MICHIGAN by E. B. Lane

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 9, 1879

MICHIGAN

By E. B. Lane

Bushnell. From Dec. 3 to Dec. 24 I labored with the church in Bushnell, Montcalm county. This church I found to be in a much better condition spiritually, than I had anticipated. The people in the immediate vicinity also displayed an anxiety to hear, which was very encouraging. Whenever the weather was suitable for meetings, our house was well filled. The greatest need of this church at present is a house of worship, and they have already taken steps for its erection. Their Sabbath-school is in a flourishing condition, and bids fair to prove exceedingly useful in stimulating Bible study on the part of both the old and the young. It was a pleasure to procure for them the needed appliance for penny collections on the Sabbath, which is furnished by the REVIEW Office in the form of a tasty collection box. It was also a satisfaction to see them provide themselves with class record books and a secretary’s book, with printed forms, such as are now furnished by the same office. Before leaving, a club of eleven subscribers for the weekly INSTRUCTOR was made up. One decided to obey the truth, and others will, we trust, soon follow her example. W. H. LITTLEJOHN.

Flint.—We held meetings in Flint one week, commencing Dec. 6. The Spirit of God was present, and we had a very profitable time. Quite a number came forward for prayers, and many testimonies were given well wet down with tears. The tithing system, with the added-one-third, was indorsed, and subscriptions on the SIGNS were renewed, with one subscriber additional, making twelve copies.

Thetford.—This church numbers twenty members, and the T. and M. society eleven members. About fifty were present at our Sabbath meeting, some coming in from surrounding churches. We seldom see the Spirit of God affect hearts more than at this meeting. Nearly all took part, and quite a number arose for prayers. The church came up nobly in our business meeting, voting to act on the tithing system and raising a club for the SIGNS (including their old subscription of eight numbers) of thirty-three copies; besides we obtained five subscribers for the REVIEW, and a club of ten for the INSTRUCTOR for the Sabbath-school. They paid some money on the English Mission and Dime Tabernacle, and voted to continue their donations to the Tabernacle. On Tuesday seven were baptized. We had the pleasure of meeting Bro. Fisher of Tuscola. He was a great help to the meeting. There was an excellent outside interest, and we think it a good place for more labor.

Lapeer.—Wednesday evening, Dec. 18, we commenced meetings at Lapeer. Here also the Spirit of God helped us, and this meeting was more encouraging than any we had previously held. The church freely voted to pay a tithe of their income and the added third, besides assisting on the Dime Tabernacle. We were affected to tears as one after another offered to pay for a whole club of the SIGNS, and others half clubs, till they had raised the large number of one hundred copies, and then laid plans for their distribution. We bowed together and invoked God’s rich blessing upon them, feeling that this little company of tract workers, numbering only about forty-five members, could not circulate four thousand eight hundred copies of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES during the coming year without seeing some fruit in the kingdom of God. May God bless the Lapeer church.

In each of the above places the Sabbath-schools were in quite good working order, and the attendance was good. We suggested such improvements as seemed best, and all seemed glad to receive them.

Mount Morris.—We held a very interesting meeting with the Mount Morris church, Sabbath, Dec. 28. Nearly all were affected to tears, and made confession of sins and backslidings. Sunday, the 29th, Bro. Woodhull, the director, held a successful tract society meeting, while I was called away to attend the funeral of Sister Hannah Soule. The most of the church voted to pay the one-tenth and one-third. Other church business was attended to, and their club of SIGNS was increased from four to thirteen copies. This small church has done well.

We organized a Sabbath-school, all taking an interest in it.

The director, Bro. S. Woodhull, was with me in these meetings. E. B. LANE.