The Missionary by O. A. Johnson

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 21, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 49.

The Missionary.

By O. A. Johnson

MONTANA.

I HELD my first meeting in the tent at Livingston, Park County, Montana, on July 6, and continued meetings in that place about eight weeks. After that I held meetings in schoolhouses and in private families in and about Livingston till November 24, when I started for home to get ready for work in my appointed field of labor. When I came to Livingston I found a few endeavoring to live out the truth, and quite a number more have since begun to obey, so that twenty-six signed the covenant. There are a few others keeping the Sabbath, and still others deeply interested in the truth. The interest seemed as good when I left as at any previous time. There are a number of scattered brethren in this Territory, some of whom have come into the truth, through reading alone.

There are some good openings for meetings in Montana. People do not seem to be so bound by church creeds as in older settled places. They are more independent. It seems to me that this Territory is a very good place for ministers to work, as well as for canvassers. The people are mostly intelligent and ready to hear and read. I sold over $100 worth of books and tracts, mostly of our own publications. Collections and offerings amounted to $65.58, and the tithes, which were paid mostly by those who signed the covenant, amounted to $329.78. I never saw people more ready to accept and act upon the tithing system than these were. The total expenses I think will not exceed $190, and this includes my expenses to and from Montana, and all tent and tent-master's expenses and time. Hence those who now compose this company have already paid in nearly enough to cover all the expenses of the of the work there, including my time.

Two Sabbath-schools were organized, one of about twenty members in the city, and one of about fifteen members in the country. A Tract Society was organized, which has already secured a good supply of tracts. They also take a club of the SIGNS and a club of Sentinels.

These brethren are anxious to have a minister go there and carry on the work already begun, and extend the work to other parts of the Territory. May God bless and help these dear souls to be faithful to the end.

O. A. JOHNSON.