The Cause of God in Ohio.
By H. A. St. John
We feel deeply anxious to see greater prosperity in the work of the Lord in Ohio. No doubt a lack of consecration on the part of his people, and negligence in doing the Lord’s work, are the principal reasons of so little prosperity. Dear brethren, shall we not look about us, and seek by prayer and by searching the word of God to see where we are failing to come up to the help of the Lord? And then shall we not with confession turn to the Lord and implore divine aid to redeem the time? Let us unitedly strive to make the coming year one of the best since the organization of our Conference. Why should it not be? Surely, in this momentous time every year should tell greatly in the progress of reform, and in preparing a people for the coming of the Lord. United action in this glorious cause is very necessary. God has greatly blessed organization among our people. From its simplicity, or from some other cause, it is not duly appreciated and respected by many. We desire to secure the co-operation of every Sabbath-keeper in the State who feels an interest in the proclamation of the third angel’s message. We feel quite sure that all such persons should be connected with some of our churches, though they may be one hundred miles distant. I would hereby request all the lonely ones not connected with a church to write to me soon, giving name and address plainly, and expressing their purposes and desires. And, besides, we earnestly request all such to attend our meetings in the State when those meetings come within their reach. The Lord willing, we expect to visit all the churches and little companies of Sabbath-keepers in the State during the winter, and we are greatly desirous that all these meetings may be blessed of God to the upbuilding of his cause. To this end we solicit an especial interest in the prayers of all his people. And we ask your attention to the following statement of what we wish to accomplish in our several meetings. - Complete organization of churches.
- Gathering into church fellowship all the scattered and lonely ones of like precious faith.
- Organization, or re-arrangement, of Systematic Benevolence for 1876.
- Getting the names of all believers, both old and young, on the S. B. books.
- Securing, if possible, such persons for clerks and S. B. treasurers as will do their business properly and promptly.
- To get many additional members to the T. & M. Society.
- To obtain subscribers for Signs of the Times and all our periodicals.
Baptism, and the ordinances of the Lord’s house attended to on all proper occasions. We will have S. B. blank books for 1876 with us. Let us be in earnest, brethren, in preparing for the great work before us.