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To the Brethren in Illinois

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 5, 1874

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 43, No. 21.

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To the Brethren in Illinois.

By John H. Bennett; Lucius Winston; R. F. Andrews

DEAR BRETHREN: The time is fast approaching for our yearly meeting, and as it draws near we hope you are making all the needful preparations, so you can attend without fail. Let no trifling excuse prevent your attending. Make worldly interests give place to the worship of God and the benefiting of your own souls. You cannot afford to lose the good you may gain by attending. Just say to the world as Abraham did to his young men, “Abide ye here,” while we “go yonder and worship.”
We have done the very best we could in locating the place of meeting after considering the matter carefully. There is no good reason why we should not have a general turnout from every part of the State. What if it does take a few days to get to the meeting. It is a release from hard labor, and affords an excellent opportunity for self-examination, meditation, and prayer. Let us make an earnest effort to redeem the past. Those who are able should provide themselves with good duck tents; it would be well if every family could have one; but if this is not practicable, let two or more families join together, or even a whole church.
And to our brethren who are not in circumstances to provide themselves with tents, and to the lonely and scattered ones generally, we say, Come, and we will do the very best we can by you. Let none stay away because they cannot bring a tent. We should make an earnest effort to interest every one to come to the meeting that we have any reason to believe could be benefited, and try to get so near to God ourselves that we can have a good measure of his Holy Spirit to bring with us. Come, dear brethren and sisters, let us entreat God to make this the best meeting ever held in the State, and a great blessing to us and the means of salvation to many who are now out of the fold of Christ.
JOHN H. BENNETT, Ill. LUCIUS WINSTON, Conf. R. F. ANDREWS. Com.