California by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 24, 1873

California.

By John Norton Loughborough

My last report was made at Santa Rosa, April 23, just after my return from Red Bluff and Woodland. Sabbath, April 26, I had two encouraging meetings with the church in Healdsburg. On first-day, the 27th, I spoke twice to interested and attentive audiences at Green Valley. May 3 and 4, held meetings again with this church. Their membership has been much reduced by members moving to other places, still there are a few who meet together, and try to encourage one another in the good way. They have had but little benefit from preaching, the last year, yet they have kept up their S. S. promptly, even their non-resident members keeping their dues square, thus promptly doing their part to send out the truth to others. As I was detained near home a few days in fitting up the new tent, it seemed to me that Green Valley church was entitled to a few meetings, at least. I trust it was not in vain.

Tuesday, May 6, met with the church of Petaluma, at the house of Bro. Chapman. Two were baptized in a beautiful place which had been prepared near Bro. Chapman's residence.

Sabbath, May 10, met with the church in Bloomfield; preached to them in the forenoon. In the afternoon, we had an interesting social meeting, at the close of which, Bro. John Judson, who has been serving for some time as leader of meetings, was unanimously elected, and ordained as elder of the Bloomfield church.

Sunday, May 11, I went to Stony Point. At this place, I gave a brief course of lectures two years since, and four or five came out on the truth and united with the Bloomfield church. I had not preached in the place since, and was earnestly requested to do so. I went, not supposing there would be opposition to my occupying a house which had always been occupied for religious meetings, and where I had been perfectly welcome two years before. There were two men in the neighborhood whose wives had embraced the truth, and these men had set up a most unreasonable opposition to them. They objected to my speaking in the house, and claimed that the majority of the district and the trustees were opposed to my holding meetings in the house.

As I understand the laws of California, it is required that when objection is raised to a school-house being occupied for religious purposes it must be submitted to a vote of the district, at a meeting properly called, and thus settled. I proposed to avoid trouble on the occasion, by retiring to the house of sister Wallace for meeting. Her husband made us welcome, and soon prepared a place in the shade, back of the house, where we had a meeting, some two-thirds of the congregation going with us to the place prepared. We had a good meeting, and good liberty in speaking to the friends once more, in that neighborhood.

Right at this point, I deem it due to friends in Sonoma County, that I make a statement respecting some matters of conversation that transpired that day. Mention was made in the school-house of my having been turned out of the Monroe school-house four years ago. The question was asked by an opposer if the man who turned me out of Monroe school-house had a right to do it. I claimed he had not, in the manner he did, and, that if he had not left the country, and stayed away one year, he would have been brought before the grand jury for violently laying hands on me and thrusting me out of that house. Not that I designed to do it. Others stated that they should do it; but when the grand jury met, the man was gone. Now, I am informed by a brother, that a man from Stony Point took the pains to go to Monroe district and see the man who thrust me out of Monroe school-house, who says I told two lies at Stony Point, May 11.

First, he claims that I said the man who thrust me out at Monroe settlement was not a trustee. I did not say he was not trustee; but I said he had no authority to put me out in the manner he did; and I say so still. His being trustee did not give him authority to lay violent hands on any one.

Second, He claims that I said the above man left the country to get rid of being prosecuted for turning me out of the Monroe school-house. He has inquired of the man, and he denies having left for any such purpose. I did not say the man claimed he left the country to avoid the law. But that, if he had not left, he would have been brought before the grand jury, and it would probably have cost him five hundred dollars.

I have no ill will to say of these opponents. If this is the best kind of argument they have against the truth of the fourth commandment, they will probably thus go on, for men generally use the best arguments they have. I have only to say, that, in kind, such opposition savors too much of the nature of that used by the Catholic church against the Reformers.

Sabbath and first-day, May 17, I held three interesting meetings in San Francisco. Also, on May 24 and 25, I was with Bro. Cornell in San Francisco, where he spoke twice with good liberty.

On Monday, May 26, we came to Napa City, where we erected our new tent, and we are now in the midst of an interesting tent meeting. We have already held fourteen meetings. These have been well attended, and a deep interest is manifest in the word spoken. $21.00 worth of books have already been taken, and last evening, at the earnest request of the hearers, a collection was taken up, the people contributing $21.00 toward our expenses here. We still labor on, expecting the Lord to give the increase, if we humbly do our duty in presenting the truth.

It is just five years to-day, since I left Battle Creek for California. When I look back over that time, I praise God for the success that has attended the proclamation of the truth thus far, on this coast. We came on this coast, strangers to all. Now there are upward of three hundred Sabbath-keepers, besides numerous outside friends, who welcome

us to their homes. Of course, our labors have not been as successful as though we had been used to a field of this kind. Wherein any mistakes have been made, through lack of consecration on our part, may God forgive. In the future, I hope to be more diligent and earnest than in the past.

If aught is done, we must have the Lord's help. To have that, we must earnestly seek him, humbly and confidingly trust in him, and faithfully do our duty. May it be so. Pray for us. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Napa City, Cal., June 9, 1873.