p. 94 | VERMONT | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 12, 1878

VERMONT

Tent No. 2, Marshfield.

Our meetings with the tent for the present season, closed last Sunday. Eleven weeks ago, Brn. Owen and Kellogg pitched the tent in Cabot, where but little or nothing was known of our views. Their public labors and their ready and easy manner of visiting drew friends around them. Bro. and Sr. Whitford, too, took hold in earnest to help.

They soon found themselves among Adventists, most of whom realized their broken and scattered condition as a church. At Cabot they had a good house of worship, but lacked union and strength to hold meetings with any regularity.

As the first advent movement was dwelt upon, the prophetic periods and the subject of the sanctuary were explained, with the harmonious connection of the three messages of Revelation 14, they began to rejoice in the light, and like hungry souls coming to a table well spread with relishable food, they feasted in word and deed upon the truths presented.

From the ranks of the Adventists in Cabot, Woodbury, and Marshfield, men and women of mental and moral worth have been gathered. Of this number is the deacon and his wife. Persons, too, from other churches have received the light, while some who never before had learned to love the Saviour rejoice in keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Four were baptized last Sabbath. One of these is a young man of promise, the son of a widowed mother. With embracing the religion of the Bible his plans for life change. He is to leave for our College at Battle Creek immediately after our camp-meeting. The mother and another son rejoice with him in the truth.

I was with the tent more than one-half of the season. We had the influence of several ministers against us, and Eld. Miles Grant’s book against the Sabbath and the visions came showering in upon us as soon as the Sabbath was presented; but really I think they did but little if any harm. The false positions, the erroneous statements, and the misquotations of Scripture, were well shown before the public by Bro. Owen.

Three sermons were preached last Sunday, with a short intermission, each one of us speaking once. There was deep feeling, and strong conviction on the truth. Hearts melted, and tears flowed. Bro. Whitford did his best at the organ, as we closed. With a solemn feeling, the audience left us.

At this meeting, more than enough money was handed us to meet the expenses of the meeting at Marshfield. One friend, not a Sabbath-keeper, gave us one dollar at the intermission; of her own choice this was exchanged at the close of the meeting for a five-dollar bill.

The expenses at Cabot were nearly one-half met by donations. Many kind friends have favored us with the necessaries of a tent life, while most with whom we have dealt have made prices low if they have set any price. May God bless this people. We leave some over thirty keeping the Sabbath from the efforts with the tent. Brn. Owen and Whitford remain with them till camp-meeting. Dr. John Lance, who with his wife and father and mother embraced the Sabbath, opens his house for meetings next Sabbath. These friends will be visited after camp-meeting, and a church organized. I did all my health and time would admit in this work. Others who are deeply convicted will no doubt embrace the Sabbath.

It rained almost daily from the opening to the close of the meeting, telling against the interest of meetings and our health.

Sept. 4, 1878. A. S. Hutchins.

Tent No. 1, West Townshend.

We closed our tent labors Sunday evening, Sept. 1, to ship the tents to the Morrisville camp-ground. There is still a deep interest, not only in the vicinity of the tent location, but the influence of the meetings has been felt miles distant, and invitations come in to hold meetings in various localities. Eight have commenced keeping the Sabbath as the result of our meetings, and others will soon, we believe. By request, we attend the Vermont camp-meeting, then return here before going to Weston. We learn that the interest there is on the increase, and we are urged to return as soon as possible.

Twenty-five have embraced the truth since we commenced labor in Vermont last spring. A very intelligent old man seventy-five years of age, a cripple, who could not attend meetings, has read faithfully, and has embraced the truth. God has answered prayer. He does bless, and the people are benefited. We work on with courage, and believe God will continue to direct.

Bro. Page, our tent-master, is a faithful man, and we hope he may be successful in winning many souls to the truth. God bless our young men who are willing to leave home for this great work.

I. Sanborn.