Meetings in Allegan by John Norton Loughborough

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 18, 1858

Meetings in Allegan.

By John Norton Loughborough

We have before spoken in the Review of the commencement of these meetings, and noticed some of the opposition to the truth that has been manifest, but now wish to say something of the result of the labor as it has been manifest thus far. Our meetings continued until we had given sixteen lectures. The interest increased to the close, and it was stated that our last meeting was as well attended as any of the course.

We had in these meetings the hearty co-operation of the brethren in the vicinity, those from Monterey came from five to eight miles to the meetings, and the great portion of them manifested much anxiety for the prosperity of the truth in Allegan. Their desires and prayers were not in vain. The Lord heard and assisted in presenting the truth by his Spirit. Although much unbelief was apparent among the people, we had more than common liberty in presenting the truth. Several expressed their determination to obey the truth before the lectures closed, and several have come out decided on the truth since.

Feb. 7th, we returned again to Allegan, and in the evening listened to the second discourse of Eld Bingham, (Baptist minister,) on the Sabbath question. His principle positions were, that the fourth commandment Sabbath was given expressly to the Jews to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt, but when Christ came "he removed all codes" and so the seventh day is not binding on Christians. He claimed the first day of the week as the day of apostolic preference, observed only by their example. He claimed "no precept for Sunday-keeping." There was "no penalty" for the violation of the day, because we were "not in the days of codes."

As his positions opened a fair chance to recapitulate the arguments on the Sabbath question, we occupied the next evening in speaking to an attentive congregation, reviewing with much freedom his expositions of scripture, and suppositions respecting the Sabbath. The sects in Allegan seemed to be pleased that one could be found that would raise his voice against the Sabbath, but it was quite an annoyance to them to have him take positions that favored so much of Universalism, as they could clearly see the sentiment did which claimed that there was no law binding on Christians. "For where no law is, there is no transgression."

At the close of the discourse in review of Eld B., two stated their determination to obey the Lord by keeping holy his Sabbaths. About ten have taken their stand to keep the Sabbath as the result of these meetings. Many more are investigating and we hope some of them will yet decide in favor of the truth. Bro Cornell is now with them.

We would tender our thanks to those brethren in Monterey and vicinity who plainly manifested that they esteemed the laborer worthy of his hire, by contributing liberally of their substance to supply our temporal wants.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Battle Creek, Feb 15th, 1853.