Signs of the Times, Vol. 2, No. 42. (10/12/1876)

Signs of the Times

Oct 12, 1876

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 12, 1876

CONFERENCE ADDRESS.

By John Norton Loughborough

DELIVERED AT FAIRFAX CAMP-MEETING, SEPT. 21, 1876.

BY ELD. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Dear Brethren and Sisters:—In the providence of God we are spared to meet again in our annual Conference. Another year with its toils and sorrows, its conflicts, its failures and victories, is numbered with the past. Its life record for us has been made. What does that record bear for us? Does it report progress, or have we lost ground in the heavenly journey? Have we gone forward or backward? In the battle with sin and temptation have we been overcomers, or have we been overcome and even yielded that whereunto we had attained?

During the last year we have had many opportunities to labor in the cause of truth and to do good. Have we been so on the watch as to discern such openings and improve them? Have we made the best application possible of our strength in doing good? or have selfish interests and worldly cares so occupied our minds and our hands that we have not discerned such paths of duty? Do we thus look back and lament over crosses unborne, duties unperformed, and labors neglected? or have we the record in our cases, like that of the woman who anointed Christ, “She hath done what she could”? It is well for us now, as individuals, solemnly to inquire, Has the last year been one of faithfulness or not?

These yearly convocations should be seasons of recounting God’s mercies to us, of close self-examination, of hearty repentance and putting away of wrongs, and of thorough consecration to God and his cause. These are times when we should come before God paying our vows, dedicating ourselves with our all anew to him, to spend our talents of influence, strength or means, as will be for his glory, and for the salvation of our fellow-men, as well as for our own advancement in the divine life.

As we meet in this yearly gathering we miss several who have met with us in our former camp-meetings. Here are seats that have been made vacant by the hand of death. Some whose cheerful voices mingled with us in our worship last year we shall meet no more, unless permitted to join with them in the “new song” on the other shore.

Bro. Diggins, of San Francisco, one of the State Conference Committee, has fallen by death during the last few weeks. The Healdsburg church has lost their Elder, our faithful Bro. J. C. Downing. Woodland has lost three of its earnest and worthy members, Bro. Forbes, Sister Andrews, and her daughter, Sister Amy Schneider. Sister Rambo, of the Green Valley church, who was among those who early embraced the cause in California, ever faithful to the work, has suddenly passed away. Bro. Wilson, of Santa Rosa, one of the young men baptized at our last camp-meeting, has fallen a victim of consumption. Bro. and Sister Myers mourn the loss of their beloved daughter, Nora. Bro. Bresee has lost his oldest son. Bro. Eaton, Bro. Behunin, Sisters Freeman and Wallace, and several others of our brethren and sisters have been called to part with smaller children. In all these cases we are not without hope for the dead. Are these afflictions leading us, who still live, to greater earnestness and devotion?

Amid all these sorrows we have reason for gratitude to God that no more have fallen. Thanks be to God that so many of us are permitted to be here alive before him in this our yearly camp-meeting. While we thus rejoice, it is with trembling, knowing that we are frail, and that many of us may fall ere another year roll around. How important to us all to “set our house in order” that we may be ready for whatsoever may come upon us.

While here to consecrate ourselves to God, we are also here to learn duty, to learn the ways of the Lord more perfectly. While the people inquire of the watchman, “What of the night?” it will be the duty of the servants of God to delineate truth showing us our whereabouts in the world’s history, and to call attention to the sure word of prophecy, which so clearly reveals that the long, dark night of time is so soon to be followed by the ushering in of glorious day.

While the Word of God shines as “a lamp to our feet,” we do well to heed it as a light in a dark place. While the work of spreading this glorious light is advancing, we do well to keep pace with it, lest we be left behind to grope our way in darkness.

