R. J. LAWRENCE by R. J. Lawrence

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 12, 1872

R. J. LAWRENCE

By R. J. Lawrence

Kansas.

My last report was from this place the 15th inst. I found the friends that took hold of the truth one year ago holding on, though somewhat discouraged. The evening after I left, one year ago the first day of the present month, Eld. Raymond, Baptist, commenced a protracted meeting in the same house, and continued three weeks, taking up some of the subjects upon which I had spoken; and with his deacon and another leading member, visited from house to house to persuade those that had embraced the truth to give it up, as I had gone; telling them that if he had not come, this Advent doctrine would have remained here twenty years, and that he was going to get every Jew there was here.

The result was, he got one that professed the truth to join his church by first getting his wife, who was opposed to the truth, to join. And, through her influence, he joined. There were some ten who joined him in all. But the scales of soon began to turn. Eld. R. traded with a Methodist minister, shifting on to him some patent right that proved worthless, for a fine horse. Then he left for a time. The people say that he cheated the minister out of his horse. On his return, he wanted to preach to his people, but they would not hear him. He stopped with one of his members over night, and some one carried away one of his buggy wheels so that he had to ride home on horse-back. I commenced meetings on the evening of the 15th inst., and have continued evenings, save one, and Sabbaths and first-days, until last evening I closed. The interest increased from the commencement to the close. The house has been filled to its utmost capacity. Yesterday and last evening, there were some people here from Clinton, Big Springs, and from near Lecompton, and Topeka, who had just heard that I was here, and they expressed their sorrow that they did not hear before. There are calls in every direction. There is work enough for twenty men if we had them here. Oh! may the Lord respond to the prayer of his people. The Lord greatly blessed in the presentation of the truth. Its enemies seemed to be awed before it. Praise the name of the Lord. I have held sixteen meetings, and the friends of the truth are greatly strengthened and blessed. Some new ones have taken hold.

We met last Friday at Bro. Wm. Lewis's, at ten o'clock, on Dry Creek, where four men and one woman of middle age were baptized in the presence of over one hundred people who had come to witness the scene. These men were converted from the world. Then we met at the house and took the names of twelve persons, all middle-aged persons, heads of families. After examining them satisfactorily their names were attached to the covenant, taking the name of the Seventh-day Adventist church of Big Springs. Bro. John Lewis was elected elder, and Bro. George Kennedy, deacon, on trial. Since then two more have joined, making fourteen; eight men of middle age and, five women, all heads of families, also one little girl. One of them had heard but one sermon in fifteen years, and that was a funeral sermon of his own daughter. He came out to hear, to the astonishment of all. He accepted the truth, was baptized, and is a member. Oh! what a change! He is now clothed and in his right mind.

We organized Systematic Benevolence amounting to over seventy dollars; also a Tract Society, the males paying one dollar and a quarter apiece, exonerating the women from paying, and giving them a membership; thus raising ten dollars for books, for which I gave them thirty dollars' worth of our tracts.

Brethren, pray for these dear friends, that they may stand fast. They are greatly strengthened; they express great joy over the light they have received. May God bless them. Others we expect will join them soon.

R. J. LAWRENCE

Big Springs, Kan., Feb. 26, 1872.