REPORT FROM BRO. WAGGONER by Joseph Harvey Waggoner

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 16, 1867

REPORT FROM BRO. WAGGONER.

By Joseph Harvey Waggoner

March 23 and 24, 1867, I hold five meetings with the church of Oakland. As Bro. Lawrence had lectured there considerably during the winter, I tried to enforce the truths they had heard, and urge them to seek a higher state of holiness. The result was somewhat

satisfactory, and a desire was manifested to obtain a nearness to God. Through the week, I visited, and went to Lapeer.

Our meetings in Lapeer the 30th and 31st appeared to be very successful. Union seems to be fully established in that church, and their meetings now are spirited and free. The contrast between their condition when I visited them last summer and at the present is so great that I can but rejoice with them. I hope they will remember the admonitions given by the Spirit, and so keep Satan’s dark influence from among them.

The Monthly Meeting at Oakland was attended with the best of results. I spoke mostly on such subjects as had been matters of query there; for it has been a matter of regret that confusion existed there, and some were not fully in the faith, and others were more or less disturbed by their influence. As far as I could judge, the church were encouraged and strengthened; and I think a good degree of harmony prevails there at present.

At their business meeting a resolution was passed disfellowshipping the use of tobacco, which was the means of giving some relief. At this meeting our minds were forcibly refreshed with the frequent testimonies and warnings given against a certain class of persons technically known as “Advent peddlers,” “by reason of whom the way of truth is evil spoken of.” They will get some worthless patent right, patent medicine, or cheap, trashy goods, and taking advantage of their position as church members, impose upon the brethren, and use the reputation of the church and worthy people to over-reach unbelievers more honest than themselves, and yet exhort them to prepare for the Lord’s coming. May the race speedily run out! If they must peddle, let them be silent in regard to the truth, for peddling and preaching should never go together. The church of Oakland has been particularly cursed with such influences, and the action taken at their last business meeting was only too long delayed. It is a truth worthy of our constant consideration, that the strength of a church does not consist in numbers, but in purity, and our strongest sympathy should be for the truth of God.

Monday evening, April 8, I closed my labors at Oakland, and while examining the promises and prospect of deliverance in the day of God’s wrath, I lost sight of the weakness and prostration of my body, and rejoiced with them all in the “blessed hope.” If the prospect be so enrapturing to our feeble sense, surrounded and encompassed with infirmities and evils, without any experience of a contrast to this evil state, “Oh! what must it be to be there?” and what are all our crosses and trials compared to a “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory?”

I have now ceased public labor till after Conference, and in reviewing the past year, though I have abundant reason to regret my weakness and unfaithfulness, I have yet great reason to be thankful that the Lord in kindness has been with me, and strengthened me to labor far beyond my expectations. The Health Reform has been truly a means of grace to me, though often the minister is badly situated to live it out, subjected to all kinds of fare, and obliged to fill appointments when nature is nearly or quite exhausted. Much of the past year I have been able to rejoice in the presence of God with me, and still my prayer is, “Nearer my God to thee.” J. H. WAGGONER.