We closed our meetings in New London, July 28. Twenty-four have accepted the truth. Three of these were keeping the Sabbath when we came to this place. Bro. Whipple, of Fremont, did a good work here in canvassing for our periodicals. The Congregationalists have granted us the free use of their meeting-house in which to hold Sabbath meetings.
We pitch the tent this week at Stevens Point. H. W. DECKER.
Tent No. 2, Clay Banks, Door Co.
We have now given fourteen discourses at this place, partly in English and partly in Norwegian. We commenced with a very fair congregation. The attendance and interest have been steadily increasing, in both languages. We desire wisdom and grace, that we may labor to God's glory and the advancement of the cause.
O. A. OLSEN.
July 31. N. CLAUSEN.
Tent No. 4, Mukwonago, Waukesha Co.
We closed our meetings in this place last evening. Eleven have signed the covenant to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. We obtained six subscribers for the REFORMER and one for the REVIEW. A Methodist and a Universalist elder each spoke in the tent once, but they were very friendly. One Baptist elder attended our meetings a few times and expressed considerable interest. The truth has many warm friends in and around this place. They have looked well after our wants, and have donated $14.35. There is here none of that bitter prejudice that we sometimes find. May the blessing of the Lord rest upon this people, and may they be led to a saving knowledge of his truth.
We go this week to Vernon, Waukesha county, six miles east of this place, which will be our address for the present.
C. W. OLDS.
July 29. E. M. CRANDALL.
Tent No. 5, Debello.
We have been here nearly seven weeks. At first we spoke in Norwegian, and as there were many Americans who wished to have the same things preached to them, we gave a condensed course of lectures in English. The Lord has blessed our work much; for although we have had much opposition, yet about twenty-five have commenced to keep the Sabbath. We still hope that others will obey the truth; for there are some who are deeply interested, and who see their duty, but hesitate to take up the cross.
About one-third of those who have commenced to obey God's commands are Norwegians. One of the number is an intelligent Frenchman who was brought up a Catholic. He served four years as a mass-servant in the Catholic church, and has studied two years with the Jesuits for a Catholic priest.
Last Sabbath we organized a Sabbath-school of over forty members. We expect to remain here over next Sabbath.
O. A. JOHNSON.
P. L. HOEN.
MICHIGAN
Tent No. 1, Douglas.
We commenced meetings in this place, July 27, and thus far have had a very excellent hearing. The people tell us that our congregations in point of numbers far surpass anything seen here before for years. The very best part of the community is at the tent every evening.
A music teacher of the place cheerfully plays the organ for us. We have a great many invitations from the people to visit them at their homes. They even began to invite us before we had our tent up. They begin to buy books quite freely, and cheerfully supply our wants. Our brethren here are doing all they can to help us.
The prospect thus far gives us courage. We have freedom and the blessing of the Lord in preaching. Last Sunday evening a congregation of about four hundred people listened in almost breathless silence to a discourse on the subject of the two-horned beast.
We have hopes that much good will be accomplished by this effort, but still we do not forget that God must give the increase. We seek his blessing every day, and earnestly pray that a greater burden for souls may rest upon us. E. R. JONES. E. P. DANIELS.
Tent No. 3, Hickory Corners, Aug. 2.
Our meetings still continue every evening. Last Sabbath over fifty were out. Our attendance is small. Some have decided to keep the Sabbath, and we hope for others. The people are very busy with their crops. Pray for us that we may have wisdom to close up our work aright. J. B. FRISBIE. T. M. STEWARD.
Pierson, July 29.
We closed our meetings in this place last evening, after a stay of eight weeks. In connection with Brn. Wellman, Gilbert, and Morrison have given over sixty discourses. We have had, with the exception of a few evenings, good congregations, and always good attention and good order. (No rum is sold in the place.)
We can but acknowledge the help of the Lord in our effort here. Twenty adults have decided to keep all the commandments. Among them are some who have never before given themselves to God. Others are convinced and we hope to see them identify themselves with us.
