Report from Bro. Loughborough by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 10, 1866

Report from Bro. Loughborough.

By John Norton Loughborough

BRO. WHITE: For about the period of nine months I have reported no labors through the Review, for the simple reason that I have been detained by affliction from laboring in the cause I love. But in the good providence of God, I again begin reports of labor. And I trust one feature of my reports in the past will not be found in those of future labors; that is, I do not intend to do two weeks' labor in one. The principal cause of my affliction for the past year has been over-labor; but I trust nine months' deprivation of the privilege of laboring in the field is sufficient to teach me the lesson of carefully and judiciously applying my strength so that I may not exhaust, but build up my energies, and lay in store strength for future time.

My report will commence with that precious season of fasting and prayer which we enjoyed in Battle Creek. It was indeed a time long to be remembered by us on account of the evident tokens of God's presence with us. Those four days were days of labor with me, as I took quite an active part in the prayer and social meetings, as well as trying to preach once. Yet I felt refreshed, and believe it was the beginning of better days to God's people. It seems by the reports made, that it was the same precious season, everywhere it was observed. May we not expect a reviving. Our God is a prayer-answering God, and we had evident tokens that he heard our petitions.

The week of the General Conference and the week following were also busy times, as this was a Conference in which at least one-third more business was done than we had attended to in any previous Conference. Yet in the transaction of this amount of business not a jarring note was heard. The meeting-house enterprise, and the Health Institute &c., in addition to the yearly labor attending Conference, made plenty of care and thought for ministers and committees. But we felt indeed the approving smile of God upon us as we came to the conclusions since made public in relation to these various enterprises, and we believe firmly that God is still leading out his people. May we all make rapid strides in walking in the way his Spirit leads.

June 5th, in company with Brn. D. T. and A. C. Bourdeau, I left Battle Creek, for the Iowa State Conference. Traveled 428 miles by rail-road to Washington, Iowa, where we arrived on the 6th, and shared for the night the hospitalities of Bro. Kilgore, and the morning of the 7th, Bro. Nicola conveyed us ten miles to his residence at Pilot Grove. The Conference convened, as appointed in Review, on the morning of June 8th. Quite a large delegation being present from most of the churches in the State. The letters and testimonies from the various churches showed that although there had been some discouraging things transpiring in Iowa the year past, yet they were determined to press forward and rise with God's people, and so far as opinions were expressed, the spirit of Caleb and Joshua was there and not one of rebellion.

Quite a large amount of business was done at this Conference which all moved off with the utmost harmony and pleasantness.

Owing to the feebleness and weariness of the ministers present only four discourses were preached. Two by Bro. D. T. Bourdeau, one by Bro. A. C. Bourdeau, and one by the writer. Two excellent social meetings were held, in which nearly every one of the large company of brethren and sisters present took part. Many of them made reference to the state of feeling they had when they came to Conference in June last, and the contrast in their feelings now. They seemed to acknowledge the hand of God in that meeting, and praised his name for the work there wrought. It seemed to be the conviction of many of the leading brethren, that notwithstanding the numbers in Iowa had been a little lessened since last year, yet the cause as a whole was in a better condition, and standing on a better basis than it had been for two years. In the closing business session of the Conference there was discussed the propriety of having—after the hurry of harvest is over, about the 20th of August—a grand rally of the Sabbath-keepers of Iowa for a five days' meeting for prayer, social worship, and preaching. A sort of feast of tabernacles, as has been suggested several times by Bro. White in the Review. The plan was heartily approved of by those present, and it was decided to have such a gathering at some central point.

It is designed that the brethren who come, shall come, as much as possible prepared to take care of themselves. Some will probably bring tents with them. The meeting tent can be pitched, and as the meeting will probably be held near some small church, sisters could lodge in the houses and brethren in the tents and barns. The definite time and place of this gathering is yet to be decided upon. Such a meeting rightly conducted, we have no doubt will be a source of great good to God's people, and to their children, and their friends who may wish to learn the truth, and whom they may induce to come with them.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Waukon, Iowa, June, 1866.