p. 14 | MICHIGAN | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 10, 1878

MICHIGAN

Meetings in Dist. No. 8.

Birch Run, Dec. 10.—I expected to have only a business meeting, but the house was completely filled with people, so I had to preach. Appointed a business session for the next evening; but again the school-house was full, so I preached again. I then dismissed the congregation; but not a soul left the house for the hour and a half of the continued meeting. This is the place where Eld. Lawrence had for some time held meetings. The interest is still good. Ten are keeping the Sabbath, nearly all new converts, and all earnest lovers of the truth.

Saginaw, Dec. 12.—There are about a dozen Sabbath-keepers here, some of whom would be earnest workers if they were differently situated. Arrangements have been made to canvass the city, and at least five hundred Annuals will be used. With a nucleus of a dozen good, true-hearted souls, there would be ample room here for all the missionary workers of the State.

Williams, Dec. 13.—Commenced meetings at 10:30 A. M. of the 14th. But eight here could get together. The S. B. pledge for the coming year, with the one-third, amounts to about $90. Without some change of circumstances, the Sabbath-keepers here will probably soon unite with the church at Jay, which is but seven miles distant. They have the name of being prompt in all their financial operations, and seem to be earnest lovers of the truth.

Jay, Dec. 15, 16.—Although the roads were very nearly impassable there was a large gathering, some coming nearly thirty miles. The most of the brethren from Williams were present. We held, in all, four services, besides business sessions. The interest increased to the last, and the impression upon my own mind and the minds of the brethren, was that a series of meetings should soon be held here. In fact, such a series was called for by a rising vote of the whole congregation on Sunday evening, and they were left to hope that some such effort will be made. The S. B. pledge was raised considerably, though some do not come up to the plan. The one-third was added. Eld. R. J. Lawrence was with me, and assisted materially in the services. A Vigilant Missionary Society was formed here, and will begin work immediately.

St. Charles, Dec. 17, 18.—Had a business meeting on Tuesday during the day. The meetings were well attended, and here, as at Jay and some other points, there seems to be no special prejudice against our people or faith. Systematic benevolence was satisfactorily arranged, and the one-third added. A Vigilant Missionary Society was organized. There are probably few churches more favorably situated for missionary labor than this church and the one at Jay, as they are so near the Saginaws and Bay City, towns that contain, in the aggregate, not less than fifty thousand inhabitants.

A telegram reached me here which compelled me to give up my appointment at Chesaning, Hazleton, and Mt. Morris, and return home, the serious illness of Mrs. Lamson making it imperative.

D. H. Lamson.

Dist. No. 7.

Dec. 12, met with the friends in Fulton. Only a part of this company are in fellowship with the body, having been rent asunder and nearly destroyed by the ungodly course of one John W. Wolfe, a professed Sabbath-keeper. I consider his influence very pernicious. Nothing but a sense of duty would cause me to speak thus of any man, and I would not do it now, only to guard my brethren everywhere against his influence, as he has declared it is his intention to take the field publicly. The few who remain firm requested admission to the Ithaca church; hence the business pertaining to them was left to be considered at the meeting at that place.

Held meetings at Ithaca, Dec. 15, 16. These were well attended considering the bad weather, and all expressed themselves encouraged to engage anew in the work. Their S. B. pledge for 1878 is nearly $300.

We went to Greenbush the 22d. This church numbers about twenty-five, and all seem to be growing in grace. Many of the children take part in the social meetings. Three were baptized and united with the church, one of whom lives about fifteen miles away, and has embraced the truth from reading. The S. B. pledge for the coming year is $67.18.

Commenced meetings at Ovid the evening of the 24th, and continued them till the afternoon of the 26th. This is a small church of only fifteen members. They seem, however, with few exceptions, to be doing well, and they compare very favorably with older companies. Their S. B. amounts to $89.44. This church, as did all the other churches in the district, pledged the one-third for the T. and M. fund, and vowed to pay tithes.

While passing through the district, I have been pleased to see the good spirit generally manifested in taking hold of the work, and will only say to the brethren: Be faithful in performing the vows you have made to God, and the coming year cannot fail to produce good results, not only in your own hearts, but in the hearts of those who may come under your influence.

F. Squire.

Note.—Being acquainted with the course of John W. Wolfe, mentioned in the above report, we can unhesitatingly indorse the statements made concerning him.

J. O. Corliss.

F. Nelson.