Bro. Wellman, Gilbert, and Morrison have not been here continuously, yet each has had a part in the work.
I go from this place to Morley, to help in the work there, which has been hindered by the sickness of Bro. Wellman and Gilbert.
Have obtained thirteen subscribers for the Review. Hard times have hindered in the sale of books and tracts. E. VAN DEUSEN.
NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA.
Tent No. 2, Newfane, N. Y., July 29.
The Wesleyan minister spoke in the tent as appointed, and I reviewed him the next evening. Not being satisfied with his effort, he appointed to speak again in the M. E. church the next Sunday morning. When the time came, the Baptists offered their house, as it was larger, and the congregations united. An appointment was made for the same man in the same house in the evening, and there was quite a feeling of triumph among the opposition. But we went right along with our appointment, having previously announced a review of the morning discourse for the evening, and when evening came our tent was full and there was a large crowd outside; the Lord gave us another victory for the truth. The opposition are very quiet to-day, but are hoping for something from a Free Methodist minister, one of their best, who is announced to speak in the Baptist church evening after the Sabbath next.
S. B. Whitney.
Tent No. 8, Osceola, Pa., July 29.
We have now given twelve discourses and are about to introduce the Sabbath question. The attendance and interest have been on the increase. The Presbyterian minister announced to his congregation yesterday, that next Sunday he would tell them about the men that have “turned the world upside down.” And a temperance lecturer, a Methodist minister, went so far out of the way of his subject as to say that nine of the ten commandments have been brought over into the Christian dispensation; that those who do not keep the first day of the week deny Christ; and that there ought to be a law to send tramps back into the communities whence they came. So we think we hear the sound of war in the elements. But our trust is in God, who can give victory to his truth.
The people are kind, contributing to our temporal wants. May God bless and save them.
J. W. Raymond. D. T. Fero.
Tent No. 7, Sabinsville, Tioga Co., Pa.
We close our meetings in this place to-night. Have given forty-five discourses, of which Elds. B. L. Whitney and A. H. Hall gave six. Bro. Hall buried six in baptism Sunday. It was a lovely and solemn scene. Eight have joined the class. Fifteen, in all, have taken a stand on the commandments. Some are afraid to move out on our belief, as it is rather new.
The times are very dull here, as there are no enterprises of any note in this vicinity. Our book sales have been small.
To-morrow we pitch our tent at Little Marsh, a small village six miles from here.
M. C. Wilcox. July 30. T. M. Lane.
Tent No. 6, Farmington, Warren Co., Pa.
We have erected our tent in the quiet little village of Farmington. Commenced meetings the 20th inst. Our congregations average about one hundred. There seems to be some interest, though we have given but four discourses. We expect and earnestly desire the blessing of God upon our efforts, and to this end crave the prayers of all who feel an interest in the cause of God.
Our P. O. address is Lander, Warren Co., Pa.
F. Peabody. J. Q. Foy.
Tent No. 10, Oswayo, Pa., July 29.
Since our last report the work here has steadily progressed. July 20 and 21 our meetings were of a very encouraging nature. Elds. B. L. Whitney and A. H. Hall were present, and their help was indeed timely. Many of our brethren from abroad were also present, which was encouraging to us all. Several have since decided to obey the truth, and the interest seems to be extending and increasing.
Our last Sabbath meeting was a very encouraging one. There were about fifty present, all of them new friends of the cause. We were very much pleased to hear the expressions of strong determination, on the part of those who bore testimony, to live out the truth faithfully.
Our closing meeting last evening was especially interesting. We had the largest and most interested congregation we have had since we have been here. We find the truth has many warm friends outside of those who have begun to obey it, as well as some bitter enemies.
The matter of building a church is being talked quite strongly, even among those who, at present, are not especially interested in our work, and many offer to help in the enterprise if we decide to build. We believe that with proper effort a church can be put up and be paid for by the friends in this immediate vicinity by winter. We are allowed the use of the school-house for the present, where we expect to hold Sabbath meetings and a Bible-class each Sabbath until tent season is over.
