p. 174 | OHIO | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 29, 1879

OHIO

New Haven, Troy, and Cleveland.—Thursday, May 15, we held meetings with the friends at New Haven. Two or three have been keeping the Sabbath here for several years. Lately some have moved here and some have come into the truth, so that now there are about a dozen. They hold regular meetings and a Sabbath-school. We organized a church of eight. Others will come in soon. All pledged a tithe. Enough was pledged to thoroughly furnish the Sabbath-school with all it needs, also blank books for the church, S. S., and the T. and M. work. Eld. St. John spoke in town in the evening to a fair audience. One of our brethren here has the control of a meeting-house, so we can hold meetings any time we like. It is designed to give a course of lectures here during the year.

I came to Troy Sabbath, May 17. At 9:30 A. M. we found the School-house well filled with a good Sabbath-school. There are quite a number of young people and children here, and they appear to take a deep interest in the Sabbath-school. They have good singing. All the friends in that section were out, and we had as pleasant a meeting as I have attended in a long time. Previously the church has been small, some much backslidden, and others discouraged. Last winter Bro. Guilford came here, and the Lord blessed his labors. The church was aroused, a goodly number converted, the Sabbath-school built up, and a good outside interest manifested. We had a full house all the time, and freedom in speaking. Sabbath day all were deeply moved, and several arose for prayers. At the last meeting two men promised to keep the Sabbath. The brethren pledged over $100 for their T. and M. society to pay their debt and raise a fund for future work. They purchased everything needed for the Sabbath-school, the church, S. S., T. and M., &c. They are abundantly able to build a meeting-house, which I hope they will do within the year. Bro. St. John may pitch his tent here this summer.

Tuesday, May 20, we met with the church in Cleveland. About twenty had assembled at a private house, being gathered from twenty miles around on each side. We took up various items of business, in which each one manifested a good interest. All voted to pay the tithe, $42 was pledged for the T. and M. society, and more paid in than enough to pay up all their debts and furnish them with the blank books. All the business is carefully kept in the new books.

We spent the afternoon in trying to settle a difficulty between two brethren, the first business of the kind we have found it necessary to do for months. I am glad to say that nearly all our churches in Ohio are free from these miserable church trials. At Clyde, last winter, we had a little of it, but it was soon settled. Bowling Green is blotted and cursed with it still—the only church we have failed to relieve. We believe the matter at Cleveland will occasion no further trouble. Happily the church was not involved in it.

There are some excellent members in and around Cleveland. Bro. St. John designs to pitch his tent in a small village on the borders of the city, where most of the church could meet if others are raised up. So closed my labors in this district, one of the richest, most pleasant and promising fields I was ever in.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Paulding and Dunkirk, May 10-18.—I met the brethren in Paulding, Sabbath and first-day, May 10, 11. The court-house being occupied, we went to a school-house three miles in the country. The brethren were nearly all out, and we enjoyed the meetings very much.

The 16th to the 18th, I visited the Sabbath-keepers at Dunkirk for the purpose of organizing a church. I spoke Sabbath on the importance of organization and the requirements in order to become a member. Arrangements being made for baptism, we went on Sunday to the Blanchard river, five miles distant, where nine followed their Lord in baptism. We then returned to the hall to complete the organization. Bro. J. J. Myers was then elected elder and ordained. Others desire baptism the first of June, when the tent is to be pitched there for a few days. The brethren at Dunkirk raised $8.75 with which to purchase tracts, and expect soon to be united with the T. and M. society. I feel encouraged in the work of the Lord.

G. G. RUPERT.