“Truth proclaimed” reveals to us duty, and “present truth” reveals present duty. While present truth reveals to us what is the special work for this time, it reveals where and how the Lord is working, and what agencies he is using to advance his truth in this time, and how we can so employ our talents of influence, strength, or means that we may be, in the fullest sense of the words, “fellow-helpers to the truth.” We do well to heed the light, and to so apply our sympathies and strength that we shall be on the side of those whose lives are devoted to the advancement of the truth.

The cause of truth is one everywhere, and we should feel an interest in its advancement, and rejoice in its prosperity in all lands. While our immediate field of labor is more emphatically in our own State, still our State of California is but one integral part of a great cause, which in its onward progress is to mold the destinies of thousands in all nations of the world. We should not allow a sectional feeling to rule us, as though there was nothing being done, if it is not being done in our own State, or as though we had no interest in what is being done abroad. We should be pleading daily before God for the success of the truth in every place, and doing what we can to spread the light to earth’s remotest bounds.

While we are here assembled in our State Conference, the General or World’s Conference is in session at Lansing, Michigan. While our Conference is of importance to us, and its progress, and deliberations, and course have a great bearing on the future prosperity of the cause here, the General Conference has under advisement the wants of the cause not only in our State, but in every State Conference; and while they thus care for old fields, they will also seek to devise ways and means to reach fields and nations where no special effort has yet been made with the message.

By reports of progress already made, we see that the General Conference has great cause for rejoicing at the prosperity attending the preaching of the truth in the States east of the plains. And they must indeed be cheered as they see the cause advancing in the English, French, German, Holland, Danish and Swedish languages. In this case may we indeed “rejoice with those who do rejoice.” Our prayers go up to Heaven that God may especially guide his servants in council in the General Conference. Their tender care and solicitude for the work here is calling forth their earnest petitions for us. May our petitions join with theirs, and may we feel that though so far separated, yet by faith our petitions are blended as one at our common mercy-seat.

Before calling especial attention to our present condition and wants in California, a little of our past history may be in order. We have just entered upon the ninth year of our existence as a people upon this coast. This is our fifth annual camp-meeting as well as the fifth annual session of our State Conference. Elder Bourdeau, who is now in France, and myself, landed, with our 60-foot tent, in San Francisco, July 18, 1868. There was not then a dozen professed Seventh-day Adventists on this whole Pacific slope. Now there are, in California, Washington Territory and Oregon, some eight hundred rejoicing in this present truth.

Success has attended the efforts to plant the truth in this State from the first. At the end of the first eight months, April, 1869, no less than sixty had espoused the cause, and these assembled from Petaluma and Windsor with those who had embraced the truth in Piner district near Santa Rosa, in our first yearly meeting, which was held in that district. The second yearly meeting was held in our new meeting-house in Santa Rosa in April, 1870. Ninety had then embraced the truth at different points in Sonoma county, and most of them were present at the said yearly meeting.

In May, 1871, the number of believers had increased to one hundred and thirty. Most of these were present at the yearly meeting held that year in Santa Rosa. During the year our first tent-meeting had been held in San Francisco, where about fifty had embraced the truth. Most of these met with the Sonoma county Sabbath-keepers in their yearly meeting.

At the State meeting held at Santa Rosa in April, 1872, a report of standing showed 175 members in our six churches then organized. It was in the Fall of that year, or from Oct. 5–12, that our first camp-meeting was held at Windsor, and at that meeting Bro. and Sister White first met our people upon this coast. During the Summer a tent-meeting had been held in Woodland, Yolo county, and a company of believers was raised up there; some of these were with us at the Windsor Camp-meeting.

Our next annual meeting was the first Yountville Camp-meeting, held September 17–23, 1873. During the Summer, tent-meetings had been held in Napa and St. Helena, and the number of believers had increased to 320. From Oct. 1–12, 1874, another camp-meeting was held at Yountville, Elder Geo. I. Butler, one of the General Conference Committee, being with us. During the previous Summer, meetings had been held in Oakland, San Jose and Vallejo, and the number of believers reported in the State was about 400.

