It is a very common thing in presenting the truth to be met with the argument, or rather, ghost of an argument, that it makes no difference what we believe if we are only sincere. The evident distrust with which this is sometimes brought forth clearly shows that the individual is a little uncertain as to the soundness of his reasoning, yet there is no doubt that others who have used the argument longer have come really to think it good. And that very circumstance illustrates the very point at issue. You have heard it said that if a man tell the same lie about forty times he will come to believe it himself; and there is much truth in the saying.
It is just so with the entrance of false doctrines. The individual allows a suggestion of error to come into his mind. He wishes that it might be true; for it seems pleasing for the time. “It is so much easier,” he reasons, “to live out the principles of such a doctrine;” and he beats about to find a prop for his new idea. He begins to argue for it, and he soon quells all his inward thoughts that rise up in favor of the truth, and comes really to believe the lie. From whence did it start? It originated in a dislike for the truth.
When we believe and love a false doctrine, choosing it deliberately in preference to the truth, we deliberately disbelieve God; and though we train and accustom ourselves to believe that error with all our soul, yet God will never be pleased with all our devotion to it, nor will he save us for it. Will God save the heathen mother because she is so devoted to her false god that she will drown her babe to please that god? Yet who will deny her sincerity? Eve was deceived by the devil. She doubted that she should die if she ate of that nice-looking fruit. She began to believe that God had not told her the truth. She acted upon her belief. Did her sincerity save her?
We must be careful how we let doubts enter the mind. At first they ask only a little corner. They come as gentle insinuations, little callers. They come oftener, and stay longer; and soon they make their home with us. We lodge and feed them for their pleasing company, while all the time they are laying a mine under our souls to blow them into perdition. They begin like a little leak in a dam. It excites no fear, for it is so very small. Gradually the little stream wears away its boundaries. The careless bystander hardly sees it increase, so slowly it gains. By and by a solid stone that has been trembling for its lost support gives way, and the water gushing through with irresistible fury tears out the whole structure, and speeds on its work of devastation to the vale below. Scores of lives might have been saved had the man been alive to the danger of the first little leak. So with doubts. Before we know it they have undermined our faith, and we are ready to pour out a torrent of unbelief, endangering the souls of all who come within the influence of its current.
Our belief affects, yes, utterly controls, our general actions. It is impossible to act without belief of some sort. The farmer would not sow his seed if he had no faith. If he believes potatoes will be a failure, and that corn and oats will produce well, he will plant but few potatoes, and will sow more grain. If a man believes it unnecessary to be a Christian, he never will be one. If a professor of religion believes it sufficient that the minister prays, he will not pray himself. The stream will rise no higher than the fountain, neither will our actions be purer than our faith; therefore, “without faith it is impossible to please God.”
Thus we reason; and that our reasoning is scriptural, we will show from the words of Paul. Many of Paul’s letters are prophetic. In 2 Thess. 2:9-12. Paul refers in unmistakable terms to the working of spiritualism. We are surrounded to-day by its “lying wonders.” Paul says that the coming of Christ is the next event in order—“is after” this working of Satan. Verse 9. Then he speaks of a class living at the same time, who “received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved”; and he says, “For this cause shall God send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Their first fault is that they do not love the truth, and that they have pleasure in unrighteousness. God permits them to take their choice, and leaves them to the delusions of the devil. Satan deceives them, and they believe a lie, actually believe it. They come to be sincere in that belief; but their sincerity does not save them: no; they believe the lie, and are damned because they do believe it.
It makes a difference what you believe, and your sincere belief in an error will never save you. God will save many who have lived in times of darkness, who held wrong beliefs on some points; but it will not be for their sincerity in error, but for their firm adherence to what truth they did have. God saw in them a love for the truth, a principle of obedience to it; and if the light we now have had shone upon their path, they would have hailed it with joy and been obedient to it. “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.” John 17:17. C. W. STONE.
WHICH WAS THE BEST?
