p. 21 | J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH by John Norton Loughborough

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 1, 1908

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

By John Norton Loughborough

Early Experiences in the Publishing Work — No. 11

DURING the stay of Brother and Sister White in the rooms of Brother Goodwin, in Oswego, N. Y., Brother White did some printing in addition to the publication of the six numbers of Present Truth. It was necessary that those accepting the message should be fully armed with material with which to maintain the position that the former movement, under the first and second messages, was of God. They must meet the fallacies of those First-day Adventists who were letting go of the past movement, and continually setting times for the Lord to come. For this purpose, Brother White printed a pamphlet of forty-eight pages with cover, about the same size page as the Present Truth paper. This pamphlet was entitled The Advent Review, and was a rehearsal of the former movement, as set forth and vindicated by those who had acted an important part in the former messages. Among other things this pamphlet (of which I have a copy) contains a long article on the sanctuary question by O. R. L. Crosier. Brother White also printed several tracts during that winter. One was “The Seventh-Day Sabbath Not Abolished,” being a review of the articles by Elder Joseph Marsh, editor of the Advent Harbinger and Bible Advocate, entitled, “Seventh-day Sabbath Abolished.” This was a tract of thirty-six pages printed on the press of Richard Oliphant, Oswego, N. Y. There was also another tract of sixteen pages, entitled “The Third Angel’s Message.” Another of fifteen pages on the “Sanctuary, the 2300 Days, and the Shut Door.” Still another of eleven pages was called “Brother Miller’s Dream.” These all bear the imprint of Elder James White, Oswego, N. Y., 1850.

These publications were circulated without money and without price among those who would read, and the expense of printer’s bills was paid from the free-will offerings of those accepting the faith. It was mentioned in a former article that the brethren in Michigan were aiding with money to help on the work. It was about this time that Brother Cyrenius Smith, of Jackson, Mich., sold his farm for thirty-five hundred dollars, and took a farm on shares to work, so that he might have ready money with which to aid in the cause as circumstances seemed to require. Doubtless many will meet this devoted brother in God’s kingdom, whose report will be that they were led to the truth by reading matter paid for from the sacrifice of that good farm. In the latter part of his life a testimony was given to this brother to the effect that he had, as the result of his sacrifice, “bags in heaven, a treasure that waxeth not old.” This was a joy to his heart in his last days, while sustaining himself and family either by carpenter work, or the retail sale of stationery.

In the autumn of 1850 the interest of the work in the State of Maine seemed to demand the labors of Brother and Sister White, so they moved to Paris, Maine. Here Brother White printed the eleventh number of the Present Truth. In the month of November of that year, he began the publication of a paper entitled The Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald. This volume was published as a semimonthly, consisting of thirteen numbers, each containing eight two-column pages. The first number was dated November, 1850, and the last, June 9, 1851. The responsibility in publishing this paper did not all rest upon one person. A committee of four men was selected, consisting of Joseph Bates, S. W. Rhodes, J. N. Andrews, and James White. The paper had for its motto these words: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”