NEW YORK | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 19, 1877

NEW YORK.

Clear Creek.

Friday, April 6, Bro. Reynolds and I began meetings at Clear Creek. Bro. R. held a tent meeting here last season. We found over a dozen good Sabbath-keepers, firm in the truth. They have kept up regular Sabbath meetings all the time. Sabbath day, friends came in from all around till there were forty-five present, young and old—all old enough to be Christians. I was surprised to find that there were so many Sabbath-keepers in this section. None of these came more than a dozen miles, and most of them much less. Nearly half of these were young people from twelve to twenty-five years old, Sabbath-keepers, but not professors, except a few. I have not often seen a more interesting class of our young people than these.

We tried hard to get them to give their lives to the service of God, but found them very slow to move. However ten, old and young, made a start, and spoke well. Could this have been followed up a couple of days, I feel sure most all would have yielded. But the parents went home with them Sabbath afternoon, and thus defeated all further efforts to help the most of them. I have found the parents in this county the most backward about helping their children of any in the State, and it has grieved me much. Sunday morning we had about a dozen young persons together, and enjoyed a pleasant season. Eight of them engaged in prayer with us.

Then we came together and organized a church of twenty-one members. Two were baptized. Sr. Bentley was elected clerk, and Bro. S. Thurston was elected and ordained elder. Others not present will unite soon.

We also organized S. B. amounting to $112 per year, and voted the third more for T. and M. The outside attendance was large. In fact, the house was crowded at every meeting. Our last meeting was a very solemn one. The Lord helped to reach the hearts of the people. One man, who had just finished reading the History of the Sabbath, fully decided to keep the Sabbath, and subscribed for the REVIEW. We could only stay two days. I leave this place with the saddest heart I have had this winter, not because we did not see much accomplished, nor because we had not very much to rejoice over, but because I saw so much more that ought to be done. But we have many churches to visit yet, and my time in which to do it is well-nigh spent.

There are scattered brethren and good openings all around here. We hope to see all these friends at the camp-meeting, where we will see what can be done for them. Bro. Watkins cheerfully bore much of the burden of the meetings, for which the Lord reward him. D. M. CANRIGHT.

North Gouverneur and Rome.

Met with the friends at Gouverneur, Thursday, April 3. I found four here who have lately commenced to keep the Sabbath. One of these, an influential man in the community, has been carefully investigating this question since a course of lectures were given here more than a year since, and now, with his good wife, has taken a firm stand to keep the commandments of God. This is another illustration of the fact that we can sometimes judge but poorly as to what has been accomplished by the apparent results at the close of a course of lectures. Three united with the church, and a good degree of interest was manifested in the missionary work. At my request Bro. H. H. Wilcox filled my appointment at Rossie. He reports the friends there all firm in the truth.

Our first quarterly meeting at Rome, April 7 and 8, was an interesting occasion. There was a full attendance of the church at the meeting on Friday evening preparatory to the ordinance meeting. Nearly all, as far as we could judge, engaged in the fast; and our meeting on the Sabbath was excellent.

Evening after the Sabbath the ordinances were celebrated for the first time in this church. The promptness and cheerfulness with which all the brethren and sisters engaged in this work, gave good evidence of the love of the truth and the spirit of union and harmony that prevails among those who have so lately received the truth here.

We found at our business meeting on Sunday, that more than three out of four had previously paid up their S. B. for the quarter; and those who have not done so will soon, so that we shall commence the new quarter with a clean record. The regular prayer meetings continue in interest, and are well attended; and a weekly prayer meeting among the sisters has been established. B. L. WHITNEY.

Parma.

The interest here is as great now as it has been since we began. We are having full houses, notwithstanding the meeting in the Baptist house. A Free Methodist minister has come in to present the claims of the first day, which is helping the cause wonderfully. The interest is extending for miles around, and we hear of one minister in an adjoining town, that is trying to defend his cause against the aggressions of the present truth.

Our last Sabbath meeting was another interesting occasion. Our work here seems only fairly inaugurated, and we hope for glorious things to report in the future. S. B. WHITNEY.

St Lawrence Co.

I was with the church in Rossie Apr. 4 and 5. In consequence of bad roads, high water, and sickness, held only one meeting. The rest of the time, was spent in visiting and looking after the interests of the cause. The members of this church are united and firm in the truth. There are those here, that a short time ago did not pray, that are now calling upon God in earnest.

I attended the quarterly meeting at North Gouverneur Apr. 7 and 8. This was a good meeting. On first day they came together to pay S. B. I spoke to them a short time with regard to the plan of raising means and its object, after which every member present came forward and paid his S. B. for the quarter. Some that have not yet joined the church, yet are keeping the Sabbath, pledged and paid. Three that are not keeping the Sabbath donated. This was all done with the greatest degree of cheerfulness I ever witnessed. The Spirit of the Lord was present to sanction this good work. HENRY H. WILCOX.