At our camp-meeting held last year, 1875, at Fairfax, Sept. 23–30, we were favored again with the presence of Bro. and Sister White, and there were then reported over 500 believers in California.

During the last year, for reasons which we will speak of hereafter, our numbers have not been greatly augmented, there having been several apostasies from the truth, several losses by death, and some very valuable accessions to our numbers. We have more than held our own, numbering now about 560. We have done but little compared with what we might have done had there been with us, as a people, a more full consecration to the work.

It may be gratifying to some to learn what has been done during this eight years by our people upon this coast, in point of means contributed to sustain the work here or elsewhere. Money will not purchase us the gift of God, yet it is some substantial evidence of the genuineness of the work in our hearts. Paul said to the Philippians, “For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” Phil. 4: 16, 17.

Up to the time of our first annual meeting, in April, 1869, for eight months, there was raised, among the believers in this State, for the spread of the truth, $112.85. During the next year, ending May, 1870, there was raised $797.20. For the year ending May, 1871, there was raised $1,060.75. For the year ending May, 1872, the sum paid into our State fund was $1,932.14. In 1873, in February, our State Conference was organized, and for the nine months up to that time, there was paid into the State Treasury $2,092.37. Out of this sum $300 was paid, by vote of the Conference, into the General Conference fund, and besides this there was contributed to institutions in the East the sum of $1,625.00.

Up to the time of the camp-meeting and conference at Yountville, Sept. 19, 1873, for seven months, there was paid into the California State Treasury $813.07. In addition to this there was raised and expended for our first double-top tent $690.13, and $260 was raised for a camp-meeting fund, and about $600 for a State Tract and Mission fund for California.

For the year ending September, 1874, the time of our second Yountville Camp-meeting, there was paid into our State Treasury the sum of $4,127.64. At the time of this meeting, Bro. Geo. I. Butler being with us, there was pledged to the California Publishing fund $19,414.00. (Of these pledges $14,908.65 has already been paid, leaving $4,505.35 still unpaid.) There was also pledged the sum of $1,616.20 as a tent fund. (Of these pledges $1,178.83 has already been paid, leaving still unpaid of the tent pledges $437.37.)

For the year ending at the time of the yearly conference at Fairfax, September, 1875, there was paid into the State Conference fund $3,285.85. During the last year there has been paid into the State fund $3,376.85, beside several thousands raised in San Francisco and Oakland for church building purposes. Thus we find the total of funds raised as Systematic Benevolence in the State for the last eight years amounts to the sum of $17,598.67.

As we have contemplated for a moment the means raised in our State for the support of the gospel, it is proper that we should make mention of those whose labors have been put forth in our State. I presume it is understood by all of you that my entire time, for over eight years, has been expended in the work in this State. Elder Bourdeau, who came here with me July 18, 1868, remained here until April 19, 1870, twenty-one months. After Bro. Bourdeau left, during the Summer of 1870, Bro. Kellogg assisted me some in tent labor. Elder Cornell was in the State from June 17, 1871, to Nov. 1, 1874, three years and five months. Elder Van Horn was with us from Dec. 28, 1873, to the middle of April, 1874, about four months. We have had the labors of Elder Canright from Dec. 1, 1873, to Aug. 10, 1875, about twenty months. Elder Geo. I. Butler was with us from Oct. 2, 1874, to Nov. 1, 1874, one month. From Feb. 2, 1875, to June 24, 1876, we had the labors of Eld. Waggoner in the State, about one year and five months.

We have had what I esteem our most efficient and timely help in the labors of our dear Bro. and Sister White, who have each spent in California one year and nine months, as follows: From Oct. 1, 1872, to Feb. 27, 1873, they were each with us, and rendered most timely and efficient aid, in our first camp-meeting, at Windsor, in Woodland, and also in San Francisco where our cause was threatened with ruin, but for their timely help. Beside this their labors at that time gave shape and stability to the work among our people in the entire State.

