The English Mission by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · May 18, 1882

The English Mission.

By John Norton Loughborough

The meeting of our National Tract and Missionary Society for the quarter ending April 1, has just been held, but the report, as given below, comprises the workings of the Society for the previous quarter, as there was no business meeting held the first of January.

The report is as follows:— No of Members......................28 " of Reports returned ...............17 " of Members added during the quarter...1 " of Missionary visits...............11,369 " of Letters written ................747 " of Printed Letters sent out.........7,512 " of Letters received................561 New Subscribers obtained.............74 Tracts, Pamphlets, and Books loaned..13,545 pp. " and Pamphlets given away....35,662 " " Pamphlets and Books sold....36,125 " Books furnished to Libraries.........2,629 " Total, 87,961 " No of Periodicals sent by post........20,575 " " given away......5,871 " " sold.............337 Total, 26,783 Donations made to the Society..........$3.12 Sales of Books and Periodicals.........$49.33 Total, $52.45 No of Ships visited....................156

The report shows more letters received in response to papers and letters posted during the last three months than in any previous quarter. Orders for our books and periodicals increase as our depository becomes more extensively known.

We have now printed two numbers of our two-page British Department of the Signs of the Times. One of these was issued the fifteenth of March, and the other in the middle of April. Many of the letters received speak in terms of approval of this addition to the journal. We hope to publish the little sheet about the middle of each month this year, at least. Our greatest difficulty is that two pages gives so little space for much variety of reading.

Bro. John is meeting with some encouragement at Grimsby. One has already taken a bold stand for the truth, and others are almost persuaded. Sister John went last week to join her husband in his labors. As she speaks the Danish language she can help him in his work in that nationality, many of which come to that port.

Bro. Drew is making good progress in the ship-work at Hull. One of his greatest difficulties has been to get sufficient reading matter in the Danish and Swedish languages. He says one day last week there were 3,000 Scandinavians passed through Hull, en route to America, but his stock of papers was so reduced that he had but sixty papers for them. We trust this difficulty may soon be remedied as we have written to Bro. Butler stating the facts, and calling for such papers as are necessary to carry on the work.

Brethren, still continue to pray earnestly for these missions in different languages, and lift as the Lord may direct you. Much precious seed is being sown; some of this is already springing up, and we expect the future will reveal an abundant harvest.

J. N. Loughborough. Southampton, April 23, 1882.