New York by J. F. Piper

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 27, 1910

New York

By J. F. Piper

ROCHESTER.—From October 15 to November 7 the writer, in company with the conference president, visited a number of churches in western New York in the interest of the work in the great cities in our conference. In several places the signal blessing of God was witnessed, when hearts were made tender as the call of God was heralded: “Behold the cities, and their need of our gospel!” The need of earnest laborers among the multitudes of the cities has been kept before me for more than twenty years. . . . Instruction has been given me that the message should go again with power in the cities in the Eastern States. In many of the large cities of the East the first and second angels’ messages were proclaimed during the 1844 movement. To us, as God’s servants, has been entrusted the third angel’s message, the binding-off message, that is to prepare a people for the coming of the King. We are to make every effort to give a knowledge of the truth to all who will hear; and there are many who will listen. All through the large cities God has honest souls who are interested in what is truth. . . .

“Now, when the Lord bids us proclaim the message once more with power in the East, when he bids us enter the cities of the East, and of the South, and of the West, and of the North, shall we not respond as one man and do his bidding? Shall we not plan to send our messengers all through these fields and support them liberally? Shall not the ministers of God go into these crowded centers, and there lift up their voices in warning the multitudes?”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, pages 97-99.

Rochester, N. Y., was one of the cities in which the first and second angels’ messages were preached. In the early part of 1844, while Wm. Miller was preaching the prophecies to hundreds in this city, the city churches united against the message; and to counteract the work of Mr. Miller, instituted the modern church festival, in the basement of one of the churches, and sold in connection with their system, ice-cream, and cake, a little booklet opposing the doctrine of Christ’s soon coming.

The truth of God has met with many conflicts in this city; however, it has survived, and we have to-day a growing church here, which has recently purchased a substantial frame church building from the Baptist people. A number of churches in this conference rallied in a substantial way to support the work in Rochester.

We know there are brighter days for this struggling church. And if each one will do his God-given duty faithfully, the Lord will bless us, and souls will be converted.

J. F. Piper.