THE LAST MOVEMENT by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 12, 1867

THE LAST MOVEMENT.

By John Norton Loughborough

THE last four weeks I have been laboring in Battle Creek. I am thankful to report that our labor here is not without fruits, and there seems to be an increasing desire on the part of this church to come up to a realizing sense of our duty in letting our light so shine that our influence will ever tell in favor of the solemn truths that are here published from week to week. We feel that our responsibilities are increasing, and we want our devotion to God’s cause, and our zeal in his service, to increase proportionately with the increase of our cares and labors in this work. The placing of the Health Institute in this city has not only placed us where many of our own brethren and sisters come to associate with us, but many who know nothing of our views are brought into our midst. Our desire, and aim, is to live up to our privilege and duty.

We see the most visible signs of the Lord’s prospering hand with this Health Institute. It is, however,

to be more of an enterprise than was at first supposed. What we thought at the time of its opening would be ample accommodations for one year, have already proved insufficient to meet the demand of cases wishing treatment. To carry on the enterprise properly, there should be immediately erected a building with sufficient capacity to accommodate two hundred patients. The whole expense of this building all fitted up for use will probably cost between fifty and seventy-five thousand dollars. This will not be all needed at first, as rooms are fitted up no faster than needed for use. Some forty thousand dollars, however, should be raised in the course of the next six months. It can be easily done, if all will prayerfully and carefully consider their duty. There are those among us who have means invested in lands, more than is actually necessary for their farming purposes. They, without any detriment even to their farming interest, can dispose of a part of this land, and still have a home, and all they need, to gain their livelihood, and at the same time make an investment of means to help in this branch of the Lord’s work. Others have farms which are larger than they need, which are causing them to overlabor. They can dispose of them, and secure smaller places, thus lessening their cares and at the same time have wherewith to do in this work. Others have means at interest, which, in a short time, could be called in and placed in the Health Institute, where it will soon avail them even more than where it now is, with less perplexity and care. Others have property of various kinds, which could be disposed of and invested in this enterprise, and yet they not be the sufferers in the least. Some, who have not large sums to invest, can put in their one share, or two, or four shares. Young men in good health can make a judicious improvement of their time, and save of their earnings to obtain one or more shares.

The question is, Will we all take hold of this matter? Will you all try to realize that this is the Lord’s work, that he is calling upon us to consider our duty? Will you all act, and act at once in the matter? Shall we make it our interest to see that this matter moves? There is no difficulty if all will act, and move in the opening providence of God. Some have said, “What! call for fifty thousand dollars? Where is there any such sum of money?” We reply, that, taking the s. d. of the different States as a basis of calculation, the actual property of Seventh-day Adventists is worth over two millions of dollars. You may say, that much of this is invested in homes and is no more than each one needs. True, much of this is in homes, but after you have said that, there is an ample surplus, which is not actually needed for homes or to secure a comfortable living, of more than five hundred thousand dollars. What is the sum called for at the Institute, compared with this?

The economy of our people, either before, or after, embracing the truth, in trying to secure means, honestly, has secured them this. They have thought, while toiling and laboring, that they would lay by something, that when the message began to move, they might have to invest in this work. Now is the time to make an investment of some of this surplus means. The demand, in the past, to carry forward the different enterprises, has been nobly met. We trust all will now give this call due consideration, and act promptly and energetically. If you have taken two or three shares, consider the matter. Have I done my whole duty? Can I not do more in this work? This work that we have such evident testimony is the Lord’s? This work which we believe is the last advance move before the loud cry? This work of fitting up the people of God for the refreshing? Shall we act our part in this work? Shall we all lift at the wheel? or shall we leave this thing to drag along in poverty? God is, in this very thing, knocking at the door of our hearts. Shall love of the world hinder us in the work? Shall we cling to that which is the Lord’s, and he demands of us; use it for our own selfish interests, when it is his and we are only stewards over it, till at last he shall say to us, “Go to now, ye rich men?” &c. May the Lord forbid it.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.