Quarterly Meeting at Orleans
By Elbridge G. Rust
Bro. White: I attended the late Quarterly Meeting at Orleans, and gaining a blessing from the Lord there, concluded to tell your readers something about the meeting. Those who had arrived Sabbath evening, met together and held a profitable meeting, at which time quite a goodly number of the world's people were in. We arrived, together with most of our brethren from the different churches, on Sabbath morning in time for the morning meeting, at which time the Lord did not fail to verify his promise to us. Sabbath afternoon we had a most excellent meeting, the Spirit of the Lord pervading the good testimonies of our brethren and sisters, and we believe nearly all sensibly felt the presence of the Lord in our midst. But the evening meeting, after the Sabbath, seemed to be the best of all, although many of the brethren had returned home. This evening the Lord met with us and set us free, and we had a profitable meeting to all our souls. About fifty of the neighbors were in this evening, and seemed to enjoy the meeting. Sunday morning, again we met for the last time for worship. On account of there being no preacher present, but few were in excepting our own people. But we had a good meeting, and parted, feeling that the Lord had met with us, and blessed and strengthened us. Many expressed disappointment because no messenger had arrived, and the ordinances were consequently postponed. Brethren were present from the churches of Fairplains, Westplains, Orange, Vergennes and Bushnell. Elders King, Maynard, Howe and Van Deusen alternately conducted the services. It was thought that upward of eighty Sabbath-keepers were present. The brethren at Orleans have a very neat house of worship, which they have lately finished. On the whole this was a good and profitable meeting to all, we trust, and if such meetings were held oftener without leaning so much upon the servants of the Lord to do the work, we would soon get into better working order ourselves, and learn to trust more in him who hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father. May the Lord bless and strengthen his remnant people, and help them to get on the whole armor of God. Winfield, Montcalm Co., Mich.