REPORT OF MEETINGS by T. M. Steward

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 2, 1869

REPORT OF MEETINGS.

By T. M. Steward

It has been a long time since I reported my labors in the cause. We continued our labors in the tent until the Convocation at Clyde. Our brethren from the churches around, spent several Sabbaths with us, much to our encouragement. Some ten or twelve embraced the truth, and commenced to keep the Sabbath. Our last meeting there was on first-day, Sept. 20. There were some, much interested, who were in the neighborhood picking hops, but they had to go home without hearing all. I hope they may give the truths they heard a large place in their hearts, that it may do them good as it doth the upright in heart. These people were intelligent. One sister, who had been picking hops, took of me five dollars' worth of books, and since, we have learned that she has commenced to keep the Sabbath. I hope all that vowed to keep the Sabbath will keep their vows. Seven went forward in the ordinance of baptism. The sweet Spirit of the Lord was with us in this last meeting. May he bless our labors in that place.

I was much interested in my short acquaintance with Bro. H. C. Blanchard, of Princeville, Ill. We arrived in time for our Convocation. And although the weather was very unfavorable, yet the clouds that darkened the light of the sun, could not obstruct the rays of the Sun of righteousness from shining into our hearts, and cheering us on in the way to life. We had an excellent meeting. I think if Bro. and Sr. White, and Bro. Andrews, could have stayed another week, they would have been better satisfied with the meeting. I think such meetings ought to continue longer than one week. I do pray that the rich instruction we received there, may not be lost. May the Lord help us not to be forgetful hearers, but doers of the word. I feel thankful for this visit of God's tried servants to our Conference. May the Lord bless them. We hope they will make us another visit the coming summer, if the Lord will.

Dear brethren, let us heed Paul's instruction, “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark [perfection], for the prize [eternal life] of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” I hope we may so run that we may obtain. May that meeting mark a new era in my Christian experience, and also in my public labors as a minister of the gospel.

Since that meeting, I have spent some six weeks in making arrangements, and getting settled. I would here express my gratitude to God and his servants for the benefit my wife received while at the Health Institute, Battle Creek, Mich. I find her very much improved in health. In December, 1866, when she went to the Institute, she was so low that she was unable to walk even to the carriage or garden. Had to be carried out and into the house, and to all appearance was just sinking into the grave. After a stay of nearly two years at the Institute, she is able to resume her place in the family, and can walk one-half mile without injury.

After giving up all hope of ever seeing my little family together again, I have that privilege now, by the blessing of God. After taking some pains to locate them comfortably on Dell Prairie, I left them, Nov. 25, to return to Rockton, to settle up some business there. While attending to this business, I gave out an appointment to preach in Roscoe, where I preached a few times last summer, and was broken off by the expectation of having a Convocation at Dell Prairie. I have labored here about three weeks, under very discouraging circumstances. The effort against us has been to keep the people away. They have succeeded in this direction to some extent. But there were some of the Lord's own here, who had heard and loved the Advent doctrine in the East, and had been praying the Lord to send some one here with his word, and they were ready to listen, and were willing to obey. Some four or five have commenced to keep the Sabbath, and others are investigating, and I trust will soon obey. They are now reading Bro. White's Life Incidents. Some of the facts mentioned there they witnessed, and they were acquainted with some of the preachers referred to by him. I think the Lord has a people here. May I have wisdom to labor in the counsel of God.

I attended the Quarterly Meeting at Rockton, as appointed in the REVIEW, Dec. 19. We had our Sabbath meeting and the ordinances at Rockton, and on first-day in the afternoon we went four miles to Roscoe, and had a meeting at 2, P. M., and in the evening. Then, as there was so much excitement about Christmas, I thought I would spend the week in visiting and writing. The next Sabbath I spent in Rockton, and first-day in Roscoe.

As it was holidays, I concluded to go to Little Prairie and attend their Quarterly Meeting, Jan. 2 and 3. It was the first time I had ever visited this church. Had an interesting meeting, and visited four families. Had my last meeting on the evening after third-day. Left them on fourth-day and came to Bro. Chesebro's to fill an appointment there. There were but few out, but they gave good attention. Hope they will not forget the word. Came back to Rockton on sixth-day and found an urgent request for me to go to the Avon Quarterly Meeting. So I made my arrangements and went, and tried to help them all I could in the short time I was there. Preached four times, and had two social meetings. The brethren seemed determined to make a greater effort to live above the world than they had ever done before. May the Lord bless them.

I spent last Sabbath at Rockton, and first-day I came back to Roscoe to resume my labors. Found the friends and others anxious to hear. The Lord seems to be opening the way for a work here, and I do pray I may have that help from him that I so much need. Since I have been in this place, I have received more than twenty calls from Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa, to go and labor. Truly the harvest is great and laborers are few. My prayer is that the Lord would raise up, qualify, and send forth, more laborers into his vineyard.

I want to say one word about our Quarterly Meetings and all our public gatherings. Many of these meetings prove almost a failure by the confusion, or distraction of mind, caused by so many leaving before the meetings close. Some of our brethren, when the Sabbath meetings are over, and often before we have attended the ordinances, begin to talk of, and make preparation for, going home. They leave, to the confusion of the meeting and the embarrassment of the preacher. I think this has a bad influence on others' coming to our meetings. I would suggest that our brethren come to such meetings prepared to stay until it is thought advisable to break up the meeting; and if they can spend but one day from home, come on first-day. Let us try to make the interest of the meeting increase to the close, and then feel as if we were loth to part. I am sure this would have a much better influence on the world around. Don't invite the servants of God to your meetings, and then leave them to do all the work, and do it alone.

I know many of our brethren go to meeting, and after one or at most two meetings, go home and complain that we have not had a very good time, when they are the very ones that stood in the way. May the Lord help us to think as much of seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness, as we do of our farms and our stock.

I shall continue my labors here through the week and most of next week, if the Lord will, and then the friends here expect to attend, with me, the Quarterly Meeting at Albany, Wis. May the Lord prosper his cause in this Conference. In hope.

T. M. STEWARD.

Roscoe, Wis., Jan. 19, 1869.