p. 142 | ILLINOIS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 1, 1879

ILLINOIS

Greenup, April 20.—Closed meetings last Sabbath. Spoke thirteen times. Three decided to obey. Two united with the church. The seeds of truth had been previously planted, and the Lord gave the increase. The brethren are of good cheer, and if they continue to “grow in grace,” others will be added to their number. “Nearer my God to thee” should be the prayer of the “remnant church.”

A. A. JOHN.

Clarksville, McLean Co., April 20.—For several weeks I have been laboring in and around this place, in the neighborhood of Gridley church. It was a hard field, as many had heard the truth and rejected it, and some of the members of the church had been unfaithful. For some time in the past there had been no Sabbath meetings or Sabbath-school held here, and they had not attended the ordinances for over two years. By the blessing of the Lord on our labors in public and private, a little company of sixteen signed a covenant to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and to unite in church fellowship. Their former elder resigned his office, and a leader was chosen. Regular Sabbath meetings were established, a Sabbath-school of twenty-seven members was organized, and two were added to the church by baptism. Sabbath, the 12th, we celebrated the ordinances. The falling tear showed that these friends appreciate these long-neglected means of grace. Twelve signed the pledge to pay a tithe of their income to sustain the cause. Ten copies of the Youth's Instructor were taken, to be used in the Sabbath-school. In our public labors much prejudice was removed.

I go from here to the State quarterly T. and M. meeting. My address is Winslow, Stephenson Co., Ill.

J. F. BALLENGER.