Untitled article by Philip Strong

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, October 22, 1867

REPORT FROM BRO. STRONG.

By Philip Strong

Since my last report, Sept. 2, I have given ten lectures in the Wilds district, without any apparent success. It was a very hard place to speak, and still harder to live, and lead them to see the necessity of a reformation in both faith and habits. My labors there gave me the ague, from which I have not yet recovered.

Held meetings in Alma, Sabbath and first-day, Sept. 14 and 15. Two were baptized. From the 17th to the 19th, held three meetings in Seville. I find them all united in this place, but very backward in the health reform. I asked them if I had not better speak on the reform. Oh no, said some, it will not do, we understand it, and it will enrage the world. But I gave out the first evening that I should speak the next on the health and dress reforms; and the house was full of attentive listeners, who instead of being provoked, saw a consistency in it. Some intend to adopt it. And it is hoped that the brethren will not hold back, but cut loose from their idols, and raise the standard of truth before their neighbors.

The last evening we had a covenant meeting, in which all took part. These meetings we trust have been profitable to the church. The attendance from without was the largest they have had since the first lectures.

Sabbath and first-day, 21 and 22, held meetings again in Alma. The brethren in this place are getting waked up some. Six more were baptized. They came out in the truth under the labors at the tent, but had not been baptized since they were slain by the law. They had been slain before by the precepts of men, and buried. Many had been in a backslidden state and had given up their hope, when the third message came to them. Still they trusted to their old burial after the law slew them. But there is a general stir on this subject, and more are going forward soon.

Some had taken hold of the dress reform, but none as they ought to. The most now are moving in the right direction. In other places, sisters have taken their best clothes, or new, and gone according to the pattern, and it has commended itself; while here they have cast away the pattern, and taken the poorest; and the reform has not consequently made that progress that it ought.

I trust that all will see the necessity of uniformity on this point of truth soon, and move out in the fear of God. PHILIP STRONG.

Alma, Sept. 24, 1867.