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Each one of us is always anxious that whatever labor we perform in gospel work should be very successful. Hence we naturally seek for the most promising openings to present the truth, either by preaching or by our tracts. Then it is natural to become discouraged if we do not see good fruits immediately. But my experience in preaching has taught me that you can tell but very little which labor is the most successful. Sometimes when it would really appear that we have reaped a rich harvest, a few years' time will show that it was but little gain to the cause; while in other places where we have counted our labor a real failure, we have afterwards learned that we have had the greatest success.
Several years ago while laboring in Maine, we spent five or six weeks working very hard, with little apparent result. Only four embraced the truth, and two of these soon went back. We thought that was lost time; but this was a great mistake. One young man embraced the truth, and has now become a faithful and successful laborer in the work. He has brought many others into the truth, and thus proved that that was a very successful effort after all. In the same State we had what we called a large meeting, and quite a number embraced the truth; but in a few years there were but few left. Which was the best?
So while laboring in the West, we spent more than a month with the tent in a little village. We had a small interest. Only seven or eight embraced the truth, and these were all women but one. We left much discouraged, and did not think it worth while to go back. The next place we had a great interest. Hundreds came to hear. Quite a number came out, but in a year from that time we had much the larger church in the first place where we went. This place came up, and the other went down.
So while in Minnesota. We spent a long time in the tent in one place, accomplishing apparently next to nothing. The audience was small, and only a half dozen or so came out. We felt much discouraged. But among those half dozen was a young man who has now become one of our able ministers, and has raised up a number of good churches. So I now count this one of my most successful efforts. Thus I might give innumerable cases illustrating the fact that we cannot tell at the time which is successful labor, and which is not. Indeed, has not the Lord said, “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good”? Eccl. 11:6.
We may preach a sermon, scatter our tracts, sow our seed in the morning, and think it is all a failure. We see no results; no interest is created: nobody embraces the truth. It is all lost. And yet, perhaps, in years to come we may be astonished to find that that was the most successful of all our efforts. Every minister knows that this is often the case. Every one who has observed the tract work knows it also. Then it is only once in awhile that we can really tell what effect our efforts have had. Sometimes we are permitted to see the fruit ripen. The Lord gives us this for encouragement. But many times impressions are made which keep growing deeper, broader, and stronger, until years afterwards, perhaps in some other State, some other brother or sister may complete the work in that soul, who may then embrace the truth. Yet the first impulse was received long before.
Christ told his apostles that he sent them to reap that which others had sown. The apostles saw this remarkably fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. One sermon gathered in three thousand souls. But no doubt these had been more or less influenced by the labors of John and of Christ. It is just so in our tract work. To-day a man reads a tract. The impression is not powerful enough to bring him out decided upon the truth, to keep the Sabbath; but a favorable impression has been made. He begins to think about it. He thinks kindly of our people. He speaks a word in our favor, that helps somebody else. By and by he hears of one of our ministers lecturing in his neighborhood. He says, “I would like to hear that man; I will go.” In some cases the interest awakened is so deep that the individual puts himself out of the way to inquire after our people. Perhaps he sends for a minister. When the minister comes where the mind is thus prepared, he soon brings the man into the truth. Perhaps the brother or sister who first created the interest in that man's mind may never know the result of it. So, brethren and sisters, don't become discouraged, nor give over your efforts, nor slacken them one whit, whether you see results or not. In the day of God you will know it all; and that is soon enough.
Why is it that our ministers are having so much better success the last five years than formerly? Larger churches are being raised up, greater interests are being aroused, and the work is moving more rapidly. Is it not because the leaven that has been at work for a quarter of a century is now beginning to show itself? We can hardly go anywhere where Seventh-day Adventists are not more or less known. Some will be found there, who will speak a good word for the truth. Either they, or some of their special friends, have been at our Sanitarium, attended our College, have been among our people, heard one of our ministers, or taken our papers, or in some way or other have become acquainted with the truth. When others would slander and misrepresent us, these persons will arise and speak a good word for us. So little a thing as this sometimes turns the scales in a hard-fought battle in a course of lectures. All these things must be looked at and weighed in our works; hence let none of our tract workers be at all discouraged, nor slacken their efforts.
