p. 16 | North Carolina by R. T. Nash

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 20, 1910

North Carolina

By R. T. Nash

CLEVELAND, MOUNT VERNON, AND TEAGUES.—July 10 A. G. Holmes and wife and the writer opened meetings in a tent at Cleveland. We had a small attendance, but the Lord helped us, and the interest increased gradually until the tent effort merged into the camp-meeting. At this point three souls had begun to obey the Sabbath truth. At the opening of the camp-meeting Brother Holmes and wife left us on account of his failing health. Brother and Sister Burton Church became my permanent helpers after camp-meeting. Elder G. W. Wells helped in following up the interest at Cleveland, and made us occasional visits after we moved the tent to Mount Vernon and later to Teagues.

These visits were appreciated by us, and his help was timely, as the campaign was long and the attendance good from the time we opened at Mount Vernon until we closed at Teagues the night of November 28.

We opened Sabbath-school in the tent before leaving Cleveland, and it was later transferred to a building. We visited the believers at Cleveland as often as we could while we were pushing the work at Mount Vernon, and later at Teagues. We likewise encouraged the new converts at Mount Vernon, and as we dropped out Monday nights in our tent effort after moving to Teagues, we employed them in holding meetings at the Mount Vernon schoolhouse. When the interest was at its height at Teagues, a Christian (Disciple) minister, a pastor of a near-by church, challenged me for a debate on “all the Seventh-day Adventist doctrine.” He was perhaps provoked to do this on account of some of his members becoming interested in the truth. I did not desire to debate, but reluctantly accepted the challenge. The Lord fought for us, and complete victory for the truth was gained. Four of the Disciple church-members have accepted the Sabbath truth.

There are now believers in the three places, the largest number being at Teagues. At this place, after taking down our tent, we had the free use of the schoolhouse, but opposition has arisen, and the schoolhouse is now closed against us. The prospect of this caused us to begin planning for a church building. It seemed advisable to build at Teagues, and later to organize a church there, to accommodate the brethren at all three places for the present. The farthest point from Teagues is Cleveland, eight miles distant, so on quarterly occasions all can attend the services. At these three places, there are thirty-three children and young people and twenty-three adults who are keeping the Sabbath. Nine of this number have already united with the church. Others are nearly ready to take this important step. Land has been donated for a church building, and over two hundred dollars has been subscribed in lumber, labor, and money. We are now hauling logs to the mill, and hauling the lumber to the building site.

The entire campaign has caused little expense, as the people have given their labor and furnished teams to move our tent both times, and many kindnesses have been shown us, for which we praise God and thank those who have often supplied our needs. Brethren, pray for the work in this part of God's vineyard.

R. T. NASH.