J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH by John Norton Loughborough

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 31, 1908

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

By John Norton Loughborough

Experiences in the Publishing Work — No. 14

As our people neared the close of publishing Volume II of the ADVENT REVIEW, a new era began in the advent cause, which had struggled from its very beginning with poverty. Men were coming into the ranks, who, though not classed with the rich men of the world, had means to spare, and willing hearts to use it where most needed in the cause. These, with clear perception, saw the necessity of having the printing done with type and press of our own. With the close of Volume II, measures were therefore adopted for the accomplishment of this purpose.

About that time Hiram Edson, of Port Byron, N. Y., sold his farm for thirty-five hundred dollars, that he might have ready money to aid in the work. As he learned of the plan to purchase a printing-press and type, he at once advanced the necessary money for the purchase of the same, so that there need be no delay in the matter. Of this sum he made a liberal donation, and was to receive the rest of the money as donations should come in from the friends of the truth. In No. 12 of that volume of the REVIEW it was announced that the cost of fitting up an office with a press and material was $652.93, and the receipts for that purpose up to that date (Oct. 14, 1852) were $655.84.

It was decided to equip an office for the printing in Rochester, N. Y. Those of our people who volunteered to labor in the office were inexperienced in such work. So at once there arose a necessity for some one to act as foreman, and instructor of others, until they could learn to manage the work. This was made a subject of earnest prayer, when, lo, a young man who worked in the office in Saratoga where they had had the REVIEW printed, learning of their desire for a foreman, offered his services. He was not a Christian, but had a very pious mother. He had taken a great liking to our people, and not being addicted to tobacco habits, looked with pleasure to an opportunity to be in a “clean place,” with good people. His offer was accepted, he even consenting to receive a comparatively small wage, and also to refrain from labor, etc., on the Sabbath.

A house was rented in Rochester, N. Y., No. 124 Mt. Hope Ave., which was to serve as printing-office, meeting-room, and home for all the workers in the office. Luman Masten, the young man from Saratoga, was to be the foreman, Stephen Belden an apprentice at type-setting, Warren Bacheller roller boy, and Oswald Stowell, of Maine, the man to work the hand-press, and Sister Annie Smith a literary assistant. And so an office was installed in one of the rooms of the rented building in Rochester.

In that building the first number of Volume III of the ADVENT REVIEW AND SABBATH HERALD was printed on a hand-press, which, with type, were owned by

Seventh-day Adventists. The first number bears date of May 6, 1852. Some persons may think that a “small beginning,” and hardly worthy of mention. Small as it may appear, it was looked upon by the Sabbath-keepers at that time as a new era in publishing the great truths of the third angel’s message. As we now look at the proportions of the printing business in this denomination, and think of the steady and continual growth of that work, we may say, in the language of one of old, “Who hath despised the day of small things?” Zech. 4:10. On another occasion, when everything looked forbidding to any great advance, the question arose, “By whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.” Amos 7:5. God’s answer to this question was, “Who art thou, O great mountain [mountain of apparent difficulties]? before Zerubbabel [the chosen builder] thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shouting, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” Zech. 4:7. In a Methodist work published some forty years ago, called the “Footsteps of an Itinerant,” it is stated “that every great work of God on earth has had a small beginning.” This has been true of the printing business connected with this message. It was, however, a time of new courage and much rejoicing with the “little flock,” when they could praise God that they had a printing-press of their own. A new impetus was thus given to the work.