MICHIGAN

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 6, 1879

Report of Labor.—Sabbath and Sunday, Feb. 15 and 16, I spent with the church at Allegan, preaching on the Sabbath and conducting a business meeting on the first day of the week. This church has, we believe, almost universally adopted the new tithing system. On Sunday, among other important items of business transacted, necessary means were raised for the purchase of a circulating library, as recommended by the Conference.

Feb. 19 to 22, I spent with the church at Monterey, preaching and attending business meetings. As the matters to be considered were of great importance, the President of the Conference and Bro. S. H. King, of the Conference Committee, and representatives of several of the churches, were present as per request. Happily, our deliberations were so guided by the Holy Spirit, that the results reached were very satisfactory. After the departure of the brethren summoned from abroad, I remained and held meetings for three days. On the Sabbath two individuals—both of whom had passed middle age—started in the service of the Lord. One of these men was a person who never before had made a profession of religion; the other had once been an observer of the seventh day and a member of the church, but had given up the truth and gone a great way from the Lord, though still holding on to his intellectual faith. When I speak of him as Bro. Sawyer, those acquainted with the early history of the Monterey church will at once be able to place him. W. H. LITTLEJOHN.

Report of Labor.—Feb. 8 and 9 we held five meetings with the few friends at Twin Lake, Muskegon Co. The outside interest was good. In company with Bro. E. H. Root, held five meetings with the church in Shelby, Oceana Co. The Lord blessed. A church trial of long standing was cleared up, and harmony now prevails. The outside interest was excellent, and arrangements were made for a course of lectures.

Muskegon, a city of about twelve thousand inhabitants, has offered us the free use of two of the largest halls in the place for a course of lectures, and one of the proprietors offered to donate ten dollars to pay the expense of gas and wood, if the people did not contribute liberally. I consider this a rare offer, as each of the halls rents for $25 per evening for other purposes. E. B. LANE.

Dist. No. 13.—Bro. Wm. H. Mills sends us a report of meetings held in this district at Memphis, Armada, and Romeo, by himself and Bro. R. J. Lawrence, in December, 1878. The meetings were, as a whole, of an encouraging nature. Two clubs of the Signs were taken, each numbering ten copies; seventy-five Annuals were ordered, and some subscriptions were obtained for the REVIEW and Instructor. At Romeo the tithing system was adopted and the added one-third. At Memphis something was raised on the Dime Tabernacle and reserve fund.

Mattawan, Feb. 27.—Bro. T. M. Steward has held meetings in the Congregational house at this place one week. Some are interested. Bro. S. states that Bro. N. Dewey, living seven miles north of Dowagiac, has twice engaged the Disciple meeting-house for a series of meetings; but each time, after the minister arrived, the house has been closed against him by underhanded means on the part of the Disciples. Bro. E. B. Lane and T. M. Steward have thus been shut out of the house.

Pierson, Feb. 24.—Jan. 29 we commenced meetings at the Maple Grove school-house five miles west of Pierson, and to date have given twenty-four discourses. We are nearly through with the presentation of the Sabbath question, and held our first Sabbath meeting Feb. 22. The brethren from Pierson met with us, and it was one of the most precious seasons that we have ever had the privilege of enjoying. Eight or ten, who had once taken the Lord’s name upon them, but whose love had waxed cold, returned to the Lord with hearty confession. Fourteen adults signed the covenant. Several others are keeping the Sabbath, making about twenty in all. The community is very much stirred, and nearly all are convinced on the Sabbath. We are visiting from house to house. Will the friends remember us? D. A. WELLMAN. W. ELLSWORTH.

Stanton, Feb. 26.—Feb. 12, I began meetings with the scattered brethren of Stanton and vicinity. I have held eight meetings, and established regular Sabbath-meetings, and a Sabbath-school with twelve copies of the Instructor; also obtained three subscribers for our periodicals, and sold $2.00 worth of books. ORLANDO SOULE.