Florida by Carlyle B. Haynes

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 24, 1913

Florida

By Carlyle B. Haynes

JACKSONVILLE.—The city effort for Jacksonville, which has been held in Morocco Temple for the last nine weeks, came to an end last night, with a large and attentive audience. When beginning this effort, the writer and the workers associated with him earnestly prayed that it might be a city effort indeed, one which would reach the entire city and bring to the attention of all the inhabitants the truths of the final message. The writer also prayed that we might find at least fifty souls who would accept this message. God has wonderfully answered our prayers in both respects, as well as in many other things.

Through the medium of the newspaper this effort has been made a city effort. Every sermon delivered has received no less than a column and a half report in the paper, and many sermons have received more. Last night’s sermon took up more than two solid columns. There have been sixty consecutive reports in the paper, day after day. This paper covers not only the city, but also the State of Florida, and we have received letters of inquiry from many widely separated places in Florida from persons who have been reading the sermons. We feel that the remarkable work which we have seen accomplished through the newspaper is due alone to the blessing of God.

Among those who have accepted the message are four preachers, three of them colored. The colored people have had the privilege of occupying the gallery at these meetings, and as a result there are nine colored persons who have accepted the Sabbath, including the three preachers just mentioned.

The white clergyman is an ordained minister of another denomination. He and his wife are rejoicing in the truth. He is at the head of an orphans’ home in Denton, Ga. He is planning to attend the General Conference session.

Several visitors in Jacksonville accepted the truth, some of whom have already returned to their homes in other States, and others will do so soon,—one going to Canada, two to North Carolina, two to Missouri, two to Pennsylvania, and four to Georgia. The other converts, we trust, will unite with the church here. We are planning for a baptismal service in about two weeks.

Fifty meetings, in all, have been held in Morocco Temple, which is one of the most magnificent assembly-halls in the South. We have paid for the rent of this hall $1,500, or $30 for each meeting. In addition to this the expenses have been $284.08, making our total expenses for the effort $1,284.08.

The total contributions received amount to $1,369.82. Thus these meetings have cost the conference, exclusive of laborers’ salaries, the sum of $414.26. This will be made up in a few months by the tithe, which many of the new members have already begun to pay.

The effort has resulted not only in the converts we can now count, but also in awakening an interest in the truth on the part of thousands in every part of this great State. In answer to earnest prayer he has poured out upon us his bountiful blessings. All honor and praise belong to him alone.

CARLYLE B. HAYNES.