THE CAUSE IN CALIFORNIA by John Norton Loughborough

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 24, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 33.

THE CAUSE IN CALIFORNIA.

By John Norton Loughborough

THERE has been but little reporting in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES of labor performed in the State during the past summer, and it will doubtless be of interest to our readers to learn something of the situation. Brother and Sister White have aided much in counsel and labor at different places, for which we have been very grateful. The testimony of Sister White has been such as was very timely to our people. May the Lord help us to heed the instruction given.

In our spring meeting it was decided to send seven tents into the field, in this Conference, during the present season. This program has been carried out with one exception, it was expected that Brother R. S. Owen and Brother H. F. Courter, with Brother Bliven as tent-master, would use a tent in Santa Barbara County. Owing to the sickness of his wife, however, Brother Owen was unable to go with the tent, so, instead, Brother Courter has held Bible-readings with families, and meetings in school-houses, in the vicinity of Paso Robles, where some souls have accepted the truth. Brother Bliven has spent the summer in canvassing.

Brethren Healey and Hope, with Brother Brighouse as tent-master, have held a tent-meeting in San Diego. As the result a number have been added to the company there. At last report they had just erected their tent, for the second time, in another part of the city, and were favored with some attentive listeners.

Brother Briggs, with Brother Merrill as tent-master, has had the Los Angeles County tent in Monrovia, and is now in Pasadena. He reports thirteen as having signed the covenant, and others about ready to obey the truth.

Brother G. K. and Sister J. A. Owen have given a few discourses at the tent with Brother Briggs, but most of their time has been spent either at the Los Angeles City Mission, where a meeting-house is being erected, and where new ones are continually becoming interested in present truth, or in laboring among the churches in other parts of the county.

Brother E. P. Daniels, with Brother Rollo Morton as tent-master, and Brother and Sister A. J. Morton as assistants in missionary and colporter work, has had a tent most of the summer at Grangeville, Tulare County. A number have signed the covenant to obey the truth, and at the time of this writing Brother A. T. Jones is conducting a debate at Grangeville on the questions of the Sabbath and immortality, with A. Johnson, Disciple.

Brother Jasper Smith, Brother Kent, and Brother Bartlett, with Brother Osborn as tent-master, have spent the summer with a tent in Vacaville. This has not only been a source of encouragement to the church, but a few souls have been added to their number. Money has been pledged, and sufficient paid to secure a lot and erect a house of worship 24x36 feet. The brethren continue meetings in the tent while the house is being erected. Brother Kent has gone to Lodi to hold some meetings there.

Brethren Hickox and Derrick, with Frank Hutchins as tent-master, have the Nevada tent at Greenville, Plumas County, Cal. At last reports they had an excellent interest. A number had already decided to obey the truth, and there was a fair prospect of a good church being raised up. One or the other of the ministers occasionally visits the companies in Susanville and Willow Creek.

Brother Frank Lamb, Brother George Hollister, and Brother Frank Thorp have had the Humboldt County tent at Rohnerville, where a few have accepted the truth, and where preparations are being made for the annual camp-meeting of the county to be held. Brother Hollister has also had some meetings at a school-house a few miles up Eel River, where about half a dozen have already accepted the message.

Besides these tent-meetings other work has been carried on in various parts. Brother St. John has been doing a good work for the church in San Francisco. Brother St. John has conducted a Scandinavian mission in the city, with good results. Not only several hundred dollars' worth of periodicals have been disposed of, but several souls have accepted the

truth. Brother St. John spent about ten days at Little River, Mendocino County, and organized a Scandinavian church of thirteen members, and a Sabbath-school and missionary society.

Brother McClure has been kept very busy in general work in connection with the city missions and correspondence as corresponding secretary of the California Conference. Brother William Hutchinson has been holding meetings and Bible-readings in Stockton with favorable results.

Beginning with July, Brethren E. R. Jones, J. H. Cook, and Wm. Ings have been laboring at different points among the churches, and otherwise. Brother Cook's labors have been mostly in the Fresno church. Brother Ings's labors have been with the Santa Rosa church. He also held a few meetings at Penn's Grove, where three signed the covenant to obey the truth. Brother Jones was a few days with the Napa church and then went to Round Valley, Mendocino County, to conduct a series of meetings in a new field. Brother L. A. Scott has spent the summer in the State of Nevada in mission and colporter work from church to church, and from house to house. Such labor is very important, and, with God's blessing, will accomplish much good.

The writer has been exceedingly busy in Conference work, in camp-meetings, in labor with some of the churches, and in labor in connection with the Health Retreat, and editing the Health Journal.

Looking over the field I see much reason for encouragement, and more than ever the necessity of unity of effort to speed the truth. Our cause is one everywhere, and while it is natural that we should desire to see it move just where we live, yet souls are just as precious anywhere else. Let us rejoice that the Lord has wrought for souls, if not just where we live. Those who have had lengthy protracted efforts in their own vicinity will doubtless desire to see others share a like benefit, while they shall go on laboring for themselves by the aid of light and courage they have received.

It must be apparent to all, even from what has been said, that the California Conference has a large force of laborers to settle with in the soon-coming Conference. Besides those mentioned above there are many whose names are not mentioned who are laboring in the different city missions. To make these settlements it is essential that the tithes of our people should be promptly paid into the treasury. I am glad to report a coming up of our people in this respect. A large number are paying a conscientious tithe of their income, and God is blessing them. Would that all would do this; not simply that the treasury might not lack, but "the tithe is the Lord's." Certainly we may claim his blessing (Rev. 3:10), if we bring in the tithes, while we may expect leanness in our affairs. See Prov. 3:10. Pray prayerfully for duty, and perform it in the fear of the Lord. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.