Report of Meetings by John Lindsay; S. A. H. Lindsay

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 6, 1870

Report of Meetings

By John Lindsay; S. A. H. Lindsay

August 11 to 14, we spent with the church at Genoa, N. Y. Held five meetings which were very interesting, and we trust, profitable. This church has been favored with but little labor for a long time; they were enjoying a season of quiet, a something almost to be coveted by many sister churches who are passing through deep trials.

Sabbath, Sept. 3, we enjoyed an excellent social meeting with the church at Ulysses, Pa.

Sunday, Sept. 4, in the evening, attended the Seventh-day Baptist Quarterly Meeting at Scio, N. Y. We admired the apparent candor of the speaker, although we could not indorse all that he said. We earnestly pray the God of truth to shed more light upon this honest young preacher.

Sept. 7-11, attended the S. D. Baptist General Conference, but spent the intervening Sabbath with the family of Bro. Sylvester Thomas, near Friendship. This brother embraced the truth through the influence of the meetings held in Belfast, last winter. He was thrown out of employment because of his adherence to the Bible Sabbath, and was compelled to seek a livelihood elsewhere. Himself and wife, and one daughter, appear to be devout lovers of the truth.

Sept. 17 and 18, attended quarterly meeting with the Ulysses church. This was a season of blessing and encouragement to us all. This church has been greatly blessed during the summer past. The Holy Spirit has wrought a complete revolution, and backsliders have been moved by his power to return to the Lord. Bless his holy name.

Oct. 15, held meetings with the Farmington church. This people need a revival of living faith, and a spirit of labor, if they would desire the cause of truth to prosper in their midst.

Oct. 16-20, held meetings at Beecher's Island, with good interest. We were here interrupted by the sickness of our little girl, so that we could neither continue meetings at this place, nor fill our appointments at Catlin. We trust, however, that even this has been for the glory of God, inasmuch as the people are eyewitnesses of the fact that even the dangerously sick can get well without medicine. After an interval of ten days, we commenced meetings again; but found ourselves so much worn by our care and labor for our sick child, that we were unable to continue them. We were then impressed that it was duty to look after the scattered ones, and decided to spend one Sabbath at Wheeler, and one at Catlin, holding meetings as we might be able. At Wheeler, the brethren are so scattered that they meet only once a month; and having no appointment ahead of us, we were unable to get them together. We found Bro. J. W. Raymond busy with the cares of this life. From there we went to Beaver Dam, and visited the widowed mother of our deceased sister Jane S. Beecher. This dear sister, although very lonely, having buried her husband and daughter only eight days apart, and so short a time since, still is able to recognize the wisdom and goodness of God in her bereavement, and to find strong consolation in the promises of the gospel.

Nov. 11-13, held meetings at Catlin. Here the Methodist people were making a protracted effort, so that we could do but little more than speak a few words of encouragement to the church, and stir up their minds by way of remembrance.

As we review the field covered by this report, we are reminded of the wants of the cause. There is great need of labor and a setting of things in order. An efficient minister is needed to complete the work of organization, and to ordain elders in every church. Some of the churches have not celebrated the ordinances for several years. May the Lord in his own time send us the needed help, and give us, his unworthy children, patience to wait.

JOHN LINDSAY. S. A. H. LINDSAY.