Thirty years ago, there were only about a dozen Seventh-day Adventists in all the world. They were poor and inexperienced. Twenty years ago there were only perhaps two or three thousand; and most of these were poor and young in the work, and had few tracts to work with. But now it is an inspiring thought to know that there are about twenty thousand of the same faith and hope, all zealously at work in the one blessed cause of spreading this present truth. These are the means which God has ordained to ripen the harvest, and to prepare the way for the mighty closing work of this message. All that is needed is systematic, well-directed, persevering effort, and the work will be accomplished by the blessing of God.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
REPORT FROM DENMARK.
By John G. Matteson
NORDBY, FANÖ.
THE battle continues. There are many who oppose us. The people are unwilling to give up the customs which they have received from their ancestors, and they cling to them, whether good or bad. We have a good place for meetings, but it costs about five dollars a week. From sixty to one hundred persons have attended the meetings; but the majority of them are women. I have already been represented in the public prints over the whole kingdom as a teacher of error, and there is therefore much prejudice to overcome, especially on this island, where people cling with much more tenacity to their old customs than in other places. But the Lord has, however, opened some hearts to his word.
Yesterday, I visited the parish priest, who was very friendly toward me. But he said that it was his duty to oppose fanatics and heretics. He remarked afterward, however, that I was no fanatic, and wished to know if I intended to speak against infant baptism. I told him, not at present. He then thought that it would be enough, perhaps, to speak against me from the pulpit. I visited the church yesterday. He spoke well on man's accountability to God, and also defended infant baptism somewhat.
Last Sabbath I was brought up before the authorities. The superintendent of police appeared in a loud, blustering way against me, thinking me, perhaps, somewhat deaf; but when he noticed that I could use the organ of hearing to good advantage, he became more gentle. He wished to see my documents and money, and spoke as though he wished to expel me from the island. I was not to be permitted to make the least call for donations, not even to pay the rent of the hall. Neither would he allow me to sell any books, nor obtain subscribers for any papers, and he could also compel me to appear before him every week.
The bookseller in this place has now taken charge of the sale of tracts and the ADVENT TIDENDE, and they cannot hinder me from giving away as many tracts as I choose. A person who is interested in the meetings, has hired the hall, and sees to it that it is paid for every week. Sufficient money was given last week to pay the rent. We will therefore continue our lawful labor this week in the name of the Lord.
Oct. 29. JOHN G. MATTESON.
DEBATE AT ONAWA, IA.
By J. Bartlett
WHEN I returned from Logan, I found that a Mormon preacher was to speak on the Sabbath question at the south school-house. I went to hear him, and made a reply. The Mormons found that his arguments could not stand before the truth, so they sent for a175gun of larger caliber to come, which he did with all haste. He challenged me to debate on the Sabbath question and the state of the dead.
His position was that the law was abolished. His strong point was the two covenants. He said that Paul declared he was made an able minister of the new testament, or covenant, and we could not find the Sabbath in the new covenant. I gave him the testimony of Paul in Heb. 9:16-19: “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.” The new covenant was sealed with the blood of Christ; then after the death of the testator the will could not be changed. I then referred him to Luke 23:56; which says that the disciples rested according to the commandment; so I found the Sabbath of the fourth commandment after the death of the testator.
He stated that we had no law to keep but the law of Christ. But John says in chap. 2:1: “If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father.” If the Father has no law, why do we need an advocate with him? I found in the revelations of Joseph Smith, in the book called “Doctrines and Covenants,” the testimony that Christ suffered more than any man can suffer, but notwithstanding all this he kept the law of God, and remained without sin, showing thereby that it is in the power of man to keep the law and remain without sin also, and all who walk not in the law of God may justly be condemned, and have no excuse for their sins. This testimony was too hard for him. He did not know what to do with it.
