Tent Meetings in San Francisco, California by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 24, 1872

Tent Meetings in San Francisco, California

By John Norton Loughborough

California.

At the time of my last report, Nov. 20, we were holding a tent meeting in San Francisco. This meeting continued until Nov. 25, when the evenings became so cool that our stoves failed to warm the air sufficient for comfort, and, although it was still fair overhead, we concluded to take down our tent. The meeting continued even longer than we anticipated at the time we erected the tent, Nov. 7. In no State have Seventh-day Adventists been able before to hold a tent meeting until November 25.

We held, in all, twenty-five meetings in the tent. Good interest was manifest. Several have already taken their stand to obey the truth since that meeting, and still others are investigating. The close, practical preaching of Bro. and sister White has left a very favorable impression on the minds of those who heard. The church has been greatly helped by the labors of the last few weeks. When the tent meetings commenced, they were in great trial, growing out of the course of unconsecrated ones. It became necessary to free the church from some of these dead members, and to arouse unconsecrated ones. The Lord blesses the effort of his people to rise.

It is no loss to a church to cut off members, if, after patient, faithful, and calm dealing with them, they manifest no disposition to reform, but rather than humble themselves, seek to justify self and wander farther and farther from the light. To retain such members is to shut out, many times, others who would come in and do honor to the cause of truth. So it is here. A church can afford to exchange five dead members who are past help, for one humble soul who is determined to live near to God; and it makes a good exchange every time. Still we are admonished to seek the lost sheep, to do all we can to help the erring, to “Let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5: 20. Amputation in the human body is the last resort. If, after the most tender, patient care, and careful nursing, it is found that the hand, or foot, is about to mortify, and so is liable to poison the blood and injure the health and life of the whole body, the diseased part is cut off. So in the church; while there is the least hope that patient labor may save erring souls, retain the hold upon them; not with false sympathy, leading them to think that the rebukes of truth made against their sins is personal abuse to them; not by covering up and fellowshipping their sins; but, with faithfulness and love setting their sins before them. “Thou shalt not suffer sin upon thy brother, but thou shalt in anywise rebuke him.” “If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him, and if he REPENT forgive him.” While with one class there is danger of harsh and unmerciful dealing, we find in some others a disposition to resist faithful labor put forth to reclaim the erring, by forgiving them all their sins before they repent of them, and charging a lack of Christian spirit upon those who reprove sins, thus injuring the erring, and making the labor exceedingly hard for those who would faithfully do their duty, and not “daub” the sinner over “with untempered mortar.” Such has been the case with some here, and such has made the labor exceedingly hard for Bro. and sister White as they have tried to deal faithfully, yet patiently. But the clouds begin to clear away. The church here, as a body, stand by the labor bestowed upon them. They report that their meetings last Sabbath and first-day, when they were by themselves, were the best they have had in a long time.

I mentioned in my last some items of interest that came under our observation during our meetings, and I will now mention a few more. A lady came up to converse with us at the close of one evening meeting, who attended a number of our meetings, and was much interested. She said her mother embraced the Sabbath at Belleville, Ohio, under the labors of Elders Lawrence and Van Horn. May her visit East, as she expects soon to go, result in her carrying out her convictions and taking her stand with her mother to obey the truth.

One day, Bro. Diggins met a friend of his near the tent, a member of the Congregational church. When he learned that Bro. Diggins was interested in the tent-meeting, he made some inquiries about the doctrines. On learning that we preached and obeyed the ten commandments, he said to Bro. D., “We have nothing to do with that law. All we have to do is to come to Christ; we have nothing to do with God in this dispensation.” Quite a difference between this modern church member and Paul, who said to the elders of the Ephesus church, “I kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20: 20, 21. Quite a difference, it seems to me, in the two testimonies.

On another occasion, a Catholic lady was inquiring of Bro. D. concerning his faith, and this led to a conversation respecting the obedience of the fourth commandment. After she had listened awhile, she said of his arguments: “That looks very clear, and I presume it is true; but I wish you would talk with Father — about it. I presume he will see it. He tells us what to believe. We do not know what to believe till he tells us. He is responsible for what we believe. We are not responsible.”

While holding this meeting, we learned that Eld. Vogel’s attempt in the REVIEW to disprove the Sabbath instituted at creation, had convinced one of the elders of one of their churches in this State that it was his duty to keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and he is now keeping it.

One item, and not least, because mentioned last, by any means, is parting with Bro. Kellogg. He has tried to labor faithfully in bearing burdens here on this coast, in connection with the cause, especially for the last eighteen months. He leaves many friends in California whose sympathies and prayers will follow him to his new field of usefulness. I feel a loss in his departure; for he has been willing to bear burdens whenever he saw them, and has been a true helper to me here in the work of the Lord. But as the Lord has drawn his mind to other labor, he will raise up friends to help here.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

San Francisco, Cal., Dec. 11, 1875.