REYNOLDS, GA by C. O. Taylor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 25, 1878

REYNOLDS, GA.

By C. O. Taylor

The truth is still gaining ground in all this section of country. I am invited to new places, and have good and attentive congregations. I spoke twice last Sunday in a place I had visited but once before. I spoke on the evidences of the soon coming of Jesus. The gentleman who had invited me to preach told me they had heard much about my doctrine, and now they wanted to know from me just what I believed. Of course that was just what I wanted to tell them. I speak freely here, without any opposition except that arising from the indifference to Bible truth and the claims of God, which is so common to this age.

The company here that took their stand to keep all the commandments are steadfast, learning more of the message. Since we have had regular appointments in the village, the interest has increased. The influence of our people is being felt for good.

Bro. Samuel P. Mitchell, of Brooks county, writes me to-day from the county jail. He wrote me a few weeks ago that the grand jury had found a bill against him for working on Sunday, and he expected his next would be from the jail. In his card to-day he says: “And I am happy to say I am contented. I have a clear conscience, and harbor animosity against no man. I was sentenced to pay $25.10 or be imprisoned in the county jail for thirty days. Several men kindly offered to pay the fine if I would promise to work no more on Sunday.”

While I was laboring in Brooks county, I was invited to come into that part of the county where Bro. Mitchell lived. An appointment was sent, and given out. Afterwards the Methodist minister who had an appointment there once in four weeks endeavored to get the house closed against me. It belonged to all. The gentleman that took the appointment there by this time became much in earnest, as the Southern people sometimes do, and said I should fill the appointment if he had to fight while I spoke. Bro. M., living some six miles away, hearing there was some difficulty, came, and invited several others, to see that the right and fair thing was done. They knew nothing of my doctrines and had no particular sympathy for me; they only desired to see justice done to a stranger. Bro. M. soon became interested. He was one of the first that commenced to keep the Sabbath there last fall. He has been faithful, doing what he could to keep up the interest and carry it forward. For his honest, Christian course he is now in the county jail for thirty days.

I have always advised those coming to the Sabbath not to be too bold in working on Sunday, as the practice is so very new, and seems strange. The Constitution of this State grants freedom in worshiping God according to the dictates of conscience. The law pronounces labor on Sunday a misdemeanor. Pray for our dear brother, and for the prosperity of the truth, in all this wide Southern field. I trust God will overrule for good. Already it is in papers published in the center of the State, that a man that keeps the seventh day is in jail for working on Sunday.

C. O. TAYLOR.