Vergennes, Mich by E. Van Deusen

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 28, 1873

Vergennes, Mich.

By E. Van Deusen

The quarterly meeting for the churches of Orleans, Bushnell, Orange, Greenville, and Vergennes, was held at Orleans, Sabbath and first-day, Jan. 4 and 5. Brethren were present from all the above-named churches. Although the weather on Friday, toward the close of the day, was severe, the wind and snow blowing at times so as almost to blind us, yet a goodly number were present.

Sabbath morning, Bro. Strong spoke to us from Gal. 6:2. A social meeting followed, in which nearly all took part. At 6 o’clock, evening, another conference meeting of an hour’s length was held, after which Bro. Strong occupied an hour.

First-day morning, at 9 o’clock, met again for prayer and conference. All expressed a desire to make advancement the year to come, in the things of God.

At 10 o’clock, Bro. King called us to order, after which verbal reports were heard from those engaged in tract and missionary labor. An hour was spent in this manner, when reports from visiting brethren were called for.

Perhaps a word of explanation might not be out of place here, as all the readers of the REVIEW may not understand what is meant by “visiting brethren.” At each quarterly meeting, there are two brethren chosen from each of the above-named churches, to visit a designated sister church in the interval between quarterly meetings. This is so arranged, if possible, as to have an elder and lay member, in order to have the ordinances. This breaks the monotony of the meeting, gets some members from home, and gives the church from which they are drawn a chance to act without their leader, once in three months, at least. Sometimes it is necessary to send two lay members. In such case the church will not have the ordinances, unless the church visited have an ordained elder.

E. Van Deusen.