Reports from the Field

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Aug 30, 1877

Reports from the Field.

(Condensed from Review and Herald.)

New York.

WELLSVILLE.—The interest here still continues, and the attendance is good. The Methodist minister of the place has spoken on the millennium. He took the position that the thousand years of Rev. 20 are prophetic years, and that therefore there will be a universal reign of peace and righteousness on this earth before the second advent of Christ, and that the resurrection to take place at the commencement of this period is a “moral resurrection” (a new term for theologians to define) which has already taken place, and the millennium commenced. He has announced that he will prove the immortality of the soul next Sunday.

PULASKI.—Meetings in the tent here closed Sunday evening. After the forenoon meeting Sunday, seven more were baptized. The exact number who have fully decided to keep the Sabbath is not yet ascertained. A Bible-class has been formed, and arrangements have been made for weekly prayer and Sabbath meetings, and preliminary steps taken for the building of a house of worship.

JAMESTOWN.—Sabbath, August 11, nineteen adults pledged to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Not one of these had ever heard of the present truth or third angel’s message before the tent was pitched in this place.

Michigan.

PORT HURON.—The work is going on here. Five more were baptized last Sabbath, and more are to go forward in a week. The ministers are much excited over the fact that so many are accepting the doctrines preached in the tent. August 12, a pastor of the M. E. church delivered a sermon on the Sabbath question. His argument was a strange mixture of “Fuller’s Two Sabbaths” and the ordinary view of a change. It was freely admitted that there was no positive proof from the Scriptures either for the abrogation of the ancient Sabbath, or for a change to another day. The sermon was closed with the usual appeal to the “fathers,” to make, as he said, what were really facts of Scripture, though by the Scriptures involved in obscurity, bright and luminous!

LAKEVIEW.—A class of thirty-one members has been organized in this place, and when all come in there will not be far from sixty, including children, about half of whom have been won to the truth since Brethren Burrill and Ellsworth commenced labor here. The subject of building a church has been agitated with good success. A prominent citizen has given a lot on which to build.

FOWLERVILLE.—The tent is pitched in a good location here; and the people take a lively interest in the meetings, giving their undivided attention to the truth presented. Brethren Kenyon and Miller write that the temperance reform movement is creating much excitement in this place, and with their consent a mass meeting is appointed to be held in the tent.

Wisconsin.

PARDEEVILLE.—Meetings were commenced here August 3. Brethren Olds and Smith write that they have a tent full nearly every evening; have presented the subjects of the judgment, the advent, and the Sabbath. The oldest inhabitants say the people were never so interested in the religion of the Bible as now.

ELLSWORTH.—The tent has been taken down in this place, and the brethren are now holding meetings in the M. E. church, which has been kindly granted them. A goodly number have expressed a determination to keep all the commandments of God. The Sabbath-school and Bible-class are in a flourishing condition.

Iowa.

OSKALOOSA.—Brother L. McCoy writes: “As a part of the results of the efforts put forth in this place, thirty-five have decided to obey God. Our Disciple friends challenged us for a discussion, but when we publicly stated that we stood ready to affirm what we preach, and should expect them to do the same, and that we were ready to meet them, they failed to come to time.”

MODALE.—Brother J. Bartlett writes: “The Lord is at work here. Some of the most prominent citizens have decided to keep the Sabbath. The interest here is good. This is a small place, but the country people turn out well. Our tent is full almost every evening.”

Nebraska.

TECUMSEH.—Meetings were commenced here June 21, and continued until August 5. Sixty-one discourses have been given. There were no Sabbath-keepers in this place when these meetings commenced; now there are about twenty-five who have accepted the doctrines presented, and many others who are yet undecided.