This debate made those who had decided for the truth stronger, and made some decide in its favor. One very intelligent lady said to me, “You could not stand before that man one moment, only that you have the Bible on your side.” I told her that was the great secret; we have the truth on which to depend. This lady had never heard anything on this question before, yet she came out fully on the side of truth. The Lord gave us the victory, for which I feel to praise his name. When I heard that the great Goliath of Gath had come, I went to God for help, and I received evidence that the Lord would stand by me. The Lord gave me great freedom in presenting the truth.
The minister said we must not kindle a fire on the Sabbath; that a law without a penalty is not worth anything; and that we could not keep the Sabbath on the round world; but when we discussed the next question, he taking the position that the first day, or Sunday, is the Sabbath, I asked him if he could kindle a fire on that day, what was the penalty for its violation, and if the world was round on the seventh day and immediately became flat on Sunday or first-day.
The question on the state of the dead was next discussed. He took the position that man has a spirit that survives the death of the body in a conscious state. I tried to get him to say whether this spirit was material or immaterial. I referred him to a debate that he had at Little Sioux with a minister of the M. E. Church, in which he said that an immaterial God was an immaterial nothing. So I told him that the inward man, as he called it, was the immaterial man. Then he had an immaterial nothing. If the spirit was material it could not occupy a place smaller than itself. The result was that his spirit man was very small, as it must come out of the nose or mouth of the body.
When he came to the case of the rich man and Lazarus, he said that it was not a parable, but a real matter of fact, and that it proved his position. Thus he admitted that the spirit is material, as one had a finger and the other a tongue. I forced him to the position that all spirits were made in the beginning; that when God made man, he made all the spirits that ever had been for five thousand years. Then I asked him where he had been for five thousand years. I asked him to tell me what he was doing all that time, but he could not tell.
I had a warm time. There were two Disciple ministers preaching against us at Modale, and two Mormons at the south school-house, at the same time; so I had more irons in the fire than I could well attend to; but the Lord was with me, and helped in the defense of the truth. J. BARTLETT.
INDIANA
By A. W. Bartlett
Darlington, Nov. 20.
Have labored among the brethren here for a few days past, which has resulted in the organization of a church of eight members. This church is composed of good material. Several will unite with them at our next meeting, and others are deeply impressed that we have the truth. This makes two churches raised up by the labors of Tent No. 1, during the spring and fall. To the Lord be all the glory.
A. W. BARTLETT.
MICHIGAN
Howard City and Gowen.
MONDAY, Nov. 19, we came to Howard City, where we remained two days, and organized a class. They have a Bible class. There is no reason why they may not prosper. Bro. Howard will visit them in a few weeks, and organize a T. and M. Society.
Our meetings at Gowen were very interesting. We found them not only ready to do, but doing. This church consists of only sixteen members, yet besides raising their one-third they have a club of about thirty for the SIGNS, and yet there are none who are rich among them. We found Bro. Van Deusen holding meetings about one and a half miles away, and having a good hearing.
A. O. BURRILL.
F. HOWE.
Dists. 1 and 3, Mich. T. and M. S.
Our meetings thus far in Dist. No. 3 have been a success. We have visited four churches; viz., Colon, Burlington, Bronson, and Quincy. All seem willing to act in harmony with the recommendation of the General Conference, to pay a sum equal to one-third their S. B. for the support of the T. and M. work. In addition to this, twenty-five dollars have already been pledged for the widow and orphan fund, thirteen of which have been paid.
Held our first meeting at Hillsdale, in Dist. No. 1, Nov. 21. The same spirit characterized this meeting that has been manifested in No. 3. The brethren have taken hold with a will to work.
Some matters of trial have existed here for a time, which have threatened the prosperity of the church. These were satisfactorily settled; and now as harmony is restored, they feel like pressing to the light, and moving forward with the people of God.
H. M. KENYON.
I. A. OLMSTEAD.
Hillsdale, Nov. 22.
Allegan County.
