NEBRASKA

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 21, 1879

Albion, Aug. 6.—The meetings at this place were well attended. A church of eleven members, and a T. & M. society of thirteen members, were organized. This company have received the love of the truth. An elder and a deacon were chosen and ordained. The tithing system was cheerfully adopted. Bro. Nettleton assisted in the meetings.

Raeville and Albion.—Last Sabbath, and Sunday A. M., I spent at Raeville. Our meetings closed with a discourse on the subject of health reform, after which fifteen signed the teetotal pledge. A deacon was chosen and ordained.

In the afternoon I returned to Albion, and held meeting with the company organized one week ago. Two more were baptized.

Aug. 12. CHAS. L. BOYD.

Arapahoe, Furnas Co., Aug. 8.—We held our first meeting at this place last evening, with a good attendance. God seems to have prospered us in making a beginning here, and we hope for a good work.

After spending six weeks at Beaver City, we closed our meetings there last Sunday night. There are none that we can count on as fully decided to obey the truth, but we hope some fruit will yet appear. We made many friends, and have invitations to return, which we purpose to accept, and follow up the work. Our very last meetings were well attended. Christian temperance was heartily received. Many left off the use of tobacco at once. We received in donations, cash and equivalent, $6.25; on book sales and periodicals, $27.20.

GEO. B. STARR.

North Loup, July 31.—Although the hard labor bestowed in these valleys between Nov. 8 and April 8, last, was not without hope of fruitage, yet, for reasons which seemed to justify it, no report thereof has been made through the REVIEW, except in respect to the organization of a church at Ord, in December. Now, however, it is deemed expedient to present the following as a partial report of progress:—

From Jan. 23 to Feb. 15, I held a series of meetings in Mira Valley, about six miles from North Loup, which resulted in a general religious awakening, and a determination to maintain Sabbath worship in their midst, and to secure to themselves improved religious advantages. A Sabbath-school was organized, and the use of the Instructor and “Lesson Sheets” adopted.

I had been aided in the work occasionally by Bro. D. T. Evans, and when I turned to other fields of labor, his services were secured in preaching to them once in two weeks. Returning after an absence of three months, I found the interest there still good, and that, as was hoped, time had confirmed good resolutions, and done much in overcoming prejudice. Some from this place met with the church at Ord in quarterly meeting, July 5, witnessing for the first time the celebration of the ordinances as practiced by us; and during that and the next two days, the conclusion was reached that the worshipers at Mira Park desired to be organized into an S. D. Adventist church, and I was requested to return, after completing my next engagement, and to organize them.

Accordingly, July 19, after a miscellaneous discourse upon the sure rewards of gospel faith and obedience, and upon the true gospel polity of the S. D. A. church, including the auxiliary church societies, the State and General Conferences, and missionary enterprises, thirteen willing believers, all heads of families but one, subscribed to our church covenant; and a preliminary organization was effected. July 26, a majority of the Ord church met with us at Mira Park, when, after a discourse by the writer upon “Spiritual Gifts” set in the Christian church, based upon 1 Cor. 12, and Eph. 4, defining the faith of S. D. Adventists therein, and defending their presence among us as a people, the deacon elect was formally ordained, and the right hand of fellowship was extended, welcoming the new church, and each member thereof, to share in the labors, sacrifices, privileges, and final reward of God's people. Pledges were then made on s. b., amounting to $41; the sum of $9 was pledged to the T. and M. society, and these auxiliary societies were formally organized. Then, on application, a brother was received into the church, the ordinances were administered, and the meeting closed.

Most of the members having previously subscribed to one or the other of our temperance pledges, this new church stands out fully identified not only with our church and its faith, but with all our church societies and enterprises; and being persons of culture, intelligence, and accustomed industry, I trust no one will be disappointed in hoping much for them, and much of them.

A. C. SPICER.