Meetings in Northern Michigan.
By John H. Waggoner
According to appointment, Bro. Littlejohn and myself left Battle Creek at 3:30, A. M., Feb. 3, and the same day went to Greenbush. Found Sr. Richmond very sick, and suffering greatly, yet patient and resigned. I regretted that we had so short a time to visit with this afflicted family, but we had to go further to the place of meeting of that evening. Bro. Sevy’s room was crowded with hearers, who listened attentively to a discourse on Heb. 10:38. Next day we went to Ithaca, where the friends have erected a very convenient and good-sized house. Their first house was, fortunately, insured; had it not been, they would hardly have been able to build the second. At Ithaca our meetings were good and pleasant; several were there from Jay. No distracting influences to hinder, and no trials to disturb. The churches in this county have had some trying experiences in the past, and events have fully proved the judiciousness of recalling the license of one given at the last State Conference. And I think our former impressions as stated in regard to this person some years since, are also proved to be correct: that a person who has once developed a licentious disposition cannot be trusted with this sacred work. We must deal plainly and faithfully in such matters. The perils of the last days are pressing too closely to admit of any compromise with such conduct. Somewhat against our convictions of duty, we were persuaded to let an appointment be given for us for Monday evening, the 7th, in the Academy Hall, in St. Louis. But when we arrived there and found that it was required of us to preach somebody else’s faith, which we considered both arbitrary and indefinite, and only calculated to open the door for contention, we felt free to refuse to speak. We should think it very injudicious to attack anybody’s peculiar faith, or open a special argument in favor of our own, under the circumstances, having but a single appointment in a strange place. But I cannot preach under dictation. If indiscreet or inexperienced persons think they can advance the cause by laboring in that manner, they may yet rest assured that such efforts will never be seconded by any who have had years of experience in this work. This work is often greatly hindered by injudicious labor in new places, by those who think their object is gained, if they but speak their views in others’ congregations, when they have not the time, perhaps not the ability, to fortify their arguments or meet objections. Feb. 8, we took stage for Midland, and at the pleasant home of Bro. Baily I found opportunity to write, a couple of days. Our meetings commenced at Jay, Thursday, the 10th, where I continued to speak without intermission till the 17th, during which time were presented the main points of our faith, the object being to show the harmony of the whole as a system, and so free the cause here from the influence of cavillers and fault-finders. As Bro. Littlejohn was to remain94while I went to Tuscola Co., he chose not to take any part in the preaching while I was in Jay. My trip to Tuscola Co. was very laborious, yet pleasant, as my visits always have been with that people; though the weather was stormy and severely cold most of the time. In Watrousville they have a neat, commodious house of worship. By an unfortunate calculation, it was built too low. Otherwise it is well designed and executed. Proper ventilation cannot possibly be obtained in a low room where many people are congregated. As our people are perhaps the poorest denomination in the place, and have been the first to erect a house of worship, it speaks well for their interest in the cause. The church at Vassar very much need a house, and are taking steps to obtain one. The meetings were well attended in Watrousville, where the house was dedicated on Sunday, the 20th. The house, with all extra seats, was filled; and had not the storm been unusually tedious, there would not have been room for the people. On Monday, I went to Tuscola, where I preached in the Methodist house, to a very attentive congregation. This closed my labor in that county. So far as I can judge, and from all that I heard, there is a more favorable opening in Tuscola county to present the truth now than there has ever been before. The 22d, I returned to Jay, almost prostrated by continuous labor. Here we remained another week. The Tittabawassee church (Jay) has long labored under great discouragements on account of a reckless, disorganizing spirit in its midst. Some of the heavy burdens were thrown off during these meetings, and as their past unhappy experience has proved to them the necessity of order and discipline, we trust they may now go forward, and raise the standard of piety much higher than it has hitherto been among them. We confidently look for happier days—days of peace and love, and freedom from the spirit of contention—for that church. But they must press together, watching unto prayer, striving to learn more and drink deeper of the spirit of the third angel’s message. If, indeed, it is present truth, as we firmly believe, we cannot get our hearts too deeply imbued with its sacred influence, to prepare us to stand amid the terrors of the great day. Monday, 28, we returned to Battle Creek, thankful for the evident tokens of God’s blessing with us in our meetings, and most happy to find all things favorable in the Office and the church. For myself I greatly need more rest than I can expect to get at present. The following preamble and resolutions are published by request of the Tittabawassee church: Whereas, By an oversight in letting the job for building the meeting-house, no reserve was made for resting on it upon the Sabbath, and, although it was let to one who did so work on it upon the Sabbath, it passed into the hands of another, by reason whereof labor was done on our house of worship, even while we were worshipping near by, the church taking no steps to prevent such Sabbath labor; and Whereas, We believe that it was a reproach in the sight of the world, and an offense against God, and that, by so grieving the Spirit of God, the growth and prosperity of the church has been hindered, and darkness has been over us; therefore, Resolved, That we hereby publicly confess our error in this thing; and would humble ourselves before God, and unitedly and earnestly pray him to forgive us the wrong we have done against his law, and the example we have set before the world, and to restore unto us the joy of his salvation, and to accept our humiliation and our renewed consecration of this house to his worship and glory. (Carried unanimously.) Resolved, That the above be published in the ADVENT REVIEW.