ONTARIO by P. M. Howe; J. F. Ballenger

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 22, 1901

ONTARIO

By P. M. Howe; J. F. Ballenger

PETROLIA.—Since our last report the interest has continued good, so that, at this writing, October 13, it is as great as at any time since we pitched our tent here, if not greater. Twenty-three adults are keeping the Sabbath as the result of our labors, and we are confident that several others will obey. We have tried to comply with all the conditions given by the Spirit of the Lord, and we are more than ever convinced that when these conditions are met, there will rarely be a failure. Not a word of censure, faultfinding, or complaint has been uttered by any one of our tent company during the season. Love, union, and harmony have prevailed, and never before have we realized such marked answers to prayer as during this series of meetings.

The following instance, among others, will show how the Spirit of the Lord is working on hearts: Sister Hattie Allems, our Bible worker, was giving a reading to a lady when another lady came in and railed out in the bitterest terms against Sister Allems and the people she represented. But in less than one hour’s conversation she acknowledged that the Spirit of God was present, and actually made arrangements to have the readings at her house.

The prospect is good that, with the three that were keeping the Sabbath when we came, we shall be able to bind off the work here with a strong church. A gentleman who has lived here for a number of years said to us, “You have captured some of the best people in Petrolia.” We are still holding our meetings in the tent, and with the use of a large stove we keep quite comfortable. We have secured a hall on the main street of the city, have seated it with chairs, and shall soon move into it. Let all our brethren remember the work in Ontario.

P. M. HOWE, J. F. BALLENGER.