REPORT FROM BRO. WHITE by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 10, 1867

REPORT FROM BRO. WHITE.

By James White

Our tour to Orange, Greenbush and Ithaca, was a very wearisome one for us, but more so for our team, which has for nearly seven years drawn a carriage too heavy for any road team. The arms of this carriage have become so worn that in oiling them every ten miles they would be found dry. When brethren King, Fargo, and Maynard, learned the condition of things, and saw our excellent team running down, they decided to obtain for us a comfortable, light carriage and harness. So on fifth-day, Aug. 28, in company with brethren Maynard and Fargo, I went to Ionia, where they purchased a carriage and harness in every respect suitable. It is light, yet large enough to carry two persons with all needed baggage. The seat is wide, and the stuffed back so high and easy, that a fifty-mile ride sixth-day did not weary Mrs. W. at all. This journey was performed easier for us, and for the team than thirty miles with the old carriage.

Our journey to this place in company with Brn. Amadon, King, Fargo, Merrill, Maynard and Olmstead, and their wives, was indeed a pleasant one. Beneath a large oak, in a farmer’s ample field, we all found a shade and resting place for refreshment. So large a company of course attracted attention, and offered a good opportunity for Bro. Amadon to distribute some tracts to those who came to view us at a distance. This led to spirited remarks from several of our company, especially Bro. Amadon and Mrs. W., upon the necessity of having a fund to furnish for gratuitous distribution, four and eight page tracts upon the various points of our faith and hope. These can be furnished by tens of thousand for a trifling sum, and on each copy can be displayed a stirring advertisement of our publications.

They can be handed to the stranger who kindly asks you to ride with him. If you have not time to write out some point of faith to a friend, you can inclose one of these in your letter without double postage. You can pass them to friends who may listen to your defence of the truth in the stage, steamer or cars. I do not say they should be thrown over garden fences, left at every corner of streets, and scattered promiscuously in the crowd. Let them be prudently handed to those who appear candid in conversation with you. But more on this subject at another time.

Again we enjoyed our old home at Bro. Root’s. Yesterday, the Sabbath, in a heavy rain, the brethren came out and nearly filled the house of worship. In the forenoon they enjoyed a good social meeting. In the afternoon I spoke one hour and a half upon the text, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts; to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful.” Col. iii, 15. I spoke upon the following points.

1. Let the peace of God rule. It will rule in the hearts of those who let it, after preparing the way for it.

2. The contrast between the uninterrupted peace of God and the changing, fading pleasures of the world.

3. The peace of God may rule in our hearts, and all our passions and sinful desires may become subordinate.

4. The word “heart” seldom refers to that organ through which the blood passes. It generally means the whole man. But if it represents one part more than another, it is the mind. The brain is our Washington which governs the whole being. The sanctified mind grasps the hope of life eternal, and dwells upon it with pure delight, and thus the affections are reached. The whole man is prompted by these to actions of right doing, and the peace of God, passing all understanding, rules in his entire being.

First-day morning I met the brethren in meeting at nine. A resolution passed unanimously to raise one thousand dollars to procure material to build a new house of worship. This house is to be built next year. The present house of worship does quite well, but the new one, which will cost one thousand, will do better. The many calls for help have drained these brethren’s purses so that it is not practicable for them to move hastily in reference to their new house.

At half-past ten I spoke upon the law and gospel to a full and attentive congregation. And while I write

Mrs. W. is speaking for one hour, when I shall close the services of this meeting with a short discourse.

This excellent two-days’ meeting is now closed. I found Mrs. W. speaking to a perfect crowd. Extra seats were carried in and all filled with those who listened with almost breathless silence. I then spoke thirty minutes upon the certainty that the present generation that has been warned by these messages are the very men and women who will witness the scenes brought to view by the messages. The subject was treated by all with the greatest respect and solemnity. Then Bro. Amadon closed with a stirring exhortation.

These general gatherings grow better, and the brethren are now inquiring, When shall we have more of them? On our return from the West we shall be ready to hold them in different localities in the State.

JAMES WHITE.

Wright, Sept. 7, 1867.