Report from Bro. Loughborough by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 7, 1865

Report from Bro. Loughborough.

By John Norton Loughborough

My last report was to Nov. 20th, at Woodstock, Maine. The following week I spent at North Jay, Maine, where I held five meetings, and completed the organization of the church there. Reorganized s. B. for 1865, increasing the figures some $18. Considerable interest was manifested to hear the truth. From Sabbath Dec. 3d, to Wednesday Dec. 7th, I had six meetings in Bro. Goodrich's neighborhood, Palmyra, Maine. The brethren from Hartland and Canaan were with us. But as the weather was bad there was not as large a gathering as would otherwise have been. But good attention was given by those who did attend. In this place I presented the subject of organization for the consideration of those who had lately embraced the truth. I was made welcome at the house of Bro. Goodrich. This Bro. who was formaly a Christian Baptist minister, has been coming along step by step into the Advent principles and faith. Last spring he embraced the Sabbath while Bro. Cornell was preaching in that vicinity. He has since disconnected himself from the Baptist society, and is now zealously advocating the truths of the third angel's message.

Sabbath Dec. 10th, I preached twice in Eddington, Maine, to the little company of Sabbath-keepers there. After the second discourse, a few of us went through a severe snow storm to a stream of water one-half mile from the place of meeting. A brother was there baptized who had lately embraced the truth. In the evening we had a meeting to consider the subject of church order. Enrolled the names of seven for a church. Others will probably unite. Organized s. B. for the year 1865 amounting to $36,14.

Sunday, Dec. 11th, I preached twice in Brewer, Maine, near Bro. Hannaford's. The Eddington brethren were mostly there. The attendance was not very large owing to the shortness of the appointment, and snowy walking. I visited the dying bed of Sr. Ruth Fields, a daughter of Bro. and Sr. Hannaford, and tried to administer words of encouragement to her in her last hours. She had not been able to speak loud for two weeks. She could only whisper, and at last only converse by signs. She was blessed much in our seasons of prayer and singing, and gently fell asleep on Monday morning. As it was her request that I should attend her funeral, I consented to do so, although I had to go quite a journey to do it.

Tuesday evening, I spoke again in Bro. Goodrich's school-house, by request, on how, when, and where the Sabbath was changed. Good congregation and the best of interest. Wednesday Bro. Goodrich carried me some twelve miles to Cornville, found Bro. Eld. Charles Stratton suffering much with an attack of diphtheria. With the blessing of the Lord and the use of water, he was relieved. Preached in the evening to a few in Cornville on the subject of order in the church. Thursday Bro. Goodrich carried me by way of his place to Pittsfield Station, seventeen miles, where I took the cars for Bangor thirty miles. There met Bro. Fields who carried me three miles to Brewer, where on Friday morning I attended the funeral services of Sr. Field, and immediately returned to Pittsfield where Bro. Flanders met me and carried me some eight miles and Bro. Goodrich carried me on to Cornville again, to attend an Advent Quarterly Meeting. This meeting had been in progress one day when we arrived. By request, I preached Sabbath afternoon, and in the evening. I was requested to preach again, and preach on the change of the Sabbath. But I did not think it prudent as I was suffering from a cold, and was so hoarse it was difficult to speak. Elders Howard and Stratton were both at this meeting. These brethren are keeping the Sabbath and are investigating different points of present truth. Quite an interest has already been awakened in the minds of many on the Sabbath question through their influence. May the Lord lead them out into all the truth, and make them effective laborers in the third angel's message.

Here I had opportunity to form acquaintance with Eld. Hanscomb and many Adventists. Prejudice is breaking from many minds in Maine, and they are searching to see if these things are so, and they feel, as expressed by an Advent brother at Bryant's Pond, Maine, a few weeks since. Said he: "I am not satisfied with my position on the Sabbath question, I want the best work you have on the subject." I sold him the History of the Sabbath, and gave him Both Sides. These works by the blessing of God are making their mark in the East. Opposition only serves to make the truth shine out.

Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 21st, I had a meeting with a few at Topsham. Presented the subject of organization, and organized s. B. for 1865, amounting to about $35. But as there was a severe snow storm in the evening we had no meeting.

Thursday, Dec. 22, cars were detained by the snow, so that I did not get to Portland till meeting time. Bro. Cornell was opening the meeting as I came into the hall. He preached, and I followed occupying about one-half hour. I was gratified to see that matters were moving forward as they are in Portland. The brethren now have a comfortable hall in the city, and their numbers are increasing. May the Lord prosper them in standing for the right.

Friday came on to Haverhill, Mass., where we had five meetings on Sabbath and first-day; but as it was in the excitement of holidays, there was no special interest outside of the church. Some had become tired of the cross-bearing way since last I was there, and had given up the truth; but most were firm on their way. Completed the organization of a church here. The few here are poor, aged and infirm, so that their s. B. figures are not high. But it was organized for 1865 amounting to about $16, available to the New England mission.

My next meeting was at Manchester, N. H., where

on Monday evening Dec. 26th, I spoke to a good congregation in Advent Hall, on the history of the change of the Sabbath. Found the few there that are keeping the Sabbath, holding on with good courage. They were organized into a church. S. B. was organized there, amounting to about $70, a year. We were encouraged to find even a few in Manchester. Several have moved away that once met with them; but the remaining few are firm in the faith.

Came on next to Boston, which has aptly been termed "the city of notions." A violent storm arose on Sabbath morning, so that all that have interest in the truth even, were not together. A few of us met with Sr. Page in the third story of a tenement on Carver street, where we had a good time praying and speaking of the goodness of the Lord. Systematic Benevolence was organized for the few in Boston and vicinity, amounting to about $50 a year.

We were sorry to learn that Bro. Folsom had chosen to go with the world, and leave the obedience of God's commandments, which he still acknowledges to be truth. As I found him preparing to leave Somerville, I had quite a busy time moving my books into the city, to sister Temple's, No. 12, Acton-st., where any who are passing through Boston and wish our publications and charts can find them.

Sabbath and first-day, Jan. 7 and 8, held meetings in Dartmouth, Mass. The little company here have been much afflicted for the past year. Some of their number have moved away. Two who formerly met with them have died. Found Bro. Ashley, the elder of the church, slowly recovering from the effects of a fever. We felt encouraged by the meetings there, and trust they were profitable to the church. Systematic Benevolence figures were also re-arranged here, amounting to about $25 a year. One there has lately embraced the truth, and one other has been received into the church.

Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, Jan. 10 and 11, had meetings at Kingston, R. I., in company with Bro. P. C. Rodman. Was glad to learn that the interest was rising there, and that several had embraced the truth since the conference at Peacedale last fall. Bro. Rodman has been holding meetings in Kingston, which have brought several into the truth.

From Sabbath, Jan. 14, to Thursday, Jan. 19, Bro. Rodman and myself had nine meetings on Block Island. Completed the organization of the church while there. Five members were added. Systematic Benevolence was re-organized for 1865, increasing the figures about three-fold, now amounting to nearly $75 a year. Our meetings here were not large, owing to two facts: first, it was cold, windy, and stormy, some of the time; second, they were held mostly in private houses, and school-houses, as the meeting-house could not be obtained.

At the various points mentioned in this report, I have found a general waking up among the brethren and sisters on the subject of proper care for their health, and the Lord is blessing them in this direction.

Bro. Rodman and myself are now here to spend a week in presenting the truth, by request of sister Allen. Bro. Rodman is with us in every point of present truth, and is now devoting his whole time to the cause. The Lord will bless him in his efforts to spread the truth in R. I., I believe. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. Middletown, R. I., Jan. 21, 1865.