The Churches | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jan 18, 1877

The Churches.

(Condensed from Review and Herald.)

New York.

ST. LAWRENCE CO.—Immediately after the State Quarterly Meeting, and the dedication of the new church in Rome, Bro. Jacob Wilbur commenced to labor in this county. After visiting the friends in Gouverneur, whom he found prospering in the Lord, by special request he went to Hailesborough, where he obtained the Union church and held a few meetings. But owing to the cold weather and the fact that the people had lately been duped by a popular preacher from the State of Maine, the attendance was quite small, and they concluded to waive their meetings until a more favorable opportunity presented itself. Dec. 12, he attended the monthly meeting at Pierrepont. Notwithstanding the thermometer stood from twenty to thirty degrees below zero, the attendance from the surrounding country was good. From this place, in company with Bro. Wilcox, he went to North Gouverneur; but as there were several cases of small-pox in the vicinity they soon started for Rossie. Here they spent four days and held seven meetings. As the result eight converts came out fully. A class of fourteen was organized and on Christmas day one of the best meetings was enjoyed. Nearly as many more acknowledged the truth and have opened their doors for meetings.

Kentucky.

POWDER MILLS.—The quarterly meeting at this place, Dec. 23, 24, is reported by Eld. S. Osborn as being the best meeting ever held in the State. He says: “The Lord gave much liberty in preaching on practical duties. Confessions were made for their past slackness and sinfulness, and resolutions were made for the future. Their broken accents and streaming eyes told they were in earnest.” “Considering the hard times, the brethren have done nobly this season in sustaining the cause. Over twenty-five new Sabbath-keepers are added to our number. We have sold over $150 worth of books, obtained a good many subscribers for our periodicals, and, above all, we are in perfect union in the truth and in practice.”

Minnesota.

WEST PORT.—Bro. W. B. Hill reports that six have commenced to keep the Sabbath here, as the result of five weeks’ labor. The interest was good throughout, and many are still investigating.

Kansas.

CHEROKEE.—Eld. J. H. Cook says that “although the people here are very poor they appear ready to hear and obey the truth. Not being able to buy books, they as yet depend almost entirely on the preached word. Hence the work goes slowly, and requires patience and perseverance. But the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

Indiana.

PERRYSBURG.—Bro. A. Bartlett who has been laboring in this vicinity some time reports that twenty-five good substantial persons have commenced to keep the Sabbath. May this little company ever remain steadfast in the truth.

Wisconsin.

FISH CREEK.—Elder John G. Matteson speaks of this church as follows: “The members of the church are making some progress. We labor to get right on all points; yet this is a great work. Here are about fifty who have been baptized and signed the covenant. Like many others they thought that they had taken a great step; and so they had. But they did not feel any particular need of going further. Some were exceedingly self-righteous, others slack and careless, others vain. We are trying to be purified from vanity, carelessness, pride, the use of tobacco, and all sinful practices.”

Sweden.

Last in our column of reports, but not the least cheering, is the news of the spread of the truth among the Swedes. Bro. G. A. Carlstedt, who has charge of the work on the Svensk Advent Harold, our Swedish paper published at Battle Creek, Mich., gives extracts from several letters received at the Herald office from various parts of the United States and Sweden. We take as follows:—

“One person that does not keep the Sabbath yet writes from Iowa that he regards our publications as the best Swedish religious literature he has seen.

“A letter came from Stockholm, Sweden, two days ago, wherein the writer says that he by chance got hold of the October number of the Svensk Advent Harold for 1876, and it interested him so that he sends for the paper and all our Swedish publications and five of our Swedish charts. He wants to circulate them in Stockholm.

“Another writing from Skane (the south part of Sweden) says that he has taken the Svensk Advent Harold and tracts sent him, and gone out with them among the people, and they accept them with readiness and read them eagerly.”