REPORTS of labor are generally encouraging. Not only is the interest to hear the truth good, but many are being converted to it.
NEW YORK, Yorkshire Center.—F. Peabody and E. Russell report: "Five have taken a firm stand for the truth. These, with those already in the truth, will make a company of ten."
KANSAS, Richland.—Brn. Cook and Enoch report of this church: "Fears had been entertained that it might be necessary to disband the church; but to the praise of God we can say that the church was never in a better condition than at the present. The sum of $75 was pledged on the T. and M. debt, and ten new members were added to the tract society. Thirteen united with the church,—three by letter, two by experience, and eight by baptism. As our meeting progressed, the children caught the spirit of it, and retired in groups to hold children’s prayer-meetings. We hope many older ones will follow the example of these praying children."
TEXAS, Granbury, Hood Co.—Eld. R. M. Kilgore says, "Several are keeping the Sabbath, and many are fully satisfied that we have the truth."
MICHIGAN, Charlevoix Co.—Bro. John Sisley reports from this section; and though not much success is yet reported, his remarks contain such a valuable lesson that we copy it for the benefit of all concerned:—
"We see some omens of good for the cause of the truth in this part of the State. Several have lately embraced the truth through missionary labor, and some seed that we sowed in weakness three years ago has germinated. We thank God and take courage.
"Our tent is pitched in the village of Charlevoix, a place of about six hundred inhabitants, besides hundreds of tourists. A terrible indifference to religious things reigns here. The novelty of tent-meetings failed to attract attention, and no one attended our first appointment. But the neat, plain dress of those who labor with us attracted the notice of a Christain lady, who thought that those who had the moral courage to dress plainly must have some truth she would like to hear. She attended our second meeting and has since labored hard to induce others to come. Without her influence, our meetings would have been a failure.
"Why, oh why, will not all our sisters who profess to be looking for the coming of the Lord, heed the light Heaven has sent us, discard fashionable dress, and wear modest apparel? Why should there be such a departure from primitive simplicity, and such conformity to the pride of this world? My dear sisters, think of these things, and return to the good old paths before the Lord turn quite away from us."
VERMONT, Waitsfield.—Brn. R. S. Owen and M. E. Kellogg report as follows: "We closed our meetings in the tent yesterday, having given twenty-nine discourses there, besides preaching several times in a school-house in Fayston. The attendance and interest has been good most of the time. Cold nights kept many away during the second week. Six persons have taken their stand upon the truth. As the interest was largely among those who came from Warren, and we received invitations to preach in the Union church in that village, which is five miles from here, we decided to take down our tent, and follow up the interest in that place."
NORTH CAROLINA, Watauga and Bethel.—Bro. P. L. Hodges reports from the churches in those places as follows: "The Watauga church held their quarterly meeting the first Sabbath and Sunday in this month, and it proved the best meeting we have ever enjoyed. The ordinances were celebrated on the Sabbath.
"The first quarterly meeting of the Bethel church was held a week later. This was an excellent meeting. Five united with the church, two of them by letter from the Watauga church. We trust others will join them soon. Two were baptized, and the ordinances were celebrated.
"On the 27th, Bro. Kime and I myself intend to start for Unicoi and Carter counties, Tenn., and Mitchell Co., N. C. It will take us two weeks to fill the appointments we have out in these three counties. The interest is good in eastern Tennessee; we need laborers here."
MISSOURI, Ash Grove, Greene Co.—Elders J. G. Wood and H. Woodruff report that, although strong opposition was offered some good was done. Eight signed the covenant to keep the commandments of God and faith of Jesus, one of whom is a leading physician in that vicinity. His wife and daughter were also among the number. The family is noted for piety. Several others are keeping the Sabbath. A few more are reading, earnestly seeking for truth. "July 9 and 10, we held meetings at Lawrenceburg,357seven miles from Ash Grove, where Bro. Woodruff preached last winter. Some from each place were present. At the close of our last meeting, Sunday P. M., we went about four miles to Sac river, where six persons were buried with Christ by baptism, in the presence of a good assemblage of people."
Brn. G. M. Dimmick and D. C. Burch report from Warsaw, Rice Co., Minn:—
"Some are fully convinced of the obligation of the Sabbath, an interest having been awakened by papers and tracts which had been sent here by our V. M. societies previous to our arrival."
Those who have not had much experience of going into new and strange fields know not how to appreciate the service of the T. and M. societies in such work as this.
Bro. H. Nicola reports a good and increasing interest in Montezuma, Iowa. Also, Brn. Washburn and Hart the same in Fontanelle, Adair Co., Iowa. And Brn. Geo. B. Starr and C. P. Bollman report a good interest at Grand Island, Nebraska.