Our Work by John Norton Loughborough

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Aug 23, 1877

Our Work.

By John Norton Loughborough

“For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.” Mark 13:34.

In the chapter from which the above text is taken, the subject introduced is the signs of Christ’s second coming, and the condition of those who will be found ready for his coming. They are not represented as waiting in idleness for his coming, but as they watch they work. The master “gave to every man his work.” They are working watchers.

The signs of Christ’s coming are fulfilled. We are near that event, and are in the very time marked in the above parable when the Lord has committed to his people the work of giving the warning, and preparing a people for his coming. For a number of years the cry has been raised and preparations have been going forward for a rapid conclusion of the message.

Plans have been laid wisely and well to secure success and permanence to the work. What has already been accomplished is one of the best guarantees of what we may expect in the near future, when a wider application is made of these same principles and plans.

For a number of years Elder White has plead for “broader plans” to spread the truth of the third angel’s message. After awhile, a few others joined him in his plans. They said, “Publications must be produced in different languages. Presses must be established in different parts of the field. Missionary workers must advance, in an aggressive movement all along the line. Young men must be urged into the field. Old hands in the cause must be making the best use of that experience they have gained while this message has been rising. Schools and Institutes must be established, in which, in a space corresponding to the shortness of time, men and women can be prepared to preach and teach these solemn truths.”

To the inexperienced these things sounded strangely, but these leaders, feeling that the Lord was calling them to a great work, moved on with their plans. Lack of faith on the part of some who might have aided the cause but did not, and the comparative poverty of those who had a mind to the work, rendered the situation one of perplexity and embarrassment. Patiently with great sacrifice they toiled on till complete success has crowned their efforts in every department of the cause. The Lord has truly been with his truth, and it is his guiding hand which has carried the message thus far up the hill of difficulty. What has already been done should inspire us all with confidence in the stability and permanence of the message, and show us the fitness of those means God in his providence has connected with the message. What a vast amount can be done in a short space of time if all who profess the truth will take hold to labor as some are laboring. What the times and the truth demand now is that we all dedicate ourselves to the cause as though its advancement was the real business of our lives, and not treat it as a matter of minor consequence.

There are two classes who profess the truth. The one class in all their actions show that they believe with all their hearts that the Lord is coming, while the other class, by their actions at least, say they expect to remain on earth many years and lay up treasure for another generation. The first class rejoice in every new enterprise for the advancement of the truth, and aid in the same according to their ability, while the second class live to themselves, study their own interests, and plan to do as little as possible, shunning meetings where there is any liability of their being called to devote their means or time in the cause.

The one class are studying where they can deny themselves or sacrifice so as to aid in the cause, while the other class act and sometimes talk as though what they gave to advance the truth was about so much thrown away, while in reality what is given in sincerity to the Lord’s work on earth is so much treasure laid up in heaven.

The self-sacrificing workers are firm in the truth, rejoicing in its prosperity; happy in the Lord, while the selfish and inactive are murmuring, complaining of every advance move, finding fault with the work generally, and usually complaining of their lack of enjoyment in the assemblies of the saints.

The one class are heeding the admonition of Paul to “be ready to distribute.” They are putting their worldly affairs in such a shape that they may have wherewith to help in the cause. The other class tell us they might help, they wish they could help, but their hands are tied. They have tied their own hands, and in some instances point to the tied-up condition of their worldly affairs as an excuse for not paying pledges they have already made. It certainly looks sometimes, as though some tied their hands that they might present a plausible excuse for inaction.

These are times that call for an untying of hearts, hands, and purse strings in order that we may ever be faithful at our post of duty, doing all in our power to forward the light of the third angel’s message.

The work here in California is only a small part of the great cause which is advancing through the earth, yet it is important to us that we do all in our power to make our work a success.

As we look at the work committed to us here in this State, there are three important branches that claim our special attention. These are, 1. Our publishing house. 2. The work of the ministry. 3. The missionary work. Each and all of these continually demand aid in point of means that the work may go forward unembarrassed.

When, over three years ago, Elder White suggested that the SIGNS OF THE TIMES be published on this coast, and a publishing house erected, some thought he was too fast. “A paper might be needed here some time, but not yet.” Facts since developed have proved that Elder White was right, and that the move was made none too soon. Times were much easier when this move was made than now. All can easily see that our advancing work now demands such a paper.

In the fall of 1874 about $20,000 were pledged for the publishing work; all of these pledges are not yet paid. Then, again, last fall, at Fairfax camp-meeting, pledges were made of new stock and donations to the SIGNS to relieve it from indebtedness on its past publication. One year was given to redeem these pledges, so they will be due about the middle of September. An effort should be made to meet all unpaid pledges by camp-meeting time.

To those who had pledged, we mailed a few weeks since a list of all the pledges made in the fall of 1874 and those made last fall, with the amount paid, so that all our people can see just how their cases stand. We hope all will make an effort to pay their pledges. Let those who design to pay respond immediately. We hope to hear from every one. Those who are unable to pay can say so. It is time these old pledges were straightened up in some way.

