Untitled article by J. S. Miller

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · September 3, 1867

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 12

MONTHLY MEETING IN RHODE ISLAND.

By J. S. Miller

After an interval of nearly a year since the last Monthly Meeting in this part of New England, it is again our privilege to send the report of our Monthly Meeting at New Shoreham, which commenced on Sabbath evening, Aug. 16, and held over first-day. The churches of Ashaway, Curtis' Corners, and Exeter, R. I., and South Lancaster, Mass., were fairly represented.

Our social meeting on Sabbath evening was both interesting and profitable, and indicated that our coming together was not to be in vain.

Sabbath morning we met again at 9 o'clock for social exercises. At half past 10, we were favored with a discourse by Bro. Rodman, from 1 Pet. iv, 17. All were deeply interested as he dwelt on the duties of God's people in the judgment hour, prominent among which he placed the Health Reform. At the close of his discourse, Bro. S. N. Haskell followed with appropriate remarks.

In the afternoon, Bro. H. spoke from Rev. iii, 21. After giving some general ideas on the testimonies to the church, Bro. H. entered into the subject of the Laodicean testimony, and among other things gave us some valuable information relative to health and how to regain and preserve it. I cannot help thinking that the Spirit of the Lord directed his mind, for nothing was more needed by us all, and especially by those on the Island, than the information he imparted.

In the evening, Bro. H. spoke again from Rom. viii, 28, and gave us some much-needed encouragement and instruction, which was followed by a few short testimonies, the tenor of which showed that these meetings were having the desired effect, to increase the interest in the good cause, and to nerve us up to more united efforts for its advancement.

First day, at 10 o'clock, we met at the Town House, near the center of the Island, where Bro. R. spoke to a large congregation, from 2 Pet. i, 19.

The people were attentive, and it is hoped that the truths presented on the prophecies were not all lost, even on those who were not fully with us in the truth. Our object in removing to the Town House was to allow the Freewill Baptists the use of the school house, which we used on Sabbath. This changing the locality of the meeting some two miles affected somewhat the interest of our meeting, as is always the case, which led us to sensibly feel that our brethren on the Island should have a house of their own; and if each brother will take hold and do what he can, I see no reason why they may not soon have a convenient house.

In the interval between preaching, we had a social meeting in which a good number participated. At 3 o'clock Bro. H. spoke from 1 Thess. v, 23. The testimony on this occasion was meat in due season, for the church especially.

On the morning of second-day, Bro. H. and his company, and the brethren from Exeter and Curtis' Corners left for home on the Newport boat. After bidding our brethren and sisters an affectionate farewell, we that remained went to perform a still more sad and chastening duty in attending the funeral of Bro. Abraham Mott, who died evening after the Sabbath. Bro. M. was the first to embrace the third message on the Island, and his loss will be severely felt. The funeral was largely attended, and Bro. R. gave a short, but deeply interesting address from 1 Thess. iv, 17. On second-day evening we that remained had a farewell meeting at Bro. C. Champlin's, in which nearly all took part, and while all felt sad at the thought that we were so soon to part, we rejoiced in the thought that it is our privilege to be overcomers.

On third-day morning we bade farewell to this island of the sea, feeling that the islanders had been much refreshed by our visit, while all, both islanders and visitors, had expressed resolutions to start anew in the warfare. May the Lord help us all to keep the resolutions thus formed, and may this Monthly Meeting be the beginning of better days, and a more rapid rise of the third message in this part of New England.

J. S. MILLER.

Ashaway, R. I., Aug. 25.