p. 6 | OHIO | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 26, 1879

OHIO

Liberty Center, June 13.—Our meetings have continued for two weeks. The attendance has been large, and interest good from the first. Several have decided to keep the Sabbath. We desire the prayers of all, that a good work may be done here. O. F. Guilford. A. A. Bigelow.

Wakeman.—Our meetings continue, with some interest. We have much rain, yet our audiences seldom fall short of one hundred. There is much opposition by ministers in the vicinity. Investigation continues. Very good Sabbath-schools and meetings are held in the tent on the Sabbath. A few have taken their stand to obey the truth. Yesterday (Sabbath) we baptized six persons. The Sabbath-school numbers about thirty. Fourteen copies of the weekly Instructor are taken, and many study the lessons with deep interest. We remain here another week. H. A. St. John. A. M. Mann.

Leesburg, Highland Co., June 16.—We have been holding meetings in our tent for about two weeks. The outside interest is comparatively nothing; but the meetings have been a source of great encouragement to the brethren here. On Sabbath, June 14, we organized a church of fourteen members. Others will come in soon. Bro. Glascock was elected elder, and Bro. Wright, clerk. On Sunday we repaired to the water, where six willing souls were buried with their Lord in baptism. Others will follow soon. We spoke on the subject of S. B., after which the tithing covenant was signed by nearly all present. May God bless the Leesburg church. Wm. Cottrell. E. H. Gates.

Waterford, Newark, and Springfield.—Thursday, June 5, I came to Waterford, and remained two Sabbaths. There is quite a large church here, financially as able as any in Ohio, and in talent probably second to none in the Conference. They have a neat meeting-house. Altogether this church should exert a strong influence in favor of the cause; but Satan has tried hard to hinder this, and has succeeded too well. An independent, rash spirit in some has occasioned much trouble; while petty jealousies and evil surmisings in others have made more. We hoped to remedy these evils, and largely succeeded.

Bro. Burrell put up his new tent here, and from the first the interest has been good. On both Sundays there was an immense crowd, both sides of the road being lined with teams for more than half a mile. They came from fifteen miles each way. Through the week the attendance was good. Sabbath and Sunday, a large number of Sabbath-keepers came in from the adjoining churches. One-half or more of these were new converts to the truth. This was cheering. Quite a number of young people made a start on the Sabbath. The next Sabbath twelve united with the church, receiving the right hand of fellowship. Bro. E. C. Penn was elected and ordained leader. A clerk for the church, and also another for the legal society, was elected. Then we enjoyed an excellent social meeting, in which all took part. All seemed encouraged and strengthened. We closed by uniting in the communion.

During the week we tried to settle up a long-standing difficulty. With the exception of one family, all are fully satisfied and in perfect harmony. Some have learned to be more cautious, and they now have greater confidence in their brethren and the message than before. We feel hopeful that the church will hereafter get along much better. The amount pledged on T. and M. work in their own church, to be paid in 1879, amounted to $150. This will pay all their debts, and furnish a fair stock with which to work. For the Sabbath-school and Sr. White’s books, $25 was raised. The business here has been managed most miserably, or rather it has not been managed at all. We gave all the books a thorough going over. They are now in good shape. Sunday, in the presence of hundreds, Bro. Burrell baptized nine souls. About half a dozen have embraced the Sabbath, while we hope for others.

I am sorry to say that one J. W. Heath, of Alabama, who has been with us some, has proved a source of great annoyance and trial, so that we were obliged to turn him off. He now threatens to injure us all he can. He goes to New York and Baltimore. Look out for him.

Came to Newark June 16, and spent one day. Some poor material has drifted off; but there are about a dozen good, faithful souls here, and they are doing well. They have done nobly in meeting the debt on their new house. The tract society owed a small amount, which they raised and paid to me, so it is entirely clear from

debt, and has some money on hand. On the whole, I was much encouraged by my visit to this little church.

June 17 and 18, I was at Springfield. They now have their hall nicely carpeted and well furnished, the rent paid up, the Sabbath-school furnished, and quite a stock of tracts for the missionary work. All these are paid for, and they owe not a dollar. We advise them to keep out of debt in every branch of the work, and this they mean to do. They now need to raise a fund of about $50 or $75 during 1879, to furnish them a good capital for missionary work during next fall and winter. Every member of the church, in the city or out, will be invited to contribute to the necessary fund. We enjoyed a pleasant meeting in the hall Wednesday evening. D. M. Canright.