The publishing work, as the cause advances, will ever be in need of funds. Those newly embracing the truth will of course esteem it a pleasure to take stock to the extent of their ability that they also may be fellow helpers to the truth. The Lord is coming and we want to be found investing our substance here in that manner that we shall be laying up a treasure in the heavens. The way to do this is to do all in our power to forward the cause of truth on earth.

I have feared our people on this coast did not realize what an instrument of good is furnished us in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Hundreds, in different parts of the land, have already been brought to embrace the truth simply by reading this paper. One church in the East commenced to mail papers to their friends, sending them three copies and then writing them a postal card inviting them to subscribe. They not only obtained many subscribers, but in a six weeks’ effort twenty persons commenced the observance of the Sabbath as the result.

We should do everything in our power, at all times to circulate the SIGNS. Some of our churches on this coast have taken clubs of SIGNS, from 8 to 80 copies per week, according to the size of the church. These they have handed out from week to week to those willing to read, or mailed them to their friends. By this means many have become acquainted with the paper, subscribed for it, and embraced the truth.

Some of our churches have taken no SIGNS in clubs. We urge them to do so, and hope all our people will do all in their power to increase the circulation of this excellent paper.

The churches of San Francisco and Oakland decided to send out single copies of the SIGNS with prospectus, thus soliciting subscribers. The SIGNS Office offered the papers with prospectus if our people would do the work of mailing, and pay the postage. By the aid of a State Business Directory, and the Great Registers of some counties a large amount of names have been obtained. The work of wrapping, writing, and stamping these papers has been done by volunteers in the churches of San Francisco and Oakland. To pay the postage on 11,000 papers has required $110 worth of stamps. Districts No. 1, 3, 7 and 9, in their district quarterly meetings voted to pay the postage on all these single copies that were sent into their districts.

At the State quarterly meeting a vote was passed requesting each district to raise a sum equal to the postage paid in mailing these SIGNS for their respective districts. The president was requested to apportion to each district the amount of postage paid for said districts. The apportionment has been made, and the directors in each district are requested to apportion the amount for their district to their respective churches in the district and see that the money is raised for the State T. and M. fund.

THE MINISTRY.

As we contemplate the work of the ministry on this coast, we have reason for gratitude to God that a few men have been raised up here who are giving themselves to the work. The Biblical Institute held in Oakland last spring developed some talent, and the end of that does not yet appear. We have seven men who are giving their whole time to speaking the truth, and more who expect to enter the field after camp-meeting.

Besides our ministers we have two missionaries in San Francisco who are giving their entire time to the work, and others in other places who are doing something in the cause. These men who are giving their time must all receive some help from the Conference. To effect amicable settlements our Auditing Committee will not wish to simply say: “Thank you. Depart, be ye warmed and filled.” They must have means at hand with which to settle with these men.

Every member in all our churches should exert themselves to pay up their pledges on S. B. to Oct. 1, before going to the camp-meeting, so that every church in California can pay their pledges to the State Treasury at the time of the conference meeting. The S. B. treasurers must not wait for members to come to them. The S. B. treasurers are also collectors, and they should immediately make out bills of indebtedness of each member to the S. B. and see that all is collected. Do the work of the Lord faithfully.

THE MISSIONARY WORK.

Much has been done in this State in the missionary work. More has been done the last year than in any two preceding years. There are some difficulties, however, under which we labor that should be remedied. Our State T. and M. Society is in debt to the SIGNS Office about $800, and a large part of this sum is due to the State Society from the different districts. These districts should immediately take measures to cancel their indebtedness to the State Society. Some of our churches have not met their one-third which they pledged as T. and M. fund, and considerable is due for periodicals ordered.

It does not seem right to embarrass the SIGNS Office with our debts, when it would be so small a matter to make up this indebtedness if each individual would take hold proportionately.

There should be a State T. and M. fund of $1,000 to enable the State Society to pay the SIGNS Office for documents at the time of purchase, and not keep them embarrassed to accommodate us.

It is the purpose of our directors to make a strike this fall for $1,000 T. and M. Fund, for California. I propose as an individual to pay $50 toward this fund, and I want to find thirteen more who will pay the same amount. This will make $700. Then there are those who can give $25 each, perhaps enough to make $150 more. We hope to find volunteers who will give $10 and $5 each, enough to make up the $1,000 without embarrassing any one, or diverting means from other channels.

If we really believe the Lord is coming, shall we not take hold in earnest of the work he has committed to us, instead of devoting all our thoughts to ourselves, and the groveling things of earth? If we once get our missionary fund free from embarrassment, and then keep up the one-third, with judicious management it will keep free.

Shall we not come up to our yearly gathering paying our vows in the past, and consecrating ourselves with new offerings to God? If we, on our part, bring all our tithes into the store-house the Lord has promised to open the windows of heaven and pour us out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. So may it be. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.