p. 87 | California Tent Meetings and Church Progress Report

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 26, 1873

California Tent Meetings and Church Progress Report

By John Norton Loughborough

California.

My last report was made July 8. Since that time, there has been some advancement in the work on this coast. Sabbath and first-day, July 19, 20, I was with the church at Woodland, where we had very interesting meetings and a refreshing communion season. I was glad to perceive some advancement in the work there. God will ever bless his people who humbly and earnestly move forward at all times in the path of duty.

Our tent-meeting at Napa closed first-day, July 27. Five were baptized on that day. Others design to go forward at the camp-meeting, as there is a more convenient and better place for baptism, the water being clear. We were with the tent in Napa nine weeks, and held seventy-seven meetings in the tent. The people made voluntary contributions toward our expenses to the amount of $129.67. About $90.00 worth of books were sold, and $25.00 worth of books and tracts were given away. Good order and deep interest were manifest in the meeting to its close.

As it was deemed proper to hold another tent-meeting before the camp-meeting, the tent was taken down Monday, July 28, and erected in St. Helena, eighteen miles up the valley. Bro. Cornell commenced lectures in St. Helena, July 30, while I returned to Napa to hold a few more meetings, to visit interested ones, and follow up the interest here. Fifty-one have already signed a covenant to keep the commandments, and meet on the Sabbath for worship. I have closed my meetings here for the present, having held fifteen meetings in the Old Union school-house. Yesterday, we organized a Sabbath-school and Bible-class, as far as practicable, at least, until they get better acquainted with each other. The Sabbath-school comprises over thirty scholars.

Bro. Cornell has already given sixteen lectures in St. Helena; is now canvassing the Sabbath question, and reports “a good attendance, profound attention, deep and solemn interest, and some deciding for the truth.”

I learn from our people all over the State that they are looking forward with great anxiety to the camp-meeting. The camp-ground is at Yountville, just half way between the places of the two tent-meetings; nine miles from each; thus giving those in each place, who so desire, an opportunity to attend and become more acquainted with our people and work.

I made a remark in my last report which I wish to modify some. I said, “The camp-meeting will probably close Bro. Cornell’s labors in this State for the present. He expects to start immediately after the camp-meeting to Washington Territory and Oregon, to establish a mission there.” I wish here to state that I suppose this matter of establishing a mission in Oregon or Washington Territory is under the control of the General Conference. It is their province to open the mission, and such ones will doubtless be sent as may be thus moved out by the Lord to go.

Bro. Cornell expresses himself as free to labor anywhere duty demands. If I understand the brethren in Walla Walla and Oregon, their greatest anxiety is to see the mission opened, and only wish the General Conference to send whom the Lord bids them, and moves out to come. May the Lord give to the General Conference wisdom and grace in all their cares, responsibilities, and duties, and may the good Lord speed on the truth in missions already opened, and in those to be opened.

J. N. Loughborough.

Napa, Cal., Aug. 11, 1873.