Illinois by M. G. Huffman

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 25, 1902

Illinois

By M. G. Huffman

At the last General Conference it was recommended that I make Illinois my field of labor. In harmony with that recommendation I came to this State, and began laboring in the southern part of it, in company with Brother Charles Thompson. My first summer’s work was at Mt. Erie, where Brother Thompson and I held a series of tent meetings. The Lord blessed our efforts there, and some dear souls were brought to see the present truth, and by God’s Spirit were impressed to accept it.

In the latter part of last winter and in the early part of last spring, my time was spent in the second campaign for “Christ’s Object Lessons.” The Lord blessed my efforts in that work, and I gained some rich experiences while canvassing for that wonderful book. I canvassed mostly ministers, doctors, and business men, in the cities of Decatur, Springfield, Peoria, and Bloomington. I have received many testimonials, mostly from ministers, highly recommending the book, and wishing me much success in placing it in the homes of the people.

June 18, 1902, Brother Victor Thompson and I pitched a tent at Loami, and held meetings for eight weeks. The Lord blessed our efforts, and a goodly number accepted the truth.

I next attended the camp meeting held at Springfield, August 28 to September 7. My family came from Battle Creek, Mich., to attend the camp meeting; and after the meeting was over, I located my family in the city of Springfield, as the church there engaged Mrs. Huffman to teach the church school.

Since the camp meeting I have labored at Springfield, Loami, Bloomington, Peoria, Petersburg, Lewistown, and Tallula. The Lord blessed, and good meetings were held at all these places. At Loami we organized a Sabbath school with a full corps of officers. We also organized the believers there into a company, and appointed Brother Henry Calliar as leader, and Sister George Turner clerk and treasurer. One good characteristic of the little company at Loami is that they seem anxious to learn the way, and are rejoicing in the light. Tobacco, tea, coffee, and swine’s flesh have been discarded by nearly every one, and we have reason to hope that those who have not yet laid aside these unnecessary things, yea, these hurtful things, will soon do so. The company are in harmony with the tithing system, and are returning to the Lord his own.

At Peoria I found Brother and Sister Craig treating the sick. They have all they can do, and the Lord is surely blessing their efforts. I baptized three dear souls while there. The Lord greatly blessed in our meetings at Lewistown. Little prejudice existed there, and that little is giving way, and a more lenient feeling toward our people is taking possession of the public, for which we praise the Lord. The Christian people kindly granted us the use of their house in which to preach on Sunday forenoon and evening. We had a splendid hearing at both services, and are sure that a good impression was left on the minds of the people. We held the quarterly meeting with the Lewistown church.

I spoke once at Petersburg in the Baptist church to a good congregation of attentive listeners. We have one faithful sister in that town. We hope sometime to see the truth preached in Petersburg, and a good company of believers raised up there. I am now at Tallula, and the Baptists have kindly offered us their beautiful church in which to hold our meetings. Heretofore all efforts to get a church in Tallula in which to preach have been fruitless. Many tell us that they will attend our meetings.

My courage in the third angel’s message was never better, and I do praise my Heavenly Father for the blessed privilege he grants me in having some humble part in his work. May God help us all to proclaim the glorious message for to-day, and thus hasten the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to take his children home.

M. G. HUFFMAN.