Untitled article by James White

Untitled article

James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, March 3, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 12

Since the above was in type we have received the following additional from Bro. W.:

At Vassar, Tuscola Co., Mich., the brethren held their meeting in the large union school-house, as good a room as can be had in the county. Bro. Andrews preached three discourses at the meeting held in this place, on the evenings following the sixth, seventh, and first days, and second-day A. M. attended a funeral at Watrousville, eight miles distant, and in the afternoon baptized one.

We spoke to the people on the seventh, first, and second-days, and Mrs. W. spoke with freedom in the afternoons of the seventh and first days. The brethren and sisters of this county were generally present, and were ready and prompt to bear testimony to the truth. They seem to have a deep interest in what they heard from the three who addressed them, especially in Mrs. W.'s testimony.

There were also at this meeting several who were about to yield up the truth for the vain world, who appeared to be strengthened and established. Several who were almost persuaded to obey the truth, have fully decided, and a large number, embracing youth and children, came forward to seek the Lord, and ask the prayers of his servants. One young man sought the Lord at this meeting and was baptized.

After the subject of books was introduced and explained, and the desire of our people to place in every family such works as Spiritual Gifts, How to Live, Appeal to the Youth, Appeal to Mothers, and Sabbath Readings, was stated, the brethren came forward and bought, and the poor received, in all more than $100 worth of books, pamphlets, charts, and tracts. Twenty-three full sets of Spiritual Gifts were taken at this meeting.

We gave to the poor just $25 worth of tracts and books. The friends of the cause in Tuscola Co., will, as soon as they can get around to it, wish to put into the book fund two or three times this amount.

We left this dear people reluctantly with the good-begun work only partly done, to meet appointments in this place and at Alma. The brethren in Tuscola Co. urged us to remain and hold meetings at important points. This we could not do, and cannot expect to visit them and brethren in other counties near, until after General Conference. Should we attend State Conferences, it is all uncertain when we can see them again. We will do all in our power to help the people of the Lord in the part we and they are to act in the salvation of souls. But during March and April, in the season of changeable weather and bad roads, we shall remain at home, and rest, and write, and attend Sabbath meetings near home. JAMES WHITE.

St. Charles, Feb. 25, 1868.

P. S.—Morning of the 26th. We decide to separate from Bro. Andrews here. He will go to Alma, we return to Tuscola. We do not feel that our work is done in that county. The people there are ready to be helped. We fear that many of the brethren in Gratiot Co. do not feel their need of help sufficiently for our testimony to do them much good at present. Until they do, we had better labor where the people are ready and anxious to be helped. We should, however, go to Gratiot with Bro. Andrews, if duty, very important duty, did not call us to Tuscola Co.

Our preachers generally can labor to advantage anywhere. But ours is a peculiar work. Where the people do not especially need help, or, if they do, do not feel their need of it, we can do them but little, if any, good. Where they very much need such help as we can give them, and feel their need, and are anxious to be helped, these are the very places in which we wish to labor. J. W.