p. 217 | The Missionary by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 8, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 14.

The Missionary.

By Editor

Items of Progress.

FROM Plainfield, Wis., Elder Isaac Sanborn writes to the Review and Herald of March 23 as follows:—

"I commenced a protracted meeting here the 13th of February, and have continued four weeks, with a constantly increasing interest. People come five or six miles, and notwithstanding the truth has been preached here more or less for many years, more than twenty have already accepted it, mostly heads of families; and many more are expected to do so."

ALBERT WEEKS writes the following from Plainfield, Mich.:—

"I began meetings at the Light school-house, near this place, February 8. The weather has been very unfavorable, but the interest has been good. Some of the time the house would not hold the people that congregated. The country is thoroughly stirred by the truth. Had one opposition discourse, which I reviewed with freedom before a crowded house. A class of thirteen have signed the covenant, four of whom observed the Sabbath when I came here. Some others are keeping the Sabbath, and many believe it."

BROTHER H. SHULTZ, of Nebraska, writes thus:—

"February 26, in company with Elder Johnson, I came to Decatur, where he had been laboring for some time. About twenty good souls had taken their stand for the truth, and the church felt greatly encouraged. They have commenced to build a meeting-house, the school-house becoming too small for their accommodation. The Sabbath-school numbers eighty scholars. May they walk humbly before God, and may the Lord add many more to their number, of such as shall be saved."

FROM Indiana Brother Wm. Covert writes:—

"In company with Brother Oberholtzer I was at Dugger, Sullivan Co., March 25-28. Nine services were held. The weather was unfavorable; the roads were quite muddy, and other meetings were being held in several places in the vicinity. As a result, our congregations were small until the last evening we were there. Brother Oberholtzer and myself held series in two neighborhoods two miles apart. We organized a church, which has a membership of eight. We believe that if we could procure the steady use of a suitable building in which to hold services, their number could be doubled in a short time. "We then went to Poseyville, in the extreme southwestern part of the State, where the tent was pitched last July by Brethren Oberholtzer and Kauble. The messages were never proclaimed there previous to that time. The usual opposition was manifested, but the Lord blessed the labor bestowed, and a good work was done. We organized a church of fourteen members. Four were baptized yesterday, March 7, and four or five others expect to go forward in the ordinance before Brother Oberholtzer leaves for another field of labor."

FOLLOWING, written by Louis Higby, is a report from the mission recently started at Watertown, N. Y. It should give courage to all workers:—

"We have received much of the Lord's help and blessing in trying to carry on the good work. Our mission has been open over five weeks. The company consists of Brother Flint's family and three or four workers. The whole expense thus far for provisions, coal, rent, etc., amounts to $32. This has been met by contributions of money and staple articles for family use, from different ones throughout district No. 3. The number engaged in the work thus far would average three persons laboring three weeks. "During this time, about one-half the city has been canvassed for 'United States in Prophecy,' accompanied with the SIGNS or the American Sentinel. There have been one hundred and thirty-three orders taken for the book, eighty-eight for the SIGNS, thirty-three for the Sentinel, seven for the 'Sunshine,' one for 'Great Controversy,' one for 'Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,' three for the Instructor, and one for the Stimme. We find a fine class of people in this city, having a very little prejudice."

In addition to the above, reports from the missions in Minneapolis, Minn., and Brooklyn, N. Y., state that Bible-readings are held daily, and that sermons on present truth are preached every week in those places, which are attended by good congregations, and that the number of those who hear with interest is rapidly increasing.