We take down our tent to-day, and expect to pitch it in Coudersport, fourteen miles from this place. Coudersport is the county seat of Potter county, and a town of about one thousand inhabitants.
About twenty are keeping the Sabbath, and there are others who we confidently hope will soon decide to keep it.
E. W. Whitney. H. E. Robinson.
East Martinsburgh, Lewis Co., N. Y.
We have held one meeting in this place. The tent is located about four rods from the depot, the president of the Utica and Black River R. R. having very kindly offered us the use of the ground free of charge. We still keep up our meetings at South Harrisburgh, one of us attending there two days out of every week. There seems to be a fair prospect for a good church of substantial members at that place. One more strong man has commenced to keep the Sabbath at Otter Creek. The church at that place is gaining ground.
We have just received a letter from Eld. C. H. Williams, a minister who has been for years an honored member of the society of first-day Adventists, who visited our tent for a few days some weeks ago, and seemed anxious to know the truth in regard to the sanctuary, the third angel’s message, etc. He is a man of considerable influence in this county, having lived here several years and baptized quite a large number of converts to the first message. The following private letter speaks for itself. We gave him quite a number of books and tracts, among them Eld. U. Smith’s late work on the “Sanctuary,” which opened his eyes. (We wish it could be in the hands of every minister in the land.) He expects to attend our camp-meeting this fall. Brethren, give him your prayers and words of sympathy. We know from experience how much he needs them just now.
Jacob Wilbur. July 25. A. P. Bump.
The following is an extract from the letter of Bro. C. H. Williams alluded to in the preceding report:—
It is with pleasure that I inform you of the freedom I have gained through the truth as revealed in God’s word and expounded by Bro. Smith in his work on the “Sanctuary.” The glorious light emanating from the prophecies as connected with the keeping of God’s holy Sabbath, has forever dispelled the darkness which so long clouded my mind. I was honest in my former position; but here is truth far in advance of what I before possessed, and as an honest man I must receive it, though it may cost me, as it doubtless will, the loss of earthly friends. Already I can see indications of a coming storm of derision and persecution. In making this change I am virtually severed from many in this State who in former years have given me their sympathy and support. But I deliberately and understandingly place myself among those who “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” I shall need your prayers, and the help of God, for I leave many dear ones behind. However, my prayer is that some of my old and tried friends may be induced to go with me in the path of truth and righteousness.
THE LORD AT HAND.
Could Christians watch ten thousand years
Before their Lord himself appears,
Yet, as he then shall come at last,
'Twere wise, through all such ages past,
T' have watch'd and waited and have borne
The scoffer's jest, the worldling's scorn.
But those who watch not in the day
Will surely sleep the night away.
Lord, make me at all hours awake,
And, self denied, thy cross to take,
Robed for thy nuptial feast in white,
With lamp in hand and burning bright;
Nor lack of precious oil be mine
When the loud cry, “Arise and shine!”
Proclaims thee come in bridal state,
And when preparing is too late!
—From the German.
MASSACHUSETTS
TOWNSEND.—We closed our meetings here Sunday eve, July 21. We leave fifteen keeping the Sabbath, who will meet together. Our meetings continued five weeks. Obtained several subscribers for the SIGNS, sold thirteen dollars’ worth of books, and received from collections $8.03. The fact that there had been two tent-meetings here in the last four years did not help us any; yet, with the blessing of God, a small company of honest souls have been led to take hold of the truth.
CLINTON, JULY 25.—We arrived here Tuesday morning at 4:30, and by the time the people were getting up we had our tent erected. Shall hold our first meeting this evening. We desire the prayers of all God’s dear people. D. A. ROBINSON
From a letter from E. J. H., Newburyport, Mass., we take the following:—
We are having very good meetings. Some seem to be seeking after the truth. Our company now numbers about thirty-five. Three or four not of the church believe in the ultra-sanctification doctrine of these days. They meet with us, but the farther they drift from us the closer it unites us together.
