The Eastern Mission by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 8, 1863

The Eastern Mission.

By John Norton Loughborough

SINCE my last report, which was made at Haverhill,

Mass., I have held meetings as follows: I spent Sabbath and first-day, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, at Haverhill. Here I found nine sisters keeping the Sabbath, some of them among the first that embraced the present truth. I preached to them once on the Sabbath, and by request of the Adventists of the place preached to them twice on Sunday in their hall. Good interest was manifested in the word spoken. We attended also two of their prayer-meetings while in the place. There are a few souls here that are determined to have eternal life. They showed their kindness to me, not only in freely opening their hall, but they urged upon me upwards of $3 to help me on my way, and requested that they might soon have a full course of lectures on the Sabbath and present truth. I expect Bro. Cornell is now holding meetings there. The sisters at Haverhill seemed much encouraged by our visit there.

Spent from Sabbath, Nov. 7, to Sunday, Nov. 15, with the church at Dartmouth, Mass. Here I found some sixteen Sabbath-keepers, most of them old soldiers. Within the bounds of this church our venerable father Bates formerly resided, also Brn. Gurney and Gifford, now at Jackson, Mich. About the time these brethren moved West, Bro. Collins, who had taken the lead in this church, died, which was a heavy blow upon them. Since then, not having order established among them, and having had but very little preaching, they had sunk under much discouragement. They had not seen a Seventh-day Adventist preacher for over three years. Our visit seemed to cheer them. As there was no public place in the neighborhood to be obtained for meetings, they were held in private houses, but were well attended. We preached eleven times, and held two business meetings, in which a church was organized with sixteen members. Systematic benevolence was organized, amounting to about $30 per year. We also organized a Sabbath School and Bible Class, and left them encouraged to press on.

Sabbath and first-day, Nov. 21 and 22, in company with Bro. Cornell, visited Manchester, N. H., again. Found some halting, others undecided, and a half-dozen or more still firm in the truth. The testimonies presented in these meetings seemed to establish the wavering ones, and encourage the hearts of all. Several of the Advent brethren are anxious to hear the Sabbath question discussed before taking their stand upon it. We left Bro. Cornell to labor another week at Manchester, while we came on to fill other appointments at Peterboro, N. H.

The meetings here in Peterboro have just closed. Here is an organized church of twenty-three members living very much scattered. Many of them have been long in the way. Others have more recently started. Several came out in the series of meetings held here last winter by Brn. Hutchins and Bourdeau. I spoke here four times on Sabbath and first-day, Nov. 28 and 29, and held three business meetings. Six of the above members were received at these meetings. Systematic benevolence was re-organized, amounting to over $40 per year. On Sabbath my mind was drawn out for the young. At the close of the meeting five arose in response to the request for those who wanted to start in the service of the Lord to arise. The Lord gave liberty in praying for them. I hope they may be strengthened to persevere, and that the parents may carry out their vows to labor more for the salvation of their children. Brethren, pray for us in our mission East.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Peterboro, N. H., Dec. 1, 1863.