Conference Address by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 21, 1873

Conference Address.

By John Norton Loughborough

Delivered by Eld. J. N. Loughborough before the California State Conference, at the Yountville Camp-meeting, Sept. 22, 1873.

Dear Brethren and Sisters:—There are some important thoughts relative to our duties as followers of Christ which I am constrained to present before you. We are living in an eventful and important age of the world's history, even in the “time of the end.” The great and terrible day of God is right upon us. Signs there is no mistaking “proclaim Messiah near.”

This is the generation addressed in Matt. 24, who have seen the signs fulfilled by which we may “know that He is near, even at the door.” “This generation shall not pass till all be fulfilled.” All what? Till probation's hour shall close; till the last warning to poor sinners shall be given; till Christ shall cease to plead for men; till the final deliverance of God's people shall come; till the morning of joy to the saints, and the long, dark night to the wicked, shall come; till the world's distress and the churches' rest shall come; till our last opportunity to right our own wrongs, or to warn poor sinners, shall have passed, and the final end shall close the conflict, and the faithful shall be safely housed in the city of God.

God has committed to us most glorious and important truths relative to these things; truths which are necessary to be heard, understood, loved, and practiced, in order that we may stand amid the perils of the last days and meet Jesus in peace at his coming. We read of those who, “because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thess. 2:10–12. In order then to be saved, the truth for the times must be heard, understood, and practiced.

In the case of a man having to pass over a road beset with pitfalls and dangers, he will not be on his guard, seeking to shun those dangers unless he knows of them. And we do not hold him guiltless who, knowing of the dangers, does not faithfully and earnestly warn the unwary traveler of his perils. The people of the world are rapidly passing over what seems to them a pleasant and easy road; but the truth of God reveals the fact that eternal destruction is in their path. We have light concerning these dangers. We have that truth that presents a way of escape. If we slothfully seek our ease, and neglect to warn them of their dangers, great will be our guilt. According to God's word, if we do not arouse to a solemn sense of the times and engage faithfully in the work of warning, entreating, and, if need be, pulling souls out of the fire, we shall be styled, “slothful servants,” to be “cast into outer darkness.”

What a terrible fate for being slothful; for not coming up to our duty. A responsibility rests upon us that we cannot lightly regard nor carelessly throw off. What should we not expect of a people who really had a realizing sense of the times in which we live? Should we not expect them to be fully awake and using all and every lawful means to extend the work of God and save perishing sinners? We should expect them to be laying great plans, prudently, earnestly, and faithfully executing mighty schemes for the advancement of the truth, for the salvation of man; that their plans and work should be proportionate to the importance of the times, and that each and every one, in their proper sphere and to the fullest extent of their ability, should be doing all in their power to save men. If Christ is really coming—and who can doubt it—if the last note of warning is being sounded, there can be nothing that can occupy our attention of more importance than giving our individual energies to the great work of the advancement of the cause of present truth—the work of preparation to meet the day of God.

Do we behold that earnestness in those who profess the truth that the times demand? Alas! instead, we discern but too striking a necessity for the scriptural warning, “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” The things of this world occupy too large a place in our affections, and we are too easily satisfied with small efforts for God and his cause, while we lavish our time and our strength upon ourselves. My brethren, these things ought not so to be, and they must not be; but we must arouse; we must lay greater plans, and expect and prepare for a great work, fitting ourselves for usefulness; we must deny self and our own ease; we must make it the great theme of our lives to advance the cause of present truth. Is there not with us too close and penurious a spirit in our professed sacrifices to the Lord? God required of ancient Israel a tenth of all their increase, besides their vows and free-will offerings and their gifts. Should we not be as generous, who believe we are near the end, and that probation's hours are about to close?

Our dangers in this time are depicted in the Scriptures in the most clear and forcible manner. “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Malachi says: “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse; for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.” Mal. 3:8–11.

The connection of this text shows its application just before the coming of Christ. It points out the tendency of God's people to excuse themselves from contributing of their substance to sustain the cause of God. It is a warning to us not so to do. Is it not a faithful picture of the times? Does it not describe our real position—our real danger? Are we half awake to what God requires of us? to the claims our fellow-men have upon us to put forth every effort in our power to carry the truth to them? Our time, our strength, our all, we receive from Him—“life, and breath, and all things.” What returns are we making for these blessings? But it does not stop here. We have the promise, not only of the life that now is, but also of the life that is to come. Jesus died that we might live. As we sing, he says:

“I gave my life for thee— What hast thou given me?”

