OUR MEETING ON THE FOURTH.
According to appointment in last week's Review, the church in this place observed Thursday, the 4th inst., as a day of fasting and prayer. We felt it good thus to do for two reasons: 1. It seemed proper that, at a time when the people of the world were devoting themselves to hilarity and glee, those whose minds have been enlightened by a knowledge of the prophetic word, and who behold the scenes of trouble that are impending, as precursors of the revelation of the Lord from Heaven, should give themselves to a contemplation of these great truths, sobriety, searching of heart, and an effort to make some advancement in the work of preparation for the scenes before us. 2. We felt it good to give outward expression of the sympathy we feel for our brethren in various circumstances in all parts of the field. A spirit of prayer was given for our brethren in Minnesota in this their special time of need, also for the lonely ones scattered here and there throughout the wide field, that their faith fail not, that they be not swallowed up by the opposition around them, but that they may be able to stand as pillars amidst the surging tide of evil in these last days, and let the powerful influence of a consistent Christian life tell on hearts around them; and we were thankful that “Though sundered far, we all could meet,
Around one common mercy-seat.” Services were held in our house of worship from eleven A. M., to two, P. M. There were not so many present, as we should have been glad to see. Some thought they could not afford to lose the time. Such may be in need of a kind of experience which has fallen to the lot of not a few, showing that whatever is given in sacrifice to God, is not lost; and that there is “a withholding which tendeth to poverty.” Bro. Loughborough occupied a portion of time examining some scriptures which set forth our duty upon such occasions, and showing that no fast can be acceptable to God, in which we seek our own pleasure, or exact all our labors, Isa. lviii, 3; but when we reach a position where all our service, our fasts as well as other things, are acceptable to him, then, according to the promise, our health shall spring forth speedily, we shall call and God will answer, and say, Here I am; and he will guide us continually, and satisfy us in drouth; and we shall be like a watered garden whose waters fail not. A number of testimonies were then borne, and the meeting closed with a general season of prayer on the part of the church, in which many fervent petitions were offered up in behalf of the objects before us. We felt the refreshing approbation of God upon our meeting; and at the same time, as if in verification of the promise, “While they are yet speaking I will hear,” a copious yet gentle shower fell without, to revive and refresh the drooping face of nature, which was beginning to suffer from long-continued drouth. On Sabbath, the 6th inst., the church enjoyed an interesting and encouraging scene of baptism. Bro. Loughborough administered the ordinance to five patients from the Health Institute. One of these had been waiting a number of years to receive baptism and become a member of a neighboring church, but the state of her health had been such that she had not been able to take this step in the path of duty. Since coming to the Institute her health has so far improved that she was able to accomplish the desire of her heart, and receive the ordinance, joyful in the Lord. To him be the praise. The other four joined the church in this place, and will receive letters when their stay at the Institute is accomplished, and they return to their homes. We believe the Lord is working for his people. What powerful agencies, hidden from our mortal sight, he even now has at work in behalf of his truth, we know not; but we feel confident that his cause will ere long see a wider sphere of action, and better days.