A New Experience by GEO. O. STATES.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 31, 1904

A New Experience

By GEO. O. STATES.

In visiting our churches, for some time past, it has been my custom to hold children's meetings, when there was opportunity to do so. The past winter I decided to hold a series of meetings in a place where the truth had never been presented.

While visiting the people just before beginning my meetings, I called on a man, a justice of the peace, who told me that the little town was regarded as the toughest in eastern Colorado, that he was anxious to put a stop to the way young people had been disturbing religious meetings, and if I needed his help, to let him know. I thanked him, and told him I had had over eighteen years' experience in mining camps and cattle ranches in the West, and had been in tough places, but never had found it necessary to arrest any one.

The first night some of the boys took the lap robes from the carriage of some people who had come several miles to attend the services; I told them to take some of our blankets, and I would find their robes the next day, which I quietly did. A week passed by; I did not reprimand the young people, and they began to look upon me as their friend.

The first Friday after my meetings began, I visited the day-school, and gave a little talk to the children, telling them that the next day we would have a children's meeting, and for all the children to come, but if their parents came, they would have to take the back seats and listen, but not say anything. As a result the house was well filled with parents and children.

The Lord blessed in teaching those children, many of whom had never had much religious instruction. I taught them, too, in simple language, the principles of the message. In teaching the children I gained access to the parents, and as I visited the homes, the children looked upon me as their friend. Two of those children began to keep the Sabbath, gave up the use of pork, and said they were Adventists. We expect to hold baptism at Wray at the time of our quarterly meeting in April, and that a bright little girl about eleven years old, with her mother, will make a start in the service of God. I believe my interest in the dear children has helped in reaching the older ones here.

In my years of experience in the message I never had better order than here, and the children and young people show me the greatest respect. The people wonder why I have such good order in my meetings when other meetings have been broken up. I know it is in answer to prayer, and because the truth is presented in a simple way, so the young people and children can understand it.

GEO. O. STATES.