Report from Bro. Loughborough by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Oct 10, 1865

Report from Bro. Loughborough.

By John Norton Loughborough

After meeting at West Union, Bro. Chapman carried me some ten miles to Bro. David Seeley's, at Fayette; and on Tuesday, Aug. 1, Bro. Seeley carried me twenty-eight miles to Independence Station, where I took the cars for Waterloo, at which place I arrived at five o'clock, and found Bro. Glover the Elder of the church waiting for me at the depot. Tarried at Waterloo till sixth-day, writing, visiting, and learning as far as possible the cause and the facts of the trial in that church. Sixth-day, Aug. 4, Bro. Glover carried me on sixteen miles to Laporte City.

Sabbath morning, Aug. 5, had a violent attack of summer complaint, which I feared would unfit me for labor there. At 10 o'clock, however, I went to the place of meeting, and preached twice that day. And as I found some of the seeds of the Iowa rebellion remaining there, I tried to give them some of my experience on the subject of the Gifts, as I had seen them manifested among Seventh-day Adventists.

First-day I preached twice to attentive congregations, and then returned sixteen miles to Waterloo with Bro. Jackson, and had a meeting from 9 o'clock P. M., till 4 o'clock the next morning, on matters of difficulty in the church. I found that some had made injudicious moves in the past which called for a vote of censure, which was passed, and matters left for further development.

After getting four hours' sleep, I returned on Monday, sixteen miles to Laporte, and spent the evening till 10 o'clock conversing with those who wished to know something of the history of the rise of the third angel's message, and the course of those who led out in the work. I trust that the effort at Waterloo was not in vain, and that the minds of the troubled ones will be helped.

Tuesday, Aug. 8, traveled by stage thirty-five miles over very bad roads to Blairstown, where I found I must remain till next morning before I could take the cars. Here I had no place to stop but a small country tavern, and that was nearly filled with drunken hog-drovers. They caroused all night, and had three regular fist fights before midnight. I got no rest of any consequence that night. The next morning, took the cars and rode seventy-five miles to Nevada. Here I found no food fit for a human being to eat, but I did the best I could, and started on for Fort Desmoines, by stage, thirty-five miles. It was one o'clock the next night before I reached that place. The roads were in such a terrible state that it took us five hours to accomplish the first ten miles of the journey; and all the stages on the route that day, were finally abandoned, and the passengers taken through by private conveyance. The next morning I arose at 7, and tried to make out a breakfast at a Western tavern where hog's grease was the predominant article.

From that place I went twenty-two miles to Sandyville, by private conveyance, during which time the weather was so hot that the horses could not be driven faster than a walk, and it took till 4 o'clock P. M., to complete the journey. At Sandyville I fortunately got a little rest before meeting. Preached twice on the Sabbath, and twice on first-day. Monday, had a meeting to investigate matters of difference in the church, three and a half hours in the forenoon, and four hours in the afternoon. Tuesday, investigation continued three hours in the forenoon, and five hours in the afternoon. It was then voted by the church to place the matter in my hands for me to look over the facts of the case, and decide where, in my judgment, the wrong existed. I accordingly spent the next day, Wednesday, from 5 A. M., till 9, P. M., with the exception of a short nooning, studying over these matters, and writing out a decision which covered eighteen pages of letter paper. Thursday forenoon had another business meeting of four hours. The decision was read, and confessions made by the church and the parties concerned. I then rode ten miles and preached in the evening to an attentive congregation in the Morrison neighborhood.

Rode the next morning ten miles to Knoxville, and preached twice on the Sabbath, and twice on Sunday. The meetings were well attended and several remarked that it was the best interest they had seen in Knoxville for a long time. Some who had once kept the Sabbath, and grown cold, said in tears, "This seems like old times."

Sunday, went ten miles to Pleasant Grove. Monday morning Bro. Charles Smith carried me ten miles back again to Sandyville. Had a business meeting of four hours in the forenoon, and in the afternoon spent four hours in private settling up the last matters of difference in the church. Resolutions were passed by the church, which, if carried out, will save them from the confusion and distraction they have had in the past.

Tuesday morning, had another business meeting of four hours, re-organizing Systematic Benevolence, and increased the figures from $250.00 to $337.51. After this, I started for Pleasant Grove again. Had quite a severe attack of diarrhoea accompanied with an ague chill. Tarried over night with Bro. Smith at Pleasant Grove, and Wednesday morning, Aug. 23, he carried me to Knoxville. Had a business meeting appointed at 9 o'clock, but the brethren did not come in till ten. During that hour, not being able to sit up, I lay down upon one of the benches and slept. When the congregation had assembled, I arose and preached an hour on the subject of Systematic Benevolence, and continued the meeting two hours longer, re-organizing their s. b. arrangements, and increasing the figures from $84.00 to $197.00.

In my reduced condition of health, I rode that afternoon fourteen miles on my way to Pella. Had another chill on the way. Stopped at a crowded hotel and got a little rest. In the morning took cars twenty-six miles to Eddyville expecting to preach a funeral sermon there, and attend a business meeting that day; but as I stepped off the cars, Bro. John Kirfman handed me the Review in which was the account of the sickness of Bro. White, and the call for me to come home. I immediately decided to go, and stepping back upon the same train, I came on to Battle Creek, five hundred and sixty-two miles. The diarrhoea with which I was attacked at Sandyville continued till ten days after my arrival at home, over two weeks. It was fortunate that I was called home when I was, or I should probably have broken down, and had a fit of sickness in Iowa.

Those who have read my reports know that I have labored hard for the past three years; but the last month's labor in Iowa, was the hardest month's labor I ever performed. Under it nature gave way, and I found myself in a condition demanding rest both of body and mind.

It was thought by friends that "Our Home" would furnish the best facilities for my rest and recovery. Accordingly I am here, and though having spent but a few days in the place, I feel that I have already received benefit, and that the prospect of regaining my wasted energies by rest and hygienic treatment is good.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Dansville, N. Y., Oct. 1, 1865.