Report from Bro. Loughborough by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 19, 1865

Report from Bro. Loughborough.

By John Norton Loughborough

BRO. WHITE: After our meetings had closed at Wawkon, Bro. Geo. I. Butler, on sixth-day, July 28, took Bro. Brinkerhoff and myself into his carriage to convey us to my next appointment at West Union. We succeeded well on our journey till we came to Cleremont and found the bridge over Turkey river gone. The river was so high that the fords were impassable. The current was very rapid. All the means of crossing was in small row boats. We learned that a young man had been drowned in trying to cross there a short time previous. It was only two hours to the time of our first meeting, and it was about seven miles from the opposite side of the stream; but it was over twenty miles if we went to the nearest bridge. We soon decided to venture to cross in the skiff. Our baggage, the harness, and wagon seats, were first carried over. Then the wagon was drawn astride of a skiff with the wheels in the water. One man got into the boat to keep the wagon balanced. Another skiff with two men in it was rowed out, one man holding on to the tongue of our wagon, and the other rowing with all his might up the stream, while the rapid current carried them swiftly over. Next, they swam the horses over one by one. Last, with some trembling, we entered the skiff, and were soon on the other shore. Thankful to God for protection in peril, we hastened on our journey.

We had a meeting that afternoon at West Union to inquire concerning the standard of the church there. We learned from the church records and the testimony of those present, that there was much difficulty there, and that several illegal moves had been made in church business. On Sabbath, Bro. Brinkerhoff and myself each gave a discourse to attentive listeners. In the evening, had a meeting of three hours' length to investigate still further the causes of trial in the church, and to remedy the illegal moves that had been made. These illegal moves did not grow out of willfulness on the part of the brethren, but from a lack of an understanding of how they should move.

First-day morning I drew up a report concerning the matters of difficulty in West Union, and some resolutions, which we hope, if carried out, will preserve a better state of things there for the future. At a business meeting held first-day A. M., the resolutions were passed, and the matters of difficulty adjusted. In the afternoon, gave a discourse to an attentive congregation from Rom. viii. After this meeting, the brethren and sisters immediately repaired to the house of Bro. Hoyt, and held a meeting to re-organize Systematic Benevolence, which resulted in raising the figures from $101,00 to $172,00 per year, all to the Iowa Conference.

At West Union I parted with Bro. Brinkerhoff, he to go to Elgin, where he gave lectures last winter and a number embraced the truth, and I to go on to my appointments.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.