Upper Columbia Conference by John Norton Loughborough

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 23, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 17.

Upper Columbia Conference.

By John Norton Loughborough

SINCE my last report I have visited Colfax, Garfield, Farmington, Medical Lake, Plaza, and Dayton, W. T. At Colfax, where the tent was pitched last summer, I found a few obeying the truth. I held two evening meetings, and visited among the interested ones in the daytime. Although there is not now much interest apparent in Colfax, if the few already identified with the truth are faithful to obey it in all points, and keep up their Sabbath meetings, they may hope for others to go with them.

Sabbath and first-day, March 20 and 21, I was at Garfield, where the third tent-meeting of last season was held, and gave four discourses. The meetings were better attended than at Colfax, and I was pleased to find the few already in the faith maintaining their Sabbath-school and Sabbath meetings. This is as it should be. If all persevere in their efforts to overcome evil appetites, and to put aside all hindrances to obeying the truth, we shall expect to see the cause prosper there.

On first-day evening I spoke in Farmington, eight miles from Garfield. After the discourse, the elder, elected at the time of my visit there last August, was ordained. Many of the members of this church live quite a distance from the place of meeting, and so are deprived of the privilege of regular services, but those who are near by are faithful in maintaining the meeting and Sabbath-school.

Leaving Farmington I drove on to Medical Lake, eight and one-half miles northwest of Cheney. I made calls on some scattered Sabbath-keepers on the way; and at the lake found a number of believers in the message. Some of these who have been so situated that they did not strictly observe the Sabbath, are now released from these hindrances, and promise to fully obey the truth. If they thus do, and maintain their Sabbath-school and Sabbath-meetings, I do not see why there may not be a nucleus at Medical Lake, around which others may be gathered in the love of the truth. While in the place I gave one discourse in the Baptist meeting-house. I had a full attendance. The resident minister took part in conducting the services.

Sabbath, March 28, I spent with Brother Ernest Winkler and family, near the old Plaza post-office. We spent the day in Bible-readings and study, closing with an interesting prayer and social meeting. It had been many months since they had seen a minister of like faith at their home. On first-day I gave a discourse to a full house in their district school-house.

The week following I drove over one hundred miles to Dayton. I attended the quarterly meeting with the Dayton church April 4; and while there I gave two evening discourses to attentive audiences. I trust that the outside interest in Dayton may yet result in some accessions to the church. I see not why it may not be thus, if those already professing the truth will be faithful.

April 5 I came on to Walla Walla, thus completing my carriage ride of about six hundred miles. By traveling in this manner I have been enabled to call upon many of our scattered members that I could not have reached by public conveyance. It has been a remarkable spell of good weather, so that the journey has been to me as good as medicine, in the shape of an open air recreation. I go on tomorrow by railroad and steamer, to attend the meetings in Healdsburg and Oakland, California.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. April 7, 1885.