p. 142 | THREE HEADINGS by H. A. St. John

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 2, 1876

THREE HEADINGS.

By H. A. St. John

DISCOURAGING.

The director in Dist. No. 1 very soon moves from our State;—highly esteemed and much needed, yet we must give him up. The director in Dist. No. 3, on account of ill health, has left our State, to be away perhaps a year;—young, efficient, and zealous, yet we must be content to think of him as absent from his charge. The worthy elder of one church has just moved from our State, leaving one flock without a shepherd. Only one minister is out in new fields in the State. One or two churches of efficiency and strength are much weakened by internal commotion. And what more do I see? A few gloomy features; but, praise the Lord, the picture is rapidly turning, and the bright side appears. See the elevating title,

ENCOURAGING.

Dist. No. 1 moves off encouragingly in the T. and M. work. Four new members have been added to the church and Tract Society, more than making up, in numbers, for removals. One constantly active missionary, with one or two busy canvassers for our periodicals, with a very fair prospect for the distribution of one thousand Health Almanacs, are some of the happy features from that section.

Valuable souls are continually embracing the truth in different parts of our State. The one minister in a new field reports an extensive interest and a large hearing. Openings for labor are many, with earnest appeals for help. Reading matter is called for, and is slowly but continually passing out. A spirit of sacrifice is met occasionally

which cheers the heart greatly. Some of our churches are having seasons of sweet union and communion together, while the Lord blesses them much, and precious souls are being added to their number, such as we hope will be saved. The strong church of Clyde has not stood in a better place for many a day, than just now. May they abound in love toward God and toward each other, and in good works more and more.

NOT DISCOURAGED.

No, indeed. We feel deeply for those of our dear brethren in trial. Sometimes we feel much depressed when we think how the enemy has succeeded, in some instances, in dividing the hearts of our brethren, and thus nearly hiding their light from the world. But we have seen his power broken, and light, liberty, and union, come in, so we are very hopeful in these cases. The Lord is good. We are hopeful of seeing much good accomplished during the coming winter. Brethren, one and all, let us take hold unitedly to watch, pray, and labor, for the progress of the good work of the Lord. H. A. ST. JOHN.