THE INSTITUTE AT CORSICA, OHIO by B. L. Whitney

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, February 12, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 7

THE INSTITUTE AT CORSICA, OHIO.

By B. L. Whitney

THIS Institute, the first of the kind ever held in this State, closed its session of two weeks and two days on Sunday evening, Feb. 2. Besides a class in vocal music, four regular meetings of the different departments were held each day, except as an occasional public service interfered with the regular order. The interest in the Institute work continued good to the last (indeed the last few days were the most interesting and profitable of the session), and when public service was held the outside attendance was large.

There was a good representation of brethren from different parts of the State, though not as large as we would have been glad to see, and these, with the members of the Corsica church who attended, made a class of about seventy-five. Nearly every one took hold with an earnest good will to make the best improvement of the opportunity, and as far as possible master the work which was undertaken; and the result of these efforts was very gratifying.

Thorough instruction was given in the Conference, Sabbath-school, and health and temperance work, in addition to the instructions especially in the T. and M. work, to which two regular meetings were devoted each day. In this department the object in view in giving the instruction was not merely to teach the system of keeping accounts and doing the business of the society, which is of itself of great importance, but also to impress upon the class the magnitude and bearing of the work itself, and to encourage greater interest and zeal in this important branch of our work. In this respect we were especially pleased with the position taken by the leading brethren in the State, and their decision to make it their special work for the present quarter to labor throughout the various districts of the State, to awaken a greater interest in the missionary work and to establish more system and order in the work than has heretofore existed. This last point is absolutely essential to the efficiency of the society, and thoroughness here will do much toward establishing confidence and co-operation on the part of the brethren generally. Each director pledged himself to an earnest effort to carry out this principle in his own district, and I believe that, with the blessing of the Lord, a great advance will be made in the work here this present quarter. They have also undertaken the work of putting Testimony No. 29 in all the Sabbath-keeping families in the State, and, as far as possible, introducing the volumes of Spirit of Prophecy and establishing the course of reading proposed by the General Conference Committee.

As the number of church societies has largely increased during the past year, it was decided to revive the office of District Secretary, which had been abolished. New secretaries have been appointed for each district, and hereafter all the churches will do their business through these officers instead of directly with the State Secretary.

The church at Corsica, although young in the faith, proved themselves veterans in the work of entertaining all who came. They did everything in their power to make the meeting a success, and were untiring

in their efforts in behalf of those in attendance. Indeed, it might be said of these brethren that they are given to hospitality. They entered into the spirit of the meeting with zeal, and I trust that the meetings were a source of profit to them. Altogether, I believe this meeting will prove to be a very profitable one for the cause in Ohio.

The house was well filled at the closing meeting on Sunday evening, and the brethren parted with feelings of good courage, and a determination to engage anew in the work. B. L. WHITNEY.

Lansing, Mich., Feb. 6.