p. 78 | MASSACHUSETTS

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

MASSACHUSETTS

East Salisbury, Feb. 26.

This is a small place two miles from Newburyport, just across the Merrimac River, and two miles from the beach. It is the home of Eld. Haines. I came here Feb. 23 to assist him in a course of lectures. He had been called to Biddeford, Me., to attend the funeral of his mother, and the burden of the meetings fell on me. My first audience numbered about a dozen. There was nothing in the circumstances that was particularly inspiring.

I have spoken four times, and have sold $2.85 worth of books. The audience has increased to about seventy. The Methodists have appointed meetings for about every night ahead; and they don't see why we should still be “harping upon Daniel, where Miller was years ago.” C. W. STONE.

South Amherst.

I began meetings with the friends here Friday eve, Feb. 8, holding them every evening since, besides Sabbaths and first-days when we had three meetings each day. Since I was here nearly a year ago, about half a dozen in this vicinity, eight and ten miles from here, have embraced the truth from reading. On the Sabbath, these new friends were present, and heard their first sermon from a S. D. Adventist. We had two services in the daytime, yet they were so anxious to hear that they remained till after the evening meeting.

Some of these cases are very interesting. One man, a deacon of a Congregational church, to whom the SIGNS had been sent, after reading it about a year, felt almost impelled to take hold of the truth; but the opposition was so strong that he did not until about six months ago. In a little while he had his daughter, living near him, with him in the truth. At our first Sabbath meeting here, two weeks ago, this brother, with a son, came to the meeting. The son had heard much against our people (as he afterward said), and came with his father to see, I suppose, how fanatical we were and so induce his father to give up; but the truth took hold of his heart, and he went home deeply interested. Last Sabbath he came back, bringing the testimony with him that he had made up his mind to keep God's holy Sabbath with his father. It was a precious season. The father wept for joy, and nearly every one in the house was in tears. Three others made a start to serve God at the same time.

I have never had better freedom in speaking than here. These brethren have tried to do something in the missionary work. God has blessed their efforts, and they are seeing good results.

This week I hold meetings till Sabbath in a school-house eight miles from here, then will be here again next Sabbath and first-day, and organize this company more fully. D. A. ROBINSON.