AROOSTOOK CO., MAINE by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 23, 1878

AROOSTOOK CO., MAINE.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

In company with Bro. Goodrich I arrived at Linneus, Thursday, May 9. Notwithstanding it rained all day Friday, the brethren came from a radius of sixty miles. A mother and her daughter hired a team, and drove thirty miles in the rain. We enjoyed a degree of God’s blessing in our meetings. The freely flowing tears in the social meetings showed that hearts were affected.

Eld. Goodrich came to this place less than four years ago, and as the result of his labors more than one hundred have embraced the truth. The entire number now keeping the Sabbath in this section, including the Swedes in New Sweden, is over one hundred and seventy-five. They had but little labor after Eld. Goodrich’s first visit until last summer, when Eld. Hersum came here. He has labored in this county since that time, with some success.

There are many unconverted children of Sabbath-keepers here, and others who observe the Sabbath, but do not belong to any church. I know of no field where more fruit might be expected from a few weeks of judicious labor than here. The brethren and sisters have a mind to work and bear their own burdens, and also help to carry the truth into new fields. The plan of giving a tithe of their increase was cheerfully accepted. When the S. B. is fully organized throughout this county, we think it will exceed five hundred dollars. The brethren seemed pleased with the idea of taking part in every enterprise connected with the cause. Seventy-two dollars were pledged, most of it at this meeting, for a new tent to be run in Maine this season. This sum will be much increased by those not present at this meeting.

Bro. Sawyer was present and reported the work progressing among the Swedes. An effort will be made to more fully unite the efforts of our Swedish and American brethren in carrying forward present truth. This will be a help to the former. They have purchased a lot and are making arrangements to erect a house of worship. We are more and more convinced that there should be a blending of the different nationalities. The truth is one, and our sympathies and interests are one. If such were the case, the same interest would be taken in the different enterprises. In the tract and missionary work especially, there should be a mutual interest, which would prove a source of encouragement to all.

In the northern portion of this State there are some fourteen thousand French, some of whom can read English and are much interested to read on present truth. A club of LES SIGNES DES TEMPS was formed to help forward the missionary work among this people. The closing meeting was appointed at eight o’clock Monday morning. We were half an hour early, yet nearly all the brethren were present, waiting for the meeting to commence. This meeting closed about noon, and the brethren separated rejoicing in God. To many of these brethren we became warmly attached. We believe the time is not far in the future when the State of Maine will become a strong Conference in comparison with what it is at the present time, both in numbers and financial strength.

S. N. HASKELL.