Report from Bro. Loughborough by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 14, 1865

Report from Bro. Loughborough.

By John Norton Loughborough

Since my last report which was made at Middletown, R. I., I have held meetings as follows:

At Middletown Bro. Rodman and myself spent a week, and held six meetings. Some few felt desirous to hear and know these things, but the most were so busied with preparing for, and attending, a Sunday-school exhibition, they did not seem inclined to stop and listen to the doctrine of the Lord's coming, or of the proof of the claims of the Lord's Sabbath upon them.

From Jan. 27 to 30, we had seven meetings at South Kingston, R. I., where there are still some fifteen that embraced the truth there, besides five or six that have moved to other places. While there, we organized s. B. for 1865, amounting to about $70.

At Ashaway, R. I., I gave a discourse in the hall of the Seventh-day Baptist Academy, which was listened to with good interest. While here, s. B. was organized for the few in Ashaway, amounting to about $30 per year.

Ashaway is the residence of Bro. Rodman. Here our pleasant interview together closed. This Bro. is trying to devote himself wholly to the work, and to grow in the knowledge of the truth, so as to save others. May the Lord speed him on in his work.

Sabbath and first-day, Feb. 4 and 5, had six meetings at Kensington, Ct., in which I tried to impart words of comfort and warning to the little flock, and to correct wrongs in the church. Here, also, s. B. was re-organized, amounting to $82,68 a year.

At Springfield, Mass., I held three meetings, evenings of Feb. 7 to 9. A few came in to hear. But little interest is manifested in large and popular cities where there is everything to divert the mind from the truth. A slight storm indisposed some to come and hear the truth; but we saw throngs of people going to a place of amusement that evening, who did not seem to notice the storm. Indeed, "Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God," or of God's truth, are everywhere to be seen. While here, Bro. Johnson gave his figures for s. B. 1865, $28.

Sabbath, Feb. 11, held meeting at the house of Bro. Clarke of East Otis, Mass. It was so bleak and stormy on the mountain that our public meeting was abandoned. Snow was three feet deep on a level, and drifting at a terrible rate. While here, Bro. Daniels and Clarke and family entered their names on s. B. for 1865, $46,80; all to N. E. mission.

On Monday, Feb. 13, we went some ten miles through the cold to New Boston, where Bro. Daniels had prepared a place by cutting the ice in the river, and there we baptized Bro. and sister Clarke, and sister Cowdrey of Colebrook, Ct.

Wednesday evening, preached again in Springfield to a few interested hearers.

Sabbath and first-day, Feb. 18 and 19, preached four times in Ashfield, Mass., and held a meeting to organize the church there. Tuesday evening, Feb. 21, completed the organization of the church in Clinton, Mass., and re-organized s. B. for 1865, increasing the figures, with the same members, from $54.60 to $106,60 a year. Our visit here was refreshing to me, and I trust of profit to the little flock. In Boston, visited with the few who keep the Sabbath, but had no opportunity for public meeting.

At Manchester, N. H., Feb. 24 and 25, found the few firm in the truth. Had two meetings with them, and felt encouraged to press on and endure hardness with the little flock. Some are still interested in Manchester, and we hope they may be induced to embrace the whole truth.

I have felt for some time that there must be some change, if this message was to effectually arrest the attention of the people. May the Lord hear the cries of his people, "hold the winds till the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads;" and may we all arise to fight valiantly for the truth.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

North Berwick, Maine, March 1, 1865.