p. 294 | ELDER J. H. WAGGONER by John Norton Loughborough

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 20, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 19.

ELDER J. H. WAGGONER.

By John Norton Loughborough

THE readers of the Signs of the Times have seen the announcement, made by a brief telegram, on the morning of April 17, that our beloved brother, Elder J. H. Waggoner, was dead. In a letter from Brother John Vuilleumier, written on the same date as the telegram, we read:—

"Nothing could have made us to expect this sudden departure. Death has put an end to his work when he seemed more active than ever. He was finishing his work on the English edition of his book. So steadily did he work that we seldom saw him at the office of late. Yesterday morning he came early to the office to see to different matters pertaining to the paper before it should go to press. He then spent the whole day here, copying a large number of manuscript pages on tissue paper. He worked at that till half past six in the evening.

"This morning he rose some time after five o'clock and went to his kitchen. He must have felt unwell, for he did not stop to dress, and it seems that he tried to prepare something to get relief. Sister Waggoner did not notice that he had risen, and got up about six o'clock. Entering into the sitting-room, she was surprised to see his clothes on the chair and he absent. She then went to the kitchen, and saw him—lying motionless on the cold floor. She at once seized his hands and became aware of the terrible reality—he was dead. Her cries soon caused neighbors on the same floor to come in. They carried him to his bed and sent for a doctor, who could only verify the decease."

"Brother Waggoner has given us, of late, most cheering expressions as to his impressions about the work and its future prospects here. At a special gathering of the office hands convened last Sunday at the occasion of Brother Whitney's leaving, he expressed the most hopeful anticipations as to the work in this part of the field, and also very gratifying persuasions about the harmony and love existing between the workers. He spoke of his expectations of returning soon to America, and laid special stress on the conviction that the truth of God would triumph soon. Said he: 'The truth will triumph, triumph soon, and I am glad of it. I am glad that God has not left it to our own hands.'"

More recent advices state that the cause of Brother Waggoner's death was declared to be aneurism, and his sufferings are supposed to have been of short duration.

Elder Waggoner was a native of Pennsylvania, and had his early religious training among the Presbyterians. He was converted under the labors of the Baptists when quite young, and was an active member of that church until the year 1851, when he accepted the doctrine held by Seventh-day Adventists. At that time he was a deacon in the Baptist Church of Baraboo, Wisconsin, in which place he was engaged as editor and publisher of a political paper. Shortly after this, in 1852, he gave up his paper and gave himself to the work of proclaiming the doctrines he had espoused. In this work he has remained a most indefatigable laborer till his death.

Soon after accepting present truth he was excluded from the Baptist Church, not for immorality or disobedience of the Bible, but for "lack of harmony with Baptist usages."

I first met Brother Waggoner near Metomen, Wisconsin, in the spring of 1853. He spent several days with Brother M. E. Cornell and myself in a meeting at that place. Then we visited together several points in Southern Wisconsin, closing with a stirring two days' grove meeting at Alden, McHenry County, Ill. In 1856 he moved to Michigan and labored in tent-meetings, writings, etc., in that State and Ohio, until 1874, when he came to California, laboring here and in Oregon until 1876, when he returned to Michigan. In the fall of 1878 he returned to California and took the editorial charge of the Signs of the Times. At the same time he was pastor of the Oakland church. He remained here until the spring of 1886, when he returned to Michigan, and from thence to his closing labors in Europe.

During his last year in California, in addition to his work on the Signs, he also edited the American Sentinel, at that time a monthly, and had the sole charge of editing and the making up of the Pacific Health Journal, then a bi-monthly.

Of Brother Waggoner it could well be said, "In labors abundant." What Brother Vuilleumier mentions of his last work at Basel is only a sample of the active, earnest, unselfish labors he has put forth in this cause, ever desirous to see the work succeed, and believing it with all his heart, he has spent his closing life's energies for its success. He rests from his labors. He has fallen asleep in Jesus. How short to him will be that sleep, soon to be broken by the voice of the Son of God.

Brother Waggoner was one of the pioneers in this cause, who knew what it was to go forth without purse or scrip to advance the truth. Lessons of trust in God, and many times self-denial, such as present laborers in this cause in America know nothing of, were the lot of those early workers. They proclaimed the truth for the love of it; thus it was so inwrought into their very being, that to speak of their parting from the truth would likely meet with a similar response to that Elisha gave when requested by Elijah to tarry, "As the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee."

By the Lord's grace, may he work that same earnestness, zeal, and love for the work into the hearts of his faithful servants who remain, enduing them indeed with power from on high until the message shall accomplish its work, and the truth bear away a glorious victory.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.