MEETINGS AT ROUND GROVE, ILLS by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 18, 1861

MEETINGS AT ROUND GROVE, ILLS.

By John Norton Loughborough

Having a spare Sabbath between the Avon conference and tent operations I thought I would visit Round Grove. Accordingly I spent with that church Sabbath and first-day, June 1st and 2nd. I found some still opposed to organization, occupying a position like this: They thought it all right to organize so as to hold meeting-houses and the office property, but they thought it was wrong to take a name and have that name recorded on the books of the government. I tried to show them that they had got themselves into a paradox; for before property can be held by law it is necessary to take such steps that the government may know who proposes to hold the property. It was said, "We are afraid we shall get one of the names of the beast if we take a name." We showed them that we could not get the name of the beast until we became a part of the beast, and as I showed in the article on "The Image of the Beast," the name of the beast is obtained (not by a legal business transaction to hold property, but) by taking steps to cause them to recognize and enforce our faith.

Again, I disclaim that the name "Seventh-day Adventists" is the name of the beast, and have been disgusted with the fanatical ideas advanced by some on this subject. It is strange to me that any one can suppose that the two-horned beast will make war on those that keep the commandments, and yet enforce upon them the name "Seventh-day Adventists." It is stranger still to suppose that those who have had the burden and labor for years of getting the third angel's message before the people, have all gone into the very things the message warned against, while a few in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, &c., who never had the burden of the message upon them are all that have the light on the matter. If this is so what is the third angel's message good for?

The burden of my testimony to the church was the propriety of more strict organization in the church, and the necessity of all striving to move in union with the body of God's people. Most of the brethren and sisters were ready to organize when we came to the place. We had a good time talking with the church, and before we left organized a church with a list of twenty names.

Bro. Sanborn and myself are now holding tent-meetings at Clinton Junction (Ogden P. O.) Rock Co. Wis., with good interest and large congregations. We have given seven discourses already, and expect with the Lord's blessing to see much good accomplished here.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Clinton Junction, Wis., June 12, 1861.