NEWS FROM THE FIELD by John Norton Loughborough

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Feb 5, 1880

NEWS FROM THE FIELD.

By John Norton Loughborough

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND.

STILL our hearts are cheered by the progress of the work here in Great Britain. Since my last report the steward of the steamer has spent a second evening with us. He and his companion have fully embraced our views and are keeping the Sabbath, and desire to identify themselves with us in the truth.

A sister near Birmingham, a governess in a first class family there, has taken her stand to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. Her name is one of a number I sent to the V. M. Society of Sheridan, Ill. The Signs of the Times, posted to her by that society convicted her upon the Sabbath. She saw our depository at Ravenswood advertised in the Signs, and immediately wrote here for books which letter led to a correspondence. She is now obeying the truth with the full permission of the family by whom she is employed. Praise the Lord. He is working on the hearts of the people.

Bro. Veysey of Somersetshire is with us now, will remain a few days. God blesses as we pray together and talk of the truth and the Lord's leadings of his people in the rise and progress of this cause. On the evening of Jan. 11, we organized a National Tract and Missionary Society for Great Britain. Up to date of this writing we have obtained twenty-six members. Others will join who could not be present at the meeting. It was the pleasure of the meeting, as expressed by vote, that J. N. Loughborough should serve as President of this Society, and that Mrs. A. M. Loughborough serve as Secretary and Treasurer. It was voted to adopt the constitution recommended by our General Conference for the government of such societies, making application of its principles and regulations as fast as circumstances and the onward development of the cause here shall demand.

At present only two districts were designated, to be known as the Hampshire and Somerset districts, yet our field of labor comprehends the united kingdom of Great Britain and any of her dependencies which we may be able to reach with reading matter and correspondence. For the present it was decided that Bro. Loughborough should act as director of Hampshire district, and Bro. Henry Veysey as director of the Somerset district; he to make such selection of Librarian as he shall deem proper. Sister J. L. Ings, of the Southampton church, was appointed Librarian of Hampshire district, and Bro. William Ings was designated as Superintendent of the work of placing reading matter upon ships.

This movement has given a new impetus to the work here. It was a timely move. The church was stirred up to act, anxious to work, and, if we would obey Paul's injunction to Titus, "Set in order the things that are wanting," it was time to form this Missionary Society, for it is what is "wanted" to give form and efficiency to this department of our work.

At no point of time since our mission was opened have we received so many favorable responses to Signs sent out in the same length of time as in the last few weeks. Many are reading with interest, and then send the papers to their friends in other parts. Public libraries are calling for our bound volumes for their shelves, and the Signs and Good Health for their reading-room tables.

Prejudice exists to quite an extent against Americans, and there are reasons for this later than the wars following 1776 or 1812. Mormonism has made its raids and ravages among the people. I am told by the people here that it was a fresh band of fifty Mormons that had arrived in Salt Lake from Southampton, a portion of whom were forced to take part in the Mountain Meadow massacre. Some of them escaped from that den of iniquity (Mormonism) as soon as possible after it, and found their way back. Such came with some curious impressions of America and of some of its "clever Yankees."

Shakerism has one of its camps near Southampton, and some think America is a "queer country" to turn out such sects. Those who read for themselves, and inform their minds, know these things are not tolerated by the better class even in America. But there are things that hurt worse than these. Before me is a statement in the Hampshire Telegraph concerning the recent visit of Dr. Talmage to this kingdom. Professedly he made the tour for his health. As stated in his last sermon in New York just before leaving, (which sermon Elder J. N. Andrews heard,) he was going to take a vacation for his health. It seems that over here he charged £100 ($500) per lecture for each of his regular lectures. The statement before me is relative to a lecture in Brighton, Sussex. Sixty pounds had been paid to his agent toward the £100 he demanded. The agent said Mr. Talmage would not lecture until the whole sum was paid. So the money was paid over to the agent. This report reads: "As the total fees did not exceed £60, while other expenses connected with the lecture amounted to about £20, the committee lost altogether £60, by their too enterprising spirit. After the lecture the facts of the case were stated to Dr. Talmage himself, who promised to communicate with the committee, but up to this time he has not done so."

Such grasping of means may be refreshing to a man on a health tour, but what kind of influence is he casting on American ministers? It surely makes it harder for an American here who is determined to stand for the right.

Some three years since, one H. S. Earle, well known in some parts of America as a Baptist Evangelist, or "Revival preacher," came to Southampton. When we arrived here, he was having large assemblies in the Philharmonic Rooms of the town. He took as an associate in his work, one Elder Meadows, a man of English birth, but who was educated in America. This man was ordained by Elder Earle. He was told in the charge, after ordination, that he was not to concern himself about the Old Testament, or about Christ's second coming, but to preach simply the gospel.

Last summer Elder Earle spent in Palestine for his health. After his return some unpleasantness came up, which has resulted in establishing two separate meetings, and much bad feeling between the parties. Elder Meadows wrote a book setting forth his grievances. Soon after he was brought before the magistrates on the charge of publishing a libel, and after examination bound over in the sum of £200, to the next Assizes at Winchester, there to be tried for libel. This will give you some further idea of the situation in some respects in general, and at Southampton in particular. But what of all this? We expect to pursue the even tenor of our ways, and by God's grace live above such things, and prove to the people that the truth of God and the grace of God can do as much for Americans as it can do for Englishmen. God will bless us standing at our post. Amid it all the truth is gaining ground; in this we will rejoice. Under such circumstances it is good to be connected with those who have known our course, and to have their credentials. I was pleased with the matter in our last General Conference, that all our missionaries should receive special credentials from the General Conference. Such would be acceptable and timely here if such can be sent, and would be an additional testimony to that by the Conference of which missionaries are members.

I am of the opinion of the blacksmith that said he could hammer out a reputation on his anvil; so in the name of the Lord, trusting in his mercy, we will stick to our work, sowing the seed, expecting God to water and cause it to bear fruit. Pray for us. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.