Untitled article by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, February 4, 1868

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 8

MEETINGS AT WRIGHT.

By James White

By the earnest invitation of some of the Wright church who attended our recent meeting in this place, we sent an appointment by them for meetings, to hold Jan. 25 and 26. On fifth-day it began to storm so that our brethren in this vicinity gave up going with us. Sixth-day morning, the storm continued; but our appointment was out, and we felt it wrong to disappoint the people, so started, and all day faced the tedious storm. This seemed quite severe, in view of recent cold and cough. But we got through quite as comfortable as could be expected, and received no apparent injury. In battling the storm, Bro. Andrews took the front, drove, and made the journey as comfortable and cheerful as possible.

Sabbath morning, we found the house literally crowded. The interest in and out of the church has not abated since our labors here one year since. Bro. Andrews gave a most solemn and impressive discourse in the forenoon. In the afternoon, I spoke nearly two hours upon the parable of the lost sheep, closing with a statement of our work the past year in seeking to save those who had strayed, more or less, from the fold. The evening was spent in social interview with certain brethren at the house of Bro. Root. We spoke freely of the duty of those who need counsel in their secular matters to ask it of their brethren who have by successful management shown that they are capable of giving good advice. The interview, we think, was profitable.

First-day morning, at an early hour, the seats, aisles, and benches were crowded to overflowing. Many stood. I spoke an hour. All listened with attention usual to the people of this place, as I briefly spoke upon conversion, touching briefly upon the work of the law and the gospel, and upon baptism. Mrs. W. then followed for nearly another hour.

In the afternoon, Bro. Andrews spoke with great clearness and force. In the evening, Bro. Andrews, Mrs. W., and self, appealed to the people to bear the cross. Several took a good stand. We could not expect a general move in so brief a time. But the interest was such that we gave encouragement that as soon as other pressing duties should be done, we would, Providence permitting, spend two weeks with them.

The book enterprise was introduced, as at Battle Creek. Many were purchased, some given, and more are wanted. A subscription paper was going round, and doing well. We called upon every Sabbath-keeping family to come and take a full set of Spiritual Gifts, How to Live, Sabbath Readings, Appeal to Youth, Appeal to Mothers, the Chart and Key, who had them not in their houses. Those able to pay for them were urged to do so—pay down if they could, if not, at their earliest convenience—and those unable were urged to take the books, read them, and hold them at the discretion of the elder of the church whether they should retain them or pass them to him to put into the hands of others. Every youth and Sabbath-school scholar was urged to read Appeal to Mothers and Appeal to Youth. Let our brethren in every place be prepared to take hold of this work. The poor can have these books at wholesale prices, whether they pay for them, or if paid for out of the fund being raised.

In the morning of second-day we rode to Bro. Buck’s, took breakfast, and at 2 o’clock P.M. were at home, a distance of forty miles. I am fully relieved of cold and cough, and am being rested from the fatigue of our Eastern tour. God be praised for his goodness and tender mercy.

JAMES WHITE.

Greenville, Montcalm Co., Mich., Jan. 28, 1868.