REPORT FROM BRO. WHITE by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 30, 1867

REPORT FROM BRO. WHITE.

By James White

Since my last report I have, through the blessing of God, been very active. I have worked from six to twelve hours each day, and have enjoyed blessed sleep from six to nine hours each night. Fifth and sixth days, July 18 and 19, I did more haying than for twenty years. I mowed some, helped Willie and Mrs. W. rake an acre, and pitched three small loads, in all more than a ton, and put it into a stack. My work has been haying, plowing, grading about the house, hoeing, and putting down carpets. The past week's labor, with the mercury nearly one hundred, was a little too much for me.

I left home sixth-day afternoon for Bushnell, too weary to enjoy the rough road, hence my rest was imperfect the second night. We were kindly received and treated in a hospitable manner by Bro. Stephen Alchin and family.

The brethren had fitted up a beautiful grove where about sixty Sabbath-keepers assembled from this region. I spoke to them one hour and a half on the subject of baptism. The attention was good. In the afternoon I spoke for about half an hour on the same subject, and Mrs. W. followed for an hour. Then the brethren enjoyed a social meeting. We were all glad to see and hear from Bro. and sister Strong at this meeting.

The brethren in Bushnell had fallen into rather a low, discouraged state, and were in much need of help. The ordinances, as proposed, were not celebrated. We have appointed next Sabbath and first-day, the 27th and 28th, to meet with them. Bro. and sister Strong will join us. We are glad to say that not one who commenced to keep the Sabbath in Bushnell has left it, yet nine had become about as dead as they could be and show signs of spiritual life. Our meetings will help them. Mrs. W. read a plain and affectionate testimony to them, which was apparently received, and two dear brethren stated their resolutions publicly to abandon the “filthy weed.” We expect to see such idols laid aside by this people, and they and their children buried in a watery grave, to arise and walk in newness of life.

Harvest and haying are pressing, and the brethren felt that they must return and resume their work Sunday morning. It was questioned whether we should remain and speak to the people Sunday. I submitted the matter to the friends in Bushnell, and ten out of sixteen voted for a meeting.

As we rode to the grove Sunday morning I stated that I should preach to the trees and probably twenty-five persons. But judge of my surprise to find all seated and waiting at least one hundred and twenty-five people, as attentive and intelligent as we ever addressed. This township has less than two hundred voters, and our appointments reached them by one single letter at the post-office only three days in advance of the meeting. Next first-day I expect to meet in that grove a large assembly, as the appointment will now go out by the help of hand bills.

On first-day our freedom was complete, as we spoke one hour, followed by Mrs. W. for three-fourths of an hour. The mercury stood at one hundred and ten, yet in the shade of the oak and pine, with a gentle breeze fanning us, it was comfortable. Compare such a meeting with seventy-five packed in the log school house and fifty standing outside, the minister sweltering, panting, fainting, till he is in a condition to preach his sweating, drowsy, nodding congregation into a profound slumber. Brethren, let us have a grove meeting or two in every place where you have not a good house of worship.

On the way home we were glad to find gathered, by a poor family, two gallons of the red raspberry, the most we had seen for twenty five years. We expect to find gathered for us to-morrow a bushel more, all of which are to be preserved in Mason's two quart glass cans. This fruit is delicious, and much cheaper than pork.

I retired last night at nine, slept till ten, awoke and heard the family still at work securing the raspberries and blueberries in cans. I dropped asleep in five minutes and enjoyed the unconscious state till the robins began their notes at four in the morning. Six hours' sleep without a disturbance, dream or pain! As I awoke and saw the crimson eastern horizon, my exclamation was, Thank God for sweet sleep! One year since I might obtain an hour's imperfect sleep in the night, in naps, (with long hours between them,) of ten or fifteen minutes each, broken by what is called the “nightmare.” God only knows the physical and mental agony of such a condition. I take the liberty to be thus particular in my own case for the information of many friends, whose prayers and sympathy I have shared.

In hope of better days, JAMES WHITE.