The Missionary by John Norton Loughborough, William Ings

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 3, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 46.

The Missionary.

By John Norton Loughborough, William Ings

Meetings in Fresno, Cal.

ON account of excessive rains, our appointment at Burrough Valley, Fresno County, for November 19-22, had to be abandoned. We went with horse and carriage as far as Temperance Colony, but found a bridge carried away and no means of crossing the stream. We were informed by teamsters well acquainted with the road, that if we were safely over that place, we could not get to Burrough Valley, as there were other mountain streams to cross where there were no bridges, and that with such a rain they would not be fordable. Much as we regretted it, we had to turn back to Fresno.

We then decided to hold our meetings in Fresno one week ahead of time, so the appointment was circulated, and these meetings were held November 21-23. The only place that we could secure for meetings was the Good Templars' Hall, in which our people hold their Sabbath service. This was occupied so much of the time for other meetings appointed previous to ours, that we were only able while there to give four discourses, and hold one business meeting. The discourses were mainly directed to the church, its needs and position and opportunity as "laborers together with God." The Lord helped in speaking the word of truth, and the church responded, not only in their testimonies, but in planning for more efficient work. The question of a house of worship was talked up, and it was the prevailing sentiment of our people there, that in the opening of the spring, a Seventh-day Adventist meeting-house should be erected in Fresno.

The question of a spring camp-meeting was introduced and discussed, and it was unanimously voted by the Sabbath-keepers assembled to invite the California Conference Committee to arrange for a camp-meeting for Fresno and Tulare Counties, to be held near Fresno between the close of seeding time and the commencement of haying. The time suggested by the resolution was between the middle of April and the first of May. It did not occur to our minds until the close of the meeting that that date—the last of April and the first of May—is just the time of the annual meetings of the stock-holders of the Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, Healdsburg College, and the Rural Health Retreat. So if the camp-meeting is held, it would probably have to be in the month of May.

Our meeting in Fresno, though short, seemed to be timely and encouraging to the church. Circumstances forbade a longer continuance of the meeting at this time, and in fact the purpose for which the meeting was appointed seemed to be accomplished, so in the night of the 24th we returned to Oakland, after an absence of nearly two months.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, WM. INGS.