THE week of prayer has been a blessing to us here in Baltimore; it has brought new life to many of us, and a new experience to others, for which we praise the Lord.
We were glad to have Elder I. E. Kimball and his wife with us on the first Sabbath of the week of prayer. Their presence and labor seemed to bring in a precious spirit of revival. Sunday evening they met with us again. This time we had a union meeting of both churches, and it was an occasion long to be remembered by the faithful workers of Baltimore. Brother Kimball gave us some good points concerning work for the salvation of souls, and for giving the message to them. We were made to feel that we must go out among the people more,—go out and search for precious souls, and compel them to come in.
While all our meetings were good, some of them were attended with special manifestations of the power of the Spirit. On Tuesday night we had an old-time revival. The Laodicean spirit was broken down, and the Spirit of the Lord came among us with rich blessings. One who had been in a backslidden condition testified that he longed for the experience of true conversion. He was greatly benefited by this meeting, and said that he was going to live closer to God. The Spirit came in in convicting power, and souls were refreshed.
If every one who holds membership among us had the true experience of the new birth, our work would go much easier than it does. If all were taken in by birth, and not by theory or by climbing up some other way, there would be a mightier power among us to bring souls to a knowledge of this precious truth. While conversion, in a sense, is a daily work, it is an inevitable necessity that we must all be born again, or we can not see the kingdom of God. When the members of the church are all truly converted, there will be no trouble about the unconverted honest souls in the world. This is the rich-and-increased-in-goods age of the church. May the Lord help us all to be thoroughly converted.
The Lord came very close to us on the last Sabbath of the week of prayer. The Holy Spirit came in with power toward the latter part of our meeting as we gave opportunity for those who had relatives and friends for whom they wished prayer offered. He filled the children with his sacred presence, and they arose with praises on their young lips. During the meeting one sister took her stand for the truth, and testified to her determination to follow the Saviour wherever he leads. Then just before closing, another sister arose and said that she would not allow Satan to hold her back any longer, and testified to her purpose of accepting the whole truth of the third angel's message. This week was a week of victories, and we have decided that this shall be a year of prayer, and that the good work shall not stop with a week of prayer.
Last Sabbath it was our great joy to receive six precious souls into the fold. There are others soon to follow. We now have four who are ready for baptism. We are not depending upon help from the outside so much now, but are looking to God to revive the work in this great and needy city of over five hundred thousand souls, where very little is being done.
We expect next Friday night and Sabbath to have Elder K. C. Russell with us, and we are looking for another precious season.
Elder Traugh met with us recently, and gave us very timely instruction for the work in these its last stages. O brethren and sisters, pray for the work in Baltimore! We need your prayers. Our offering amounted to $22.50, to which will doubtless be added $15, making a total of $37.50.