p. 76 | WESTERN TOUR by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 7, 1878

WESTERN TOUR.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

Tuesday evening, Feb. 12, I met with the friends at Pleasant Grove, Minn., where Elds. Dimmick and Curtis were laboring. They had held a discussion with a Mr. Burns, a Disciple minister, who dealt so largely in abuse that the public became thoroughly disgusted, and demanded that the discussion should stop. Much had been said in reference to sister White, and a strong prejudice had been created. By request I spoke Wednesday evening on her work and the relation she sustains to Seventh-day Adventists. Three meetings were held Thursday. We spoke on the various branches of this work, its rise and progress, etc.

The following Sabbath and first-day was the time of the quarterly meeting at Medford. Seven churches were represented. Some very important steps were here taken by the brethren present, and recommended to the Conference; such as reorganizing systematic benevolence according to the plan recommended by the General Conference; viz., paying a tithe of their increase and income, and in addition paying to the tract society a sum equal to one-third their systematic benevolence. It was enough to melt the hardest heart to listen to the calls for labor that came in at this meeting. Fifty active ministers could not fill the openings in the State of Minnesota at the present time. “The harvest is great, but the laborers are few.” This meeting had but one unfavorable feature,—the necessity that our brethren should return to their homes on Monday, so that we were not able to complete all we would have been glad to do. The clubs of Signs already taken were largely increased, and a vigilant committee was appointed.

Our meeting at Hutchinson was one of special interest. Seven churches were represented, and many of the leading brethren in Minnesota were present. It was evident from the first that the brethren came to work, and remain until the meeting was over; hence they did not leave till Tuesday morning. A goodly number for the first time took their stand to keep the commandments of God. The testimonies borne in the social meetings were from feeling hearts. Every moment was occupied.

The brethren and sisters were prompt at the hour of worship, though there were five meetings a day on Sabbath and first-day, while Monday our meeting continued, with a short intermission, from 9 A. M. until 4 P. M. There was also a meeting at 7 P. M. We proposed to close, but the friends were anxious we should arrange systematic benevolence and organize a vigilant missionary society, that they might learn how it was done. Kingston and Monticello were largely represented; so a vigilant society was organized for Hutchinson, Kingston, and Monticello. Clubs of the SIGNS were largely increased in each church represented. Systematic benevolence was re-organized, all present taking a part. The amount pledged for 1878 amounted to over one thousand dollars, more than five hundred in advance of that for last year. A few years ago a few embraced the truth in Hutchinson under the labors of Eld. Canright. Now, within a radius of thirty miles there are six churches, numbering nearly two hundred Sabbath-keepers, with a systematic benevolence fund of over one thousand dollars. These brethren take about one hundred and fifty copies of the SIGNS; but the clubs of the SIGNS, and also the S. B. figures, will be much increased when the friends return to their homes, by those who were not present at the meeting.

There is a general call all through this section to hear on present truth. A Swede who had been out doing missionary work for a few weeks returned with the cheering news that he had obtained forty subscribers for the HAROLD, and sixteen had embraced the Sabbath.

A rising vote was taken to see how many indorsed the plan of paying a sum to the tract society equal to one-third their S. B., in addition to their S. B. The vote was prompt and unanimous.

Could Eld. Smith hold a Biblical Institute in this State it would be a great help to those who are now laboring in the field, and also to young men and women who are desirous of filling some position in the cause of God. We felt a deep interest in the cause in this State, as we witnessed such a spirit of sacrifice on the part of the brethren and sisters to get the truth before their fellow-men. We regret that circumstances compelled us to leave without visiting other portions of the State, and also other Conferences in the West. Before we separated, two of the Conference Committee who were present were anxious to defray all expenses incurred by my trip to the State, which they accordingly did.

They appreciate past favors shown them by the General Conference, and Publishing Association in their time of poverty. If the brethren keep humble, labor on with the same spirit of sacrifice, and the work commenced at these two meetings is carried throughout the State, I see no reason why Minnesota may not, within one year, rank next to Michigan in membership and missionary labor. Already they talk of taking not less than twelve hundred copies of the SIGNS in clubs to distribute, and obtaining not less than two thousand subscribers for the REFORMER for 1878. Twelve hundred copies of the SIGNS taken on the plan which is now being adopted will accomplish more than four times that number used on the plan on which THE VOICE OF TRUTH was sent out several years ago. I should add that they are gathering up their old REVIEWS and REFORMERS and find plenty of interested readers for the same.

S. N. HASKELL.