As a brother said to me not long since, while speaking of the great mercies and blessings of God which we share, and how little we do in return, “I think I have paid very poor rent.” Yes, we owe our all to God. Can we not dedicate our lives to his service, and use our ability, our means, and our strength, to save perishing souls around us? Perishing for lack of knowledge; perishing for lack of the bread of life which God has committed to us, and which bread, alas, we are inclined to selfishly eat, and enjoy ourselves, leaving others to perish for lack of the same—wiping our mouths and saying, “I have been fed.” We love the truth, thinking perhaps we have done no harm. Such a course is like that of Meroz in ancient time, when God said, “Curse ye Meroz”—curse him bitterly. What had Meroz done? Nothing; “because he came not up to the help of the Lord.”

Malachi presents both sides of this great question. He not only says to the stingy ones, “Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation;” but he says also of those who dedicate themselves to God, and bring in their tithes, “I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field.”

What? Does God mean that he will prosper our business undertakings in proportion as we use his bounties to glorify him and advance his cause in the earth? This certainly must be the meaning of the text. It agrees with the words of our Saviour: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” That is, if, in all things, we endeavor to act with an eye single to God's glory, with a single purpose to do right, making the kingdom of God of more consequence than everything else, making everything else subservient to the cause of truth, we may expect the Lord to prosper the work of our hands. Says Paul: “God is able to make all grace abound toward you.” How? “Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness.” 2 Cor. 9:8, 10. Or, as Solomon expresses it, “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Prov. 3:9, 10.

From what we read in these testimonies, the man who neglects to give of his substance to advance the cause of truth, not only robs God, but robs himself; for, if he is stingy, it is strongly intimated that God will withhold his temporal blessings; and this manifests that principle which is true every time, that in seeking God's glory we ever obtain good.

But with these threatenings or curses on the one hand, and promises of blessings on the other, we do not dare to trust God; we do not move out by faith as we should; we do not give him a chance to bless us in harmony with his plan and word. I fear some of us are dying—withering in his cause, cursed with the curse of God for our stinginess. Shall it longer be so? or shall we all arouse to a sense of our true position and work?

Not only have we these plain statements of God's promises and threatenings, as above, but many striking examples might be quoted, showing the exact fulfillment of these words. I might fill these pages with a simple record of cases I have witnessed, but I shall take time for only two, and these, the cases of persons upon this coast. A brother of ability and means embraced this truth. At first, he was moved out to contribute quite largely of his means to erect a house of worship. He could then sacrifice his time, if need be, at a loss to his business, to help the cause of God. When I asked him, at one time, to leave his business for several days to assist in an important discussion, he said, “Yes, I am willing to do anything I can to advance the cause.” He told me that same year that he was never more prosperous, and that even those who sought to oppose him in his business failed in their schemes to injure him, while his own plans all seemed to be successful. God blessed him in his substance.

Unfortunately, this brother became disaffected—concluded that he had done about his share in the work. He soon began to meet with reverses, and to think he was too poor to do much in the cause. His plans in business began to fail. Meantime himself and family were afflicted, and his business became so complicated that indeed he could do but little if he would. I recommend to such to manifest that same spirit of sacrifice and devotion they had when they first embraced the truth, and they will find the same God working for them.

Another case of opposite character I will mention. It is that of a brother who, when he embraced the truth, was perplexed with debts, and, by going security for others, was liable, and even expected to be more entangled with debts. Although so involved, he decided to come up to the plan of S. B. as carried out by Seventh-day Adventists. He did so. Where is he to-day? He has walked steadily and surely out of his debts and business perplexities, sacredly keeping his Systematic Benevolence square; and in addition, he has invested several hundred dollars in various enterprises of the cause, and even in this tent has a noble share—$175. He surely has his tithe in here, and during this meeting he has shared quite freely in God's blessing. Multitudes in the ranks of Seventh-day Adventists can testify to just such cases.

The auditing committee appointed by this Conference have had under advisement the matter of ways and means to advance this cause, and they earnestly recommend all to come up to the true figures of Systematic Benevolence, and then promptly meet their pledges, that, as the cause moves out here on a larger scale, there may be no lack in the treasury. And we would suggest, in addition to this, that the Missionary Society, under the supervision of their president, as suggested in the REVIEW, make this the important part of their work; to see that all are encouraged to come up to their duty and privilege in this respect.

