p. 132 | REVIVAL MEETINGS AT BATTLE CREEK, MICH

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 25, 1878

REVIVAL MEETINGS AT BATTLE CREEK, MICH.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

As was mentioned last week, we began meetings here Sabbath, April 13, for the benefit of the backslidden and unconverted. Bro. Haskell was with us till Wednesday, and rendered good aid. Bro. Hollenbeck, our blind brother from Iowa, was with us all through, and rendered invaluable aid. We found him just adapted to this work. From the first, the Lord seemed to bless our meetings. All meetings in the place were suspended, at the College, at the Offices, at the church, and at the Sanitarium, and the brethren generally attended the meetings, so that our house was crowded at every meeting.

At the first invitation, probably about fifty came forward to seek the Lord. Nearly all these were persons who had never made any start in the service of God. During our entire meeting, we made no call for those who were simply on the background and needed reviving. We recommended them to seek God at home, and get a preparation to help us in the work. It was simply those who had never been converted, or who were wholly backslidden, that we labored for.

About every evening we changed the nature of the meeting. One evening, we invited them forward; the next evening, after preaching, we dismissed our formal meeting, and went all around among the audience, talking and advising with those who ought to seek the Lord. We found this a very profitable way to do. Another evening, we would have them simply rise up where they were; and thus we endeavored to vary the meetings and try every plan. There was much more feeling than we expected to find, and more needed to be done than we had anticipated.

On Sunday, April 14, we baptized ten. By Wednesday, twenty-two more were ready, and we baptized them. Every evening from ten to fifteen new ones made a start. We have held our meetings just one week. The last opportunity we gave was on Friday evening, April 19. It was by far the most solemn meeting we have had. The whole audience was deeply moved. Several times nearly all were in tears. When, for the last time, we gave an invitation to those who wanted to avail themselves of this opportunity, a good many felt that it was their last chance; and brethren and sisters who had friends here felt very deeply for them, and went to them all over the house, to talk with them, and plead with them, and weep with them. One after another came forward, weeping and broken down. We spent about an hour in this manner. When we got through, about one hundred and twenty-five were forward for prayers. This number did not include those already baptized. We then gave opportunity for them to speak. This was one of the most precious meetings I have ever enjoyed. It did our souls good to see strong men and women, and little children, rise up in rapid succession, expressing their desire to be Christians without reserve. Largely, they were persons who had never spoken a word in meeting before. We all felt to thank God and take courage.

Each evening we called for those who wished baptism to give in their names; and a committee of six experienced brethren and sisters was appointed to converse with them, and examine their cases. About sixty names were presented for this purpose. In a few cases, the committee, for various reasons, thought it best for the candidate to wait a short time, but fifty were accepted. Sabbath afternoon we went to the banks of the Kalamazoo, where so many scores have been baptized before. Both banks of the river were lined with hundreds of spectators, while Bro. Jones and myself had the pleasure of baptizing these dear souls into Christ. Many here said it was the most beautiful baptism they had ever witnessed.

In quite a number of cases it was our privilege to take a man and his wife down into the water together. Particularly was it pleasing to see two sisters going down into the water hand in hand, to start in the service of Christ together. As we came out of the water, we presented them to their parents, who were waiting on the bank. It was a scene to make the angels rejoice. All went off most pleasantly. Everybody was quiet and solemn, and the Spirit of God seemed to be present. Thus, eighty-two souls have been baptized within the past week. This is the largest number ever baptized here at any one time. Several more, who were not quite ready yesterday, will be baptized in a few days.

Of those who have been baptized, nine were hands working in the REVIEW Office. The brethren feel that this will be a great help to them religiously. Others in the Office, who have not yet been baptized, are seeking God. Twenty-seven were from our school. These are persons who had come here from all parts of the country, largely, of course, the children of our Sabbath-keeping brethren. They have come under a good influence here, and this effort has fully decided them to be Christians. They will soon return to their homes, rejoicing in the truth.

Quite a number were young men and women who had come here without any knowledge of our truth, and some of them were skeptical; but the good influence thrown around them here has won their hearts and confidence, and now they have come out fully for the Lord. Quite a number more in the school are seeking the Lord, and will soon be ready for baptism.

Ten of those baptized were either helpers or patients at the Sanitarium. Most of them came to the institution worldlings, and unacquainted with the truth. Here they have been brought under a good religious influence, have heard more or less of the truth, until they have fallen in love with it, and have now fully taken a stand for the Lord and the third angel's message. Our brethren at the Sanitarium think this effort will have a very beneficial effect upon the religious tone of the institution. The remainder were persons living in Battle Creek. Nearly all who have made a start in these meetings were mature persons, mostly between the ages of eighteen and thirty, and quite a number above that.

The church at Battle Creek has a great responsibility upon its hands on account of so many who are constantly coming and going. The church is so large that it is impossible for all to take part in the meeting at any one time. After consulting with leading brethren, it is decided to divide up all the Sabbath-keeping population of Battle Creek into classes of thirty members each, and appoint a devoted man with an assistant singer to each class. Each leader will have a class book containing the names of his class. All the classes will meet once a week on the same evening. The leader is held responsible to look after every member of his class, and to ascertain weekly how each is doing, and to gather in as many as he can of those who are not converted.

Then it has been found impossible for all to take part in the ordinances where they assemble together. For this reason many never take part at all, which is a source of backsliding. Now the ordinances will be celebrated in each class by itself, so that all will take part. These seasons will be much more profitable and interesting than in the other way.

A very deep impression has been made on all the people by these meetings; and all believe that great good will come from them. Of course, much depends now upon the promptness with which the brethren carry on the work already begun.

I have had the pleasure of stopping most of the time at the Sanitarium. I had spoken too long, and too much during our meetings in Iowa, so that my voice had nearly given out. I felt very much discouraged, and thought I would have to be laid up for the summer; but the doctors have put me through vigorous treatment all the time I have staid here, and I find myself well again. For this, I feel very thankful. I have a much better opinion of the management of the Sanitarium than I have ever had before. I hear all the patients speak of it with the greatest praise. Particularly are they pleased with the courteousness of the physicians and helpers. Everything is conducted so pleasantly and with such harmony that it wins the favor of the patients immediately.

Then the religious tone of the institution is very much improved over what it has been some times in the past. All the physicians are men and women who fear God and have a deep love for the truth. They take all reasonable measures to maintain a good religious influence in the institution. Eld. George Tenney, of Wisconsin, has charge of the devotional exercises at present. He is a candid, devoted man, and knows how to represent the truth judiciously. We believe this is an excellent field for his labors.

Sister Lamson, the matron, who was with me last summer with the tent, will have a good influence in religious matters in the institution. Nearly all the helpers are now prepared to work together in this matter. So we feel rejoiced to find such a good religious influence in the Sanitarium.

It will be seen by this report that good fruit has already been borne. We learn that almost constantly persons coming here as patients go away converted to the Lord and the truth. We believe God's blessing will attend such a good work as this. D. M. CANRIGHT.

Battle Creek, April 20.