SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 26, 1879

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND.

By John Norton Loughborough

Notwithstanding the cold and wet weather, we have up to date held twenty-four services in the tent. These discourses have awakened a deep interest with a few; and now, as the weather is milder, we hope for an increase in attendance. It takes a longer time to raise an interest in such a meeting here than in America. To a large extent the services in the churches here consist in set forms and prayers more than in expositions of Scripture, so that it is like a new departure with many to listen to preaching requiring deep thought and study on their part, and we “must meet the people where they are.”

Some, seeing a prospect that the tent meeting is liable to make a stir, are very busy in circulating falsehoods respecting the preaching at the tent. Even this, we trust, may be turned to account; for some say, “Well, I am going now to hear for myself what they do preach.” They come and hear, and become interested. This proves the word true that “they can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” Our daily prayer to God is that in this case he will fulfill his word. “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.”

Since my last report we have received a number of friendly responses to missionary letters. One says: “I wish to express my thanks to you for your kindness and trouble in sending me those valuable and interesting papers, the Signs of the Times, as they are full of information. They furnish a vast amount of useful knowledge, especially on Bible topics. I should very much like a continuance of the paper.” Inclosed we found pay for the Signs for one quarter.

Another writes: “As a Christian I am encouraged by reading the truths the Signs teaches. It is a paper admirably conducted. . . I never read any other paper which so faithfully argues for the position it takes, in the same spirit meeting the objections of others.”

Another, who has been receiving the Signs from St. Helena, Cal., writes: “We are greatly obliged to you for taking such an interest in us, in sending us those nice papers to read. I think they give us a great amount of information as to the times in which we live. We all take an interest in reading them.”

These responses, and other tokens of good, encourage us to persevere in the work of sowing the seed, and we earnestly pray that the Lord will abundantly water the seed sown. One party, after reading a short time, has decided to pay for eighteen copies of the Signs and REVIEW to be sent for one year to different parts of Great Britain. So it may be observed there is some missionary work going on here, if it is not all systematically organized.

Pray for us. Our daily prayer and ardent desire is that the Lord will bless the workers and the work everywhere.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

P. S. A card received this 11th day of June, tells of Bro. Andrews’ safe arrival in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday. He was to come to London to-day.

J. N. L.