p. 111 | Notes of Victory From the Boston Field

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 29, 1914

Notes of Victory From the Boston Field

By R. D. Quinn, D. H. Kress, K. C. Russell

DURING the past week we have been holding meetings with the Boston churches and at Melrose. We are glad to report that these services have been characterized by the same deep, transforming power of the Holy Spirit that has been witnessed in all the meetings that have been held in this vicinity since the close of the ministerial institute.

A series of four evening meetings was held in one of the leading churches in Boston, where serious differences had existed between brethren for two years. From the very beginning, the Spirit of God was present in every service. The last meeting did not close until nearly midnight, but victories were won that resulted in bringing a spirit of love and unity among the brethren in two churches.

The following Sabbath a beautiful service was held with this company, in which every one in the church came forward when a call was made for those who wished to make an entire consecration to God and to pray for the outpouring of the Spirit in the latter rain. We all felt that it was one of the sweetest and most joyful meetings we had ever attended.

In the afternoon we met with our people in Tremont Temple, and the same power attended the preaching of the word, and scores came forward to seek power for obedience and for service. One young man, a Catholic who had not been in church for two years, with his wife arose and gave himself to God, coming forward with others. It was nearly six o'clock in the evening when this meeting closed, and every one seemed to be joyful and happy. It was a new experience to many. Dr. Kress read from the one hundred and twenty-sixth psalm: "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing." Extracts were also read from the chapter in "Early Writings" on the shaking time, where a description is given of those who obtained the victory, calling forth from them the "deepest gratitude, and holy, sacred joy."

At the Friday night meeting of the Melrose sanitarium family every one in the assembly room came forward, and all knelt while effectual prayer was offered to God for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It was wonderfully inspiring to listen to the heartfelt confessions and testimonies of the doctors, managers, nurses, and all the helpers, and then to see them all bow together in earnest prayer.

There has been no sermonizing in the meetings that have been held. Short talks have usually been given first, based on Rev. 3: 14-22 and on the chapter in "Early Writings" on the shaking time. From these statements it would seem that the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans is the message at this time to God's people. This message has an effect upon the heart of the receiver, and deep repentance and reformation follow. When by repentance and confession sin is put away and forgiven, there comes upon the believers a great hungering and thirsting for the Spirit of God to keep them from falling back into their old sins, and to give them power to go forth and tell to others what great things God has done for them. This is, we believe, as it should be.

The lives of the apostles, before and after Pentecost, have been studied with a new interest. It has seemed to us that when we have put away all known sins, and have unconditionally surrendered our lives to God for service, we should pray as earnestly for the outpouring of the latter rain as the disciples prayed for the former rain upon the day of Pentecost. "After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit thousands were converted. Angels that excel in strength, clothed with the brightness of heaven, came to the

help of the church, and swept back the forces of Satan. The work of the Spirit is not limited to apostolic days; it is not confined to any church, large or small. The field of his ministration is the world. 'He will convince the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.' The Spirit of God, as it comes into the heart by faith, is the beginning of life eternal. What promise is less fulfilled in the church than that of the endowment of the Holy Spirit? HEREIN IS OUR GREATEST NEED. Let the spirit of controversy be put away, and let us seek for the living testimony of the Spirit of God."—Special Testimony.

"With the great truth we have been privileged to receive, we should, and under the Holy Spirit's power we could, become living channels of light. We could then approach the mercy seat, and, seeing the bow of promise, kneel with contrite hearts and seek the kingdom of heaven with a spiritual violence that would bring its own reward. We should take it by force as did Jacob. Then our message would be the power of God unto salvation. Our supplications would be full of earnestness, full of a sense of our great need, and we should not be denied. The truth would be expressed by life and character and by lips touched with the living coal from off God's altar."—Mrs. E. G. White, in Review, Feb. 14, 1899.

R. D. QUINN, D. H. KRESS, K. C. RUSSELL.