With Brn. Root and Littlejohn, we met with the church in Otsego, Nov. 10, 11. The blessing of the Lord attended our meetings. Bro. Littlejohn preached Sabbath with great freedom, to a large congregation. The discourse was followed by a social meeting, in which nearly all expressed their gratitude for this meeting and their determination to take hold of the work anew.
The forenoon of first-day was occupied in organizing the Tract and Missionary Society. The brethren and sisters took hold of the work as though they meant business. May the Lord bless them.
In the afternoon Bro. Littlejohn addressed a large congregation of attentive hearers. We are glad that Bro. L.'s health is improving, so that he can enter the field again, and work for the Master.
Nov. 12, met with the church in Allegan, and organized a T. and M. Society. The brethren and sisters expressed a determination to renew their efforts in the work. May the Lord help them to be faithful.
Nov. 13, met with the church in Monterey. This church has been powerfully buffeted by the enemy. Jealousies have crept in, which have crippled their usefulness, and nearly proved their ruin. This meeting proved an encouragement to the church here. The brethren expressed a determination to bury the past, and press to the light. May the Lord help them to be faithful. The T. and M. work was taken hold of in good earnest by the brethren and sisters.
We would express gratitude for the faithful labors of Bro. E. H. Root in these meetings. May the Lord bless him in his labors of love, and reward him with a starry crown in the heavenly kingdom.
M. S. BURNHAM.
Lakeview.
We held meetings here Nov. 17, 18. The new meeting-house is nearly ready for the roof. It is 28x49 feet, and when completed will be a very convenient place of worship. The church here have a larger number of members than any other church in the district.
Sabbath, at 10:30, Bro. Burrill gave a discourse on the subject of overcoming. Following the discourse we had a covenant meeting, in which about fifty spoke in quick succession of their determination to be found with the faithful ones, and have the overcomer's reward. Four were received into the church, two of them by baptism. This church now numbers forty-two members. There are others who keep the Sabbath and meet with them, who, it is hoped, will soon join. Sunday we organized S. B. and the T. and M. fund for 1878. All appeared to be ready to enter into this work, and to do all they can to get the truth so precious to them before others.
The Holy Spirit was present in the closing meeting on Sunday evening. All wept. May the Lord so lead the members of this church that the interested ones may with them be gathered into the fold.
F. HOWE.
PATIENCE
By Mrs. L. D. A. Stuttle
I'll pray for patience at the early dawn,
When darkness flies before the coming day,
While all the earth is wrapped in holy calm,
Before my Maker will I kneel and pray,
And plead for patience; for I do not know
What thorns and brambles in my path may grow,
What jagged rocks their shadows dark may throw.
I'll pray for patience when the glowing sun
Has slowly reached his midday throne on high,
When heart and brain are groaning 'neath their load,
I'll seek my closet, and with earnest cry
I'll ask His guidance, lest I sink and fall.
As I behold earth's sweetness turn to gall,
I'll plead for patience to endure it all.
I'll pray for patience when the clouds at eve
Are painted crimson by the setting sun,
When shadows lengthen o'er the dark'ning land,
And glittering stars come slowly, one by one.
I'll plead for patience, for the night is near;
How do I know but anguish, pain, or fear
May bow me low before the morn appear?
I'll ask for patience when the long, long night
Shall come at last, and all is dark and dread,
When o'er my soul there comes no ray of light,
And clouds hang black and threat'ning o'er my head.
With all my pulses throbbing, sick and sore,
When I seem drifting farther from the shore,
I'll pray for patience till the night is o'er.
I'll pray for patience when the chilling hand
Of deep affliction on my soul is laid,
When Death's dark angel claims the flowers I love,
And lays them low beneath the silent shade;
I'll brush the teardrops from my eyes away,
And calmly bow beside the sleeping clay,
For patience and submission kneel and pray.
I'll pray for patience when the petty cares
Of daily life shall gall my weary heart,
When small temptations take me unawares,
And little thorns shall cause the stinging smart.
