Missionary Work in Southampton by John Norton Loughborough

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Feb 20, 1879

Missionary Work in Southampton

By John Norton Loughborough

Southampton, England.

ANOTHER week has passed, giving us still further opportunity to learn the situation, and to do a little missionary work. It has been the coldest week known in this part of England for thirty years, still we have been able to do something. We realize to some extent the importance of improving the time in our Master's cause.

We find almost as great a variety of sects in England as in America, although they are of a different kind, and have different names. Some of these sects, near Southampton at least, seem to be passing through a state of fusion just at present, and some of their devoted members are specially interested in the present truth.

During the past week, Bro. Ings has visited about two hundred and fifty families, and left tracts and papers with them. Among these he found another person, an intelligent lady, who had commenced the observance of the Sabbath as the result of reading, since his visits last summer. Last night we received a letter from a sister twelve miles away, who had brought another into the truth by loaning her books and papers. The willingness of those who are embracing the truth, and of those who are interested but have not fully taken their stand with us, to help us circulate tracts and papers, and to supply us with names of those who, they think, would be interested readers, is encouraging to us. There seems to be the greatest eagerness here to read the SIGNS, and it is pronounced by many the best and most instructive paper they ever saw. We are anxious to get the supply of papers we have ordered. It is a grief to us to have the people literally begging for them when we have none for them. One of our sisters loaned her SIGNS to a minister in Southampton, and his verdict was, "Those papers are marvelous." Especially do the readers speak in the highest terms of Sister White's articles in the papers, pronouncing them "wonderful."

Last Sabbath, Jan. 11, we held our first Sabbath meeting in our own house, "Stanley Cottage." It was a very bleak day, the coldest of the week, still a few came in. After a brief discourse upon the work of Christ, and the Way of Life picture, encouraging responses were made by those present.

Our place of residence borders on the line of Shirley, which with its two villages, Old and New Shirley, contains six thousand inhabitants. Last Saturday evening we engaged the Shirley hall for two evenings per week. We regretted that we could not find a place to occupy on Sunday evenings, but we thought it better to hold meetings Monday and Wednesday evenings than not to hold any. The hall we have rented is one-half mile from our place of residence. It is a good hall near the center of New Shirley, with seating capacity for two hundred and fifty. We pay for the hall, heated, and well lighted with gas, $1.00 each evening. Next week we can have it three evenings, and we are in hopes to get in once in a while a Sunday evening discourse.

Monday evening, on short notice, we held our first meeting in the hall. Notwithstanding it was very dark, and so foggy that some lost their way in getting to the place of meeting, we had a fair audience, and marked attention was given as we spoke from Dan. 2. On Wednesday evening we had an increase in our audience, as well as an increase in the interest on the part of the people. We are forming some interesting acquaintances. Those who are keeping the Sabbath are becoming more and more settled in the truth.

We have gathered up nearly two hundred names during the past week for our T. and M. societies. We expect that some out of this number will obey the truth. We feel more and more need of daily help from God, that we may rightly perform our part in this last message of mercy, knowing that the Lord on his part is ready to bless when we come into a position where he can bless us.

Jan. 16. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

The following from Brother Wm. Ings, who is also in Southampton, to the Missionary Society of Battle Creek, will be read with interest:

"I find no abatement of the interest to read on present truth. During the past ten days I have visited three hundred families, and out of this number only one refused to receive tracts. Angels are preparing the way, and minds are impressed that some great event is just before us. As the result of reading, three good substantial souls are now rejoicing in the truth. In this country as well as in America, those receiving the truth catch the missionary spirit, and watch every opportunity to extend the light to others; and thus it will continue until the third angel's message shall roll with a mighty swell through the land. I am now visiting from house to house, loaning tracts, selling our publications, and obtaining subscribers for our periodicals. Yesterday I sold Five Annuals; to-day I sold 'Spirit of Prophecy Vol. I,' and I am requested to deliver the three other volumes as soon as the money can be sayed up. This sale is the result of reading Sister White's articles in the SIGNS. Her articles are read with interest, and I find none but that speak highly of them.

"The SIGNS takes with the people, and we hope to get many subscribers. None need be afraid to send papers to friends or others in this country. They will be read with interest, and will be loaned. Hundreds of copies could be used to good account in Southampton, if we only had them. Thousands of copies would be read with the greatest of interest all over England. It is interesting to hear the people tell how earnestly their friends and neighbors ask the privilege of reading their papers when they are through with them. In many cases the people wish to mail them to their friends, and thus they are sent to all parts of England and to other countries."