Beloit, Mitchell Co., Kan.
By J. H. Cook
THE general meeting, in connection with the T. & M. Society quarterly meeting, was held according to appointment in Review. The reports from the members of the Society did not indicate much activity, yet some progress has been made, and there is an apparent disposition to do more the coming quarter. Reuben Warick, of Jewel Center, Jewel Co., was elected director in lieu of O. O. Bridges, of Beloit, Mitchell Co., resigned. Our meetings for worship were excellent. The brethren came in from six counties. Most of them are deprived of the privilege of attending meetings at home, and they appeared to come hungry for a good meeting. And while we tried to bear a straight, pointed testimony, speaking on the individual nature of the work for this time, the Holy Spirit seemed to press the truth home to hearts. A deep, solemn feeling prevailed, and many prayers ascended the hill of Zion, Lord, help me to see and overcome my sins. Our last social meeting was a season of great encouragement to all. Eleven prayers were offered in sixteen minutes. Twenty-seven testimonies were borne in twenty and a half minutes. And what was of deeper interest to us was the character of the testimonies and prayers. They were to the point, revealing the fact that each one began to realize that the great struggle for every individual in this work is a personal encounter with his own sins; and that he must get them under his feet before he can be said to be an overcomer. One confessed the sin which so easily besets him to be fretfulness; another, a sin of a different character; and testimonies to the point came up all around. It was truly an indication to me that these isolated brethren are loved of the Lord, and that he is disposed to bless them, if they only live humbly, and are obedient. These brethren have been almost entirely destitute of ministerial labor, some of them for years. We trust that, by the blessing of God, in the future their needs in that direction can be at least partially supplied. We are thoroughly satisfied that very much is lost by a lack of that pastoral care which should be extended to the scattered brethren. To save what we have first, and then reach out after others, seems to be the part of heavenly wisdom.