Indiana Tent Meetings and Church Labors by S. H. Lane

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, June 10, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 24

Indiana Tent Meetings and Church Labors

By S. H. Lane

Indiana.

Milford, Tent No. 1.—This tent was pitched by Eld. Bartlett, May 28. He commenced meetings first-day, May 30. This is a town of about five hundred inhabitants. The people are friendly and intelligent. The writer united with Eld. Bartlett in labor June 2. My coming has proved timely; for since my arrival Eld. B. has suffered from an attack of bilious fever. At the present time we are holding meetings and caring for him.

Thus far, our congregations have ranged from one hundred and fifty to three hundred. Good order is preserved, and the best of attention given. We are selling some books. As yet we are unable to judge what the results of our labors will be.

We expect to run three tents the present season; one in the northern, one in the central, and one in the southern part of the State. We hope, through the blessing of the Lord, to see quite a number embrace the truth. We earnestly desire the prayers of our brethren and sisters.

S. H. Lane.

Rochester, Blue Grass, and New London.—May 1-6, labored at Rochester. We enjoyed some excellent meetings. The social meeting on Sabbath, May 1, was specially good. Some spoke for the first time. We gave an invitation for those who desired to be prayed for, and to make a start in the Christian life, to come forward. Four responded. First-day two were baptized, and four united with the church.

May 7-10, at Blue Grass. Bro. and Sr. Pugh of this place first heard the truth at Rochester, about six years ago, when Eld. Waggoner and the writer were there with the tent. About eighteen months ago they began to live out the truth; and through their influence some of their neighbors became deeply interested. Bro. and Sr. Weber, of Rochester, visited the neighborhood, and distributed reading matter. One year ago, the writer gave three discourses in this vicinity, and visited those interested. Some took a stand to obey. Eld. Bartlett was here last winter, and others embraced the truth. A short time since, Sr. Weber organized a Sabbath-school among them, and they began to hold Sabbath meetings.

During our last meeting we baptized five, and celebrated the ordinances. They all take part in prayer and social meetings. They take the papers, and purchase books freely. Each family has Testimony No. 29, and they are purchasing bound volumes of Spirit of Prophecy. Bro. and Sr. Weber aided much in our last meetings.

May 21-24, at new London. The brethren there have just completed a new meeting-house. They have labored hard and sacrificed much for it. They have a nice large plain house of worship. They have it seated with chairs. Elds. Sharp, Rees, and Covert were present, and we were all rejoiced to meet my brother, Eld. E. B. Lane. He met many old friends to whom he taught the truth when first we came to this State ten years ago. He visited them, and gave the dedicatory sermon by the request of the church and many friends. The house was dedicated first-day, May 23. It was not capable of seating the people, either in the forenoon or the evening.

During the month of May, two new meeting-houses have been dedicated in this Conference. We thank the Lord for the advancement of the truth in this State.

S. H. Lane.