Reno, Nevada by John Norton Loughborough

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Aug 29, 1878

Reno, Nevada.

By John Norton Loughborough

Our effort with the tent in Reno, closed Sunday evening, August 18. Yesterday we took down the tent and placed it in storage for the season. During the twenty-eight days of labor we had preaching every evening, and four day meetings. These meetings were well attended, especially considering the lack of religious interest in the place. We were told by some of the oldest settlers that they never saw a larger attendance in the place to a series of meetings held there by any denomination.

We found in Reno and vicinity four Sabbath-keepers. These with seventeen others have signed a covenant to keep God’s commandments. Two others took their stand to keep the Sabbath but did not sign the covenant, one of them resides in Nebraska and will make himself known to our people, when he goes there a few months hence. We leave twenty-two Sabbath-keepers in Reno. These have pledged $274,56, systematic benevolence, and have arranged for a regular Sabbath-school and Bible class on the Sabbath, and a prayer-meeting each Tuesday evening. We sold during the meeting about $50, worth of books. Gave away 2400 pages of tracts and obtained ten new subscribers for the Signs.

In our brief stay in Reno, we have studied to come to the point in our lectures, and above all to seek the Lord for his spirit to guide us. The Lord has been with us. To his name be the praise for the results already apparent from the effort.

My mind has been much exercised the last year relative to the opening of this mission in Nevada. I spent the month of February and the last month in the State, and notwithstanding the extra burden in the shape of much letter writing, that was absolutely necessary to keep the work going on properly at all points in California during my absence to Nevada, I am glad that I have had the privilege of laboring there. I am also pleased with the courage with which the few in Nevada took hold to establish the mission. I congratulate them with the prospect of having a young minister to take hold actively to push on the work in the State. God bless you and the minister that may be sent.

One year ago there were about ten or twelve Sabbath-keepers in Nevada, now there are about forty-five. Then your systematic benevolence was about $508.56, per year. Now you have no tent, now you have a good clean and neat 50-ft tent all paid for with its outfit, stored safely and insured. All expenses of the mission are paid and there is about $50, in your treasury, besides some of the quarterly dues in one church to be collected for the present quarter, with which to open up the labors when your permanent minister shall come into the State. I shall look with interest upon this young mission in your State, wherever my lot may be cast.

Now what you need, is for those in the truth already to seek an earnest and thorough consecration of heart to God. Do not use the precious truths you have received as a goad to stir up others. In meekness live out the truth and let those around you know that there is power in the truth, with the blessing of God, to reform the entire being, and enable you to overcome every wrong habit, and passion. Be meek, gentle, and ever earnestly plead with God for yourselves and for his precious cause in Nevada. August 20, 1878. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.