DEDICATION AT WOLF LAKE, IND.
By S. H. Lane
The house of worship recently completed at Wolf Lake was dedicated according to appointment, May 16. Wolf Lake is eleven miles southeast of Ligonier. We were favored with the presence and labors of Elds. White and Smith. They reached Ligonier Friday afternoon, May 14. Sabbath evening Eld. White gave a very interesting and instructive discourse from Phil. 2:1–7. The sermon was highly practical in its nature. The congregation listened with marked attention while he dwelt so earnestly upon what it takes to constitute a true Christian, and those who listened were deeply impressed with the necessity of consecrating themselves anew to the cause of the Master. Sabbath morning Bro. Smith went to Wolf Lake and held profitable meetings, which greatly benefited the church. Eld. White spoke at Ligonier, Sabbath forenoon, from 1 Thess. 4:13–18; 5:1–6. And as he set forth what will be the realization of the blessed hope, and the prospect of its speedy consummation, all hearts were cheered and strengthened. In the afternoon we enjoyed a precious social meeting, in which nearly all in the house took part. In the evening we again listened to a discourse from Bro. White from the words, “God is love.” The sermon forcibly impressed our minds with the richness of God’s love. Many hearts were touched, and resolutions were formed to show our appreciation of such love by walking humbly before God. First-day morning, on reaching Wolf Lake we found the house of worship densely packed with people awaiting our arrival; and many who could not find room in the house were assembled in the large tent pitched near by. Eld. White gave the dedicatory sermon in the church. He set forth in his usual clear and impressive manner the reasons of our faith and hope. The people listened with almost breathless attention, and an excellent impression was made in favor of the truth. After the sermon, in the dedicatory prayer, the house was solemnly set apart to the service of God. Eld. Smith preached to about one hundred and fifty in the tent, while services were being carried on in the church. In the afternoon Eld. White gave a discourse on baptism to several hundred assembled in the tent, after which he baptized seven in Wolf Lake. The several hundred who witnessed the scene observed the best of order, and the occasion was a solemn one. Among those baptized was a lady recently from Southampton, England. In the evening Eld. Smith gave a very impressive discourse from Heb. 12:1–3, thus closing a series of meetings which resulted in much good. When the truth was first presented in Wolf Lake, in 1875, it met with much opposition, some of which was of such a despicable character that the writer’s charts upon one occasion were stolen and destroyed. Much prejudice was raised against the spirit of prophecy as developed in our midst, and against our views generally. Notwithstanding all this, whenever the truth was spoken the people would come out to hear. Much reading matter was distributed, and one by one honest souls have embraced the truth. In May, 1878, we organized a church of thirteen members, since which time its numbers have more than trebled, and two years from the date of organization their nicely finished meeting-house, 30x40, was dedicated to the service of God. The erection of this church has cost sacrifice on the part of the brethren and sisters. The Lord is graciously blessing in that field, and if they are faithful others will be added to the church.