ILLINOIS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 16, 1877

Rockford.

WE have now, Aug. 8, been here just eight weeks. Have been required to give a “long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together;” else we should not have succeeded. As it is, the Lord grants us some fruit, and to him we ascribe the praise.

Bro. G. White has rendered us material aid with his printing press. We now hope to engage him to publish for all our tents during the season of 1878. Bro. Vickery has been with us here more than one-half the time. Many of our brethren and sisters near this city have manifested a zeal in aiding us. God will bless the devoted soul.

Two weeks ago three were baptized, and eight more last first-day. We cannot state with definiteness how many are now observing the Sabbath as the result of our effort at this place; but we hope to organize a company of commandment-keepers at our next Sabbath meeting.

Perhaps we shall give a second course of lectures in East Rockford, immediately after Conference.

G. W. COLCORD. R. F. ANDREWS.

Scales Mound.

WE have been here three weeks. We have quite a steady congregation through the week, and on Sunday evening we have about two hundred hearers. Since the farmers have finished their harvesting, our congregations are increasing, and there seems to be a growing interest to hear.

We are among the English. They are members of the M. E. Church, and are quite slow to change their views; but among the outsiders, we have some warm friends. One tavern-keeper, Mr. McBride, gave us $5.00.

The people listened, and were quiet, while we were speaking on the prophecies, and even the law of God; but when we took up the state of the dead, they could not keep still any longer. On Saturday evening, when we were speaking on the end of the wicked, one local preacher talked to a considerable length and kept asking questions. He bothered the congregation some time. At last we turned to 1 John 5:10, 11, and read it twice, and we heard no more from him that evening.

The regular M. E. preacher spoke against us the next Sunday, and Bro. E. O. Hammond reviewed him in the evening before a large congregation, and had freedom.

We shall stay here two weeks longer, if the interest continues as good as it is at the present time.

J. R. WHITHAM. I. G. COLCORD.