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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 2, 1882

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 8, No. 9.

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From the Field.

*MICHIGAN, St. Charles, February 8.*—Fifteen more have embraced the Sabbath since my last report, and several have taken their stand to be Christians, who had rested on the seventh day. There are about twenty-five more to be baptized as soon as circumstances will admit of it. These, with the forty-seven, that have been added since these meetings begun, will make a membership of about one hundred and forty; and still there is a good interest.
Hope is reviving in the hearts of those who had been almost in despair. Our Sabbath meetings have been seasons of great refreshing. Every week we can see marked improvement in the Sabbath-school. At our last school one hundred and eleven were present. Thirty-nine volumes of “Spirit of Prophecy” have been sold, besides many of our other publications. The Review is a weekly visitor in all but three families, and we expect it will be taken by these when we return.
The Tract and Missionary Society renewed their subscription for the SIGNS. A new interest in this branch of the work has been awakened which we expect to see grow. A. O. BURRILL.
*IOWA, Granville, February 6.*—Began meetings at this place a little over a month ago. Have been favored with pleasant weather and good audiences from the first. We have been granted the free use of the U. B. Church, and the cost of fuel and lights is cheerfully met by our hearers. We have met with some opposition, but the sound of the truth has gone out to neighboring villages, and we have invitations to speak at two places, three and eight miles from here.
Ten have begun the observance of the seventh day, nine of whom are heads of families. Have held one Sabbath meeting, which was well attended. Pray for the prosperity of the work in this vicinity.
GEO. E. FIFIELD, LEROY T. NICOLA.
*KANSAS, Cedar Vale.*—In company with Brother Hill, I have been here for the last ten days, holding meetings. As the result of these meetings, twelve, all heads of families except one, have commenced keeping the Sabbath. Brn. Barthick and Dawes were keeping the Sabbath when we came here. They came to this place from Missouri, having received the truth through the labors of Bro. Woodruff. They came over to our tent at Lowe last summer, and procured some publications. These they have been circulating, as opportunity offered, while their wives have nobly seconded their efforts. As the result, we found a deep interest, and our house has been crowded every night, though there has been an opposition meeting going on two miles north for the past week. We now report sixteen Sabbath-keepers, and a Sabbath-school of forty-six members.
L. D. SANTEE.
From the report of Eld. C. O. Taylor, we take the following brief synopsis of the progress of the work in the southern field;—
“Twelve years ago there were in the seven Southern States east of the Mississippi River but two persons keeping the seventh-day Sabbath, and known as Adventists. At this time there are one hundred and twenty-five. The first organized company was in Taylor County, Georgia, in the fall of 1877. The next January and February 1878, two churches were organized in Alabama. In 1879, a church was organized in Wautauga County, North Carolina. In 1881, three more churches were organized; one in Clarke County, Mississippi, one in Washington County, Alabama, and another in Atalla, Alabama. A company of six was partially organized in Brooks County, Georgia, in the winter of 1878, but apostasy and death broke it up. The seeds of truth have not stopped growing, however, and there are now enough for a church there. The one in Taylor County, Georgia, remained firm, and did a good work, till removals weakened it and broke it up. The one in Atalla has not been in a growing and prosperous condition, for the want of ministerial labor. All the others are doing quite well. Among these one hundred and twenty-five persons, there are eight that talk the truth publicly; yet none of them devote all their time to the ministry.”
The above reports are certainly encouraging. A good feature in the work as reported by Bro. Burrill, is the sale of our denominational books. “Reading maketh a full man,” and if our people wish to become full of the truth, they must read. Bible religion cannot be maintained by feeling alone, but the understanding must be reached.
We would also call attention to the good work started in Kansas, by means of missionary labor. We are glad to know that this is not an isolated case. There is great reason for thankfulness that work in this message is not confined to a few, but that all may share in it. The love and zeal of those who work in the cause will continually increase,while those who do nothing are in danger of falling away. “Let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”