Success of the Cause

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 10, 1875

Success of the Cause.

THE following from Bro. R. M. Kilgore's report of labors in Calhoun Co., Iowa, will be of interest to the scattered ones who are trying to work for the Master. He says:—

"Here I found a company keeping the Sabbath who have never heard the voice of an authorized minister. This work had been accomplished through the faithful labors and influence of Bro. N. R. Rigby. I remained a week and preached twelve discourses, at the close of which great interest was manifested to hear more, and by a unanimous vote I was invited to return at the earliest opportunity, which, the Lord willing, I shall do."

Bro. C. H. Chaffee reports that he and Bro. Long are now closing up a series of meetings in Union Star, Dekalb Co., Mo., and that ten or twelve are now keeping the Sabbath. They soon expect to return to Daviess Co., where the interest is good and openings are plenty.

In a report of labors in Northern Mich., Bro. R. J. Lawrence says that since last November he has held eighty-six meetings and organized two churches, and the brethren in various places seem strengthened and encouraged.

Bro. Geo. I. Butler reports from Allenton, Mo., as follows:—

"During the last two or three months, I have not been actively engaged in ministerial labor, but have been mainly at home. I gave a course of lectures at New London, Iowa, ten miles from Mt. Pleasant, of about four weeks duration. A few embraced the truth, and two or three have joined the Mt. Pleasant church as the result. After this I remained at home, working with my hands considerably, which I have found a great physical benefit to me after three years of quite active mental labor. I preached to the church on the Sabbath during this time. This, with the exception of a few meetings with the Knoxville church, when there on personal business, is all the labor I have bestowed in the cause during the time above mentioned.

"I have recently come to this place, intending to labor with Bro. Nelson W. Allen the coming season in an entirely new field in Eastern and Central Missouri. Bro. Allen has lectured some here and at another place, and twelve or fifteen, I believe, are keeping the Sabbath as the result. While waiting for the tent, I am holding some meetings here to deepen the work already begun. We think seriously of setting up the tent in Rolla, where he used to act as professor in the college. We hope that those who listened to the teachings of science may be interested in that which is of such deep importance, the great truths of the third angel's message. We hope for God's blessing in bringing the truth before the people.

"As for myself, the truthfulness of our position never looked clearer to me than now. I never felt more determined to labor earnestly in this cause than now. I have looked over the groundwork and felt the pillars of our faith, and they never seemed more solid than now. There is no other way but to go forward in courage and in faith. No doubt there are discouragements to surmount, difficulties to be met, battles to be fought. Was there ever a good cause in which there were not plenty of these? The hosts of evil are mighty, and our trembling souls may shake at times when we view them; but the mighty God of Jacob alone is a majority; leaning on his arm we can prevail."

From the report of the general quarterly meeting of the Michigan T. and M. Society, held at Potterville, May 8, 9, we learn that Bro. and sister White were present at that meeting, and were in the enjoyment of health and good spirits. After the business of the society had been transacted Bro. White made some very "important remarks as to the propriety of accepting names for our periodicals without some evidence that they would be read with care and interest besides the accustomed 'yes' which is often said through courtesy, without giving the subject further thought." Bro. and sister White also each gave two solemn and instructive discourses at the meeting well calculated to inspire courage in all the T. and M. workers.