Our object in this address is to stir you up to the magnitude and importance of the work before us. First, I will notice that nearest at hand—Camp-meetings. None of us, it seems to me, after our experience here, can doubt the utility and practicability of good camp-meetings. They are almost indispensable to the advance of our cause. If rightly conducted, they can be made a means of still greater profit to the cause and truth of God. Some may think that too much pains have been taken in transforming this wilderness of brush and dirt into its present level, carpeted with its golden straw, its yellow luster at least faintly reminding one of the golden streets where the saints shall meet at last.

It does not, certainly, seem that God frowns upon us, or our labor and pains. He has given us showers of blessings, freedom in every meeting. And I perceive also that those who have labored and toiled in preparing the way have not been left out, by any means.

It is certainly right to make the place where we meet to worship God, neat and attractive, without gaudy display. Great pains are taken to beautify the places where those come whose steps take hold on hell. I heard a minister say, a few months since, “If whisky was sold in pig-pens, to the sound of Chinese music, much less of it would be sold than now.” In San Francisco, on Kerney street, is one of the finest furnished rooms in the city. What is it? A place in which to attract the unwary, and sell them the contents of the maddening bowl.

Shall we not use all lawful means to bring men and women where they may hear the truth of God? Many of you, doubtless, read the remarks of the editor of the San Francisco Call, a few weeks since, in response to what Elder Noble said about Sabbath-breaking in San Francisco. The minister was bewailing that so many spent Sunday over the Bay and in Woodward's Gardens, and other places of resort, instead of attending church. The editor quite sensibly replied that these men were all the week confined in the din and dust of shops, and that they went out on Sunday with their families where they could view, and be brought in contact with nature. Said he, “If, instead of confining yourselves with your meetings within the walls of churches, you would fit up a place in a neat manner in some grove, and call the people out to view nature, to be brought in contact with nature, and be instructed with stirring ideas, you would not lack for an audience.” The report of this quiet and orderly camp-meeting will go out, and others will desire to see and know for themselves what it is that is raising this interest. We should make ample preparation another year on a still larger scale than we have this. That meeting should be of at least ten days' duration, and be most thoroughly advertised. If we all make reasonable preparations, and come to the meeting solely to seek God, it will be a service of still greater good to ourselves, and be a means of bringing many to the truth.

This camp-ground, although greatly in advance of what we had last year, is not up to my idea of what a camp-ground should be. But there is every facility, so far as nature is concerned, to make this, with proper labor, a most lovely and attractive spot. But it requires means to run a camp-meeting; and I would recommend to the Conference that they immediately take steps to raise, by subscription, a Camp-meeting Fund of two hundred dollars, and out of it purchase such materials as are upon this ground and can be made available in case we should camp next year upon this same ground. In case we do not, they could be sold as well after such decision as now.

But we have a year of labor before us, before the camp-meeting comes, and we must plan some for that, and with reference to the spread of these solemn truths. We may as well stir up our minds at once to a sense of the magnitude and importance of the great work before us, and lay our plans to move in harmony with the General Conference. God is evidently leading out in these matters.

Next, let us consider that branch called the Missionary Society, which is the right arm of strength to the cause in any State when and where it is thoroughly organized. The real value of that society to the cause has been neither understood nor appreciated by our people. The interest in this enterprise during the last year has been decreasing in some respects, especially in point of means.

The secretary's report of last year, compared with this, shows that last year we raised from all sources—memberships, book-sales, and donations,—only $129.86, while there was raised the previous year, $316.86. This has been in the face of our own Conference resolution that we give more earnest attention to missionary labor, and the resolution passed in the missionary society: “Resolved, That all those members, who are able to do so, be requested to donate one dollar or more, each, annually, to increase the funds.” Let it be distinctly understood that one branch of the labor of the missionary society is to see that all our churches adopt and come up to the true plan of Systematic Benevolence, and that we do not rob God any more in our tithes; to secure subscribers to our periodicals; to collect delinquencies; to circulate tracts and books on present truth; to have a tender care for the destitute widows and orphans among us, as well as to assist those who are cast out for their faith, and help them to places of employment. This work, as yet, is not carried out by establishing hospitals, but in interesting ourselves to secure homes for the homeless and dependent, and in helping all to help themselves as far as possible. And this is all, in many cases, that is necessary.

One of our churches, at least, not understanding these things, has struck out in rather an awkward manner to do, on their own hook, what is the real work of the State Missionary Society. The work of the society must be more fully understood and appreciated by our people. This society, as well as our Conference, must have officers competent for their duties as officers; men of such devotion that they will give their attention to the interests of the work if worldly interests do suffer; and God is able to crown with his signal blessing more largely what efforts they do make in their temporal pursuits because of their devotion to his work. This society, through its officers, can exert a mighty influence in securing the necessary means to carry on the various enterprises of the cause in the State.