What though my spirit may be sick and sore?
I will remember that my Saviour wore
A crown of thorns; and I will grieve no more.
I'll pray for patience when the world shall frown,
And those I love shall coldly turn aside.
How do I know but 'tis the Master's plan
To rid my spirit of its foolish pride?
Before my God I'll humbly bow and pray,
For grace and patience, all along the way,
Till dawns at length the blest eternal day.
MRS. L. D. A. STUTTLE.
Vernon, Shiawassee Co., Mich.
OHIO T. AND M. SOCIETY.
By H. A. St. John; A. A. Hutchins
The Ohio T. and M. Society held its first quarterly meeting for this Conference year, Oct. 21, 1877, at Clyde. The president in the chair. Meeting opened by singing and prayer.
As there was not a sufficient number of directors present to constitute a quorum, no business of importance was transacted.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and accepted. The report of the working of the last quarter was also read, showing the following:—
Districts. No. of members; reports returned; donors; families visited; letters written; new members; new subscribers; periodicals distributed; annual distribution; parsonage and parsonage; receipts; by donation; from new subscribers; from each district.
FINANCIAL STANDING. Indebtedness at commencement of the quarter, $301.14; expenses during the quarter, $186.69; received, $155.65; indebtedness at close of the quarter, $248.82.
Adjourned to call of chair.
H. A. St. John, Pres.
A. A. HUTCHINS, Sec.
PACIFIC COAST.
[Abridged from the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.]
North Pacific Conference.
The first annual session of the North Pacific Conference of S. D. Adventists was held at Walla Walla, W. T., Oct. 25-29, 1877.
Thirteen delegates were present, representing eight churches and unorganized bodies of Sabbath-keepers.
A constitution was adopted, after which five churches were received into the Conference, and six unorganized bodies of Sabbath-keepers were received under its watch-care.
Eld. I. D. Van Horn was elected president; Mrs. A. P. Van Horn, secretary; and Alonzo T. Jones, treasurer.
The Conference now numbers about two hundred Sabbath-keepers, two ordained elders, and four licentiates, and the S. H. pledge is over $500.
North Pacific Tract and Missionary Society.
The first session of this society was held at Walla Walla, W. T., Oct. 28, 1877.
The Conference was divided into three missionary districts as follows: Dist. No. 1, all of Washington Territory east of the Cascade Mountains; No. 2, all of Oregon east of the Cascade Mountains; No. 3, all of Washington Territory and Oregon west of the Cascade Mountains.
Eld. I. D. Van Horn was chosen president; S. Maxson, vice-president; and Mrs. A. P. Van Horn, secretary and treasurer.
The constitution published in REVIEW Supplement of Oct. 11, was adopted by a unanimous vote. A resolution was passed to raise by subscription a permanent Conference T. and M. fund of $300, to be paid on or before Jan. 1, 1878. It was also resolved to circulate 1000 copies of the Family Health Annual.
NEWBURYPORT, MASS.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Returning to Newburyport, we found that the Lord has worked there in a remarkable manner. About a dozen who received the Sabbath under our labors at the tent held on faithfully. But they had no experience, no one to lead them, were quite poor, and most of them had never taken any part in meeting. Left alone in this large city, we would naturally suppose they would soon come to naught; but the power of the truth held them together. They hired a little hall, fitted it up, and held regular meetings, in which every one takes a lively interest.
Soon one after another began to attend their meetings and embrace the Sabbath, until they numbered about eighteen. Since we have held our meetings here, six more have embraced the Sabbath, and some of these are men of more means than the others. Among the six are Eld. Haynes and wife. He was a first-day Adventist preacher. I think he is a man of candor, good reputation, and good ability. He is now preaching regularly to three churches. He had heard and thought on the subject considerably through the influence of the brethren here. After attending my meetings, and hearing our arguments upon the Sabbath, the messages, &c., he has come out decided upon the truth. He gives up his appointments and takes hold with us. After seeing the harmony in the subject of the sanctuary, the messages, two-horned beast, the law and the gospel, &c., he says that he is ashamed that he has been kept so in the dark on these glorious subjects, and that he has preached so lame a faith. I believe there are many more Adventists who would gladly receive the truth could they have a chance.
