A Unique Missionary Meeting by D. W. REAVIS.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · May 20, 1915

A Unique Missionary Meeting

By D. W. REAVIS.

LATE in the afternoon of April 27, Takoma Park, D. C., was visited by a severe electrical storm, which temporarily cut off the city electric current, leaving the place in darkness until about nine o'clock in the evening.

This was the regular evening for the missionary and prayer meetings of the church. Ordinarily the lack of lights would have been considered a reasonable excuse for not holding these meetings on this one special evening; but the missionary workers, whose meeting came first, felt they could not postpone the work of mailing their papers, writing their letters, and hearing the letters read which had come in since the last meeting. So one kerosene lamp was found in the neighborhood, and served for light in one large workroom, where about fifteen persons wrote missionary letters and wrapped papers for an hour. The Sabbath-school teachers drew upon their stock of fancy toy candles set in the kindergarten sand boxes.

The workrooms in the basement of the church, thus lighted, reminded some of the aged members of the days of their youth, when most churches had only candlelight, and it also brought to mind the time when the refuge of the remnant church will be in dens and caves—when it will not be possible to enjoy the freedom and the opportunity we now have to let the light of this glorious message shine in all the dark places of the earth. These thoughts which were freely discussed during the work hour, caused us to make vows of renewed consecration to earnest service at this time.

At the close of the work hour it was decided to assemble for prayer service in the large auditorium of the church, with only the one lamp. Familiar hymns were sung, and the members were requested to recite from memory as many of the promises of the Bible as they could. There was a remarkable response, and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit made this occasion one of the best feasts the church has ever had.

D. W. REAVIS.