Their second visit was from Dec. 28, 1873, Sister White remaining till June 4, 1874, and Bro. White remaining until August 2, 1874. It was during this visit that so effective a blow was struck by them against our narrow plan of working, and, moved out by the Spirit of God, they did good execution in opening the way for the establishment of the cause on a permanent basis in Oakland, which

proves to be so excellent a center for the work upon the Pacific Coast. It was also during this visit that Bro. White commenced the publication of the Signs of the Times, that excellent paper which has already been a means, with the blessing of God, of bringing so many souls to obedience to the present truth.

Their third visit was from Feb. 2, 1875, to April 29, 1875. Aside from their other valuable labors during this visit, they gave their counsel and strength to the work of locating the Signs Office, the planning of proper Office buildings, and bringing up the San Francisco church to the decision to build a meeting-house there. Circumstances since have proved, not only the truth of the testimony of Sister White that the Lord would open the way before the San Francisco church at every step in the meeting-house enterprise, but it is also now apparent that the proper year was chosen rather than to defer the matter longer.

The fourth visit of Bro. and Sister White to this coast was at our last camp-meeting on this Fairfax ground. They came Sept. 25, 1875, Bro. White remaining with us until March 22, 1876, and Sister White remaining until May 21, 1876. They came to the camp-meeting last year fully determined to help us in the meeting, and in the cause in general upon this coast. As a people, we had so little sense of our true condition, and the extent of the spirit of murmuring against these servants of the Lord, that when they (to meet insinuations being passed around the ground as though they were seeking to build up themselves) tried to explain, and present proof of their desire to help the work by referring to what they themselves and their children had done in the cause here, the charge was raised that they were boasting. Some said, “We know Bro. White has done as he has said, but we wish he would not keep telling us of it.” That camp-meeting closed with the frown of God upon it, not for what Bro. White had said and done, but for the unjust murmurings of those who should have had clear vision to discern the voice of God and the spirit of sacrifice in his servants. Still, after the camp-meeting, although with saddened hearts, they labored on to help the cause in San Francisco, in Woodland, and in general upon this coast. They labored to build up the Signs Office, and to keep the interest of our brethren abroad enlisted in the work here, and especially in the Signs of the Times. Would to God that we, as a people, had appreciated more fully their labors, and toils, and prayers, and sacrifices, and burdens borne among us on our account, then might we have stood by them better than we have.

You will observe that the laborers we have mentioned are those who have come to the State. We would not neglect to mention that during the last two years Bro. Healey has labored more or less in the gospel field in this State, and during the last year Bro. Wood has labored a few weeks.

That we may get a more perfect idea of the situation, it is proper that all should understand what our brethren East have done for us in point of means during the last eight years. We have shown how they have sent some of their most efficient help to us, but this is not all. They have followed their men with their prayers and their means. During the first nine months of the mission here they paid for purchase of tent, tent-expenses, fare of Elders Loughborough and Bourdeau to the coast, and on their living in the State of California, $1,814.47, beside sending $80.00 worth of books to be distributed in connection with the preaching of the truth here.

When Elder Bourdeau returned to the East the General Conference paid to him, in addition to the above, the sum of $250, on his time for the last year on this coast, he having received only about $5.00 per week from our State fund.

The traveling expenses of all the above-mentioned laborers to and from the State, was not one cent of it paid from California funds. It is true that some $90 was raised to meet Elder Cornell’s fare to the State, but when matters took the turn they did in this State, he put that $90 into our State fund, and decided to meet his own expenses to the State.

There has been paid as actual fare of ministers to and from the State, on account of labors here, over $2,000.00. This is beside the fare of their families, which expense they have met from their own funds. This $2,000.00 has all been paid by the General Conference, or the Eastern brethren.

These ministers, except Bro. White and Butler, have been settled with for their time from our State fund. Sister White has received something from our State treasury for part of the time spent in our State. The actual traveling expenses of Bro. and Sister White in the State have been paid from our treasury, but aside from that they have received but little for their arduous labors and toils among us.

