MEETINGS IN ILLINOIS by T. M. STEWARD

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 9, 1869

MEETINGS IN ILLINOIS.

By T. M. STEWARD

As anticipated in my last report, I attended the Quarterly Meeting at Albany, Jan. 30 and 31. It was very stormy, so but few from other places came. We held our meetings in a new hall the brethren had rented to hold their meetings in. Our meetings commenced Sabbath morning, and closed evening after 2d day. I preached seven times, and had two social meetings. The people came in to hear, and the interest increased to the close. Some attended and became interested who had been ranked among infidels because they could not endorse the conflicting views taught by the opposing clergy of these days. But when they saw that there was such a thing as harmonizing the Bible, they became interested, and thought more of the Bible than ever before. They are intelligent, and have a reverence for God and for truth. May the Lord lead them out of darkness into his marvelous light, and establish their going. The church was encouraged. May the Lord bless this little church, and make them pillars of truth. The subject here was the sanctuary, and the coming of Christ. We were glad to meet Bro. Olds and Bartholf from the Little Prairie church. Our last meeting was a solemn one as we presented the signs of Christ's coming. The Lord will bless this meeting. I then returned to Rockton, scattering tracts by the way, and praying the Lord to bless the seed sown.

On sixth-day, I went to Johnstown Center as requested in REVIEW. The brethren are scattered, and the church was in a distracted condition. I hardly knew what to do, but asked the Lord to direct, and when our meeting commenced, I was surprised that I could not fix my mind on any particular point of doctrine, but I was led out in exhortation on the importance of heeding what we had learned lest we let them slip; and very soon it was evident the Good Shepherd was there to call by his loving voice the erring sheep back to the fold. The anxious countenance and the flowing tears told who were interested in the work of preparation. In our second meeting there was a rending of heart and not the garment, and the scattered and torn ones came back weeping and confessing to the fold, and renewed their vows to go to work in earnest to right their wrongs, and with all diligence to prepare for the impending Judgment.

We tried to right things as far as we could, and left them much encouraged. The idea some have entertained of disbanding, I hope will be forgotten, and all press together and let their light so shine that others may see their good works, and glorify their Father in Heaven.

From this place, I went to Back Woods to visit the lonely ones there. Held one meeting with them, and then took Bro. Olds and came to my new field of labor, and have just commenced with a fair prospect of accomplishing something if the Lord will help, as I trust he will. The work is still onward in Roscoe. There is a general interest through this part of the country to hear, and new calls are coming in from all directions. Pray for us. In hope of life. Amen.

T. M. STEWARD.

Belvidere, Ill., Feb. 18, 1869.