SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND by John Norton Loughborough

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Jan 22, 1880

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND.

By John Norton Loughborough

Another month has passed since my last report, and it has been a month full of interest in our work here. If we are not able to report numbers taking their stand with us, we have been made to rejoice to see evidence that the influence of the truth is spreading, and that many new ones, by sea and land, are determined to learn the truth. The steward of the steamer, mentioned in my last report as having bought six $1.00 volumes, has spent one evening with us at Ravenswood and was deeply interested in a parlor lecture I gave for his benefit, on the subject of the sanctuary. He has got so far in his investigation that he does his Saturday's work on the boat on Sundays. The captain of the same vessel has also read on the truth, and says the steward is right in his course. They are anxious to assist us all in their power to spread the truth in the different parts of Great Britain where they make their semi-monthly visits. They have also given some of their means for the support of the work. There are difficulties connected with the introduction of the truth in a kingdom like this which those laboring in free America do not have. I have purposely refrained from speaking of these in my reports lest any should think us complaining of our field of labor. Far be that from us. We have evidence that the Lord has called us to this field. If our labor should be like that of the minister who dreamed he was set to pounding a rock with a nail hammer, it is our duty like him to pound away. If that is what we are bid of the Lord to do it is for us to pound. Opening the rock belongs to the Lord. When I read of the trials and deprivations of those, who, in the seventh century, labored so earnestly on British soil, to displace the heathen gods of Thor and Woden with the doctrine of the blessed Jesus, when I read how they sometimes, supperless and almost friendless, lay down in their blankets on the bare earth to awake in the morning and find the snows falling and stopping their path, that they yielded not to discouragements or complaints but said amid it all, "If our way by sea and land is closed the road to Heaven is still open;" if under such circumstances they complained not, of what have we to complain with slight difficulties in our pathway as we seek to plant present truth on the same soil? We have thousands of brethren and sisters raising their prayers to Heaven, and doing all in their power to help and cheer us on in our work. No; we have nought of which to complain, and if we are faithful to our duties God will water the seed sown and much fruit will appear by and by. I was informed by Bro. Butler of the anxiety of our people in America to learn the exact situation of matters here; for this reason I shall speak of some things on which I should have otherwise maintained silence. Let it be kept in mind that society here is divided into distinct classes. Of the relation of these classes I will quote the words of Mr. Robertson, a minister of the church of England. He says: "In England we are inconsistent people. A rigid barrier exists between class and class, and it is almost never broken down, except in two instances; wealth and talent break it down. Let a man amass enormous wealth, and he will find at his board the noblest in the land. It matters not that he became rich in some questionable way, that shrewd suspicions are entertained of foul practices and unfair means; no one asks about that. Again, talent of a certain class—that talent which amuses—breaks down the rigid line of demarkation. The accomplished man or woman who, though astonishingly profligate, can while away an evening, is tolerated—nay courted—even in the Christian drawing-room. Now understand me. I do not say that the breaking down of conventional barriers is undesirable. If goodness did it,—if a man, low in birth, were admired because of his virtues—Oh! it would be well for this land of ours. But where wealth and talent, irrespective of goodness, alone possesses the key to unlock our English exclusiveness, there plainly the apostolic injunction, holds because the reason of it holds; 'what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness.'"—Robertson on 2 Cor. 6. Our readers will at once see the point involved. Those of wealth do not expect to listen to the same man to whom the poor listen; how then can we reach them with our preaching? In our hope to find candid, truth-loving persons among those of wealth, we see no way to reach them except with reading matter. I presume our American Vigilant and Missionary workers will say, "Canvass among them with papers and books." How will you do that when you find their mansions surrounded with high walls, with great iron gates locked and barred, and no admission, unless you have a note of introduction from some of their own class. "Her Royal Majesty's mail" does find admittance in the post-boxes by their gates. This open avenue we are using, hoping by this means to reach some candid souls even of the wealthy class. Lords, nobles, and gentry are perhaps outside the class whom we may hope to reach, at present, with our preaching. We have left to us artisans, merchants, tradesmen, and laborers; no mean class by any means. The real laborers have had but a poor opportunity to inform and educate themselves until within the last few years; of late laws have been passed making the attending of some school compulsory, from the ages of six to fourteen. Ignorance to an alarming extent exists among the poorer laborers of maturer years. In a town not far from this, good as an average of England, out of a population of six thousand adults, the census showed that there were but one thousand that could either read or write. Be it remembered, that in the matter of schools we are where church and state are united, and with the exception of a few private (select) schools, the schools are directly under the control of the churches. These are what are called "Parochial Schools." Thus, it will be readily seen there is no opportunity for "going into the country and speaking in some district school-house," for there is no such thing here. There is hardly an opportunity to secure the free use of any place in which to speak the truth. Churches, chapels, and school-rooms, are alike closed against it, and to secure a place for meetings a good price must be paid for its use. Most of the public halls cost from $5 to $10 per night. Looking at the situation from this standpoint causes us to feel the force of the expression made a few years since by Mr. Spurgeon: "If you want the truth to go around the world you must hire an express train to draw it." We know that to get the truth into this kingdom is going to require a steady, earnest, and persevering effort, but in the name of the Lord that effort must be made. In the name of the Lord we scatter the seeds of truth. If the Lord water the seed, fruit will one day appear. We trust we appreciate the efforts our brethren and sisters in America are making to assist in the work here. You have sent clubs of papers. Individuals in Lemoore, Cal., and other parts, have remailed their papers to us. The V. M. Societies and individuals have done a good work with the names they have obtained from England. We would mention here the reception, in our last invoice of books from Battle Creek, of the donation of twenty-five nice libraries from Bro. J. D. Morton and wife, of Detroit, Mich., to be loaned, and thus tell their story of the truth. Brother and sister Morton have our most sincere thanks for this $75.00 addition to the stock in our circulating libraries. To-day it is one year since myself and wife first

set our feet on British soil, in Liverpool. We render praise to God for the tokens of good we have seen in that year. As we enter upon the new year—the second year of our mission here—we seek Divine guidance, that this new year may tell more for the advancement of the truth than the past.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. December 29, 1879.