Woodland, Sacramento, and Stockton by John Norton Loughborough

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jun 24, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 24.

Woodland, Sacramento, and Stockton.

By John Norton Loughborough

MAY 28—31, I was in Woodland. During this time I held four meetings with the church. It is eight years since I last met with this company; during this time some of the former members have died, some have removed from the place, and a very few have apostatized. New ones have moved in, or accepted the truth, so that there is still quite a goodly company of workers there. Our fourth meeting, held Monday evening, May 31, was to consider the matter of the camp-meeting. For eleven years this church has been pleading that there might be a camp-meeting held there. At the time of our April meeting the Conference Committee decided that the general camp-meeting this year should be held in Woodland. The Woodland church will do all they can to forward the enterprise. After looking over the different places suggested for the camp, it was decided that the most feasible ground is one near the railroad station, right in the edge of the city of Woodland. It was voted by the church to have the camp-meeting upon that ground. The time of the meeting has since been decided by our Conference Committee. It will commence Wednesday evening, Sept. 22, and close Tuesday morning, Oct. 5.

Brethren were chosen from the Woodland church to act as committees to secure lumber, straw, hay, wood, water, and make arrangements for the care of teams. This church will be pleased to see a full attendance of our people from all parts of the Conference at this camp-meeting; and they, on their part, will use every effort to make it as comfortable as possible for those who come. Woodland is not a malarial district. The ground selected for the camp is in one of the most healthful sections of the city. The water will be supplied from the city water works, and it is par excellence. The camp-ground is really a part of the plat of ground belonging to the railroad company. Passengers will have to walk only the width of one city block from the station to reach the camping grounds, and there will be no expense for transferring baggage. Let all our people begin now to plan for attending the meeting at Woodland, Yolo County, California.

Tuesday, June 1, I spent with brethren Ings and Creamer in the city of Sacramento, making arrangements for mission work in that city. After securing a good stopping place for Brother Creamer, distributors were placed in hotels, etc. There are now fourteen distributors, and several SIGNS binders placed in the station and hotels. For the present, Brother Creamer will fill the distributors and binders, doing other missionary work as he has opportunity. It is hoped soon to introduce other features of the work, and additional workers in that city. There are a few sisters there who are holding on to the truth, and it would greatly encourage them could they see others uniting with them to keep all of God's commandments.

June 2—7, I was at the tent in Stockton. Brother Ballou had been conducting the preaching service alone, and was somewhat worn. I was glad while there to have the privilege of speaking five times to attentive audiences. I found the congregations averaging from 75 to 100 persons. The grounds were very quiet, and there was marked attention to the word spoken. The Sabbath question is open before them, and we expect some will obey the truth. Brother Ballou has brethren Glenn, Dunlap, and Hickox, as helpers in the mission work. Brother E. R. Jones has now joined them in preaching. They now have a force which, with the blessing of God, should make a mark in that city. The weather is warm daytimes, but the evening atmosphere is delightful. Except Sabbaths, their meetings are mostly evenings. May the Lord give success to the effort in Stockton.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.