p. 54 | New England and Maine by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 27, 1874

New England and Maine.

By S. N. Haskell

On the evening of Dec. 21, I left Battle Creek for the East. The 27th and 28th, I was at the quarterly meeting in Lancaster, Mass. Jan. 3 and 4, was at Deering, Maine, and the 10th and 11th, attended the general quarterly meeting in South Norridgewock, Me.

In each place there was an interest manifested on the part of some to draw near to God and obtain more of an experience in divine things. There are others who do not seem to see any special need of putting forth greater effort to raise the standard higher. Yet there are indications of a general coming up in the work of God.

There were tract and missionary meetings held on each first-day. It was very manifest that in this department of the work there is an increasing interest. The result of scattering our publications and obtaining subscribers for our periodicals is becoming manifest in many localities. In several places within the New England Conference, where much prejudice has formerly existed, there are individuals embracing the Sabbath. The truths of God’s word are taking hold of individuals in every community where a godly life by those who profess it has been exemplified, and where there has been a judicious distribution of reading matter.

Much interest was manifested in the call for 10,000 subscribers, both in New England and Maine. Although the money panic has seriously affected the financial interests of our people in these Conferences, yet, when the matter was simply referred to, the unanimous expression, both in private and public, was, “We can fill our quota of names and raise the necessary means.” Two brethren in the N. E. Conference at once put down $100 apiece, another $125, and a number $50, for the purpose of scattering tracts in new fields.

Maine also took a lively interest in the enterprise. Probably there is no State, unless it be Missouri and Kansas, where it is more difficult to raise means at the present time than in the State of Maine. Yet, when the brethren were asked if their Conference could raise $200 to send the REVIEW and Reformer to four hundred respectable families, and place them into reading rooms, there was a ready response of about $300, and it is thought that hundreds more can be raised by those who were not present. And now, while I write, the Secretary of the Tract Society in New England informs me that already there have been over six hundred names forwarded from this Conference to the Office, all obtained within the last two weeks. The remaining four hundred will be forthcoming. Maine will also fill her quota. It being the most difficult for these Conferences to do their respective proportion, there is no reason why the entire list of ten thousand will not be received before February, 1874.

These moves speak loudly that God is in this work, and that he has men and women who believe it. Money is of but little account, unless it can be used for the promotion of the cause of Christ upon the earth. Life is worse than a failure if it cannot be devoted to the saving of precious souls for whom Christ died. The fields are all white, ready for the harvest, and with the Spirit of Christ in the heart, souls can be reached in almost every place. It is the warmth and ardor of the “first love” that is needed in the cause of God, and an understanding heart that can tell when good cometh. Blessed is he that knoweth the joyful sound.

S. N. HASKELL.