Our State has at several different times by vote invited Bro. and Sister White to come to this coast, and in connection with the vote promised to pay their expenses to and from the State. At the time of their first visit the sum of $450.06 was raised and placed at their disposal, in consideration of their expenses to this coast. This money Bro. White did not receive for such purpose because he saw an immediate demand for means here. He took from the amount raised only $182.00 which met their actual traveling and food expenses while they were in the State, and the balance, $218.06, he donated towards our first double-top, 60-foot tent.

It is proper that you should understand what Bro. White has done for the cause here in point of means, both from his own purse and by his influence with the Eastern brethren. The $2,000 in the shape of R. R. fare mentioned above, was, by his advice, met in the East instead of being taken from our funds. His own time, twenty-one months, which he has spent here, at $12.00 per week (and this is a low estimate for such labor as his), would amount to about $1,100.00. He certainly was under no more obligation to devote his time here for nothing than other ministers who were performing less arduous labors than his, and who were paid in full for their time from the State Treasury.

Bro. White has made no demands on us for means for himself, but it is well for us to consider our duty in the light of scripture and facts. Paul, in writing to the Romans, speaking of those who had imparted to the Gentiles of their spiritual things—the gospel—says, “Verily, and their debtors they are.” Rom. 15:27. Jeremiah says, “Woe unto him . . . that useth his neighbor’s services without wages, and giveth him not for his work.” Jer. 22:13. Strict justice and scripture in this case, would require us who have had Bro. White’s time and labors, to pay at the least estimate the $1,100 for his time. What if he, while our treasury was low, seeing a great demand for means here, did decline to receive pay from our treasury, that did not lessen our obligation to him. As the work spreads, and as our State fund increases, I would ask our brethren and sisters, Is there not a debt we owe to Bro. White? Have we not a duty to him in consideration of his time spent for us? We do not want that woe upon us mentioned by Jeremiah.

To save heavy traveling expenses in this State, Bro. White purchased, with his own means, carriage, harness, etc. These have been used up solely in serving the cause here. There is on the carriage and harness a loss of $200. This $200 should certainly be refunded to Bro. White. I would suggest to those who may be appointed as Auditing Committee this year that it may be well for them to consider the item of Bro. White’s time in the State and loss on carriage.

There are still other proofs of Bro. White’s care for and devotion to the work in California. He donated from his own purse $1000 to the California publishing fund, thus by his example and influence stimulating our Eastern brethren to action. He induced our people east of the plains to raise $11,000, which is already paid, for the purpose of furnishing a first-class office in our publishing house in Oakland. He donated $1000 to the San Francisco meeting-house, beside loaning them $6000 at a moderate rate of interest. Be it remembered also that this $6000 loaned to the S. F. church was the proceeds of $7000 worth of property in the States, changed from currency to specie at a great discount, in order that he might step into the gap with funds, and help the cause here just when the means was most needed.

He also donated $1000 to the Oakland church to aid them in building their meeting-house, and gave another $1000 from his own purse to get experienced help from the East to labor in the office of the Signs of the Times.

What more could a man do to give proof of his tender regard for the cause, and the prosperity of the work here in California? But we are not done yet. He has paid $1000 in the R. R. fare of himself and companion to and from the State, and through his influence another $1000 has been saved to the cause here in the R. R. fare of other ministers who have come to the State from the East. His influence has led the Eastern people to donate $1100 with which to fit up the Signs Office with proper machinery and type, and induced the General Conference to return to our State fund the $500 voted to their treasury in 1874.

Perhaps you have not made a footing of these sums presented as I have passed along.

Are you ready for the score? I repeat. It was Bro. White who first plead, through the Review, for means to start the work upon this coast. He accompanied that first appeal with a liberal donation, and plead until over $1800 was raised. He has lifted for the cause here, in word and deed, all the way along, until, as I have shown, the work here has the direct benefit of his own purse and influence in securing donations from others to the amount of over $20,000 cash, besides the money loaned to the Oakland and San Francisco churches, and cash loaned to the Signs. I have been thus explicit because I wish all to understand the facts, and see some of the reasons we have to love Bro. White for his unselfish devotion to our common cause. “Honor to whom honor is due,” is one of the commands of the New Testament.

