p. 234 | Untitled article by M. S. Burnham

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, March 24, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 15

Conference Department.

By M. S. Burnham

Exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. Heb. x, 25.

This Department is designed to fill the same place in the paper that the Conference or Social Meeting does in the worship of God. Speak one to another to comfort, edify and aid each other in the way of holiness and true Christian experience.

From Bro. Burnham.

Bro. Smith: As I have never written any thing for the columns of the Review, I thought I would try and pen a few lines, to show that we appreciate the labor that Bro. Loughborough has bestowed in Allegan the past winter.

A course of lectures was what we had been praying for. The Lord has heard our prayers and it has resulted in strengthening the church, and bringing some into the truth. Although we had been praying for a minister to come this way, I think, as a church, we little thought what responsibility would rest upon us, as a result of a course of lectures. I was led to fear and tremble lest the work should be marred by our lack of consecration; but thanks be to God, it has been otherwise. From the commencement, Bro. Loughborough had good freedom in presenting the truth, although at first there were but few outside of Sabbath-keeping brethren present. As the meetings progressed, the interest increased, and in spite of the efforts of the ministers of the different churches, to scare and induce people to stay away, at times the house was filled to its utmost capacity, and a deep feeling of solemnity seemed to rest on all present. Some who dared not be found inside of an Advent meeting-house, would stand about the doors and windows, so eager were they to hear. The result of the meetings, as yet, has not been so strikingly manifest; but prejudice has been removed, and a class has been benefited that never have been reached before. Ten have decided to keep all of God's commandments, and go through to the kingdom. I rejoice to see the work go on. The Lord has showed his willingness to work for us, and my prayer is that we may so humble ourselves that God can do a mighty work here, and prepare a people for Christ's coming and kingdom.

Since Bro. Loughborough was here, the four different churches have been holding revival meetings, the Presbyterian with apparent success. The report is, that forty have been added to the church. Yet in the minds of some there is a vacuum that is not filled. The food of which they have been partaking, has not been prepared in a proper manner to satisfy, and the inquiry is, “When is Mr. Loughborough coming back again?” I pray that God will open the way for Bro. Loughborough's return at an early day.

M. S. BURNHAM.

Allegan, Mich., March 8, 1868.