p. 6 | MICHIGAN by D. H. Lamson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 29, 1876

MICHIGAN

By D. H. Lamson

MEMPHIS.

Bro. Canright left me at this place March 14, with an excellent interest pervading the whole church. On the 18th, thirteen were baptized, young men and women principally, after which the ordinances were celebrated. It was a season of much joy to the church, which was expressed in audible praise and thanksgiving to God and by many tears.

Sabbath, the 25th, seven more were buried with their Lord in baptism; April 1, eight; April 12, one, making twenty-nine in all. All are fully united with the church; and what gives the greatest satisfaction is the evidence of real conversion on the part of all. No pains have been spared to educate them thoroughly in all the requirements of the gospel. The Memphis church exerts a strong moral influence in this part of the State, and they have recently placed themselves in such relations to God that he can bless them. I shall ever pray that the young in this church may never cease to honor the Lord in all their ways. The meetings continued every day for about five weeks from the time of their commencement, each succeeding one increasing in interest.

FLINT.

Came to Flint April 19, and remained over two Sabbaths. The work here from first to last has been one of earnest labor. It seemed for a while as though all was lost. This church was so large at first, and made up of so many and somewhat discordant elements that it seemed almost impossible to create a perfect union. But faithful dealing has accomplished what nothing else could, and the culmination of our hopes was reached at these meetings. Bro. Jones was with me one Sabbath. We re-organized the church. About sixty are in full fellowship, and not far from twenty who observe the Sabbath remain out of the organization. Some of these will be saved to the cause. The s. b. pledge has been reported. About thirty unconverted children and youth are under the influence of the Sabbath-school. Tuesday evening, May 2, baptized two sisters who are happy in the truth.

May 1, I was at Richfield; but three families were represented in this meeting. The object was to arrange s. b.; $40 were pledged, and the treasurer thought it would be increased by others who were not present. Those who pledged did well; no pledge was made last year. The Sabbath-keepers here have no organization, but meet together on the Sabbath; they number seventeen.

GREENWOOD.

Reached this place May 4, and remained here and at Grant until May 10. The school-house being closed against us, as usual, we were compelled to hold our meetings at the house of Bro. John Kearns. The bitterest prejudice prevails here to a great extent; and the right to peaceably worship God is hardly accorded. Almost every indignity has been submitted to by our brethren, even to arrest for Sunday labor. There has been the most complete discomfiture to our enemies whenever the majesty of law has been appealed to, and even a Catholic supervisor became their champion. These things only make them firmer in the faith, and they are slowly increasing in numbers.

Their s. b. pledge last year was $40; this year it is $120. Most of the brethren here are poor. The church, including a branch at Grant, numbers forty members. This branch was organized May 9, with Bro. Levi Bradshaw as leader, and numbers eighteen members. May 6, a little meeting was held on the bank of Black river, and six were baptized. There still remain twenty-five young persons in the families of Sabbath-keepers, unconverted, but some have promised to seek the Lord.

SMITH’S CREEK.

Our meetings here began May 13. Two were baptized after the morning service. This church was once completely organized and for a time prospered, numbering twenty-two members. Through the fall of one, the organization was entirely broken up; a misplaced sympathy proving their ruin as a body. Circumstances have recently changed the feelings of the brethren. The testimony borne was well received, and the few who are left, twelve in number, unite again under the leadership of Bro. Albert Weeks. A Sabbath-school is established; and hope is high that all that has been lost will be regained, and many more added to our number. Indications for good were never better. On the morning of May 15 baptized one. Our aged brother, William Gifford, was with me at Greenwood, Grant, and Smith’s Creek, and helped much.

Met with the young people at Memphis, May 17. All seem to be in earnest in their endeavors to be perfect overcomers. They unite themselves in a society for mutual improvement with regular meetings once a month.

FLINT.

I returned to this place May 19, and remained till the 22d. Held in all six meetings. Sabbath morning nine were baptized. Sunday six more went forward in baptism, after which the ordinances were celebrated. With scarcely an exception, all the members of the church were present, and this first celebration of the ordinances of the Lord’s house was an event never to be forgotten. The church at Flint has had a severe struggle for existence, but has obtained a signal victory. The utmost harmony now prevails, and there are under its watchcare, including youth and children, not less than a hundred and twenty souls. God has heard the cries of his faithful ones and help has been bestowed.

ARMADA.

Held meetings here May 27, 28. Nearly all the Memphis church were present, and some from Rochester. Our house of worship was well filled, and excellent liberty was had in preaching the word. Two good persons accepted the truth. We have no elder nor other ordained officers of the church. The society numbers about fifty, principally sisters, who have but little property under their control. Their s. b. amounts to $130, $100 of which is pledged to the Michigan Conference. This is liberal in view of the fact that they have still a debt of eight hundred dollars to pay on the church within two years. I do not know of a church more willing to do than this; but they have had and still have a heavy burden to carry. There are none who claim full fellowship with us who are not doing what they can. There are, however, some observers of the Sabbath who take no part with us in s. b., and who for various reasons remain outside of the society. Of this class was the gentleman referred to in Bro. Canright’s report from Armada. D. H. LAMSON.