Brn. Bedee and Mooney were with us yesterday, July 27, and gave us an interesting discourse on the Eastern Question. We greatly enjoy a visit from a preacher; but as long as we keep with the Lord we shall prosper.
KANSAS
By J. H. Cook; L. D. Santee
Ft. Scott, Aug. 1.
Our meetings still continue. We have spoken three times on the Sabbath question. Laboring in towns is slow work, but the interest is permanent. Some are deciding to obey God. There is work for a minister here for the next three months. The daily paper gives us space for a sermon in each issue. Our courage is good. Pray for us.
J. H. Cook. L. D. Santee.
IOWA
By L. McCoy
Bonaparte, Aug. 1.
Have given ten discourses here. The interest is increasing. The average attendance is one hundred and fifty. Many who have not attended church for years are interested. We are now canvassing the life and death question. The Sabbath question comes next. The people are friendly, and bestow many favors.
There was a heavy wind and rain storm last night. Five inches of water fell. All dry in our tents. L. McCoy.
OHIO
Springfield.
THE attendance here is not as large as it ought to be in such a place. Most persistent efforts have been made to keep the people away. The ministers had done all in their power to excite prejudice against the Seventh-day Adventists before the tent came. It would seem to be wise to not canvass a place so long before the tent goes to it, as it gives the dishonest a better chance to work on the prejudices of the people.
But the interest is very good, and the truth has caused much talk throughout the city. Some are persuaded that these things are so. Some who appeared to be much interested fell away when the Sabbath was presented. The prevailing excuse raised by the ministry was, that we cannot tell when the seventh day comes. This delusion was dispelled on Sunday evening to the conviction of a good audience. We hope for good results.
J. H. WAGGONER.
Chester Cross Roads, Geauga Co.
WE closed our meetings at Parkman, July 23, and pitched our tent here and began meetings the 27th. Nearly a hundred were at our first meeting, and on Sunday evening about three hundred were present.
We met considerable opposition at Parkman. The three ministers of the place spoke against the Sabbath; but they only injured themselves, their ungentlemanly and unchristian conduct bringing upon them the censure of nearly all their own members. The Congregationalist minister was exceedingly bitter, as he saw that he was about to lose some of his best members.
Nearly all admit that we are right on the Sabbath, and some have commenced to keep it, while others are still investigating. We organized a Sabbath-school of about twenty-five members. Pray for the success of the cause. O. F. GUILFORD. E. H. GATES.
VERMONT
Tent No. 1.
We closed our meetings at Weston, July 28. Prejudice has been removed far beyond our expectations, and very many are investigating these truths. We leave thirteen new Sabbath-keepers, and seven older ones have united with them to sustain the prayer-meetings and the Bible-class and Sabbath-school.
We expect to return at the close of the tent season and hold meetings in three or four adjoining districts, where there are interests arising from this tent-meeting. Have sold some books, given away many tracts, and obtained four subscribers for the REVIEW. Much good seed has been sown; may it spring up and bear fruit.
We move to-morrow to a point one mile west of West Townshend, three miles from Jamaica, three from South Windham, and four from Wardsboro. Commence meetings Aug. 4. As haying is now nearly over, we hope for a good hearing, and a good harvest of souls. Still remember the servants of God at the throne of grace, that the truth may be presented aright, and great good be the result. I. SANBORN.
Tent No. 2. Marshfield, Aug. 1.
We closed our meetings in Cabot, Sunday eve, July 28, with an audience of about three hundred. Forty-two discourses were given. We leave twenty good substantial Sabbath-keepers as the result of our labors. Among them is the leading physician of the place, who is a graduate from the New York Homœopathic Medical College; another was a deacon of the Adventist church. Others believe that we have the truth, and we hope they will obey. The labors of Eld. A. S. Hutchins, who was with us the last two weeks of the meetings, added much to the interest.
