IN THE FIELD by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · April 29, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 18

IN THE FIELD.

By James White

THE WORK IN ALLEGAN COUNTY.

ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich., was the field of our early labors. In June, 1856, we made our first journey to this county with private carriage, accompanied by Mrs. W. The previous autumn, the press had been removed from Rochester, N. Y., to Battle Creek. We have traveled thousands of miles by private conveyance, from our home at Battle Creek to Otsego, Allegan, Monterey, and returning, during the last twenty-four years. For several years, however, we had labored in the churches of this county but very little, until within a few months.

For certain reasons, which we will not here mention, the cause in this county has been declining during the past five years. And the condition of things at Monterey induced us to visit this church last winter. Mrs. W. spoke to a crowded house at Otsego on our way; and we each spoke once at Monterey on the Sabbath, and immediately returned. The results were good.

Accompanied by Elders Canright and Corliss, we held a meeting at Otsego the evening of the 9th. Eld. Canright remained at Otsego over Sabbath, while Elder Corliss accompanied us to Monterey, where we spoke to the people twice on the Sabbath. God blessed the word greatly. Confessions were made, and many tears were shed on that good Sabbath day. We returned to Otsego the same evening, and found Elder Canright laboring for the salvation of souls, with a good revival interest.

Eld. Corliss remained at Otsego, where the work was well begun under his labors last winter, which resulted in the baptism of fifteen by Eld. Corliss, Sabbath, the 17th. On his way to Monterey, he spoke at Allegan the evening of the 17th, and in consequence of our not being able to speak to the people at Monterey, the 18th, Eld. Corliss spoke three times in succession.

We did design to speak to the brethren at Douglas and Clyde on our way to Ottawa county, but unforeseen changes in arrangements, bad cold, and illness have prevented this time. To-morrow, the 19th, the Lord willing, we journey on to Ottawa county.

To-day has been a season of solemn reflections. We have visited the stream where at different times we have baptized not less than fifty persons. We have walked about two miles to find the very spot where we bowed in prayer with Mrs. W., in June, 1856, in the shade of the heavy pine and whitewood. Our friends had given us both up to die with consumption, and there our cries, interrupted with violent coughing, went up to Heaven for help. It was there, bowed beside those stately trees, that we received the evidence that we should not die, but live to declare the works of the Lord.

God has been very good to us, and to our dear brethren in Allegan county. And while we have strong friends in these churches, there are those who have unworthily worn the Advent name, whose hearts are steeled against us. And yet we cling to them. Will they sell their souls for gain? Will they suffer themselves to be deceived by Satan? Will they be lost? Terrible thought! As we bowed in the house of prayer, Sabbath, the 10th, a sense of these things rolled upon us, and as we prayed, we wept, and heard sobs all through the congregation.

We are under the impression that the Lord has a work for us to do in Allegan county. We have the tenderest feelings toward the erring, especially those who have made sacrifices, and have borne heavy burdens in the cause, and are now depressed by discouragements.

WE JOURNEY ONWARD.

Monday, the 19th, we drove through rain and mud to Wright, a distance of nearly fifty miles. The weather and roads were so bad that few expected us, and consequently the congregation was small for that place. Here we met Eld. Decker, who had large congregations and freedom in speaking on Sabbath and first-day. We were heartily welcomed by Bro. and Sister Root, at our old home. We have been with them in great feebleness, and in health, and were never received by them more cordially, or enjoyed ourself better than at this time.

Early Tuesday morning, in company with Elders Decker and Corliss, we visited the grounds of the first camp-meeting, and the best, ever held by S. D. Adventists; and as we bowed in prayer, past scenes of labors, trials, and victories came vividly before the mind. After breakfast, we made our way with all possible speed to our appointment at Greenville, a distance of not less than forty-five miles by carriage, and spoke to the brethren in their house of worship in the city. Wednesday forenoon we visited Bro. Maynard, whom we found lying upon his couch, waiting for nature to mend broken bones. It is, indeed, a singular circumstance, that both Eld. Fargo and Bro. Maynard, whose homes are side by side at Greenville, should have the same unpleasant task at the same time, one lying at Battle Creek, the other at Greenville. Both, however, are doing well.

