Report from Bro. Loughborough by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 11, 1866

Report from Bro. Loughborough.

By John Norton Loughborough

At the close of my last report I was in Battle Creek, where I spent some two weeks very pleasantly, although much busied with cares during the time. Found the brethren here carrying out the words of the Lord to be diligent in business, as well as being fervent in spirit. The former seems to be a matter of necessity there just at present in order to be prepared to open the Health Institute at the time appointed. The Health Institute is a much larger enterprise than many of our brethren are aware. First, in addition to the buildings already on the eight acres purchased, a building had to be erected 20x36, two stories high. This building is arranged for packing room, bath room, dressing room, and a room to contain a tank of sufficient capacity to hold two hundred barrels of water. A tank had also to be constructed sufficient to contain twenty-five barrels of water with heating apparatus. This water is all forced 124 rods through an iron pipe by a force pump, carried by wind power, from one of the largest and purest wells of soft water in all Michigan. By chemical analysis this water is shown to be decidedly preferable to the purest filtered rain water, being softer, and more free from foreign substances. To prepare means to carry this water, first to the Institute from the well, 124 rods, and thence to carry off the surplus, and waste water from the Institute through a 6-inch cement pipe some 30 rods in length, and to place both of these some four feet in depth, so as to be secure from frost, is no small matter of labor. But, in addition to all this, preparing beds, bedding, and fixtures for the house itself, all make a great amount of labor. But with the blessing of God, and his prospering hand, the work goes bravely and rapidly on.

Right here I would say a word in response to the objections of some to the Institute. Says one, I should judge that your great object in starting this Institute is to make money. You greatly err here. If any money is to be made by it, as you claim, it is made by those who put in their means for shares, and not by any one person, or persons. As already set forth, the whole matters of the Institute are to be regulated by certain by-laws to be adopted by the vote of the shareholders. The managing physician and his corps of helpers will of course have such pay for their services, as will be adequate to their labors, responsibilities, and arduous cares; but even this will be decided from time to time by the vote of the yearly meetings of the corporation.

But, says one, your prices are enormous, from $8.00 to $14.00 per week. You will find, when you ascertain what is given at our Institute for $8.00, and compare it with the higher prices, and fare of other Institutions, that we do not charge a high price. But, you say, some are so poor they cannot afford to pay even your smallest price. Well, we shall do the best we can for them; but there is, as you see, no means to carry on the work of the Institute, except what is received for the cure of patients. The shares are to be invested in the real estate, furniture, and fixtures with which to operate the Institute.

At present, of course, while the financial management of the Institute is in the hands of Brn. Aldrich, Kellogg, and the General Conference Committee, it is not our province to take very great liberties with the means of share-holders; but we will do the best we can to satisfy the share-holders, and the wants of the really and worthy poor. Of course more could be done in that direction, if the Institute had been in operation longer. If it should be found, at the time of organizing the Corporation, that there are those who wish to have whatever dividend may accumulate on their shares, to remain in the hands of the Trustees of the Institute, as a sort of indigent fund to be used in treating those who are worthy poor, and really in want, it of course will be their privilege to leave it there for such purpose. But there are others, as before stated, who put their means into the Institute, who need at least a good interest on their means, to help them in supporting themselves and families. It is our design now, to so frame the by-laws of the Institute, that those wishing to contribute their dividend in the manner above specified, can do it. All will be left at their own option however, from year to year, to do as they please with their dividend.

Some are hesitating, I find, about taking stock, because they do not see how they could get their money again, should they get into cramped circumstances. We would say to such, that shares in the Institute can be sold the same as rail-road or bank stock, and when the Corporation stock is all taken up, others still will wish to invest means, and will gladly buy the shares of any who may then wish to sell. We confidently expect the blessing of God to follow this enterprise, for we believe it to be a part of the work of God incumbent upon us as a people. We view God's laws established in our being as of equal importance for us to observe, as his moral law of ten commandments, and expect his blessing to attend efforts made to honor his righteous laws.

Aug. 27, I left Battle Creek for the Convocation Meeting in Iowa, and arrived on the ground on the morning of the 29th, where the work of preparing for the meeting was going on. The large fifty-foot tent was pitched for meetings, and in the course of the afternoon ten other tents were pitched in the adjacent grove; one of these was twenty-four feet in diameter, and sufficient to accommodate several families. Other tents were of various sizes, sheltering from one to three families. These tents, together with the meeting-house, and a school-house near by, afforded sufficient room for several hundred brethren and sisters, who came with their children to enjoy this holy convocation. As those who came, brought provisions for themselves, they, with the church here, had naught to do but to enjoy this feast.

This Convocation Meeting, the first of the kind ever held among Seventh-day Adventists, has been a good one, and a meeting of great profit to the people and cause of God in Iowa. Twelve discourses, mostly of a close, practical character have been given, as this was thought most proper, in order that the advertised object of this meeting might be attained; namely the mutual religious improvement of God's people. The discourses seemed to sink with due weight into all hearts, both of those in the church and out, and a good religious interest is manifest here. The servants of God present all felt the importance of the occasion, and their duty to feed the flock. The Lord blessed greatly in preaching the truth. The preaching was divided as nearly as practicable, between Bro. Robert Andrews of Ill., the Brn. Bourdeau, and myself.

But the preaching was not the only interesting feature of the meeting. As this was not a meeting of business or a time of hurry, there was ample time for social meetings each day, till Sabbath, from nine till twelve o'clock A. M., and from five till six P. M. Seven social meetings in all were held. These meetings were characterized by deep feeling, hearty confessions, sobs and tears. On Sabbath and first-day there were three discourses each day, and social meetings besides. Such was the eagerness of the brethren and sisters to speak in these meetings that most of the time two and three were on their feet at once, wishing to speak and be refreshed. In this solemn assembly, the hearts of fathers were turned toward their children, several of whom made a start for the kingdom, and found the blessing of the Lord.

We feel and believe that this has been indeed a feast of fat things, and a good time to the Lord's people, not simply because of a happy flight of feeling, but because of the close, searching truths which were here brought out, and settled with weight on our hearts, and because the people seemed to go from the meeting with new resolutions for duty, and new determinations to live more consecrated to God. We trust this effort was not without effect, even upon those outside the church, many of whom were present, and manifested deep interest in the meeting, especially on first-day. A unanimous vote was passed to have the Advent Review enlarged, as proposed in No. 13 of the present volume. And not only did the brethren vote, but came forward to confirm their vote by raising their subscription to $2,50, and $3,00 per year.

The parting scene at the close of the meeting was truly refreshing and affecting, many even sobbing aloud, which showed that hearts were knit together as never before in this State. May the dear people of the Lord in Iowa, ever remember this precious convocation meeting. May we all be diligent in carrying out the resolutions formed here, and may we share in that more glorious meeting on Mount Zion at last. Amen.

J. N. Loughborough.

Pilot Grove, Iowa, Sept. 3, 1866.