Extracts from Letters

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 23, 1864

Extracts from Letters.

Bro. P. Strong writes from Greeville, Mich.: We have closed our meetings at Wolverton Plains for the present. One decided to obey the truth, and others are interested, and investigating our position. There has been heretofore a scattering influence by some that have embraced the truth here; but we trust that much good may come from the meetings, and that God may add to his remnant people, there, such as shall be saved.

Bro. Frisbie has returned home, and I start north to-day.

The minds of the people are very much agitated at present, and unless the Lord direct, we know not what to do. May the Lord save his remnant people, is our prayer.

Bro. B. Sutton writes from Sandyville, Iowa: The cause is upward and onward here. Bro. Snook has just closed a short course of lectures, in which great interest was manifested by the people. We have received six members into the church, among them a Methodist minister and his wife. Bro. Snook had great freedom in presenting the truth. Quite a number of brethren were in from a distance. We had one of the most interesting meetings on the Sabbath that I ever enjoyed. The house seemed to be filled with the Spirit of the Lord. A number of others are investigating, who are almost persuaded to go with us to the Kingdom. May the Lord help them to take their stand on the side of truth. The brethren here have decided to build a meeting-house. We have already over eight hundred dollars pledged. We design to build it forthwith. We should be glad to meet Bro. and sister White at our coming Conference.

Sister N. J. Cady writes from Poysippi, Wis.: I rejoice that I have been permitted to hear the third angel's message. It is my prayer and heart's desire daily to be sanctified through its truths. I love God and his dear people, and I want to suffer with them here and at last reign with them in his everlasting kingdom. Oh that we all could always feel the responsibilities that rest upon us. I fear and tremble when I think of the rising generation, and see the temptations that surround them. May we who are parents so live that our children may not condemn us in that day, is my humble prayer.

Bro. E. G. Rust writes from Winfield, Mich.: I am not yet weary in the cause of Christ. Though dark is the way and narrow the path, I am determined by the grace of God to go through with his people to Mt. Zion. Oh that we may be strong to go through the time of trouble that is coming, and come off conqueror through the blood of the Lamb, so that when Christ shall come, he can say, Well done, good and faithful servants, enter into the joys of thy Lord. Oh the blessed plan of salvation! When I think of these things and of what Christ has done for us, it encourages me, and makes me feel more determined to press my way onward. I love the present truth. I love the holy Bible and the truths contained therein, and it is my daily prayer that I may be enabled to live in accordance with it.

Bro. H. Nicola writes from Pilot's Grove Iowa: We are still striving for victories. Our number is gradually increasing, and we think there is an earnest desire to get a better knowledge of the truths of the third angel's message, and to draw near to the Lord, in order to endure the perils of the last days. We have an interesting Sabbath-school averaging about fifty scholars, and ten teachers; also a Bible-class, taking the Lessons in the Sabbath History, numbering about thirty. These lessons have already proved a great blessing to us.

Our last Quarterly Meeting was well attended. Although we had no preaching, which we much desired, yet we felt that the Lord was with us, and gave us a blessing from his heavenly sanctuary.

Bro. H. W. Lawrence writes from West Bangor, N. Y.: I am glad to say that several of the Sabbath-keepers in this locality who have been on the back-ground, are trying to rise. There seems to be a willingness with most all to "lay aside every weight." We have purchased a chapel and think it quite a help in keeping up our visible existence, as we are scattered in several towns and many miles apart.

Bro. T. M. Steward writes from Dane, Wisconsin: I attended the last Quarterly Meeting at Hundred Mile Grove, where we had a very interesting meeting reviewing the evidences of our position, and attending the ordinances. On first-day morning at 8 o'clock we repaired to the lake, three miles away, where two went forward in the ordinance of baptism. After this Bro. L. G. Bostwick, who was with us at this meeting, preached twice to the people, while I returned to Dane to fill my previous appointment there. We had an interesting meeting at Dane. I had four preachers at my meeting in the afternoon; I expect some opposition. The church at Hundred Mile Grove are getting along finely with their new meeting-house, which will be completed by the first of October. I am glad to see our brethren making preparation for sending this message with a loud cry. Lord, speed on the message.

Bro. G. A. Barker writes from Chappaqua, N. Y.: I have been preaching the good news of the soon coming King for twelve years, and must say I had looked upon the Sabbath question as not of much importance, dismissing the subject with the quotation from Paul, "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." But now, when I have seen the two sides held up together, and measured, I find that the Sabbath measures the longest, highest and widest, by far. Bro. Cornell's discussion with Eld. Grant should be put into every first-day Adventist family in the world, and then "Both sides on the Sabbath," should follow. Man's words go but a little way, but the word of God abideth forever.

I find in reading the Review that we agree in the view that this nation is the two-horned beast of Rev. xiii. I expect soon to see the image formed to the beast which had the wound by the sword and did live.