Your ShelfYour Projects

Encouraging Meetings

8%

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 18, 1873

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 42, No. 23.

Read the full edition

Encouraging Meetings.

By A. S. Hutchins

Our meetings at Bushnell, Sabbath, Oct. 25; exceeded in interest our most ardent expectation. From surrounding churches, a goodly number of brethren and sisters were present at an early hour. I do not know that I have ever seen more interest manifested to get out to Sabbath meetings than I have witnessed in Ionia and Montcalm Counties.
The Sabbath previous to this meeting, I spoke on the Gifts of the Spirit, at Greenville, which I think did much to prepare the way for the good meeting at B., as nearly all who here met with us were present at Greenville. There seemed to be an awakening up anew with gratitude of heart to God for manifesting himself to his people in this direction. Many can testify that the gifts have to them been a great source of comfort and edification. The language of my heart this morning is, Praise God for spiritual gifts!
Says Paul, “Prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.” We will not crowd the gifts upon the unbeliever, but we do ask the privilege to believe in them, and to rejoice in the Lord for the signal blessings they have been, and are, to the church. The same apostle says, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” 1 Cor. 12: 1.
If those dear brethren will carefully live in harmony with the resolutions made under the impress of the divine Spirit, I am confident a growth in grace and in the knowledge of the truth will characterize the church here. To this end, may every soul most earnestly pray and work.
On first-day, our meeting was, owing to rain, small, but very encouraging. We feel a deep interest for the spiritual prosperity of this church, and would gladly have remained here longer, had it not been for the state of my health, and other circumstances. We hope those living where they do not often meet with the brethren will not neglect their pledges on Systematic Benevolence. It is very much desired to start the year 1874 with a clean list.
On Sabbath, Nov. 1, spoke to the church in Orleans, on the self-examination and preparation of heart requisite for communion. The brethren generally seemed to be impressed with the importance of coming nearer to God, and nearer to each other. With this object in view, a meeting was held on first-day, with very gratifying results. The hearts of strong men, both leaders and laymen, were moved by the spirit of weeping and confession. May brotherly love and Christian union hereafter characterize this church.
After this, by request of the companion of Eld. P. Strong, a very worthy sister, fast sinking to the grave by consumption, a few of us repaired to his house with the emblems of the broken body and shed blood of the crucified Redeemer, that our dear sister could once more join in commemorating the sufferings and death of Him who died for us.
On being informed of the pleasing results of the meeting just held, her countenance radiated with heavenly light, and she said, “Praise God! I can go in peace now.” We seemed to be in the house of death, yet the occasion was rendered sacred and memorable by the gracious presence of the Spirit of the Lifegiver, who so quickly will come in person, to gather his saints unto himself. Taking the emblems in her emaciated and trembling hands, with a firm consciousness that this was her last privilege of the kind, she praised God for that redeeming love which enables her with a calm and sweet composure to pass down into the “valley of the shadow of death,” fearing no evil.
From here, we returned to the house of prayer, where the church celebrated the ordinances together. May the language of every heart be,
“O thou, my soul, forget no more The Friend who all thy sorrows bore; Let every idol be forgot, But, O my soul, forget him not.”
A. S. HUTCHINS.
Nov. 10, 1873.