Trumpets by John Norton Loughborough

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Dec 10, 1903

Trumpets

By John Norton Loughborough

“WHEN thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men.” Matt. 6: 2.

Anciently Israel was instructed by the Lord to make trumpets, which were to be used for certain purposes, such as the calling of assemblies, giving notice to the camp in the wilderness when a forward movement was to be made, and for an alarm of war; but never to be used for the purpose of calling attention to self, or to acts supposed to bring honor to one’s self. There may be self-inflated persons who would desire a trumpet blown to call the people to witness the bestowal of charities.

The text certainly rebukes those who give simply to be seen of men, and who wish it made known that they may get glory to themselves. They get a reward, such as it is, and that is all they do get.

We do not think our Saviour taught by this text that it was wrong to make pledges for proper objects of beneficence, or even to report gifts made, to encourage others to give. It seems that the apostle Paul had the churches in Achaia pledge a year beforehand what they should do. He had used their liberality to provoke many in Macedonia to pledge and give for the poor saints at Jerusalem. Now he is stirring them up to meet those pledges; to have all made up when he arrived, so if some of the Macedonians should come with him the Corinthians should not be ashamed of his boasting of them because they had failed to do what they had promised to do. 2 Cor. 9: 2-7.

I think it would hardly be styled wrong trumpeting if one has written a book which contains just what the people need and should have, if he sets before the public, in a clear manner, the merits of the work, the object being to induce the people to obtain the intellectual or spiritual food prepared for them.

If a man has goods, wares, or merchandise which the people need, it is not considered a violation of any business principle for the inventor or vendor to give a proper setting forth of the merits of such article. If he does not do it, who will? In the early “pioneer days” of California I recollect they made quite free use of this saying: ‘He that bloweth not his own horn, the same shall not be blown.’

I did not begin this article to write parables, and so will come to the point. Knowing, several months ago, that “Rise and Progress” was nearly out of print, I was led to prepare a little work that might be extensively circulated among those desiring to know why we believe that the true gift of prophecy is connected with the work of the third angel’s message. Accordingly I prepared a pamphlet. I think it was described in the REVIEW once, at the time the book was published; since that time it is simply noticed in the list of The Bible Students’ Library, as No. 164, “Prophetic Gift in the Gospel Church;” 120 pages; 15 cents; postpaid.

While on my late Eastern tour, I began to call attention to the book, and, as I carried copies with me, sold them from the desk after service, according to the old plan of asking the people to buy when the subject was freshly before them. In the limited sphere that I visited, I disposed of over four hundred copies of the pamphlet. To my surprise, when I introduced it to the people, I found many of our own people who said, “I did not know there was such a pamphlet.” It was just what they wanted.

I was anxious to get this work before the people, not because I had written it, but because I knew it contained, in a condensed form, just what they needed for themselves, and what they needed to put into the hands of those anxious to know the facts concerning the gift of prophecy among the Seventh-day Adventists.

As that book, “Rise and Progress,” is out of print, and the plates were consumed in the Review Office fire, it seemed to me that this pamphlet might, in part at least, help fill a present vacancy. The book is no private enterprise of mine. It was published by the Pacific Press; and what I have sold, I purchased from them; and lest any should think a minister’s book sales a matter of speculation or a private interest, I will say that for years I have kept a careful account of the cost of all books sold, and receipts for all sales. After paying a faithful tithe on all profits, the remainder has all been given to different calls for the extension of the truth.

Of the pamphlet I will further state; the first forty pages trace the manifestation of the gift of prophecy through the Old and New Testaments, then give proof that the gift will be revived in the last church. The last eighty pages speak of the gift in 1842 and 1844, then it describes Mrs. White’s visions, and makes nine points of comparison between her visions and those of Bible prophets. In six points it compares her work with that seen in the case of Bible prophets, then it is shown that her work is in perfect accord with seven rules given in the Scriptures by which we may know true or false prophets. It is shown in the pamphlet that her gift is in perfect accord with the twenty-two points named above.

Some have asked me, “Is it not all in ‘Rise and Progress’?” My answer has been, “No; not a tenth part of the pamphlet is in ‘Rise and Progress.’” In the pamphlet the subject is also given in a connected and condensed form. Now, while the world is making ridicule of the gift,—and many of them know not what they are ridiculing,—and while many of our neighbors and friends would like to know the facts concerning this manifestation, why not let them read the facts in the case?

As “Rise and Progress” is out of print, and the plates of the book were consumed in the Review and Herald fire, why not let this pamphlet act some part in filling the vacancy? I presume either of our publishing houses would be glad to fill orders for “Prophetic Gift in the Gospel Church.” It certainly would serve a better purpose to be scattered, doing good, than to lie silent on the book shelves, or the plates to lie idle. So much from one believing in lawful trumpeting of truth. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.