REPORT FROM BRO. LOUGHBOROUGH by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 10, 1867

REPORT FROM BRO. LOUGHBOROUGH

By John Norton Loughborough

BOOKS—Give us a house furnished with books rather than with furniture! Both, if you can, but books at any rate! To spend several days in a friend's house, and hunger for something to read, while you are treading on costly carpets, and sitting down upon luxurious chairs, and sleeping upon down, is as if one were bribing your body for the sake of cheating your mind. Books are the windows through which the soul looks out. A house without books is like a room without windows. A book is good company; it is full of conversation, without loquacity. It talks to you, not through the ear, but another way.

REPORT FROM BRO. LOUGHBOROUGH.

SINCE my last report I have tried to do what my health would permit in the line of holding meetings. From Aug. 1 to 4, I attended the Ohio Conference. Bro. Waggoner and Van Horn were also present. This was an interesting session of the Conference, with a much larger attendance than at the session of last year.

The Spirit of the Lord, and a spirit of unity seemed to pervade our midst, and the conviction rested upon all, that more humility and devotion to God's cause were requisite if we would make much advancement in the work of truth.

All were encouraged by the result of labors put forth in the State the last year. A more healthy state of matters exists in the churches and some have been added to the number already in the truth.

The financial condition of the cause is at least one-third better than one year since. Both ministers and people seem encouraged to enter with zeal upon the labors of the coming year in Ohio. May success attend the efforts made.

Sabbath, August 10, I was with the church in Battle Creek where five more were baptized. The most of these were patients from the Institute, who, while striving to gain health of body have become interested to escape the effects of that greater malady, sin.

Sabbath, Aug. 17, I was with the church in Burlington. A number were present from Newton, Mendon, Leonidas, and Parkville. The discourse and social meeting on the Sabbath were seasons of interest, and we trust the good resolutions formed there may be carried out by all. It is not always trying to do something that accomplishes the work, but a taking hold to do it with a determination to conquer or to die in the struggle. Those who thus lay hold to subdue their idols, and overcome their bad habits, will not die. God's angels will be sent to the rescue.

On first-day morning we had a meeting of the church, which lasted most of the day, to take into consideration the building of a meeting house in Burlington. It was decided to build a house 32x46 with 20 feet posts, and gallery in front, the lumber to be got out this winter, and the house be ready to occupy, if possible, the next fourth of July. May the Lord give them success and prosperity in the work as they go forward with a spirit of sacrifice to carry out their views in building a house to the Lord. I am now in Monterey, designing to spend four Sabbaths in this vicinity before going to join Bro. Andrews in the session of the New York State Conference.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Monterey, Mich., Aug. 30, 1867.