Reports from the Field

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Aug 22, 1878

Reports from the Field.

(Condensed from Review and Herald.)

Texas.

Peoria and Cleburne.—Brother Jenson writes: “Sabbath, July 20, I was with the brethren at Peoria, where we had a good meeting in their newly completed house. Here I heard of seven who had lately commenced to keep the Sabbath from reading. These reside between Peoria and Cleburne, twelve miles south-west of Cleburne. I was with them the 22d and staid several days speaking five times. Sabbath, July 27, these brethren and sisters joined us in a meeting at Cleburne. This was a profitable occasion, and we enjoyed much of the blessings of the Lord. The 30th I reached the place twenty-eight miles west of Dallas where I labored some last winter, and six took a stand on the truth. Two of these had moved away, one had given up the truth, and three are still faithful.”

Minnesota.

Sauk Center,—Brethren Curtis and Battin report August 6: “Eight have signed the covenant, and we believe that several more are keeping the Sabbath, and will come out after a time. Last Sunday and evening, the Methodist minister gave two discourses upon the Sabbath, taking the ordinary course, yet finally telling his audience that Christ ‘never gave a command for keeping any Sabbath;’ that there is not in the New Testament ‘a thus saith the Lord for a seventh-day Sabbath, nor a first-day Sabbath, nor any other Sabbath.’ He then proceeded to establish a first-day Sabbath on the authority of Christ, the apostles, and the early fathers. Last evening we reviewed him at the tent, before about a hundred quiet and attentive listners. His effort has helped us greatly.”

Michigan.

Allegan and Douglas.—Elder W. H. Littlejohn writes: “On Sabbath, July 6, and Sabbath and Sunday, July 13 and 14, I was with the church at Allegan. On the latter of these two days, the regular quarterly tract and missionary meeting was held. The attendance was large when we take into consideration the fact that the meeting took place in the midst of the harvest. Elder U. Smith was present, and Brother J. M. Baker was ordained elder of the church. The labors of Brother Smith were appreciated, and added greatly to the interest and profit of the meeting. On Friday, July 19, I went to Douglas, where I spent the Sabbath and Sunday. The church in that place is small, but active and well united.”

Missouri.

Sedalia.—Elder Butler reports August 8: “We have thirty-five names on the covenant. In some respects the interest has been greater this week than any time before. The Presbyterian and Methodist ministers have preached six or eight sermons against us, on the immortality question. The latter opened up last Sunday quite heavy in two discourses. He warned his hearers against this ‘rehash of German materialism,’ told them ‘this which came with the Bible was more dangerous than German atheism,’ was ‘worse than pantheism,’ etc. We thought it was best to give the gentleman the benefit of a special notice, so we got out a handbill for Tuesday night, for his benefit, as he is rather the leading clergyman of the place. We had the largest congregation we have had since the first Sunday night. Nearly a thousand people were out, and listened with close attention for an hour and three-quarters. The Lord specially helped me. I felt quite weary and worn from constant labor before the service, but had much freedom in showing up his fallacies. It was a great moral victory. Last night I spoke on spiritual gifts, confining myself to the Bible argument for their perpetuity.”

Mooresville.—Tent labor closed in this place July 26. As the result of the labors of Brethren Chaffee and Woodruff six have embraced the truth, none of whom ever belonged to any church before.

Indiana.

Reese’s Mills.—The attendance was good during the meetings held here. Elder S. H. Lane reports ten as taking a decided stand upon the truth. Besides these there are several living near who came out some months ago; and Sabbath meetings are established. He commenced meetings at Noblesville, August 2, with good congregation.