We need to be constantly stirred up to these things; to be stirred up to our financial duties that we do not get so covetous as to rob God of his due. And somebody must have responsibility in this work. In the summer of 1872, you recollect we raised nearly $2000 for various enterprises in the cause. God's blessing came in. This year many have felt like excusing themselves because they did something last year. We need a greater spirit of sacrifice, that God may come in and bless us.

I would recommend to the missionary society to raise at once, pledges—payments down as far as possible, the rest to be paid before January first, 1874—the sum of $500, as a State Missionary Fund, to be used in carrying on the missionary labors in this State. The treasury, as you will see by the report of the treasurer, is nearly empty, and we have an exceedingly small stock of books and tracts on hand. This society should take into their own hands the tract business, and do all their business with the Publication Office at Battle Creek through one man here, making less confusion with them, and also making it easier to keep matters straight here. Let the subscriptions to the REVIEW be made through your president or some proper officer. This is by direct request also of the secretary of the Association in a letter just received.

The secretary of your missionary society should know each quarter, not only what each division has done in its missionary labor for the quarter, but also just what tracts and books it has on hand at the end of the quarter, and what it needs, so that he may supply them from the stock on hand in his hands, and thus the work be kept moving.

Again, we would urge upon you the importance and magnitude of the great work before us. I would request your careful attention to Bro. White's article in REVIEW, No. 11, of present volume, in which he fully introduces the progress of the cause. Especially would I call your attention to what he says of “broader plans.”

“BROADER PLANS OF OPERATION.

“The fields are all white. There should be those to preach the truth, and circulate our works in the great thoroughfares of travel, in our principal cities, such as Boston, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. These larger cities, and smaller ones also, must be entered, and tons of our publications in the different languages circulated. When one of our larger cities shall be entered with a tent, a daily paper must be established in connection, as an advertising medium of the meetings in the tent, and of our publications, and to give the substance of each day's lectures for the instruction of the reading masses. We have altogether too long made child's play of the message which God has committed to us to give to the people. Let us from this time have our efforts correspond with the magnitude and importance of the work, or let us abandon our profession.”

“There are scores of men in the ranks of Seventh-day Adventists who have become literally rich since they embraced the message. And when our ministers take hold of the work in a manner to inspire hope in our people that something is to be done, and the General Conference Committee, in a judicious manner, lay plans broad enough, our wealthy brethren, and our brethren in more moderate circumstances, will back up the work with their means.”

“We have recently been looking over the broad field relative to our publishing interests. We think the time has come to stereotype our standard books, pamphlets, and tracts, and at the same time take two sets of plates, one for a branch office on the Pacific coast, and one for the Atlantic. This would reduce the cost of our publications, and also the need of capital and office room at Battle Creek. Probably, when the third building, now being erected, shall be completed, and can be spared for the business of the Association, the three will furnish all the room that our Association will need at Battle Creek.”

“Paper is but a trifle higher in San Francisco than in Battle Creek. It is made on the coast of

Maine, and shipped to the Pacific. And on the Atlantic, stock is cheaper than in Michigan.”

“The day is not far distant when our publications will be printed from duplicate plates, both on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. This will greatly reduce the labor of type setting, and our heavy freights on publications from the interior to the east and to the west.”

“And why may we not expect our periodicals worked from duplicate plates? Five or even seven pages of the REVIEW, filled with the most important matter, and edited with the greatest care, in plates, could be expressed to the branch offices, while the eighth, containing local matters, could be put in type. Thus the cause in the wide field could be better served in point of local news and appointments. And plates containing the most important expositions of our faith and hope could be preserved; and when large cities shall be entered, calling for a daily paper, two of the four pages of each issue could be made from the plates.”

“God is ready to do great things for his cause on the Pacific coast. He has shown his willingness to work for his cause and people in California, especially in the year past, in sending them help when they needed it most in the sad crisis of last fall, and in greatly blessing the labors of his servants the present season. The General Conference Committee is disposed to extend the work up the coast, to Oregon and Washington Territory, and may send missionaries to that field soon. The friends of the cause on the Pacific coast should have the cash ready to liberally help establish a Branch Office and Health Institute in 1874.”

