Southern Michigan by M. B. Miller

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 23, 1875

Southern Michigan.

By M. B. Miller

After considerable perplexity in regard to deciding on a locality, we pitched the tent in Bronson, Branch Co. The way for public labor here had been opened by scattering tracts, and a few had commenced to observe the Sabbath.

Meetings in the tent commenced July 1, and continued until August 24. During this time, sixty-three discourses were given; also social and other meetings were held. It fell to our lot to do all the speaking, with the exception of two discourses, yet we were not without efficient help to assist in conducting the effort in this place. Our meetings were well attended from the first, our tent at times overflowing with eager listeners. As the result of the labor here, twenty-five or more, including the few previously mentioned, are now trying to obey all of God’s commandments, and others acknowledge the truth and feel its force to a great extent. We still entertain hopes that they will yet obey it. Regular meetings have been appointed, and a Sabbath-school organized; also a Tract Society.

Several incidents of great interest occurred in connection with our meetings in this place, but I will mention only one, which I think is of such a nature as to interest all. A man called at the tent who was on his way to Holland. His object in calling was to converse with us on the Scriptures. He was an intelligent man, being able to converse in, and read, the English, German, and Holland languages. His half-brother has embraced the Sabbath and become a member of the Tract Society. He now expects to send some of our publications to a half-brother in Holland, thus introducing the truth at a new point in a far-off land.

Our meetings were held during that very busy season, harvest; and when we saw the continued attendance of the people, we were led to confess before them that it was not us but God’s holy truth that was in this wonderful manner attracting their attention. To-day, as we look back upon our effort in Bronson, we give God all the glory for what he has done for us and the people.

At the present time, we have our tent pitched in Allen, Hillsdale Co. People looked on us with suspicion at first, but now we have a good interest. Bro. John Sisley is assisting in this meeting.

M. B. MILLER.

Allen, Sept. 9, 1875.