Labor Report from Michigan Churches and Dedication
By I. D. Van Horn
Since our good camp-meeting at Battle Creek, I have enjoyed much of the blessing of God, while laboring to advance his cause. My field of labor has been the counties of Genesee and Tuscola. In Flushing, Genesee Co., the work is still moving on in the right direction. The brethren and sisters are overcoming their wrong habits, and are taking their stand nobly on the firm principles of the present truth. We have enjoyed some excellent meetings with them. While laboring to bring them up to the point of organization, I received news, Oct. 26, of my wife's sickness, which called me home. I remained with her eleven days, and, although she was still quite feeble, I left her in the care of others, to fill my appointment at Vassar, Tuscola County. The church at Vassar have been doing a noble work in putting up a neat and commodious house of worship. The building is 30x47 with 18ft. posts. It is well finished in every part, and will comfortably seat about 300 persons, by using the gallery. The whole cost of the house and lot on which it stands will not exceed $1800.00. Something near $200 remain yet to be raised to finish paying for it, but provisions have been made for it all to be paid within a year. The church have been united in the work, and no trouble exists on account of building, as is often the case. The dedication services were held on Sunday, Nov. 10. The house was filled to its utmost capacity. The Lord gave freedom in the sermon, and also gave his rich blessing as evidence that he accepted the offering of his people. We continued the meetings for about three weeks, which resulted in encouraging the church, allaying some prejudice, and three or four who had once kept the Sabbath and had given it up, started again to go with us. Systematic Benevolence was re-arranged for 1873 to the amount of over $130, one hundred of which they pledged to the Conference. While in the county, I spent four days with the church at Watrousville. I found them in much trouble, but by earnest labor and faithful dealing, reproving and encouraging, the difficulties were happily adjusted, and union and Christian love existed once more in their midst. The tongue, that “little member,” yet a “world of iniquity,” must be held in with bit and bridle, and tamed and subdued by the grace of God. When this is done, then the greater cause for strife and contention will have been removed. Dec. 6, I returned again to Flushing. I remained with them over two Sabbaths and first-days, and held meetings in different places. We have evidence that some good was accomplished. The result of the work in this place and vicinity may be summed up as follows: We have organized a church, except electing and ordaining an elder, of thirty-five members. Six have been baptized, and S. B. has been organized to the amount of $146.12. There are twenty or more who have not yet come into the organization that are keeping the Sabbath. The most of these will soon unite with the church. There are several openings in school-houses to present the truth, and the people are urging us to come. If the Lord will, we shall still try to carry on the work in that field. Battle Creek, Mich., Dec. 17, 1872.