“We would here state to those who may regard these suggestions as fanciful, that nothing of any amount has ever been accomplished in our cause without laying plans, and persevering efforts to execute them. Those of our people who have neither faith nor interest in the prosperity of the cause, but have been willing to shut themselves up to their own interests in this life, have never been ready to second our plans and efforts to extend and push forward the work. It is no use to appeal to such in reference to laying broader plans.”

“But in hope that our own words will be felt, we do appeal to our General Conference Committee, to the State Conference Committees, and to the officers of our Tract and Missionary Societies. The General Conference Committee, seeing the pressing wants of the cause, should lay their plans wisely and well, sufficiently extensive to meet present and future demands.”

“OUR SCHOOL AT BATTLE CREEK.”

“In the matter of the school at Battle Creek, and the enlargement of our Health Institute, the General Conference Committee and the representative men at Battle Creek cannot wait until the means are all raised. They must lay a foundation sufficiently broad, and then go to work with the means already raised. And while the buildings are going up, let the money be raised to complete the work. Should it be necessary, on account of narrow views and the tardiness of our people, a debt could be made, to be reduced, year by year, as the men of this world do successfully in the execution of worldly schemes.”

If this article meets your mind, I would recommend to you the passage of a resolution in which we, as a Conference, shall pledge ourselves to raise the necessary means to establish a Publication Office and Health Institute on this coast in 1874, and to pledge ourselves to stand by the General Conference, with Bro. White in our midst as a counselor, in establishing these institutions. Shall we come up to our privilege?

Shall we stand by the servants of God in their endeavors to extend the work of God among us? Shall we take hold in earnest in this work, bring in all our tithes, and share God's blessing? Shall we be of those who scatter their means and yet increase their means, or shall we, with a spirit of stinginess, “withhold more than is meet” and have it “tend to poverty”—poverty both of a temporal and a spiritual character? God's work in the earth cannot be accomplished without means, at least it is God's plan that his people should have an opportunity to make a sacrifice of their means, not only to advance the work, but to show their real appreciation of his truth and goodness. Paul said of such, “Not that I desire a gift, but fruit that may abound to your account.” He calls their liberalities to sustain God's cause, “proof of the sincerity of their love.”

Who of us have made any great sacrifice in God's cause? True, we have done something, but has it not been, in most cases, a bestowing of what we could spare as well as not, without interfering with our farms, our shops, our stores, or any of our temporal pursuits, or earthly comforts? Shall we talk of such offerings as though we had made great sacrifices? A real sacrifice touches a tender spot and requires some self-denial. Now, let it be understood that neither Bro. White, nor the General Conference, nor your humble servant, in calling for means, are asking it for themselves; but we are simply asking you as faithful stewards to come up to a sense of your duty, to arouse to a knowledge of the times, to the condition of the people, to a sense of the magnitude of the work to be accomplished, like those who would be faithful stewards, act with a realizing sense that a curse is pronounced against those who do the work of the Lord negligently.

Can we not return to our Master a suitable token of our appreciation of his mercies and goodness to us? In all we do, we are giving him but that which is already his own. Shall we leave our Master's business to go to ruin, while we lavish the means upon ourselves which he in love has intrusted us to use for his interest as faithful stewards? I am not asking for means for myself, but for you to come up and nobly act your part, that you may be “fellow-helpers to the truth” upon this coast. But my manner of life you have known, and I need not dwell upon this.

Some of you may excuse yourselves by saying that you are in debt. Being in debt to men does not excuse us from paying our debt—our vows, to God. He told the Israelites that a tenth of all their increase was his. There is principle in that. If what God had done for them made one-tenth of their all especially the Lord's, besides all their vows and free-will offerings, surely in addition to that, the gift of His Son, the counsel of the Comforter, the protection of his angels, the clear light of present truth, the pearly city almost in sight, earth's history almost ended, call for a real sacrifice. Oh! can we be still? can we hold our peace? can we withhold our means? If we do, can we murmur if God does curse us?

If you are in debt, make some allowance for your debts, and plan also in relation to the debt to God. If you were in debt and suffering for the necessaries of life you would venture something; you would venture something if you did not know just how it was coming out. Can we not make some venture to save the lives eternal of ourselves and our fellow-men? Can we not run some risk for God, and see his providence open the way before us? Who will arouse to the sense of the times? Who will consecrate themselves and their all to God, and the interest of the cause to man, to spend and be spent as he shall impress upon us? Who will invest in the great enterprise of God's cause here, and find at last bags in Heaven—a treasure that faileth not; where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth? God is moving out his servants, and is calling upon us to second their efforts. Who will be on the Lord's side? Who?

Yountville, Cal., Sept. 22, 1873.