We sold books to the amount of $10.42, and received $14.10 in donations. Also obtained seven subscribers for the REVIEW.
Last Monday we took down our tent, and before night had it pitched in Marshfield, five miles from Cabot. Held our first meeting last evening. The people receive us very cordially, and we anticipate a good interest. R. S. OWEN. M. E. KELLOGG.
MINNESOTA
By D. P. Curtis; N. Battin
Sauk Center, July 29.
ANOTHER week of hard labor has passed. In every discourse we have drawn the line closer and closer. The Lord has helped. The community is stirred upon the matter which we have brought out. We have advertised freely, and secured good audiences by this means. Quite a number are fully convinced. A few have taken a stand. We had an excellent Sabbath meeting of the brethren from Grove Lake, West Union, Round Prairie, and English Grove. Bro. Pierce was with us, and gave an excellent discourse.
Open opposition from the ministers seems to be abandoned. The Lord is helping to sow the seed, and we believe that he will not allow his word to return unto him void, but that it shall accomplish the thing whereto he sent it. We shall remain here another week at least. D. P. CURTIS. N. BATTIN.
SWITZERLAND
By D. T. Bourdeau
The work at Orbe and at Valleyres is progressing as fast as we could expect, considering the obstacles we have to meet. We hailed the coming of Bro. Andrews with joy, believing that “two are better than one” in breaking up new ground that requires so much anxiety and wearing labor as does even Switzerland, a country indeed favored in many respects, but where great blessings have been abused. This is true of the measure of freedom that Switzerland has so long enjoyed; many have taken advantage of this to do evil, and others have indulged extreme independence, while religious fanatics from abroad have crowded upon the people false doctrines that have aroused the caution of many, making the work of introducing present truth more difficult, and in some places impracticable until prejudice is removed by prudent and patient effort. We do not, however, despair of Switzerland as a field of labor, but believe it will yield a rich harvest of souls.
The false reports published against us in four leading papers of Lausanne and Geneva, of which I spoke in a previous article, had to be met here, also additional calumny from a minister in Morges. This led the National minister of Orbe, editor of the leading religious paper of his church in this canton, to attack us publicly the second Sunday we were here. Fortunately I was present. We had but about twenty-five persons at our next meeting. God gave freedom in vindicating the right, and the scales turned, several taking pains to set forth matters in their true light, and showing us sympathy by letters and otherwise, so that the next evening we had more than our usual attendance.
Our expenses were high, as we were at a hotel and had to pay for everything, even for the use of our hall. But our little bank, hung at the door, has turned out 50 francs; and friends, through sympathy, and partly as a reaction of false reports, have handed in 110 francs as presents to sustain the mission; so that our running expenses, including what I paid in moving my family here, and for a license to sell tracts, have been more than half met. Thus far we have sold 45 francs’ worth of tracts. We must also work at other points to take advantage of our license to sell tracts, which costs 21 francs a month.
We had to suspend our meetings here several days because of opposition revival meetings. Yet we watched the work carefully and kept up the meetings at Valleyres. We begin meetings again at Orbe this evening. We have, up to this date, held fifteen meetings at Orbe and six at Valleyres. Some are seriously examining the truth, and we hope they will obey as they fully see its importance.
Good news comes from our Belgian brethren in Wisconsin. They seem to have gone to work in earnest, and report that the heads of seven families, with quite a number of youth, have embraced the Sabbath and kindred truths. They are obtaining subscribers for the French paper. This is as it should be. We encourage them and our French brethren in Illinois, etc., to obtain and circulate our French tracts, many of which have not yet been published in America. This can be done through the tract societies, or through responsible persons recommended by their brethren. D. T. BOURDEAU.
Orbe, Vaud, Switzerland, July 17, 1878.
PACIFIC COAST.
[Abridged from the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.]
Reno, Nev., July 22.
Eld. J. N. Loughborough reports that the new Nevada tent is pitched in Reno, a few rods from the Central Pacific railroad, of which it is in full view. The tent has been packed, with scores on the outside. As the climate is mild and the walls of the tent can be raised, all can hear.
