p. 180 | SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 5, 1879

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND.

By John Norton Loughborough

“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.” “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Such are the words of inspiration, and such is our experience here. That same Providence that prevented our taking passage on the ship Homer, which I now learn directly from the Warren Co. is lost, has opened the way in securing the most desirable site for our tent. Only those who have tried to procure a central position for a tent in such large cities as New York, Boston, Detroit, or Cincinnati can appreciate our difficulty in procuring a similar site in a city three hundred years old, where most of the vacant lots are beautiful public parks or gentlemen’s lawns, fenced with iron palings, “not to be let for any purpose, at any price.”

Bar Gate, the northern entrance to Old Southampton, through the then “walled village,” is now about the center of the city. A lot one-half mile from Bar Gate was let two days last season for a circus tent, at an expense of $60. It is an elevated spot, and left a tent too much exposed to the wind for our purpose. We found another lot two and one-half miles north of Bar Gate, which we could obtain for $25 for two months; but it was too far from the borough. We prayed over the matter, confidently believing that the providence of God would indicate the proper spot as soon as we had favorable weather. Meanwhile we tried to obtain almost every vacant lot excepting one. New buildings are being erected all around that one, and on it stood a sign which read, “To be let for one thousand years.” I passed it many times, and said, “There is no use in asking for that.” The owner is an infidel, but is a special friend of the gentleman who constructed our tent. We decided we must get that lot or none in this vicinity. What was our astonishment, upon application, to find the gentleman more than willing to let it, even anxious that we should have it, only asking $1.25 per week for two months, or longer if we wished. We are told that it is the best location for such a meeting in the whole city, and in looking over the situation we believe it to be such.

We place large bills in the hands of the two bill posters of the county, who for the sum of $2.50 each agree to keep fresh bills for one month on every advertising place in a circuit of about three miles from the tent. We also have a standing notice of our meeting, for one month, in the semi-weekly Hampshire Independent. The whole cost of rent of ground for two months and advertising for one month is less than $28.00. Truly the Lord has guided in this matter. To his name be all the glory.

Our first service in the tent will be held to-morrow, Sunday, May 18, at 3:30 P. M. I have given appointments for five sermons a week—two on Sunday, and one each on the evenings of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. These, with Sabbath services and Sabbath-school, are probably all I should undertake alone. I consider that our public mission here is now just opening. We earnestly sought God to-day in our Sabbath meeting, and received the assurance that if we move out humbly relying on him, our labors will not be in vain.

Since my last report I have received donations toward the purchase of the tent, from different parties in England, amounting to $40.00. We have received in all, up to present writing, $110.00, nearly one-fourth the cost of the tent.

We desire the prayers of God’s people, that above all his hand may be seen in the work here. May 17. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.