Report from Bro. Loughborough by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 13, 1865

Report from Bro. Loughborough.

By John Norton Loughborough

Owing to a pressure of business in preparing for, and going through, Conference, and in changing my field of labor, I have not reported myself for some time. I will now try to finish out my report of New England labors from the point where I last reported. I was, at that time, in North Berwick, Maine. As the readers of the Review have already learned from the articles of Bro. Davis and Prescott, those there who have stood aloof from the body, are inspiring their way back. Although it required some labor still to bring the brethren and sisters into New-Testament order, I was glad to find all opposition gone, and them desirous to know the right.

From Sabbath, March 4, to Tuesday the 7th, at Portland, Maine. The fast days were precious seasons to us there, and we felt indeed that the Lord heard prayer. During these meetings, several were admitted into the church, mostly Sabbath-keepers who had formerly stood aloof from the body of S. D. Adventists.

Wednesday afternoon, March 9, commenced the organization of a church at Topsham, Maine, and while there, gave one discourse to a large and attentive congregation in Brunswick.

Sabbath and first-day, March 11, and 12, I had five meetings at Woodstock, Maine, and completed the organization of the church there.

From March 17 to the 21st, I had six meetings in Bro. Goodrich's neighborhood, Palmyra, Maine, where Brn. Stratton and Goodrich had been having a series of meetings. Two decided to keep the Sabbath there, during our meeting.

Sabbath and first-day, March 25 and 26, held seven meetings at Eddington, Maine. While there I baptized one who had lately embraced the truth, completed the organization of the church, and organized a s. b. fund for Bro. Hannaford's family, at Brewer, Maine, amounting to $16,64 per year.

Tuesday, March 28, completed the organization of the church in Topsham, with eight members, and returned again to Portland, where from Wednesday evening to Sabbath Apr. 1st, I had five meetings in company with Bro. Cornell. The Sabbath meeting at this time was in striking contrast with one I held in Portland about one year before. Then seven or eight of us met in an old shop out in the skirts of the city, while a party in rebellion against us, whose numbers about doubled our own, were meeting in a snug hall in the city. Then Seventh-day Adventists could do but little to advance the cause in Portland. But on Sabbath, Apr. 1st, we occupied a large hall in the city under the control of S. D. Adventists. About thirty-five or forty Sabbath-keepers were present, nearly one-half of whom had embraced the truth the past winter at Falmouth, under Bro. Cornell's labors. The rebellion was dead. That party had given up their hall, and the last of them were trying to find their way along with God's people. The church had just pledged $125,00 s. b. fund to the Gen. Conf. fund, besides pledging nearly $300,00 more outside of s. b. for hall rent, fitting up the hall, and to help a poor widowed sister. Our hearts were greatly encouraged by the change we saw.

Sunday, Apr. 2nd, we had a good time holding two meetings at Falmouth. The congregations were eager for the truth, and wept freely while the Lord helped to speak with liberty.

At Manchester, N. H., Apr. 4th, held one meeting and baptized three persons. Returned again to North Berwick, Maine, where from Apr. 6 to 9, I held seven meetings in company with Bro. Cornell, and completed the organization of the church there.

Thursday evening, April 13, preached to the few at Clinton, Mass., and attended communion with them.

From Friday evening, Apr. 14, to Tuesday evening, Apr. 18, I had six meetings with the church in Vernon, Vt. Brethren came in to this meeting from Ashfield, Springfield, and other adjacent points in Mass. While here I was much amused by a report Bro. Johnson gave of a meeting he recently attended as a spectator in Springfield, Mass. A class of Adventists, who believe in having the communion only once a year, and attend it as a continuation of the Jewish passover, held the above meeting for said purpose. The leader of the meeting read the scriptures setting forth the institution of the passover and endeavored to show that as Christ was our passover this was perpetuated and they were then and there going to keep it. Of course spectators would begin to think about a cooked lamb (whole) and heavy bread, but instead of that all were requested to eat light bread and cheese, after which the bread and wine were passed as usual at communion. This party could see no light in the ordinance our Saviour instituted in plain terms to precede his supper, John xiii, but without any intimation of scripture, they can take a supper of bread and cheese in its stead. But it seemed to us while hearing the account, and seems still, that eating bread and cheese is a poor substitute for obedience to the command of Christ.

Sabbath and first-day, Apr. 22 and 23, I held four meetings with the brethren at East Otis, Mass. The names of six were enrolled for a church, and s. b. was organized amounting to $75,66 per year.

Sabbath and first-day, Apr. 29 and 30, met with some seventy of the brethren of Western N. Y., in Quarterly Meeting at the house of Bro. Andrews, Rochester, N. Y. It was a good time to us, and we trust to all assembled. Returned home May 2nd, after being absent from my family about nine months. My heart has been cheered by the friendly greetings of the tried church in Battle Creek, and by our late Conference, to which I look back in some respects as a feast of tabernacles. Feeling refreshed by these privileges, I again go forth, hoping with God's blessing, to discharge my whole duty in this cause.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Clyde, Ill. June 5, 1865.