The Churches | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 3, 1877

The Churches.

(Condensed from Review and Herald.)*

Southern France.

RUE DU PARC.—Eld. D. T. Bourdeau reports that after the good meeting held near Neuchatel, Suisse, Eld. Andrews accompanied him to Paris and then to Rue du Parc, where his counsels and instructions were gladly received, and several important objects were gained. The people of the place being very much stirred up against those who had commenced to keep the Sabbath, sent for three ministers, who came but were very much enraged because they could not regain those who were inclined to follow the truth. “Sunday,” says Eld. B., “a preacher from the Free church came, and at the close of the forenoon meeting we were rashly ordered out of the hall, that the whole force of our opponents might be brought to bear upon the elder of the church, to persuade him to give up the Sabbath. But the effort was in vain. He was more than a match for them all, and stood like a giant for the despised Sabbath of the Lord, combining prudence with firmness and dignified manners.” Yesterday (April 3), he and three others were excluded from the church.

He has been a teacher for thirty-five years. His wife has also taught with him. He was the principal speaker of the Friends in this city, and is widely known as an upright man among his people. He now asks the privilege of accompanying Eld. B., to act as colporteur, and to learn the truth more perfectly. May the Lord make him an instrument of doing much good.

New York.

PARMA.—Eld. S. B. Whitney gives the following cheering report of the progress of the work in this place:

“The Methodist minister, spoken of in my last report, came on with several of his brethren, and succeeded in confirming the believers and satisfying others that Sunday-keeping has no foundation in the Bible. He was present to hear my reply, after which he made some remarks calculated, as he thought, to destroy the force of all that I had said. But when he had closed, the resident physician, an English gentleman of more than ordinary intelligence and ability, arose and said he thought the time had come when an expression of some kind was due with reference to what they had been listening to, and requested those who had been favorably impressed with Eld. Whitney’s preaching to rise up, when the audience sprang to their feet en masse, as if electrified. Only two or three kept their seats, and when the contrary expression was called for not one arose.

“The leading merchant, another fine English gentleman, closed his store on Friday night, and bore a good testimony in our meeting Sabbath, which was one of the best meetings I have ever attended. Another gentleman who is prominent in the community as a counselor at law, and who has been a backslider for many years, wept freely, and spoke with some feeling. There are now about twenty keeping the Sabbath, and others are very hopeful.

PORTVILLE.—Eld. Canright held six meetings here, commencing April 13, which were a source of great encouragement to all the brethren and sisters. Four were baptized and seven joined the church, making in all some twenty-five or thirty who are now keeping the Sabbath here. In this (Cattaraugus) county there are now three full organized churches, having a total membership of about seventy-five.

Pennsylvania.

PORT ALLEGHENY.—Many years ago the truth was preached in this place and a little church was organized. As it was not visited by any of our ministers from that time until last winter, some apostatized, others moved away, and their meetings were discontinued. Last winter, by special request, Bro. J. G. Saunders held a series of meetings here which revived the old friends of the cause, and a good number of new ones embraced the Sabbath. Eld. Canright and Bro. Reynolds visited them the 9th, held several meetings, and organized a church of thirteen members. Bro. Saunders was elected and ordained elder, and one was baptized. There are now between thirty and forty of S. D. Adventists within twelve miles of this place.

Michigan.

JEROME.—Bro. E. P. Daniels reports regular and unbroken attendance at the meetings held here during the last four weeks. He says that “within the limits of five miles, there are now forty-five trying to keep the law of God. Most of these are in regular attendance at the Sabbath meeting, and take part in the Bible-class. Among these there are nine converted from infidelity and Spiritualism, who are now happy in the hope of eternal life, through obedience towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Texas.

DECKMAN.—Bro. A. B. Rust reports a good Sabbath meeting recently held in this place, at which twenty-four Sabbath-keepers were present, and says: “The interest to hear is deepening. We believe that many will yet embrace the truth. I have just received a letter from a man some forty-five miles from here to whom I sent the SIGNS. He has now commenced to keep the Sabbath; and he says he has let others have all the reading matter he has had, and that many are interested by reading.”