In selecting a site for the publishing house in California, it was decided by unanimous vote of the delegates, at the special session of the Conference in 1875, to locate the Office in Oakland. A committee of five was chosen and instructed to select a spot. Brethren White and Morrison were requested to buy and hold the site until the Association could be organized and receive a deed of the property. Bro. White and Bro. Morrison bought a lot, 200x100 feet, on Castro street, from 11th to 12th streets, by instruction of the Conference, with the express understanding that the corners were to be held by them, and the central 80 or 100 feet, as might be necessary for an Office lot, should be deeded to the Association when it should be formed. Suddenly some individuals became alarmed, and started the story that Bro. White and Bro. Morrison were speculating out of the Association in holding the corner lots. At the same time Bro. Morrison had $2000 invested in the Association lot without interest, and $1000 of this remained for over six months, and at the same time Bro. White was taking up money that was on interest, and investing it in the Office building and lot without interest, to lie there until the Association could pay him. The interest on their means invested would have amounted to more than any estimated difference in the lots.

Bro. White interested himself to get Bro. O. B. Jones to this coast, knowing that he was an experienced builder, and devoted unselfishly to the prosperity of the cause. He had built in the East three just such Offices as the one needed in Oakland. The plan of the building was all in his mind, and he knew just how it should all be arranged. The extra session of the California Conference before mentioned invited Bro. Jones to come to California and take charge of building the Office. After the Publishing Association was organized, the board of directors put the matter of plans and construction of the Office into the hands of Bro. White and Bro. O. B. Jones. Neither Bro. White nor Bro. Jones in the matter of the building did any thing more than what they were invited and instructed to do by the California Conference and Publishing Association, the highest authorities among us in this State. Bro. White, in this matter also, did what he knew would help the cause here in point of means, and save perplexity. Some could see only from a selfish stand-point, and they began to blame Bro. White for bringing laborers from the East to this State, when what he did he did solely for the best interests of the cause and for California brethren.

Bro. White had not been long upon this camp-ground last fall when he met reports like the above, and also that he was acting selfishly, and trying to exalt his own family. To meet these insinuations, and to show that on the part of himself and his family he had tried to act unselfishly here, he referred to what he had done for the cause. Then he was charged with boasting, and then the spirit of murmuring spread extensively through the camp.

His soul was deeply wounded and grieved, and he felt that the frown of God was upon us, and that darkness was pressing into the meetings. He greatly desired to see the clouds of darkness part, and light come in. He touched a personal matter, but still what he regarded as a great evil. He did it for the sole purpose of bringing relief, and not to injure any one. Finding his mistake and that he was misinformed in the matter, he immediately retracted the matter as publicly as he had stated it, but the complaining went on, even over the matter he had mentioned and then corrected. The meeting terminated as it did, in sadness and in gloom. Bro. White was in great sadness, knowing, what we all can now see, that there was no cause for the spirit manifested toward him, and confident that God frowned upon the camp because of their murmurings.

Now put yourself for a few moments in Bro. White’s position. Get before your mind how unselfishly he had labored and sacrificed for us, and then imagine, if you can, how you would feel to have your course questioned, your words all criticized, yourself held in doubt, and charged with selfishness. Would not you have said, under such circumstances, “Let them alone, we cannot help them; they refuse to be helped.”

Notwithstanding all this, they did not drop us, but clung to us, like a fond mother to her child, saying, “How can we give them up, they must be helped.” Still their desire is for us to come into a place where they can take hold with us and for us in the cause.

