REPORT FROM TUSCOLA CO., MICH.
By I. D. Van Horn
AFTER passing through the Conference at Battle Creek, which was the best and most profitable to me of any I ever attended, I left May 29, for this county. I arrived at Tuscola village the evening of the 30th, and at the beginning of the Sabbath held my first meeting. I found the friends of truth all ready to receive me with glad hearts, and felt to rejoice with them that it was my privilege to meet with this dear people again. The roads were very muddy and the weather some rainy during our stay here, but notwithstanding all this we had a good attendance throughout. Some were with us from Vassar and a few from Watrousville. The Lord gave us good freedom as we tried to do our duty by opening the plain, practical truths of his word to the consideration of all present. This was especially the case on the Sabbath while dwelling on that important subject, the Health Reform. I never saw the deep necessity of its full adoption by us as a people, and the vast importance attached to it as connected with the third angel's message, as I did on this occasion. The social meeting that followed told the effect it had on the hearts of all present. Nearly all testified of their willingness to adopt the dress reform with the rest. Our meetings here were all encouraging and resulted, we have good reason to believe, in the advancement of this little band in the divine life. A few have gone back, leaving the narrow path and simplicity of the truth to walk again with the world. Oh how can those who have once seen by faith the inviting glories of the home of the saints, barter it away so cheap as to exchange it for a few pleasures and conveniences in this evil world? Let me say to you my dear friends that you are not aware of the dangers you thus place yourselves in. Already the solemn scenes of the judgment are preparing the righteous for their final change, and the terrible wrath of God will very soon be visited on a guilty world. How can we expect to escape this wrath if we have not made our peace with God? And our peace with God is made by a self-denial on our part, and thus fully conforming to his will. May those still holding on, take heed to themselves lest they too fall from their steadfastness in Christ, and, yielding to Satan, go down to ruin and destruction. There are enough here to still have good meetings, and to exhort and encourage one another as they approach nearer the great gathering day. Tuesday, June 4, I came to Vassar, and in the evening had a good meeting. The little company here are dwelling together in union, and their influence among the people is such as to make many of them anxious to hear the truth. We shall visit them again. Wednesday evening we also enjoyed a good meeting at Watrousville. On my way to Centerville I stopped at Wahjamega, where I gave a discourse on the two laws to an attentive audience who were much interested to hear. Last Sabbath and first-day I enjoyed a good season with the friends in Centerville. When I first came into the county I heard that they had all given up the truth, but I found it far different when I came among them. A few have grown cold and given up, but the most of them yet remain firm. I had some good meetings with them. Quite a number were present from Watrousville. The Lord gave us help to speak forth the plain truths of his word, and his blessing was manifested in our social meetings. The Health Reform was quite well received, and new resolutions were made by the friends to live it out. On Sunday evening we had a special meeting for the church. Nearly all were present, and we conversed freely with them on the health and dress reform, answering their questions, &c., which proved to be one of the best meetings we have held among them. The minds of most of them were freed from all doubt, and they expressed a willingness to live out the reform in all its branches. At this meeting we re-organized S. B. for this conference year to the amount of $97.38, which was more than it was last year, and does not look much like the cause all going down in Centerville. May God help them to remain faithful to their trust and do their work with an eye single to his glory. Last evening I spoke again with much freedom to the friends in Wahjamega on the ever-stirring theme of Eternal life. I find the people much interested to hear the truth. This cause is the Lord's, and when his servants try in humility to do their duty, he is ever ready to help and encourage them. Oh! that we may all live so as to be able to pass safely through the perils of the last days, and finally stand with the redeemed on Mount Zion. Tuscola Co., Mich., June 12, 1867.