Meetings in the East by Stephen N. Haskell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 28, 1913

Meetings in the East

By Stephen N. Haskell

The first week after General Conference we spent Sabbath and Sunday with the church at Keene, N. H. Many pleasant memories of my younger days were revived by visiting this place.

We had good meetings on the Sabbath. Sunday we held a missionary meeting. Brother Royer, the tract society secretary, was present with a good display of message-filled literature. The brethren and sisters appreciated the effort Brother Royer had made in bringing the books to them, and cheerfully bought his entire stock.

As they left the meeting, many carried an armful of books and, what was better still, a heart full of love for souls and a determination to work for the salvation of their neighbors.

From June 26 to July 4 we attended the Massachusetts camp-meeting at Lowell. Lowell was the home of Timothy Cole. Mr. Cole was in charge of a popular church in Lowell, and hearing of William Miller’s power in speaking, in the summer of 1839 he invited Mr. Miller to visit Lowell and hold meetings in his church. From the reports of Mr. Miller’s success, Mr. Cole expected him to look like a distinguished doctor of divinity. When he saw Mr. Miller in his homely attire, he was ashamed to walk by his side in the street, and walked ahead, letting Mr. Miller follow. In the evening Mr. Cole took his seat in the audience, leaving Mr. Miller to go alone into the pulpit and open his own meeting; but when he had heard him expound the Scriptures for about fifteen minutes, he walked up into the pulpit and took his seat. Timothy Cole was ever after an eloquent proclaimer of the first angel’s message.

It was at Lowell, also, during this same visit, that William Miller became acquainted with Josiah Litch. Lowell was mightily stirred by the preaching of the first angel’s message, and it was with no small interest that I viewed the encampment located on the edge of this old battle-field in the first message.

We earnestly pray that as a result of the camp-meeting, together with the labors of the earnest company of workers left on the ground to follow up the interest, many souls may take their stand to obey the Lord.

From the beginning the meetings were good. Missionaries from Japan, India, Burma, and Africa were present, and spoke of the work in their fields, which added much to the interest of the meeting, and brought the needs of the work in the foreign fields vividly before our brethren.

The spiritual and missionary interest was good throughout all the meetings. Some who had thought they could not sell literature purchased sets of books when offered from the desk, and found that they could do good work with the literature.

Sabbath and Sunday, July 19 and 20, we held meetings with the Haverhill (Mass.) church. They have a neat church building and are trying to reduce the debt by selling literature. Sabbath, July 26, my wife and I met with the Somerville church in the forenoon, and with the Boston church in the afternoon.

I remember attending general meetings in Somerville about fifty years ago; but it is many years since death, apostasy, and removals have obliterated the last trace of the company of fifty years ago. About three years ago Elder A. E. Sanderson and a company of workers opened work in Somerville, and there is now a strong church in that place. Elder Sanderson has always made it his practise to scatter large quantities of literature in connection with his preaching efforts, and as a result he has a live, working church.

As I looked over the company assembled Sabbath afternoon in Tremont Temple, Boston, vivid memories of the members of the first Boston church crowded into my mind. I thought of Sister Temple, to whom the testimony on “Deceitfulness of Riches,” in “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. II, was given many years ago. Of her the Lord said, “I have proved her in poverty and affliction, and she has not separated herself from me, nor rebelled against me. I will now prove her with prosperity. I will reveal to her a page of the human heart with which she is unacquainted. I will show her that money is the most dangerous foe she has ever met. I will reveal to her the deceitfulness of riches; that they are a snare, even to those who feel that they are secure from selfishness, and proof against exaltation, extravagance, pride, and love of the praise of men.” Many besides this dear sister have been given this same test. Years ago I preached her funeral sermon, and we laid her to rest at peace with God and her fellow men. But the Lord had to remove her prosperity in order to draw her to him.

When I remember the faithful souls who belonged to the early Boston church, whose prayers for the work in that city are still lodged on heaven’s altar, and then read the earnest appeals from the servant of the Lord saying, “Instruction has been given me that the message should go again with power in the cities in the Eastern States,” I feel like saying, “How long, O Lord,” before that day will come?

Sabbath and Sunday, August 2 and 3, we spent at the Jewish Home at Concord, Mass. The family at that time numbered about twenty, several of them being Jews. Elder Gilbert has recently erected a building large enough to accommodate the printing-office on the first floor and a food factory on the second floor. They expect to print literature in the Yiddish and Hebrew, and are hoping to sell enough of the health foods to help carry the expense of the printing.

The Jews who embrace Christianity are immediately cut off from all their friends. The object of having the industries connected with the home is to furnish employment for those who are cast out of their homes, until they can secure positions where they can keep the Sabbath.

There is a great work to be done in a short time, and all need to arouse and work for souls. One of the most important things today is to encourage our lay members to work for the souls in their immediate neighborhood, and thus all help swell the loud cry of the message.

S. N. HASKELL.