How must the course of our last camp-meeting appear to our Eastern brethren, those who for upwards of twenty long years have watched the unselfish course of Bro. White until they have the most unbounded confidence in his integrity and devotion to the work? This has led them to entrust their means in his hands to the amount of over $11,000 to be invested in furnishing the Oakland Office.

How must the case appear in the sight of a holy and just God? He does not wink at such prejudice against his own chosen, devoted servants, whom he knows have their very lives, and their all devoted to, and being sacrificed in, his cause.

The testimony of God’s Spirit, and the vote of our people has placed Bro. White (as President of the General Conference) to lead out in this cause. How does the course of the last camp-meeting compare with what Paul said to the Hebrews, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you.” Heb. 13:17.

When you, my brethren, get your eyes really open to the facts in the case, and have an understanding of Bro. White’s labors, sacrifices and devotion to the work in all his movements, you will see that God smiles on him for his earnest and untiring efforts, and that Heaven views his work, in kind, of the nature of that work which characterized the mission of Christ in leading him to leave Heaven, and come into our world. Shall we not call such faithful laborers those of whom the Lord has said, “Touch not mine anointed,” and, “Behold, he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants, and ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me.”

If God smiles on Bro. White’s course, what can we expect but that his frown will rest upon those who murmur and complain of that same course the Lord smiles upon and prospers. That frown of God, I doubt not, came upon us last fall, on this ground, for not standing by the side of God’s faithful servants. Our first work here this year should be to take such a course as will remove that frown from us. We want the frown of God removed, and then we shall fully regain the confidence of Bro. White and of our Eastern brethren.

The board of directors of the P. S. D. A. P. Association, at their meeting last March, canvassed quite fully the course of Bro. White, and passed this resolution: “Resolved, That this board express their entire satisfaction with the part Elder White has acted in the formation of the P. S. D. A. P. Association, in erecting the Publishing Office, and in conducting the Signs of the Times. We cite his untiring labors, and the sacrifice of means he has made in this enterprise, as the best proof of his unselfish desire to advance the work upon this coast. And we express the belief that he has done, in establishing and conducting the press upon this coast, what no other man in our ranks could or would have done.”

At the stockholders’ meeting in April, the same resolution was endorsed by a full vote, and the desire was expressed to make the resolution still stronger, if they could find the language to make it so.

The board of directors of the P. S. D. A. P. Association held a meeting in Oakland, August 27, 1876, and with the Cal. Conf. Committee, considered the state of things in California, and joined in a statement to the General Conference, now in session in Lansing, Michigan. I will now quote a part of that statement: “We feel it to be our duty to state that, from the first, and in all his visits to this coast, Bro. White has shown the utmost care and solicitude for the welfare of our young cause. When trials were to be met or prompt action demanded, he has not faltered, but taken his place in the hottest of the battle. Were sacrifices to be made, he has excelled any of our number in making them, in point of feelings, strength, time, and means.”

“With regret we state that it has been his lot to meet trials here, caused mostly by persons who have had but little regard for his past sacrifices, labors, and experience. Some of that same spirit of murmuring that beset the host of Israel has troubled the Sabbath-keepers on this coast. In some few cases Bro. White has suffered downright abuse, where and when he was entitled to the confidence, sympathy, and co-operation of our people.”

“This spirit of murmuring seemed to culminate, and burst forth in a storm at our camp-meeting last fall at Fairfax, affecting to a large extent the entire encampment. For this reason, we doubt not, the frown of God settled upon the camp. The meeting closed in gloom, leaving a heavy feeling of sadness upon Bro. White, as well as discouragement relative to the future of the cause in California. Many of the people blamed Bro. White for spoiling the camp-meeting, which now appears to us as unreasonable as for the Israelites to charge Moses with ‘killing the people of the Lord,’ Num. 16:41, when the Lord had caused the earth to open its mouth and swallow up Korah, Dathan and Abiram for their course of rebellion against Moses and Aaron, the servants of God’s choice.”

