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Genesee Co., Michigan

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 3, 1874

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 43, No. 12.

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Genesee Co., Michigan.

By Edwin R. Jones

Commenced meetings at the Cook school-house in the town of Richfield the twentieth of December last. Have given forty-four discourses. The interest, at first good, increased till the close. Our congregations were large for a country place, averaging about one hundred. The truths spoken affected the people, and nearly all were ready to say that what had been preached was the truth of God's word.
Quite an excitement prevailed in the community around, and, as is usually the case, the doctrines taught at the school-house were the subject of general conversation. The friends were very kind in lighting the house well during the entire meeting, and added to this the more substantial evidence of their love and appreciation of the truth. May they all have the blessing and feel the joy at last of those to whom the Saviour will say, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
The greater part of the people heard the truth gladly. When I spoke on the change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week, showing it to be the work of that blasphemous power which should “think to change times and laws,” and not that of Christ or his apostles, a few were offended, and said it was too bad that I should come here, and break up their church. I replied that, if the unity of their church rested on error in doctrine, the sooner it was broken up the better. Others said, “If preaching ‘the word’ breaks up the church, let it break.” When the test came, several precious souls decided to obey the truth.
About forty were present at our first Sabbath meeting. A short discourse from these words was given, “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.” A social meeting followed, in which nearly all took part. Strong men trembled and wept. There were but few dry eyes in the house. The testimony of all was, The blessing of God is in our meeting.
Seventeen covenanted to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Others have not yet fully decided.
This is the first effort I ever made alone; the blessing of the Lord has attended it, and to him be all the praise.
EDWIN R. JONES.