p. 333 | Reports from the Field

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Nov 1, 1877

Reports from the Field.

(Condensed from Review and Herald.)

Massachusetts.

Danvers.—Elder D. M. Canright writes: “The Lord is still prospering the work here and beyond our expectations. We now count between eighty and ninety adult Sabbath-keepers who are fully settled in the truth. We have begun to have prayer-meetings every evening around at the houses. These are very precious seasons. Each evening some one takes hold who had not done so before, and many have begun to pray who never prayed in the past. We have had two baptisms. Last Sunday there were about fifteen hundred present. Thirteen have been baptized. Last Sabbath there were ninety-six in our Sabbath-school, and new ones are coming every Sabbath. We have raised about $50 in money for books and papers to make our Sabbath-school interesting. In the afternoon there were over one hundred present at the social meeting. We have a pleasant hall, well located; and Sunday afternoons and evenings it is crowded, though it is a good large one. Indeed, I can see no dropping off of the interest. We find families every day who are interested, of whom we had not known before. Our meeting-house is shingled, and the work is going on well. Opposition sermons are preached about every Sunday by some one, but none of our friends pay attention to the many more. They hardly occasion a remark. All the papers have something to say, more or less, every week. They publish whatever we write.”

Wisconsin.

Pardeeville.—Meetings were held at this place over six weeks. Thirty signed the covenant to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The influence of these meetings extended to other neighborhoods, and calls were made for meetings. Brother Smith went to one school-house five miles north of Pardeeville, and Brother Olds to another three miles south-west, where short courses of lectures were given. Brother Smith reports that ten or twelve have decided to obey the message where he is holding meetings, and Brother Olds thinks a few, at the place where he is, will decide for God, making over forty in the vicinity of Pardeeville. They sustain weekly prayer and Sabbath meetings.

Indiana.

Thorntown and Darlington.—October 13, Brethren Lane and Bartlett held meetings at Thorntown. Ten were baptized; and a church of twenty-one members was organized at this place. Meetings are now being held at Darlington, where the tent labor has recently closed. At present there are nearly fifty Sabbath-keepers in this part of the State, where July 1, there were none.

Peoria.—At this place, fifteen have commenced to keep the Sabbath, ten of whom have signed the covenant. Probably others will soon.

Minnesota.

State Center.—The church at this place had a good quarterly meeting. Five followed their Saviour in baptism. Eight were added to the church.

Texas.

Peoria.—Of the interest at this place Elder R. M. Kilgore writes: “Since writing my last report, I have received a note from the sheriff of Hill county, stating as follows: ‘You shall be protected by law so far as lies in my power.’ With this note there came also the following petition from Hillsboro, the county seat of this county: ‘We, the undersigned citizens of Hillsboro and vicinity, most respectfully request Rev. Kilgore to preach a series of sermons at Hillsboro after he has ended his engagement at Peoria.’ This is signed by thirty-six of the most prominent and influential citizens of that place, which is but six miles east of Peoria. A very strong appeal comes from Towash, twelve miles west of this place, for me to give lectures there, and another from Prairie Valley, all of this county. These are all excellent openings for the truth; but how can I be at all of these places at the same time? I wish I could be, and still be efficient. The interest here is healthy, and I hope permanent good may result. I do not know how many are already keeping the Sabbath, but a very large number are under conviction. My courage is good. We have meetings every evening in the week except Monday, and two meetings on Sabbath and Sunday. The threat which I received on Sunday night, that I should be killed if I did not leave in twenty-four hours, has increased the number of our true friends. We hope on, pray on, and labor on; and we trust our brethren pray for the cause in Texas.”