Although the outside attendance on our meetings was small, being from thirty to sixty, yet all who attended came because they were interested. A deacon in the Christian Church took his stand with us upon the Sabbath last Sunday. Another person from the Baptist Church, who has heard but three sermons, is just deciding to take hold with us. At our very last meeting, Sunday evening, Nov. 18, a young man who has made no profession decided to keep the Sabbath. At the last hour, I obtained four full-paying subscribers for the REVIEW. The Spirit of the Lord seems to be especially at work here.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
NEW YORK.
Groton.
The attendance, and the interest in our meetings here, have both improved in our new quarters, and several others have embraced the truth. Last Sabbath we had our first Sabbath meeting, which was very good. There were about thirty present, all but one or two of whom took part in the meeting. Among those who have embraced the Sabbath is the wife of a Baptist minister, a very fine, intelligent woman, and the daughter of another Baptist minister, also a very worthy person. Our meetings still continue.
S. B. WHITNEY.
Pulaski.
Nov. 10 and 11, we held meetings at Pulaski, to organize a church and hold a meeting of the Tract Society. There was a general gathering of the brethren and sisters; and a church of thirty-one members was organized. Bro. E. C. Hoxie was chosen leader. This church is composed of some excellent material, and ought to be a strong, growing church. It takes the name of the Pulaski church.
We held an interesting tract meeting. Eight hundred Annuals were taken, and six new members joined the society.
A. H. HALL.
M. H. BROWN.
ILLINOIS
By G. W. Colcord
Rockford, Nov. 22.
I am endeavoring to “hold the fort” at Rockford. When I think of what is needed elsewhere, I can scarcely rest content; but, as Bro. Andrews was compelled to leave, I regarded it duty to remain for a season. Be patient, brethren and sisters; I hope soon to be out in the broad field of Illinois again; and then, passing from church to church, I shall try hard to benefit you. I ask your earnest prayers. Till I see you, will you sleep? I trust you will not.
Last Sabbath we baptized two. Last Sunday evening I reviewed Eld. Waldo, Disciple. I spoke in his desk. Subject: “The Lord’s Day.” I had freedom. I hope good was done. All, so far, hold on to the truth, unless we except two or three, who scarcely started early in the work here.
The foreman of the Rockford watch factory is firm. He strictly pays a tithe of all his earnings, and the Lord blesses him. The other day he sold a picture (which he painted on first-days) for $30. Another member, a poor man, has adopted the strict tithing system; he is blessed. Last week he earned more than he has any week before since we came to Rockford. Brethren, it pays to be faithful. Try it, one and all, anew, here in Illinois.
I am of good courage in the Lord, as I realize how the Lord blesses us. The Baptist church allows us the use of one of their assembly rooms. It is ample for us. We have it free. God is good.
G. W. COLCORD.
WISCONSIN
Plainfield.
Our meetings with this church closed Nov. 18. The members are very much scattered, and some not having the interest in the work which they should have, the attendance was rather small. The meetings were very encouraging, and those who did not attend lost a means of grace which they very much needed. Steps were taken to fit up a place in which to hold meetings. Two were baptized, and one was added to the church. H. W. Decker.
Eagle Corners and Sand Prairie.
I have been holding meetings at Eagle Corners for four weeks. Spoke twenty-four times, and had good congregations when the weather was fair. Eld. Pucket preached three sermons against the law and the Sabbath, which I reviewed with excellent effect on the minds of the people. Four decided to keep the Sabbath. I obtained two subscribers for the REVIEW, and sold two and a half dollars' worth of books. I also spoke five times in the church at Sand Prairie, where eight or nine made a start in the service of God. Four of them were baptized, and others will be soon. I. Sanborn.