The Fast in Mannsville, N. Y.
By Abel Tuttle
Bro. White: For fear that no one else will take it upon them to say a word in regard to the protracted meeting of the four days' fasting, prayer and humiliation, I thought I would try to write a few lines, as I feel that the season was too signally blest of God not to be publicly acknowledged. And first, we were glad the servants of God gave the appointment. We felt it as from the Lord. And second, we were glad as an individual member, and I trust I can say as a church to engage in it. We had just been deeply afflicted by the loss of our much-esteemed deacon, Bro. Wm. H. Brigham, by a shocking accident as appeared in his obituary by Bro. Taylor. But I am happy to say that God, by his Holy Spirit, was with us from the beginning to own and bless. The church came out rather sparingly the first day, but God's manifest presence with us carried back a good report, and our number and interest increased to the end, when the Adams' Center church met with us and we had a heavenly sitting together and were mutually blessed while listening to the fervent prayers and warm exhortations, and a little appropriate singing. We felt the best evidence that God was owning and blessing the effort. We all felt that the precious cause for which we were willing to suffer would commence to arise from this time, and the Lord would raise up his servants to that degree that they would be able to perform all his righteous will, while we as individuals feel like letting our light shine out through our works. We feel the rebuke of the faithful and true Witness upon us as never before. We mean to heed it. We want its fruits, we want to be filled with all the fulness of Christ; nothing short will do, it is now or never, we feel. O ye doubtful, fearful ones; how long, think you, ye can halt between two opinions? Get up and out of the way before God moves you out of the way in wrath. The message is going. It will gather the honest. If you are not of them, do not deceive yourselves, and finally be found without the wedding garment on. In conclusion I would say, Bro. C. O. Taylor was not with us, being gone on a tour in the north part of the State, and Bro. A. C. Bourdeau, whom we expected in turn, had other engagements. Yours in love of the truth. Abel Tuttle.