Report from Bro. Taylor.
By C. O. Taylor
JAN. 6, spoke to the church at Adams' Center, from the words of Amos iv, 12. "Prepare to meet thy God O Israel." The 7th, attended to business with the church. The 13th, was at Mannsville. This was the time for the Monthly Meeting for this county, but we put it over one week, to have the labor of Bro. Whitney, and permit all the church to be present. The 20th, we met at the same place. The good Spirit came to our help, and good testimonies were given. On first-day, the storm was so great that we were not able to get to the meeting-house. Yet the Lord did not forget us, but worked for us in our scattered condition, at the homes of the different brethren, where we were stopping for the night; and I am inclined to think that as much good was done as though we had been at the public place of worship; for the sinner, the wanderer, and the saint, were strengthened in the way of the Lord. From the 26th to the 30th, I was in the town of Granby, Os. Co., where Bro. Whitney a month before had given lectures, in a new field. I found two families keeping the Sabbath, and the Review taken by four or five. I endeavored to strengthen those who had taken their stand on the side of truth, and to enlighten others. The congregation gave good attention. We hope that they will yet obey the truth. Jan. 31, in company with Mrs. T., Bro. and sister Goodwin, and Bro. Cross from Enosburg, Vt., we went on to Roosevelt to attend the Monthly Meeting for that county. We often found our hearts saying, and at times would say to each other, that we should have a good meeting. A few met on the evening of the Sabbath and offered prayer to God. We were encouraged. Sabbath morning it was snowing and blowing quite hard, and when we commenced our public meeting, we numbered, including myself, twelve, and we could not see how our hopes could be realized as far as number was concerned. But the brethren began to come and kept coming, till we numbered some forty, and as they came in all snow and cold, my heart was drawn out in love for them, for the love and zeal they had for the truth. The storm continued two days, and when they would return home they could not. We continued the meeting four days. The good Spirit commenced to work for us at the first, and continued till it closed. The hand of God was seen in this meeting in permitting the storm, which prevented the brethren from getting away. Many of our public gatherings would be profitable, but for the scattering influence that comes in, by the brethren leaving at the close of the Sabbath or first-day. They make their arrangements to stay just so long, whether the Lord or his cause wants them to stay longer or not; and with the most of our churches, it takes about two days to get waked up, so that they can begin to work, and as they begin to be interested and take hold, and the interest begins to rise, the meeting must close. But at this time they had to stay, and I attributed this good meeting to that fact. God has been waiting to work for this people, for all this church. It would be greatly to the honor of his cause, if we would put ourselves where he could give us more of his salvation. The result of our keeping under the truth and spirit on account of the storm, was, the church was greatly strengthened, and some four or five gave their hearts to God, and their hands to his people to go with them to the kingdom. I am confident that the time has come when we must be more ready to give up to the great work to which we are called, and get ourselves ready for the coming of the Lord, give this truth a larger place in our hearts, get away from this lukewarmness, get more life and power, feel that we are more dead, and that our life is hid with Christ in God. We want, and must have, more of the gold, white raiment, and eye salve. We need an advance step in devotion, and spirituality. The 10th and 11th of Feb., I was with the church at Adams' Center, which was the Monthly Meeting for Jeff. Co. The Lord worked for us. The church took an advance step for holiness, and had not the Spirit been crushed, the work would have been more lasting and deep. Some for a time, not seeing the way the Lord was going to humble and deepen the134work in this people's hearts, rose up in their own minds against, and did not run with the Spirit, and before that could be counteracted, fully, and the Spirit brought to our aid, our two days were up and the meeting closed, and those that needed help the most, had gone home, as is generally the case. Yet I can say with Bro. G. it was the most profitable meeting we ever had. I think the effect will be seen after many days. The 14th, in company with Bro. and sister Brown, (with his team) sister Lawton and Mrs T., I left home to fill my appointment at Brookfield, the 17th and 18th, distance, 100 miles. We stopped the first night at Bro. Tuttle's. While here, the wind changed, and it snowed and blowed the next day, so that it was imprudent for man or beast to be out. The Lord blessed our meeting with this family, we had sweet seasons around the family altar, and talking, and singing. By being delayed one day, we were obliged to disappoint the church at B., and the next best we could do, was to surprise the church at Roosevelt, which we did by driving 40 miles on the 16th. On our way, we called on Bro. Robinson, and there he was stirred up to follow us to R., 25 miles. We found them still under the influence of the last Monthly Meeting. They had continued the meetings every evening, with two or three exceptions. A good work is going on. Old wrongs of various kinds, that have had a scattering influence, are being taken out by the roots not by long church trials, keeping us up all or half of the night, but by the Spirit and word coming to our aid, and showing each one his fault, and then leading such to confess, and resolve to forsake. Parents confessing to the children, children to parents, and brother to brother. The interest out side of the church is rising some. I copy a few lines written to Mrs. T., since we left. "How often I look back to that meeting with feelings of pleasure, and feel to thank God for the good work which was then wrought for us as a church, and also as individuals. The sweet peace, and the even frame of mind I have enjoyed since then I had been a stranger to for months before."