In the afternoon, we journeyed on to our appointment at Bushnell, and put up with Bro. Stephen Allchin and family. Great changes had taken place. The four daughters of Bro. and Sister Allchin had grown to womanhood, and one of them had passed to the grave. The log house where we had been entertained in our feebleness, more than twelve years since, has been exchanged for a fine, two-story house, furnished in city style. It is of no use to deny the fact that our industrious, economical, temperate, and God-fearing brethren are becoming rich. It is true that they pay tithes and make their free-will offerings unto the Lord, but their health and temperance principles, and their exclusion from the fashions and follies of the world, which are very expensive, save to them double or quadruple all they give to the cause of God. The school-house was well filled in the evening, and we enjoyed giving them a practical discourse, which apparently gave satisfaction to the church and the people generally.

Thursday, we reached Bro. Howe’s, at Lyons, before taking the second meal of the day. Here we found many letters to read and answer, which filled the time till evening, when we spoke to a mixed congregation of brethren and others in the Methodist church. We put up for the night at Bro. Howe’s. Here we learned that Bancroft, the place for meetings Sabbath and first-day and the dedication of their new house of worship, was sixty miles distant. The distance, and the prospect of rain, were sufficient evidence that we should leave our team to rest over the Sabbath at Bro. Howe’s. The day was stormy and disagreeable, and railroad connections were bad. At Lansing we had six hours; a portion of this time was occupied in the State-house.

We reached Bancroft just before the Sabbath; and Eld. Corliss went directly to the house of worship, and spoke to the people, who were exceedingly glad to see him, and hear him again. Wet, cold, and weary, we went directly to the hospitable home of Bro. Henry Banks. Here we enjoyed ourself during the evening before the old, ample fire-place, with grandfather Banks, eighty-two years of age.

Sabbath morning, at an early hour, the new house of worship was well filled with the church at Bancroft and the brethren from abroad. Eld. C. spoke in the forenoon and evening, and we in the afternoon. The congregations were large, considering the unfavorable weather, and the meetings were excellent.

First-day morning, we spoke to a house literally packed, for one hundred minutes. Eld. Corliss followed with an appeal to the citizens of the place for pledges and cash, to help lift the debt on the house, and in a few minutes, he obtained seventy-five dollars. The entire debt being provided for by pledges, the house was then presented to the Lord, and solemnly dedicated to his service, by prayer. Eld. Corliss addressed the people in the afternoon, and we spoke in the evening, and thus closed our good meetings, and our very enjoyable visit with the dear brethren at Bancroft.

Monday, the 26th, we decided to come directly to Battle Creek, thinking that the rain and mud would detain the scattered brethren from the meeting appointed for Potterville that evening; but when we reached the station, brethren Carman and Sawyer were there, ready to protest against our passing them by. So we left the train, and, to our happy surprise, found a good congregation in the evening. Most of them, men, women, and children, had come distances ranging from three to nine miles, through the mud, with prospect of rain, to return in the darkness of night. We had great freedom in speaking to this people.

The tour through Otsego, Allegan, Monterey, Wright, Greenville, Bushnell, Lyons, Bancroft, and Potterville has been one of deep interest to us, and, we trust, of profit to our brethren. During the past eight days, we have spoken to the people eight times, besides traveling one hundred and twenty miles by private conveyance, and the same distance by rail. And now, while dictating these lines at Bro. Carman’s good home at Potterville, we are in the enjoyment of good health and courage in the Lord.

We know of no Conference, considering the great number of its churches and scattered brethren, as destitute as Michigan; and we design to spend what time we can spare from writing in holding important meetings in this State. This work will be easy, compared with the labors of the camp-meetings. With the consent of the President of the Michigan Conference, provided we can have sufficient help, we may hold some half a dozen tent meetings at different points in the State, where we can call together the scattered brethren from several counties. This, however, should be regarded as a suggestion, rather than a settled plan.

We have a testimony of encouragement and comfort for our faithful people in the Michigan Conference. And there never was a time when it was more needed than now, nor a people that were more needy than our brethren in the State of Michigan.

J. W.