“Bro. Loughborough feels it to be his duty to say here, personally, that he now sees that he failed to understand, to the full extent, Bro. White’s difficulties and trials last winter, and that so far he failed to stand by Bro. White as he should. Bro. White has had just cause for the feelings he has had, that he was watched by many of our people in this State with suspicion.” This is what we felt constrained to say to the General Conference. Our lack in appreciating Bro. White’s efforts has grown out of a lack of consecration on our part. Did we feel in our own hearts that earnest longing we should for the advancement of the truth, we should more readily recognize the voice of God with those whose very lives are being spent to push on the work. Several on this coast have stood in readiness to find fault with what Bro. White does, while they themselves have no plan of operations to present, and themselves do but little except find fault. The old saying is good in this case, “Don’t pull down a man’s house, unless you have a better one to offer him.” Where are the men who will do for the cause here what Bro. White has done and still desires to do for the work? I would suggest that all from the heart take a course early in this camp-meeting by which we may acknowledge the hand of God which is so evidently guiding Bro. White, and that we get where that same spirit of devotion to the work may take possession of our hearts.

It is proper, in this Address, that I call attention still further to our immediate wants. Our cause on this coast is languishing for want of laborers. I do not mean simply for preachers. Still I think there are those who might become, in time, efficient ministers, if they were fully consecrated to the Lord, and begun with work at hand, and grew into the work. Some of these I fear are burying their talents under worldly and selfish interests.

We need a spirit of labor to a greater extent in our missionary cause. Some of our T. and M. officers and members have done a good work. Others of our officers, instead of realizing that responsibility rested upon them to stimulate others to action, infusing life into subordinate officers and members, have done but little missionary work themselves, and left the cause to languish as they would not dare to leave even their worldly affairs. Some of our present officers must be stimulated to more activity or others must take their places. The T. and M. Society should give particular attention to efficiency in selecting its board of directors. It is not honorary officers that are wanted in such a cause, but men and women who will take hold of the work as though their very lives depended upon its success.

I trust you have all read the remarks of Sister White in the Signs of the Times of Sept. 7, under the heading, “Wanted, Laborers for the Harvest.” She says, “Honest souls are living in our very midst who have never yet heard the reasons of our faith. People are perishing for want of knowledge. Not one-hundredth part is being done that might be done to give the third angel’s message to the world. There are those who will be responsible for these souls who have never heard the truth. Many excuse themselves with trivial reasons for not engaging in the work they might do if they were consecrated to God. They have wrapped their talents in a napkin and buried them in the ground, where they cannot increase.” I quote the above because I think it fits so well in California.

It is proper, before closing this Address, that I call attention to that most potent agency we have for extending the truth in our Oakland office of publication. In the meeting of the directors of Aug. 27, Bro. W. C. White and myself were requested to address our people through the Signs of the Times concerning the condition and wants of our Oakland publishing house. By that report, which you will find in the Signs, Vol. 2, No. 37, you will see that the debt on the Signs, $3,400, is needed, and $5,000 more in stock to carry on the work free from embarrassment, as well as continual interest to extend the circulation of the Signs.

In this Address I have shown that $4,505.45 pledged to the publishing fund is still unpaid. The pledge book is upon the ground and can be examined. Some of the pledges still unpaid are good, but will come in slowly, while about half of that still unpaid is doubtful, and some of it absolutely void. We must make another call for stock. Some who have already pledged and paid to the publishing fund can and will increase their stock; others who have as yet taken no stock in the publishing house will esteem it a pleasure to make pledges of stock to be paid soon.

It was hoped that so general an interest would be awakened, on this coast especially, and elsewhere, to circulate the Signs that the increase of subscriptions would wipe out the past debt. It is vain to hope in that direction when so little is being done, and when expenses from week to week are so far in excess of receipts. An effort should be commenced upon this ground and carried through our churches to raise donations towards the past debt on the Signs.

There is work before us. Time is short, and our time in which to labor and secure stars to our crowns may be shorter still. Who among us will consecrate themselves and their all unreservedly to God? Who?

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