Report from California by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 21, 1870

Report from California.

By John Norton Loughborough

At the time of my last report, April 13, I was at Petaluma, having just closed my labors with Bro. Bourdeau. Since that time, I have attended the Quarterly meetings at Petaluma, Green Valley, and Healdsburg, and in connection with Bro. Kellogg have labored with the tent one month in this place.

The Quarterly meetings were well attended, and interesting, and in each of the places of meeting three members were united to the church by profession of the truth. The most of those who have made a start in the work are holding on their way. There is such a contrast between the relaxed way of many California professors of religion, and true Bible Christianity, that an earnest effort must be made to hold up before the people, by precept and example, the true Christian life, which is far above the sensual, pleasure-seeking, formalist's course. May true zeal inspire us all to take Christ and his holy apostles as patterns. May we emulate their lives in devotion to God, and not be of those who have a form of godliness while they deny the power thereof. It is essential to the development of an earnest Christian that he be a worker. Self-examination and secret prayer must be daily carried out; then the family prayer; and these having been engaged in, give us an experience to tell, when we meet with God's people. Our hearts should ever have a sense of God's goodness, mercy, and love, to us. His praise should be continually in our hearts.

While thus performing our duties here, we shall be

preparing to participate in the everlasting song of “Worthy is the Lamb.”

The tent meeting here has been well attended, and a good interest manifested by those who have heard. Ministers have worked in private to keep their members away. Some are already convinced of the truth, and we trust, with God's blessing, a small company, at least, will be raised up in Bloomfield. Pray for us that God may still guide, and keep us in this mission. If our labor is put forth in his name, relying on his strength, it must succeed. Otherwise all will be in vain.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Bloomfield, Cal., June 6, 1870.