Oakland, Cal., July 23.
THE attendance here is quite good. Sr. White gave three discourses in the tent last week to good and appreciative audiences. Last Sabbath, July 20, at an excellent union meeting of the brethren from Oakland and San Francisco there were two hundred Sabbath-keepers present. The evening of July 23, Eld. Healey was to review a sermon on the Christian Sabbath, by a Congregational minister.
NEBRASKA
Neligh.
We closed meetings at Oakdale on Sunday evening, July 7, and pitched our tent and commenced meetings the following evening at Neligh, six miles distant.
We have labored under great disadvantages here. The town is small, and many of the citizens have an interest in farms near by. Harvesting has been pressing, and an unusual amount of wet weather has made it necessary that every effort be put forth to save the ripened grain. Hence our congregations have been small, and the people have been under such a pressure that it has seemed almost impossible to reach them at their homes or in the field. Yet we trust that all the seed has not fallen on unfruitful soil, but that the grain may, with a little more labor after the busy season is past, be bound into bundles.
We baptized two yesterday in the Elkhorn River, and closed our meetings.
CHAS. L. BOYD.
DANIEL NETTLETON, JR.
Syracuse, Otoe Co., July 29.
We closed our meetings here last night. The Lord has blessed our labors. Twenty-one signed the covenant to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Some of them want to be baptized. They are not satisfied with sprinkling. Truly “the commandments of God are pure, enlightening the eyes.” May the Lord bless this little company, and keep them faithful unto his coming and kingdom. Bro. A. J. Cudney, our tent master, obtained five new subscribers for the REVIEW, one for the TIDENDE, one for the INSTRUCTOR, and one for the REFORMER.
We now go to a new field of labor. May the Lord guide and direct us.
H. SHULTZ.
M. HACKWORTH.
Obituary Notices.
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.”
Died at Knoxville, Iowa, July 27, 1878, Bro. Wm. P. Andrews, aged 39 years and 11 months. He was born in North Paris, Maine, in 1838. In 1855 he, in company with his father's family, removed to Waukon, Iowa, where he has resided most of the time since, except a short stay at Battle Creek, Mich., and at Mount Pleasant, Iowa. About two weeks before his death he was taken with the bilious intermittent fever. A few days later erysipelas set in, which resulted in his death. The deceased was an only brother of Eld. J. N. Andrews, our missionary to Switzerland. He leaves a companion, a daughter, and an aged mother, who deeply mourn their loss.
In the death of Bro. Andrews, the community loses an esteemed citizen, the church a faithful supporter, the family a dutiful son, kind father, and affectionate husband. We laid him away to rest, with the firmest hope that at the first resurrection this family-link will again be united. Remarks by the writer to a large and interested congregation, from Ps. 116:15: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” E. W. Farnsworth.
We commend to the mourning friends in their sad bereavement the sentiment of the following lines:—
“And you shall shortly know that lengthened breath
Is not the sweetest gift God sends his friend,
And that sometimes the sable pall of death
Conceals the fairest boon his love can send.
If we could push ajar the gates of life,
And stand within, and all God's working see,
We could interpret all this doubt and strife,
And for each mystery could find a key.
“But not to-day. Then be content, poor heart!
God's plans, like lilies, pure and white unfold;
We must not tear the close-shut leaves apart,
Time will reveal the calyxes of gold;
And if, through patient toil, we reach the land
Where tired feet with sandals loosed may rest,
Where we shall clearly know and understand,
I think that we will say, ‘God knew the best.’”
