Missionary Department by John Norton Loughborough

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Feb 11, 1875

Missionary Department.

By John Norton Loughborough

“Philip saith unto him, Come and see.” John 1:46.

Success Everywhere.

THOSE who go forth to engage in a work they are satisfied is the work of God, have reason for hope and courage. When they read of their message, “The earth was lightened with his glory,” they can but lay their plans for success to follow humble labor.

That is true of the work in which we are engaged. The reports from the Review given elsewhere by Bro. White are what we may expect to result from earnest labor. Other reports show, in Kansas, a score coming out in one place. In Wisconsin, fifteen additions in one place, and besides this many taking their stand by reading periodicals and tracts.

What is true in the East is also true here. Since our last issue we have received a number of encouraging letters from persons who have become interested by reading tracts, or a copy of the Signs. A friend who had been reading the paper writes from Seattle, Wash. Ter., ordering several copies to his friends there and in other places. He says of these times, “There are only a few, a remnant as in the days of old, that have not bowed the knee to Baal. May God save out of the mass salt enough to save the country from sharing the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.”

Another, a letter from a sister in Oregon who embraced the truth by reading. She sends to have the paper sent to others whom she has interested to subscribe for it.

And here is a letter from an intelligent Catholic in California who has been reading our tracts and papers. Ordering books he says, “I have been a Catholic from early childhood, and have been taught to believe, and do believe that a person can be a good Christian in that church, if he so wills, without accepting as an article of faith everything which the authorities of the church have introduced therein.” Again, he says, “Did God rest from his work on the first day, or on the seventh day? The only answer is, on the seventh day. Any other is sheer nonsense. . . . How reasonable in the nature of things that God should set apart his own resting day as the day of rest for all men, and not for the Jews alone?”

The same principle carried out will bring this friend ultimately to the Adventist ground. So may the truth advance. J. N. L.