baptized on first day; and still others are deciding for the truth. Eld. Grant seemed to think it an evidence that he gained the victory in the discussion, because none of his brethren took hold of the Sabbath. That is no way to count it. Because those who had already decided against the truth did not embrace it, is not strange. Let us look at it from another standpoint. There were several that I now call to mind who had been investigating the Sabbath question, and were waiting to hear the discussion, who by it were perfectly convinced that the Sabbath is binding, and have taken their stand to keep it. And finally, one of Eld. G.'s members came to us in tears, after the discussion, and confessed that he was in trouble over this matter. This conscientious soul, at least, had not been settled against the Sabbath by the discussion, but was still more troubled than before.

At Petaluma, the church have passed through some trials. Their elder and his wife left quite suddenly, and united with the Christian (Campbellite) church. This was a source of grief to the church, but called them out to bear burdens, and they all testify that their trial has done them good, and they feel stronger, and enjoy more freedom in the Lord than before.

Our State Meeting, of which Bro. Kellogg has already given a brief report, was the largest and best meeting we have had in the State. If all carry out the solemn vows there made, our next general gathering will be still in advance of that one.

As was seen and acknowledged in that meeting, in order that the cause may prosper and those who have responsible places to fill be not trammeled in their offices, it is necessary that all act with promptness in every duty. Every member of the church, and every Sabbath-keeper, should prayerfully weigh the matter and decide what he or she can do each week to raise funds to carry on the work of spreading the truth; not simply what you can do without feeling it, but how much sacrifice you can make, what self-denial you can make for the cause of God. I regret to learn that any are commencing to cut down their figures on S. B., who are abundantly able to keep them where they were. When the question was asked in the State Meeting, “Who of you are any poorer because of what you have paid on Systematic Benevolence,” not one of you raised your hands. Do not be of those who withhold more than is meet; for it may, as the wise man says, “tend to poverty.”

I know of many cases, some, even, in this State, where people have pleaded poverty, and excused themselves from doing in God’s cause, sometimes making vows, and then taking them back, who are now getting about what they pleaded for—poverty. God means what he says. “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

But, brethren and sisters, the most of you have taken hold nobly in the work, and your recent pledges at the State Meeting to the general interests of the cause, show that the same disposition still actuates your hearts. Slack not your hand. The more you do, the more you can do. As you “devise liberal things,” God will open ways before you to lawfully obtain means that ye know not of.

This has been already verified in two cases which I will mention: One brother who pledged fifty dollars thought he would borrow it, and pay it before he went home. He had not been home twenty-four hours before the way opened unexpectedly before him to get his fifty dollars and more with it.

Another brother thought he would pledge twenty, and trust in the Lord to open the way before him to obtain it. In one week from the time of making the pledge, from a source from which he was not looking for anything, thirteen of the twenty was received; and so God’s word is fulfilled. “Vow,” and then “pay thy vows,”

Let all see that their names are on the Systematic book for such sum per week as they can give, to raise the State fund for sustaining the preaching of the truth. Then see that those sums are laid aside, and paid to the church treasurer before the close of each quarter, that he may make his returns to the State treasurer, and his report to the State secretary, as required by our present constitution. If all do not make their pledges it is the duty of the treasurer to kindly give them an opportunity to put down their figures, and it is the duty of the treasurer to collect these sums so as to pay them over to the State treasurer by the close of each quarter. That all may easily remember them, the quarters terminate at the natural quarters of the year; namely, Jan. 1, April 1, July 1, and Oct. 1.

You have expressed a desire to relieve your State officers from the cares that hitherto have been connected with their offices. You can do it. If every individual is prompt, and if every treasurer is prompt, as I trust you all will be, the object will be accomplished.

I say what I have to say to all of you at once, in this manner. The treasurer in each church will receive, about fifteen days before each quarter expires, a printed blank from the secretary, to be filled out at the close of the quarter and returned to the secretary, showing the amount paid into the State treasury during that quarter. This will be a gentle reminder that the time has come to collect all arrearages on S. B. for that quarter.

After next Sabbath and first-day, Bro. Cornell and myself take a week of rest and then strike out with the tent for a summer’s campaign in a county where they have as yet hardly heard of us.

Bro. Kellogg and Ferguson have received licences from the California State meeting, and have gone out together into a new field to engage in the work. Pray that God may abundantly bless our humble efforts in his cause on this coast.—J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Santa Rosa, Cal., May 10, 1872.