p. 158 | MICHIGAN

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

MICHIGAN

Fremont, Oct. 30.—In our present field of labor four miles west of Fremont, about twenty have embraced the Sabbath. These, with those keeping it when we went there, will form a church of about thirty. Several opposition discourses have been given by an Eld. Bowers, first-day Adventist. We are glad of the success of the truth in this field, and feel to give God all the praise.

E. B. AND E. S. LANE.

Mason, Oct. 23.—We took down our tent last Monday. It had been up in this place ten weeks. The Lord has blessed us abundantly. About thirty have embraced the Sabbath. Nineteen have signed the covenant, and others propose to do so. I think there will be a company of twenty-five here. A Sabbath-school has been organized. We have a comfortable place for meetings free, and the people are still interested to hear. The tent expenses have been mostly met by donations. Families have commenced family prayers that never prayed before. We feel that the Lord has done a glorious work; to him be all the praise.

T. M. STEWART.

St. Charles, Saginaw Co.—From Oct. 13 to 26 I labored with the church at St. Charles. There are few churches in the State better located with reference to a field of labor than is the church in that place. There seems to be but very little, if any, prejudice in the public mind. Night after night the church was quite well filled with attentive hearers. Eight or ten adults, some of whom were starting for the first time and others re-entering the fold after long wandering therefrom, encouraged our hearts by moving out in obedience to the truth. In addition to these, there were several children who also expressed a desire to become Christians.

Another interesting feature of the meetings was found in the readiness manifested on the part of the church to contribute toward the liquidation of the indebtedness of the T. and M. Dist. No. 8, to which they belong. On the last day of our meetings they cheerfully subscribed for that purpose $115. Such a subscription, under the circumstances, was remarkably liberal, and exceeded by one-half the amount that we had expected to raise in that place. Twenty-eight signers were obtained to the teetotal pledge. These, in addition to those who had already signed at the Vassar and Lyons camp-meetings, will form the basis for a temperance club.

W. H. LITTLEJOHN.

Dist. No. 4.—We held the quarterly meeting for Dist. No. 4 with the church at Douglas. Bro. E. B. Lane and wife were present. On Sunday Bro. Lane spoke on the necessity of getting ready for the coming of the Lord. Afterward I tried to set the needs of Dist. No. 4 before the brethren and sisters, and I never saw such a willingness on the part of old and young to give of their means as at this meeting.

Oct. 18, 19, I was at Monterey. Bro. E. B. Lane and wife and Bro. H. M. Kenyon and wife were present to help in the meetings. On first-day Bro. Lane preached from the text: “We shall be charged.” He spoke of the necessity of temperance and sacrifice. I tried to show the necessity and duty of giving of our means to carry on the T. and M. work, and Bro. Kenyon followed with some very excellent remarks. Then those present made liberal pledges and donations.

Sr. Lane spoke on temperance Sunday evening to a crowded house, advising the church to come up to a higher standard on temperance, and to be united in the temperance movement that has been organized among us.

ALEX. CARPENTER, Director.

Parkville.—Sabbath, Oct. 25, we had an interesting meeting with the church in Parkville. Brethren were with us from Colon, Vicksburg, and Three Rivers. I spoke to them on the subject of not being weary in well doing; then we had a free social meeting. I believe all felt that the Spirit of the Lord was with us. I left, feeling confident that their house would not be left desolate. This is a central place for the scattered Sabbath-keepers in the vicinity. Brethren, repair your house and make it comfortable for the winter, and have a general meeting once a month. Why cannot Bro. Owen and Goodrich take charge of such meetings? May these young men go to work for the Lord.

This church has been in peril by false brethren. A man by the name of Adams, who has been disfellowshipped, has greatly injured and abused a family of our brethren. Of late he has been seen again in the house of prayer. Why does he not see that his very presence must be offensive to all, until he removes the wrong he has done to the much-injured family? May he repent before it is too late. I have no ill will to this man, but wish to befriend the injured. What a satisfaction to have a clear conscience, though we may be shamefully abused.

J. BYINGTON.