MICHIGAN

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 5, 1877

Summit, Jackson County.

I have now given thirty discourses in the Gravel school-house, Summit township. The meetings have been well attended, and the best of attention given to the word spoken. March 24, we had our first Sabbath meeting. There was a good congregation, though it was very stormy. Several bore an encouraging testimony in favor of the truth. A new responsibility is now thrown upon the church at Napoleon, and much will depend upon the course they take as the result of this effort. H. M. Kenyon.

Bellevue.

Bro. W. A. Ford writes that he has held twelve meetings at the Spaulding school-house, near Bellevue. The people are interested.

Sixth Annual Report of the Maternal Association.

It has been our custom, since the formation of our Association, now six years in the past, to hold an annual meeting, and to write a few thoughts to be read in connection with it. Not that we have any remarkable incidents or great achievements to record, for ours is a quiet, unobtrusive work, but we think it may encourage the hearts of our dear sisters who have been wont to meet with us in times past, and perhaps some others who have the same arduous maternal duties to perform, the same grave responsibilities upon them, who are isolated and alone, to know that we are still in existence as a society, and striving to do all in our power with the help of the Lord to carry out the design for which it was first instituted.

We feel we need these annual gatherings, that we may be cheered and encouraged by the co-operation and sympathy, and benefited by the counsel and instruction of our brethren, and in order to arouse and increase the interest of many whose names are enrolled upon our list, but whose presence we seldom have at our weekly gatherings; and also to call the attention of any mothers who may be strangers among us to its existence, and extend to them a hearty welcome to its labors, privileges, and blessings.

In reviewing the year that has so rapidly passed away, we feel we have great cause for gratitude to our Heavenly Father that no protracted sickness has befallen any of our number, that we have been spared the sad anguish of separation from those of our immediate circle by the cruel power of death, and also that eighteen names have been added to our list, making in all one hundred and nineteen mothers and four hundred and fourteen children.

Our weekly meetings have been almost uninterrupted. Among our increased attendance, we wish indeed we could see many more young mothers for whose aid and encouragement they were chiefly designed. We are thankful, however, for evidence of increasing interest, and for the willingness manifested to assist and labor in this important undertaking. The Lord has condescended to grace these meetings with his presence, to grant special answers to prayer, and to make them the means of communicating encouragement and instruction and awakening for a holy purpose the deepest and tenderest sympathies of our nature.

I know it may be said of the majority who attend, “Their children are all grown up.” True; but our work is never done—it ends only with our life; and if we have no children to train, we have some to pray for, to counsel, and encourage, as we see them taking their stations in the busy walks of life, entering upon untried paths, engaging in responsible duties, and battling with foes and errors of various kinds. We often feel it needs greater experience and wisdom to give judicious advice at such times than it does to guard them during infancy or “to teach the young idea how to shoot.” There are but few mothers we think, however great their privileges or piety, but might be benefited by uniting in earnest prayer for divine wisdom and by engaging in conversation on the various themes relating to our present and future well-being and the powerful influence it is ours to wield.

How greatly are the privileges and duties augmented by the position Providence has assigned us, living as we do at the heart of the work, where so many dear young persons are constantly coming among us, often becoming members of our families! How our hearts yearn after them! We know they have mothers somewhere, most of them—anxious, praying mothers; and we may, perchance, by cordially extending to them our interest and sympathy, water the good seed sown in childhood, help it to grow up, and bear much fruit. Oh! let us not forget this precious charge, but counsel them in kindness, speak to them of their eternal welfare, and continue to remember them in our prayers.

Dear absent sisters, we extend to you our annual greeting of love, sympathy, and good cheer, with the assurance that you are often remembered in our prayers. We hope this is reciprocal, and shall be pleased to hear of the welfare of yourselves and families, with any other items of interest. How thankful we should feel to know that wherever you are you could enjoy the privilege of attending a good Mother’s meeting.

We have in almost every church our Tract and Missionary Society. Why not our Maternal Association? Surely not because our children are all converted, and walking in all the commandments of the Lord blameless. Oh! should not their eternal welfare demand the first claim upon our attention, the warmest place in our hearts, and call forth our strongest and most untiring efforts?

Let us not sleep over our work. The sowing time is quickly passing away. “Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” The reaping time is at hand. May it be to each of us and all our loved ones sweet rest from cares and toils in the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour. M. E. Steward, Pres. Susannah Sisley, Sec.

T. and M. Society, Dist. No. 13.

The first quarterly meeting of Dist. No. 13, Mich. T. and M. Society, was held at Memphis, March 18. The churches in the district were, with the exception of one, well represented. Eld. D. H. Lamson was with us. It had been ours to enjoy a most excellent Sabbath meeting the day before, and with hearts strengthened and courage refreshed, we all came together Sunday at 10:30 A. M. for our T. and M. meeting.

The meeting called to order by our director was opened by prayer from Bro. Lamson and the singing of “Missionary Hymn.” From the reports presented it was evident that some had been engaged in the work earnestly. A summary of the reports given is as follows:—

The Memphis society reported its workings for the quarter ending Jan. 29. No. of families visited, 1; letters written, 4; money received from different sources, $12.00; No. of subscribers on trial for REVIEW and SIGNS, 3; periodicals given away, 50; almanacs distributed, 300; tracts distributed to the amount of 2022 pages.

Bro. Lamson then favored us with good remarks concerning Tract and Missionary work, especially the workings of the Vigilant Missionary Society. We have in our district two such societies, and although we have had as yet but little experience,

yet we feel their value, and believe such ways of accomplishing good are pleasing to our God. Some active measures toward forming a V. M. Society in the Memphis church were taken at this meeting, which will, we trust, soon be completed. Very interesting experiences were related by several of the laborers. Bro. King, from Canada, who is at present canvassing for our periodicals in the eastern part of our district, reported good success. Oh! that more would engage in this work of placing truth and reform in the hands of the public. Now is the time. Prejudice is surely breaking down. There being no further business to be brought before our society, our interesting meeting was adjourned to the call of the director, and we separated with an earnest determination to work with greater zeal the coming quarter. J. S. Chapman, Sec.