THE CALIFORNIA MISSION.
By James White
When Bro. Loughborough and Bourdeau had decided, in harmony with the general feeling of their brethren upon the subject, to go to California, they came to our room in the Review Office, which was fitted up for us to occupy during the time of the Conference, to consult with us as to the best plan of laboring in that new field. It was very soon decided that they should take a good tent with them. I immediately took my pencil and wrote the brief notice which appeared in the REVIEW, of the intentions of these brethren to visit that new State, that they would take a tent with them, and suggested that the friends of the cause should donate the sum of about $1000 to meet the extra expenses of the mission. In connection with that notice I stated that I would give $25. I then passed the paper to the above-named brethren, and they each pledged $25. Since that time, others have responded. But in this there does not seem to be equality. Three worn ministers, with limited means, who had already donated to different charitable purposes during the Conference, from $40 to $100 each, now come forward and give each $25 more, while many of their wealthy brethren seem to content themselves with giving to this mission the small sums of $5 or $10. These ministers did not set this liberal example because they were able to do so, but because of the interest they felt in the work. In fact, they should not have given anything, while those who were able should have come up with their tens, twenty-fives, fifties, and hundreds, and created a fund of several thousands to spread the truth in the State of California. Our ministers who attend our Conferences and learn the wants of the cause in its various branches, feel that the work must go forward, and will give to advance the different enterprises, to the amount of $100, while wealthy brethren, who may have too many home cares to come up to these annual convocations, and who are more able to give $100 than these ministers are to give $5, content themselves to give their $10, and their $5, and let the poor minister give $100. And yet there are others among us, who are worth from five to fifty thousand dollars, who take no stock at all in such enterprises. All their professions of faith in the soon coming of Christ, and all their expressed wishes for the advancement of the cause, while they do nothing for the encouragement of those enterprises, and hold fast their earthly gains, must be regarded by all men, believers and unbelievers, as downright hypocrisy. When two men of experience, like elders Loughborough and Bourdeau, are found, who are willing to go on such a mission, to endure its hardships and privations, and when the prospect that the standard of truth is to be planted in this new and encouraging field of labor, and when the liberal example is set by these self-sacrificing men, why are not the hearts of the men of wealth among us fired with a becoming zeal to raise the sum of $5000 at once, to carry forward this mission. One thousand dollars' worth of our publications should be distributed gratis in connection with the labors of these two brethren, before the year 1869 opens. If only two hundred among us had followed the example of these ministers, the sum of $5000 would have been raised at once. But the sum is not raised, and, probably will not be raised, not, however, because men among us are not able to do it, and liberally meet all the other wants of the cause, but simply because they love this world. Riches increase with them, cares increase, love of increase shuts out the love for Christ and the progress of his cause, and they content themselves with giving $5, or perhaps nothing, where they should give a hundred, and leave the poor minister to give, then to economize his own expenses, and get along as best he can. There are noble exceptions to the above, and we do not make these statements to injure the feelings of any. We only state facts, and would beseech our wealthy brethren for Christ's sake, for the sake of the cause of truth, for the sake of men and women who must perish out of Christ, and for their own soul's sake, to consider these matters well, and act in the fear of God. If your talents, or means of usefulness, are principally in your wealth, you will not be excused in burying them in the earth. Occupy, brethren, occupy till the Master comes. You need not conclude that the ministers give because they have an abundance. This is not the case. They give of their limited means simply because you are no more liberal. How does it look to you, to the world, and to God, to see your poor, worn ministers start off in some worthy enterprise with a donation of $25, then you follow, if at all, with $5 or $10? I have one question to ask, How many will follow the example of these preachers, and each give $25? Will two hundred? There are among Seventh-day Adventists 1000 men better able to give $25 each to the California mission, than Elders Loughborough and Bourdeau are to give $5. These ministers have given time, ability, strength, and all, to the cause, and are much worn, and now give themselves renewedly to the work, and set you a good example in point of means. And you who have abundance, with all the blessings of health and home, can see these men wear out in such a noble enterprise, and feel satisfied with your donations of $5 and $10, I confess myself astonished. Is not the cause a common one? Should it not interest the believing farmer, merchant, or mechanic, as much as the preacher? It is not the minister's cause. It is the cause of God. All the cares, toils, and sacrifices, should be borne equally. God does not require the minister to wear out with toil, care, sacrifice, want, and sorrow of heart, because others do not bear their portion of the burdens of the way, and leave the wealthy farmer to care for his farm, the mechanic to follow his trade, and the merchant his business, free from care or sacrifice for the cause, and at last give them the same reward. He requires equality in sharing the burdens, and desires that all should be worthy to share equal reward. Why not? Ministers and people all have the same faith, the same hope, and are pressing to the same Heaven. God calls the minister to preach and calls the church to sustain him, and all the branches of the work connected with the gospel. God never called a minister to preach, without calling the church at the same time to sustain him in all his judicious operations to advance the cause. The church should sacrifice as much as the minister. The church has no more right to get rich than the minister. Let him attend to the gospel, and let him be cheered with their liberal co-operations, and not saddened with their stingy donations of one-fifth or one-half as large as that made by himself. But the minister must not be discouraged, let come what will. His work and the reward are before him. God bless him, and help his brethren to feel and to act.