REPORT FROM BRO. R. F. ANDREWS.
By R. F. Andrews
I HAVE just returned from Aledo, Mercer Co., Ill., after an absence of ten weeks. Held sixty meetings, and made about double that many visits. We had to labor against bitter prejudice and determined opposition. The Methodists held a protracted meeting nearly all the time our meetings were in session. Every effort was made that could be, to keep the people away. And some of those who did come out to hear, and were convinced of the truth, and had determined to obey it, were labored with by some of the ministers of the place, and informed that it would “be greatly against their worldly interests to keep the seventh-day Sabbath.” These same ministers have no doubt told their congregations that it would profit them nothing if they should gain the whole world and lose their own souls. Why use such an argument as this to overthrow the claims of the Lord’s Sabbath? Evidently because it was the best they had, and one that weighs about as much as any other with the people of this worldly and covetous age. Eld. Taylor, Methodist, preached four discourses, on four successive first-days, against the Lord’s Sabbath, and in favor of Sunday-keeping. At his first meeting I distributed one hundred and fifty copies of that excellent tract entitled, God’s Memorial. In his second discourse he attempted to review the tract, and told the people that if they thought best, he could have it printed. At his third meeting he brought forward two hundred copies of a tract purporting to be a review of “God’s Memorial,” written by Bro. White, which were distributed at the close of the meeting. I also had quite a good assortment of tracts at the meeting for distribution. Before the meeting broke up I told the people that all who wished for the tract that Eld. Taylor had reviewed, that I would be very happy to furnish them with it free, and requested them to take it along and sew it and the review together, and to put a paper cover over them, so that all who read one might have an opportunity of reading both. Many were thus taken. I trust that good may yet result from their distribution. The zeal and determination that is manifested to turn away the people from the truth, is astonishing. Oh! that God may help his people to arouse themselves, to work with all their hearts while the day lasts; for it may soon be too late to work. Our effort did not near accomplish what we desired, still we have reason to hope that the labor bestowed was not entirely lost. There was not a Sabbath-keeper in the place when we commenced our meeting. There are now about twenty that have decided, in the Lord’s strength, to walk in obedience to all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, a number of whom never enlisted in the service of God before. God grant that they all may be faithful till the Master comes. I sold about $24.00 worth of our publications, besides distributing quite a number of tracts and small pamphlets free. I got eleven new subscribers for the REVIEW, and three for the Reformer. Bro. Harvey Morrison, of Marion Co., Iowa, assisted me much at this meeting. Our labor together was most agreeable. The dear friends in Aledo have a warm place in my heart. Oh! that they may so live that their lives may win others to the truth.