Died of consumption, at David City, Butler county, Neb., July 15, 1878, Eugene E. Hayes, aged 32 years. Returning from school at Battle Creek, Mich., he attended the camp-meeting at Marshalltown, Iowa, in June, 1877, where he was licensed to preach. At this meeting he contracted a slight cold, which finally resulted in his death. In 1878 he received the glorious light of present truth proclaimed by S. D. Adventists through the medium of tracts furnished the writer by Eld. James White. Two weeks ago I was called from my labors at Toledo, Iowa, to attend him. With carefulness he prepared himself for the hour of death. “A long night's rest,” said he, “and then the glorious morning.” These sad hours were precious ones. As we bowed in prayer together for the last time, and asked the Lord to release him from lingering suffering, the blessing of the Lord rested upon us, and he shortly after expired, praising the Lord for his merciful goodness. Discourse by Eld. Davis, Methodist, from Amos 4:12. O. M. Olds.
MISSOURI
By C. H. Chaffee; H. Woodruff
Mooresville, July 29.
We closed our tent effort at this place, July 26. As the result of our labor, six have embraced the truth, none of whom ever belonged to any church before. Have obtained three subscribers for the REVIEW AND HERALD.
We shall pitch our tent again in a few days.
C. H. CHAFFEE.
H. WOODRUFF.
ILLINOIS
By R. F. Andrews
ONARGA.—The brethren here are full of hope and courage. Six have taken their stand with them within the last six months.
KANKAKEE.—Had a good meeting with the church here July 6 and 7. French brethren from St. Anne were present, and brought a cheering report from their society. Six were baptized, and the brethren acknowledged themselves strengthened and encouraged. May the Lord help them to press forward.
WATSEKA.—This church does not prosper as we wish it did, nor as we believe it might. Still there are precious souls here who love the present truth, and are striving to live so as to enjoy the favor of God.
The quarterly meeting of Dist. No. 9 was held here the 14th. Three received baptism.
ROCKFORD.—We met with the church here July 20 and 21, had good meetings; the brethren are of good courage.
BELVIDERE.—We pitched our tent here the 25th inst. We ask our brethren to pray for us. R. F. ANDREWS.
Belvidere, July 26.
VIRGINIA
By R. Sawyer
We held our quarterly meeting at Soliloquy, Shenandoah county, July 6, 1878. At the commencement of the Sabbath a prayer and social meeting was held, in which the servants of God now in affliction were remembered. On the Sabbath at 9 A. M., after a season of prayer in which we all united, the record of names was read and responses were made by all present, showing an earnest desire to go forward in the service of the Lord. Then followed a discourse from Gen. 3:15. In this meeting much of the blessing of the Lord was felt in our midst.
At 3 P. M. a Sabbath-school was held, and remarks were made on the importance of this work as brought to view in Deut. 4:4-10. An encouraging address to this mission from Bro. and Sr. Lane was then read. At 7 P. M. the solemn ordinances of the Lord’s house were celebrated, and the blessing of the Lord was still felt to be in our midst. A discourse was given by Bro. G. Woods, from Matt. 28:6.
At 9 A. M. on first-day, a very interesting tract society meeting was held, followed by an acceptable discourse by Bro. G. Stillwell. In the evening Bro. R. J. Fultz spoke from the words, “Can ye not discern the signs of the times?”
We have now five brethren in Virginia who are improving their gift in setting the truth before the people, besides laboring with their hands. In many places a great desire is yet manifested to hear the truth.
We desire the prayers of all for the success of this mission. R. SAWYER.
McGaheysville, Rockingham Co., Va., July 15.
INDIANA
By W. W. Sharp; V. R. Thompson; F. D. Allen
Tent No. 2, Alexandria, Madison Co.
The interest here continues. Three hundred were out last Sunday evening. The Methodist minister wearied an audience about two hours and a half to convince them that they had immortal souls, which saw through their eyes, heard with their ears, &c., and that the body was only a house. People say they cannot understand him.
We shall review him Tuesday evening. Many are glad to hear the truth. Twenty-five have promised to keep the Lord’s Sabbath. Quite a number will attend the camp-meeting from this place. We shall remain here two weeks, and expect to baptize several. Infidels, backsliders, and those who have never made a start before, are taking hold.
Pray for us.
W. W. Sharp.
V. R. Thompson.
F. D. Allen.
July 29.