Good Meetings by James White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Jul 29, 1875

Good Meetings.

By James White

We have enjoyed but few better Sabbaths at Battle Creek than the last. The word of the Lord seemed very precious while speaking to the people in the morning, and at the close of the exercise we were very happy in waiting upon Deacon Young and wife, who received at our hand Christian baptism.

Bro. Young had served the Presbyterian church as deacon fifty-four years, and now, although several years above four score, he and his wife go down into the water, and come up out of the water, with the willing, happy cheerfulness of youthful converts. The quiet and solemn calmness of the scene at the water gave dignity to the occasion. It was remarked by a Presbyterian sister who witnessed the baptism, that the Spirit of the Lord seemed to pervade the whole place, and cover the entire congregation. Mrs. White spoke in the afternoon, and also at the Health Institute Grove, at 3 P. M., the day following.

Just before the baptism a telegram was put in our hand announcing the death of the daughter of Eld. Kenyon of Monterey, and that the funeral would be first-day, A. M. We at once resolved to be present, and were happy to meet Eld. Smith and Prof. Brownsberger at the house of mourning and at the place of worship. Remarks were made before a crowded house by Eld. Smith and others, and everything pertaining to that funeral seemed appropriate to the burial of a youthful Christian who had fallen asleep in the brightest hope of immortality at the soon coming of the Lifegiver.

We gave a practical discourse in the afternoon, and after the public service enjoyed a successful examination of unpleasant matters before the members of the church, which had grown out of bad management of the leadership question. Many were encouraged at the prospect of a better state of things. In the evening we held a similar meeting with the church at Allegan, with the same results. This meeting held past midnight. After a few hours sleep at the good home of Bro. Baker, breakfast, and a season of prayer, such as we seldom enjoy, we took the train for Battle Creek.

Here we meet cheerful faces, good reports of progress of affairs, and among other items of interest from our sons at the SIGN Office in Oakland, Cal., the statement that the new building will be ready before the presses, engine, and other material, can be transported from New York by rail. We go immediately to the Atlantic to see a car loaded for the Pacific.

JAMES WHITE.