Meeting in Grand Traverse Region, Mich.
By P. Strong; D. W. Milk
Having reported a part of our labors, and the report not having reached the Office, we now give a general summary of them and their results, as far as seen in Grand Traverse Region. The term, Grand Traverse Region, covers a territory of several counties, newly and thinly settled districts. Our visit to that region was a matter of experiment, by proper advice, as we knew nothing of the field, or of even one of its inhabitants. Our first meeting was in Whitewater Township, Grand Traverse Co., among a class of first-day Adventists. One family, Bro. D. Taylor’s, from among them embraced the truth. They are still firm, and rejoicing in the light. Next, we held a few meetings in an adjoining neighborhood, where there was no interest to hear. Our third place of meeting was near Spencer Creek, Antrim Co. Here we found Bro. J. Trotman alone in the faith, having embraced the truth by reading the tracts and papers sent him by sister Craw, who lives near Elk Rapids. She received the light through the instrumentality of sister Judd of Ohio. Thus, we see again the fruit of a few tracts—precious souls brought to the knowledge of the truth. At Spencer Creek, one family, Bro. P. Smalley’s, embraced the truth. They are still firm. Our fourth place of meeting was at the old Mission, on the peninsula, between the east and west arm of Traverse Bay. Here is, indeed, a beautiful place. The summer scenery is delightful. The clear, deep waters of Traverse Bay are delightsome. Various kinds of fruit that grow in northern latitudes are abundant. Still, mildew, blight, the effects of the curse, are seen and felt here. Yet the inhabitants seem to have their eyes fixed upon the peach and apple trees, that may possibly bear fruit once a year, and dare not for a moment look up to the tree that is sure to bear fruit every month. We held a few meetings, with no visible results. Our fifth place was Wexford, Wexford Co., among a class of first-day Adventists. A few decided to keep the commandments; but when their leader, Mr. Brigham, heard of it, he privily persuaded them back. He does most of the reading and thinking for them. He advocates no law, and the non-resurrection of the wicked. Here, too, spiritualism has a strong hold upon some; so much so that one man and his wife, some two years since, proceeded to the house of a neighbor where the man of the house had just died, and demanded the privilege of raising the dead to life; affirming that they could do it. But the wife of the deceased remonstrated, and they left, chagrined. They were present when Bro. Strong spoke on spiritualism. They raged, threatened, and said they would raise (not the dead, but) a shower of rotten eggs. Yet they failed in this also. Our sixth place of meetings was at Monroe Center, Grand Traverse Co. Here, the interest to hear was good until the M. E. Camp-meeting commenced, that had been previously appointed. Then we closed our meetings, to commence again after their camp-meeting. Eld. Bathrick spoke against the Sabbath, the evening before their meeting commenced. But some of his members had already decided to keep the Sabbath. Thus the fire was kindled, and the opposition was manifest all through their meetings. Eight preachers were present, and only one of them spoke to, or even noticed, us only in their preaching, and social chats at intermissions, where we received the most special attention (we think) of any on the ground. Their meeting was nearly a failure. Only one (a young lady from Chicago) professed to have been converted. The next evening after their meeting closed, Eld. Steel spoke against the Sabbath at the place where we held our meetings. Here he made a clean sweep of all that had anything to do with us, and those that publish the tracts and papers we were scattering. All were liars; and in the little tract called Truth, he had found twenty-one lies. On being reviewed the next evening, he denied calling us liars. The people were disgusted with him, yet the prejudice caused from their opposing the truth, we found, afterward, had fastened itself upon the minds of many candid and sensible people. We were strangers, and our views were not fully known. The impressions prevailed that our mission was to scatter error, cause controversy, and tear others to pieces. So when we returned from our good camp-meeting and Conference, some seemed to have decided to hear no more. We held a few meetings with the few who had decided to obey, and in an adjoining district, organized a church of ten members, known as the church of Monroe Center, Grand Traverse Co., Bro. C. Downs, elder. Organized s. B. amounting to $32.74 per year. Several were not present that will probably unite with them. Since we left, one more has decided to obey the truth. They have regular Sabbath meetings, and a Bible-class. We learn by a private letter that their meetings are very interesting and profitable. They are leaving their idols and entering into the reforms. The Lord bless and guide them. There are at present some twenty or more Sabbath-keepers in Grand Traverse Region. We have canvassed the field quite extensively, and find it a hard field, generally, in which to labor; yet we think, with a small tent (say forty feet in diameter), to go into the villages, with the blessing of God, a fair work might be done. We have sold and given (mostly given) away in this region more than $60.00 worth of publications. We have obtained three subscribers for Review, five for Reformer, and three for Instructor. We have aimed to scatter the truth wherever we went, so that the field might open for future labors. Another season we think will be a favorable time for this region. Labor will have to be done here, mostly, in summer and autumn. The lumbering interests and deep snow are unfavorable to laboring in the winter. Since Nov. 15, it has been very good sleighing. Up to Dec. 3, four inches of snow have fallen. It frequently falls during the winter, to the depth of from ten to fifteen feet. But the ground not freezing, it is constantly thawing underneath; yet four or five feet on an average, is no uncommon depth, toward spring. We closed our meetings Dec. 1st, and returned southward. P. S. Although our report is a joint one, our labors have been mostly separate.