The Churches | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 10, 1877

The Churches.

(Condensed from Review and Herald.)

Iowa.

NEVADA.—From April 4 to 10, Eld. R. M. Kilgore, who has since gone to Texas, was with the church in this place. Although the days were occupied by packing their goods and preparing for their journey, the Lord blessed in the meetings held in the evening. Sabbath and Sunday were profitable days to all. Nine willing souls were baptized, and ten were added to the church.

WASHINGTON.—April 14 and 15 Eld. Kilgore spent in this place, which had been his home for more than thirty years. It was here, since the war, that he gained most of his religious experience. And while he leaves many dear friends and goes South again “to fight in battle, with weapons that are not carnal,” he may be comforted to know that not only the prayers of these dear brethren, but hundreds of others will follow him.

DICKINSON CO.—Although spring is a very busy time of the year, the attendance at the meetings being held in this county by Bro. F. W. Morse, is steadily increasing. Some twelve or sixteen adults have voted to keep all the commandments. The people are mostly from York State. Opposition discourses are advertised, but the Lord will defend his truth.

New York.

PARMA.—New ones are taking hold of the truth here every week, and those who have embraced it are still firm. The interest to hear is so great that prominent citizens have requested Eld. S. B. Whitney to repeat the lectures he has been giving. This he has concluded to do, in a condensed form, however.

Minnesota.

SAUK RAPIDS.—Six honest souls have commenced to keep the commandments of God, as the result of the labors of Brn. Dimmick and Battin in this place. Several others are interested.

Missouri.

UNION POINT.—About one year ago, Bro. J. G. Wood gave a course of lectures in Union Point, and eight then covenanted together to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Last June he again visited them, organized systematic benevolence, and left 14 members. Since that time they have had but one visit from our preaching brethren, until the recent visit of Bro. Wood. He reports that he then baptized eight and that eleven had recently been added to the church, making in all a membership of thirty. This, in view of the small amount of ministerial labor bestowed, is a very encouraging report, and shows what can be accomplished by a church if its members are united, zealous and active in the cause they profess to love.

Dakota.

SWAN LAKE.—The S. D. A. church in this place has grown up in the past three years. It started from a package of tracts sent to the post-mistress and handed by her to a Dane, a Mr. Nelson, because they chanced to be printed in his own language, to amuse himself with in the long Dakota winter. The reading of these aroused a curiosity in his mind to know of their teachings, which caused him to send to the Office for more; and soon he began keeping the Sabbath day. It was a matter of jest and ridicule to his friends and neighbors; but he kept on till he succeeded in inducing Eld. Hansen to come here, when himself and wife, and brother-in-law and wife were baptized (they had been Lutherans), and thus started a church, with this brother-in-law, Andrew Fredricson, as elder. Eld. E. W. Farnsworth has just closed the meetings he has been holding here. As the result of these meetings six have been baptized and have united with the church, which gives the church a membership of forty-five. May they all continue in the love of the truth till the end.

Pennsylvania.

GRIMES’ SETTLEMENT.—This is to be the headquarters of the Port Allegheny church. Bro. Chas. B. Reynolds held a meeting here Sabbath, April 21, of which he says: “At this meeting there were two large classes of youth in Sabbath-school and thirty adults in Bible class. This was a meeting long to be remembered in this section. Fifteen were added to the church. Five were baptized. About $50 were added to S. B. Ordained Bro. Wm. Wetmore, deacon. On first-day I laid before them the claims of the T. and M. Society. We did not organize, desiring to consult the president of the Conference. I hope he may attend personally, and make this a distinct Pennsylvania district.”