p. 174 | Michigan by I. D. Van Horn

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 14, 1871

Michigan.

By I. D. Van Horn

On Wednesday, Oct. 18, I left home to fill my appointment in Tuscola county. At East Saginaw I made a short call at Dr. Hough's and found them in great affliction. Sr. Hough was quite low with the typhoid fever, and her daughter, Sr. Bartholomew, was very sick. We had a good praying season with them.

Bro. Fisher found me here and took me to his good home in Tuscola.

We held seven meetings with the few that still remain faithful in this place. On the Sabbath, quite a number from Vassar and Watrousville were with us. We enjoyed a free and happy time in the Lord. Evening after the Sabbath we celebrated the ordinances, and it was a blessed, happy season to us all.

I found them free from trials, and trying with a good degree of zeal to maintain their meetings and support the cause. May the Lord perfect them in love and save them in his glorious kingdom.

At Vassar we held six meetings with good results. Found a few of the members of this church in a cold and formal state; but the most of them are alive and active in the work. They are making great sacrifices to build them a meeting house. They have it enclosed and almost ready to plaster. They have everything nearly paid for to complete it. When it is done it will be a nice, substantial building of good size. As a general thing this church are doing well in keeping up their meetings and in supporting the cause. There was a good interest with quite a good many outside to hear the truth. After their house is completed, I am satisfied it would be a good place to hold a course of lectures for the benefit of the church, and many others outside, who seem to have an interest to investigate the truth.

At Watrousville we held seven meetings, and all who attended them could testify that the Lord was present with us by his good Spirit. Quite a number of this church are on the background. Discouragement has come over them and they have neglected duty. They are quite free from trials however, and they very much need a good revival meeting. A two-days' meeting is not long enough to wake them up and get all engaged in the work as they should be. The people outside turned out in large numbers and crowded our house of worship full to overflowing (for all could not get seats,) at our public meetings. I think a good revival meeting would bring many of them into the truth.

On Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 30, 31, I held three meetings in Fairgrove, eight miles north of Watrousville. Our business meeting on Tuesday was attended with good results. Some difficulties were settled up, and a church of sixteen was organized, except the electing and ordaining an elder. We re-arranged their Systematic Benevolence so that it now amounts to $72.28 per year. I left them a happy little company.

I know no better field of labor than Tuscola county. The people turn out well and seem to have an ear to hear. The Tract Society is doing a good work with our books. They have already seen fruits of their labor. May the good work go on, and may the Lord's blessing attend it.

I. D. VAN HORN.

Lapeer, Mich., Nov. 3, 1871.