J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 4, 1871

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

By John Norton Loughborough

California,

SINCE my last report was made, May 31, I have spent my time in Healdsburg, in Santa Rosa, and in San Francisco, prospecting, preparing for and commencing the tent-meeting here.

An item at Santa Rosa I will here mention: Not long since, a disciple minister formerly of Iowa, was preaching in Santa Rosa, and in trying to speak against spiritual gifts, he made reference to an affair which he says happened a few years since in Oskaloosa, Iowa; viz., That Elds. Waggoner and Shortridge were there and taught the people that they could lay their hands on sick persons and they would immediately recover; that Eld. Waggoner became very sick and that he (the disciple minister) told Eld. Shortridge it was a judgment upon them, and his brother would die because he had misrepresented the Bible to the people; and said he, “Now if you have power to lay hands on the sick, why don’t you do it?” He left the impression on the minds of the people that Eld. Waggoner died; and several of his members, when questioned as to what they supposed became of Eld. Waggoner, said, “He died, of course he did,” and they were greatly surprised to learn that he is alive. The disciple elder’s name is Carey. It would be a gratification to some in Santa Rosa to read, in the REVIEW, Bro. Waggoner’s version of this affair, if anything like it ever happened at Oskaloosa.

In Healdsburg, we had a very interesting two-days’ meeting, June 10 and 11, and after the meeting Sunday, a business meeting was held in which it was decided to immediately erect a house of worship 30x40.

We have spent several days during the former part of this month in San Francisco, preparatory to commencing our meetings here. On the trip down, I obtained one subscriber for the REVIEW after a few moments’ conversation, and on the return trip, introduced the Reformer to a stranger with whom I entered into conversation, who said immediately, “I want to take that. I was cured of fever and ague once with water.” We little know what we might do by making efforts in circulating our periodicals.

Our tent was pitched in this place, and meetings commenced on last Friday, June 16. We have already held six meetings. The tent is crowded, and there is deep interest. We have sold all the books we had on topics presented, and are anxiously waiting for the box that was shipped for us some two weeks since. Bro. Cornell arrived and was present at our second meeting. He has spoken twice with good freedom. We trust this effort in San Francisco will not be altogether in vain. Pray for us.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

San Francisco, Cal.