Report from Bro. Loughborough by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1866

Report from Bro. Loughborough.

By John Norton Loughborough

ON Thursday, July 26, I left Battle Creek for the Ohio Conference. Tarried over night in Jackson, Mich., and on the afternoon of the 27th arrived at Lovett's Grove, the place of the meeting. Found Bro. Lawrence on the ground to assist in the exercises of the meeting. But a few delegates or brethren from other churches came to this meeting, owing to the short notice of the meeting, and the hurrying season of the year. Had the Conference been as late as the first of August, and sufficiently notified, undoubtedly it would have been fully attended. It was thought advisable during this Conference to fix upon the first of August as the proper time for the commencement of the Conference year, and future sessions of the Conference will probably be held as near that date as may be.

Those who came together to this Conference, had a mind to work. The business was all attended to on Thursday evening and on sixth-day. There was no opposition, nor a jarring note in our business sessions, but all was dispatched with good cheer. There were five discourses given during this Conference, three by Bro. Lawrence, and two by myself.

The Ohio brethren express the deepest gratitude, that they have not been forgotten in the distribution of labor by the General Conference. They are also highly pleased with the success that is attending the efforts being made with the tent, and otherwise. Several expressed deep gratitude concerning the recent good visit of Bro. Waggoner to that State, attended with such good fruits. The brethren contributed freely of their means for the advancement of the different enterprises that now especially call for means. As they had, after this, nearly $400.00 of Conference funds for which they had no immediate use, they kindly loaned this sum, without interest, to the Association.

I would here take the liberty to say, that for the most part the churches in Ohio have kept up their s. b., although they have not had much labor in their State for some time. I am reminded here of an expression a brother made to me not long since, as we were looking over reports of funds in different places: “There is quite a difference between s. b. on paper, and funds in the hands of the Treasurer.” Ohio funds, for the most part, prove to be funds in hand. But in some few places, in some of the States, there is a gross neglect in this matter. They report their pledges on s. b. at high figures, and only in part pay it. Some pledge year after year, who never pay anything. Better not pledge at all, than to keep pledging and never pay. Let us all put down our figures at what we ought to pay, and then be prompt in paying it all up, monthly if possible. This we can do, if we use the same care that we do to meet Cæsar's claims. And are not the Lord's claims as just upon us, and as much to be regarded as those of Cæsar? s. b. on paper, and s. b. in the Lord's treasury, are two different things. The one will furnish ready means to carry forward the cause in all its departments. The other may have an appearance of doing something, while it will only in the end throw perplexity and care upon those who would make efforts to build up and extend the cause of truth. May we all be prompt in all things.

Spent Monday, July 30, most of the day, in council with the Ohio State Committee, preparing minutes of Conferences for print, arranging for Quarterly Meetings and future labors in the State. In the afternoon went fourteen miles to Cass, where, on Tuesday, with the committee, I attended to the adjusting of some matters of trial in the church. At 4 p. m. of that day, I spoke by request to about one hundred in the Methodist house, on the death of Bro. Stacy, who had died some seven months previous.

Aug. 2d, came on to Bellville, where the Ohio tent was pitched. Spent the day very pleasantly with Bro. Van Horn and Lawrence, and in the evening I spoke to an interested congregation of about five hundred. It seemed to me from the attention given them, that good success would attend the effort there with the tent.

Friday, the 3d, I parted with the Brn. there, and came on to Norwalk, Ohio, and tarried over night with my old friend Bro. George Smith.

On Sabbath morning we went to East Townsend, where I gave two short discourses to about twenty Brn. and sisters, at the house of Bro. Horner. On first day morning, had a meeting to permanently organize the church and re-arrange s. b. Some eighteen entered into church fellowship, and pledged about $136.00, per year, an increase of upwards of $40.00. In the afternoon, by the consent of the trustees, I spoke in the Methodist Chapel to an attentive congregation of about one hundred. Came the same day to Wakeman, where I rested, visited, and wrote, until Thursday, the 9th, when I went to Berea Station and there met Bro. Thomas White, of Strongsville, who conveyed me to his home.

On the Sabbath I spoke to about a dozen at the house of Bro. White, and in the afternoon we partook of the Lord's supper. Although the numbers were few, the Lord was with us by his Spirit. On first-day we had a meeting in the forenoon to organize the church, and re-arrange s. b. Nine entered into church covenant, and their s. b. was increased some $22.00. In the afternoon I spoke to about forty or fifty on the Sabbath question, at the house of Bro. White.

On Monday, Aug. 13, I returned to Battle Creek, where I have spent two Sabbaths, and in the mean time have attended to such duties of the General and State Conferences as seemed to demand attention. I am now about to start for the West, to attend the large meetings there. I feel of good courage still to press on, and I believe the Lord's hand is set to this cause to gather out and fit up a people for his kingdom and coming. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. Aug. 26, 1866.