Report from Bro. Loughborough by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Dec 23, 1862

Report from Bro. Loughborough.

By John Norton Loughborough

BRO. WHITE: I presume many of the brethren and sisters have wondered what I am doing, as they have seen no report from me since the Conference. At this late date I shall only attempt to give a brief sketch of meetings since that time.

Sabbath, Oct. 11, the first Sabbath after the conference, I spent with Bro. Byington at Newton. While there we organized a church of twelve members.

Sabbath Oct. 18, I spent with the brethren at Convis. In the evening I attended to ordaining the elder of the church, and other business, and on Sunday gave one public lecture; but there being two funerals in the neighborhood, I could have no more meetings.

Tuesday, Oct. 21, attended the funeral of a friend in Penfield: had a very interesting time preaching on the occasion.

Sabbath and first-day, Oct. 25 & 26, I spent at Charlotte with Bro. Byington. Gave four discourses which were listened to with deep interest. The evening after the Sabbath we organized a church of seventeen members, who adopted the plan of Systematic Benevolence, amounting to over $80 per year. Sunday morning three were baptized by Bro. Byington.

Monday, Oct. 27, we organized a church of eight members at West Windsor.

Sabbath and first-day, Nov. 1 & 2, in company with Bro. Byington, visited the brethren at Parkville. Organized a church there of seventeen members. Two were baptized during this meeting. Good attention was given to the word spoken.

Sunday evening, Nov. 2, took some steps toward organizing a church of eight members in Vicksburgh.

Sabbath, Nov. 8, I spent at Assyria. Gave two public lectures. Found a few there trying to keep the commandments.

Sunday, Nov. 9, I gave two discourses at Penfield, which were listened to with marked attention.

Thursday, Nov. 13, in company with Bro. Byington, organized a church of twelve members at Bowne. Had a very interesting time.

Sabbath and first-day, Nov. 15 and 16, we spent at Lowell. Gave two public lectures, but as the appointment was not very thoroughly circulated, but few came in. Had quite an interesting time with the brethren and sisters. Organized a church of seventeen members who have adopted systematic benevolence, amounting to about $100 per year.

Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 17 and 18, we spent with the brethren and sisters at Caledonia. After spending some fourteen hours in consultation and preaching, we succeeded in organizing a church of thirty-four members, who also adopted systematic benevolence, amounting to over $105 per year.

Nov. 22-24, we were at the Quarterly meeting at Greenville, with Brn. White and Hull. Preached once, and assisted in organizing West Plains church, of ten members.

Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 25, we had meeting at North Plains, at the house of sister Brigham. Organized the North Plains church, of nine members.

Wednesday Nov. 26th drove twenty-six miles and had meeting in the evening with a few Brn. and sisters who came together and expressed themselves as much encouraged.

Thursday Nov. 27th we drove twenty-three miles to Bro. Reuben Griggs' to Owasso. Had meeting in the evening at the house of Bro. Griggs who called in the Brn. and sisters and some of his neighbors to hear a discourse on present truth and present duty. While striving to instruct others our own souls were watered.

Friday, Nov. 28, drove twenty-six miles over very bad road to St. Charles, to attend the quarterly meeting appointed there. Something like forty brethren and sisters attended this meeting, which was a season of refreshing and profit. The Spirit of the Lord was present to unite hearts, and all declared their determination to press together, and be more in earnest in the work of the Lord. Sunday morning Bro. Byington baptized four brethren and sisters from Chesaning. We gave several public lectures here, but only a few came in, as word had been circulated by some one that our meetings were private, and we did not want any one present but Sabbath-keepers.

Tuesday, Dec. 2, we drove to East Thetford by way of Saginaw City, a distance of forty-one miles, and sixteen miles of it the worst road in the country. Had meeting Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon and evening, with the Sabbath-keepers of Thetford. Gave one public discourse, and spent the rest of the time in considering the subject of church order and systematic benevolence. Enrolled the names of thirteen, and appointed a leader over them for the present. Organized systematic benevolence. Appointed a treasurer and church clerk.

We spent from Friday evening, Dec. 5, to Monday evening, Dec. 8, in Quarterly meeting at Lapeer. The house of worship was well filled with brethren and sisters from Oakland, Milford, Thetford, North Branch, &c. Our minds seemed especially drawn out to make an effort for the children and young among Sabbath-keepers. At our first invitation nine came forward desiring the prayers of the church. Monday afternoon five more joined them, making in all fourteen that expressed their desires to make a start for the kingdom. After meeting on Monday, eight were baptized, six of them members of the Sabbath school and Bible class, who had just made a start to serve the Lord. We left the brethren with a spirit of labor upon them, and with determinations to strive to carry on the good work that has been begun there. May the Lord bless them. We have meeting here to-day to organize a church.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Oakland, Mich., Dec. 10, 1862.