Massachusetts Church Visits in Essex County
By D. A. Robinson
Last Sunday we closed our labors in Essex county. We have spent a little more than three weeks with the churches at Danvers, Haverhill, Newburyport and Ipswich. At Danvers a V. M. society was organized, and one hundred copies of the Signs were taken, also forty-five copies of the weekly Instructor; and in a few moments at the close of one meeting they made up the sum of $4.00 to pay for the “Circulating Library.” Found their s. B. here considerably behind, yet the most of them will square this up soon. At Newburyport they have a club of twenty-five copies of the Signs. They also purchased Sr. White’s writings. Nearly all are anxious to learn how they can work the most successfully in the T. and M. society. At Ipswich the brethren were feeling some31discouraged. They had taken twenty-five copies of the Signs last year, and nothing had been paid on them. We tried to set before them the obligation they were under to pay for them and also to have a club the present year. One brother suggested that they pay their indebtedness, and not take any more papers till that was done. They finally pledged nearly enough to pay their old debt and will also take twenty-one copies for the present year. They also subscribed for a small club of the weekly Instructor and purchased the “Circulating Library.” About half of this church solemnly pledged to lay aside one-tenth this year. We keep God’s holy Sabbath because it is his, and we should lay aside a tithe for the same reason. Bro. Haines has been with me. After stopping two days at home, we came to-day, Jan. 16, to Athol, Mass., where we design giving a course of lectures. D. A. ROBINSON.