Flushing, Mich by I. D. Van Horn; Sands H. Lane

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 3, 1872

Flushing, Mich.

By I. D. Van Horn; Sands H. Lane

WE closed our meetings in this place and vicinity for the present on Sunday evening, Aug. 25. The whole country for miles around has been aroused. The Bible and the points of present truth proclaimed at the tent have become the principal theme of conversation. To say the least, the majority of the people who have heard us are convinced of the truth, and many are convicted of their duty. Sabbath, Aug. 17, was a good day for the cause with us. We had no meeting at the tent, but we all assembled in general meeting at Flushing village. One hundred or more were present, the greater part of whom had recently begun to keep all the commandments of God. After a short discourse, we had a good social meeting in which between thirty and forty testimonies were given. Arrangements were also made for future meetings here after the tent should be taken down, and Bro. Hiram Fenner was appointed leader.

On Sunday, the 18th, we had three meetings in the tent, all of which were well attended. We introduced the subject of Spiritual Gifts, which made quite a stir among the people, but finally resulted favorably. During the week following we spent nearly all our time in the day visiting from house to house, while evenings we had meeting at the tent. The weather was good and the congregations ranged from one hundred to two hundred each evening. The people seemed to drink down the truth as they would cold water in a sultry day.

On Sabbath, the 24th, we had meeting in the tent. About one hundred were out, and we had a most excellent meeting. We gave a short discourse, and then followed a social meeting in which thirty-one spoke of the goodness of God in giving them the opportunity to hear the truth, and of their determination to keep the Sabbath. There not being time for all to speak, we called on all that had not spoken, who wished to bear testimony to the truth and had made up their minds to keep the commandments of God, to manifest it by rising up. Over thirty arose. Thus, between sixty and seventy testified in favor of the truth. This was cheering to our hearts, and we felt to say, To God be all the praise.

The following day was pleasant, in which we had three meetings, and the attendance was large, especially in the evening when about four hundred were present. We counted sixty-one teams, most of them with lumber wagons, hitched along the road by the tent. A good, and we hope lasting, impression was made upon the people by the truths presented to them to-day. Invitations for us to preach in school-houses were given us from as many as half a dozen places. A large field is open for the truth, and the people seem very anxious to hear. We shall return to them soon and carry on the work.

The result of the effort made with the tent in this place may be summed up as follows:

There are seventy-five or eighty now keeping the Sabbath. We have sold $45.00 worth or more of books, besides giving away many tracts. We have obtained twelve subscribers for the REVIEW, three for the Instructor, and one for the Reformer. We had to pay $10.00 rent for the ground on which our tent stood in Flushing, but the ladies who became interested in our meetings, unknown to us, made up the sum of $11.10, which they handed to us to meet that expense. Our board bill at the hotel was $14.00, and the brethren wishing to make this up handed us $14.35, which they had raised without our knowledge. May it be the privilege of all these friends to live the truth, enjoy the rich blessing of God, and at last reach the home of the saints.

As a tent-company, we have labored together in perfect harmony, and our association with each other has been pleasant. God has condescended to bless us in our labors, and we will praise him; for it is his work.

I. D. VAN HORN, SANDS H. LANE.