REPORT FROM BRO. WHITNEY.
By S. B. Whitney
At my last writing, I had just commenced a course of lectures at Philadelphia, Jeff. Co., N. Y. Our labors in that place have not accomplished as much as we could wish, but we cannot now see how we could have done better at this season of the year, so far as this place is concerned. We followed the best light we had in going there, and the way seemed to open very prosperously; but a number of things transpired to hinder our success. We found the representatives of no less than ten classes of religionists, aside from skeptics and ordinary non-professors, embracing most of the leading denominations, Unionists, Disciples, Quakers, Universalists, and Spiritualists; and but very little hospitality among any of them, as we were there between seven and eight weeks and received, during the whole time, but few invitations to dine, and but one invitation out to lodge, and that from a Baptist preacher eighty years of age; and when we supposed we must leave our room at the hotel, we looked in vain for a place of entertainment, even for pay, among those who had been the most constant attendants at the meetings. Yet there were a few who would gladly have entertained us, could they have done so. Our congregations were unsteady from the first, but as long as there were any to hear, and especially those who were interested, we did not feel free to leave them. We met with but little opposition, but that of the most effective nature, working underhandedly, and in some cases even manifesting friendship to our faces, while secretly opposed to us. But we labored on as faithfully as we knew how, canvassing the village several times and circulating tracts freely among the people. Bro. Taylor joined us when we had been in operation three weeks, and continued with us most of the time. Bro. Rhodes remained till within two weeks of the close of the meeting. I trust my experience with this dear brother will be profitable to me. We would express our gratitude to those brethren who so kindly supplied our wants. We hired a room at the hotel, and boarded ourselves with food provided mostly by the brethren at Adams Center, Buck's Bridge, and Norfolk. May the Lord reward them. Returned home the 3d inst., to find a few day's rest, which I very much need. We left six keeping the Sabbath, and obtained three subscribers for the REVIEW. S. B. WHITNEY.