REPORT FROM MAINE by John Harvey Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 23, 1869

REPORT FROM MAINE.

By John Harvey Waggoner

When I came North, I intended to cease from labor for a time; but up to this time I have yielded to circumstances, and continued at work. Sabbath, Feb. 13, I spent at Norridgewock. There I found an unfortunate state of things that required attention. All was done that could then be done to relieve the church, and I deeply regret that duty arising out of it has been left undone. A prompt discharge of duty often saves much labor and trouble, as well as reproach to the cause.

Sunday morning, with Bro. Barker, I went to Canaan, as I was anxious to see Bro. Stratton. In the afternoon I spoke to a very attentive congregation, and gave another appointment for Monday evening; but the severity of the storm prevented the meeting. Thence I visited Bro. Goodrich at his home. Found him of good courage, though he had been laboring in a hard, unpromising place. The influence of one professed Sabbath-keeper in whom people have not confidence, is worse to meet than all the open opposition the enemy can bring. By my advice, Bro. G. held on against all discouragements, as he could not at that time go far from home, and I thought he needed the experience, which he could get there as well as in any other place. I trust he is laying a foundation for future usefulness in the cause. I also visited Bro. Barnes at his home. He had labored to good purpose at Passadumkeag, but had returned home, as both he and Sr. Barnes were taken sick. I regret that his labor was cut off thus, as I hoped he might be able to continue longer at P.

Continued visiting and writing till the 21st, when I returned to Canaan, expecting to hear Eld. Wheeler preach on the non-resurrection of the wicked. One who was formerly a member of the Seventh-day Adventist church, has imbibed the non-resurrection theory, and had an appointment given out there for Eld. Wheeler, who is a First-day Adventist and non-resurrectionist. But, much to my disappointment, Eld. Wheeler did not come. I was invited to preach, and, to lessen the disappointment as much as I could, I spoke on the resurrection of the wicked. I also gave one discourse there on the subject of the Sabbath, and attended the ordinances with the church.

Made an appointment to meet with Bro. Goodrich at Norridgewock the next Sabbath. Went there on sixth day, and attended prayer-meeting Sabbath evening. That night we had the most tedious storm of this winter. Sabbath morning the roads were impassable, and there was no meeting. Bro. Goodrich had an appointment for next day at Canaan, and I had appointments through the week at Cornville; and the roads having been broken in the afternoon, the wind still blowing, we thought the safest course was to go to Skowhegan in the evening after the Sabbath, while the roads were newly opened. But we found one “district,” perhaps three-fourths of a mile, in which the road had not been opened. About twenty inches of new snow lay in the track, sometimes piled up in drifts, and we had to pick our way on the old track, and also break the snow so that the horse could get through. To step off the track was like jumping off a bridge, the snow being so very deep.

March 1 was the coldest morning of the winter, the thermometer standing 80° below zero—about six lower than the coldest of last winter. This was at Skowhegan; it reached lower in some other places. The evening of that day I went to Cornville, where I spoke three times in Bro. Baker’s neighborhood; once on the Justice and Mercy of God, once on Spiritualism as described in the Bible, and once on Spiritualism as set forth in their own writings. On the second day they brought Mr. Trask, a trance lecturer, and formerly a F. W. Baptist preacher. At the close, opportunity being given, he tried to cast an influence against the Bible, but did not assail my argument in any particular. I had distinctly informed them that I did not attempt on that night to defend the Bible, that being the object of the previous discourse, but to show what the Bible said about Spiritualism. His effort was according to their usual course, denouncing the Bible and the God of the Bible, and defying Nature, but not very successful in blinding any who were not already too blind to appreciate a reason. I then appointed to show what Spiritualists said of Spiritualism, the next evening, and gave a special invitation to Spiritualists to come and hear. But very few attended—of the prominent ones, not one. Spiritualism is becoming very popular in this county, and is having a great run in Cornville.

The Monthly Meeting at Cornville was held Sabbath and first-day, 6th and 7th, one week earlier than given in the REVIEW. The change was made at my request, as I was urged to attend, and did not wish to wait here for it. But few were out, it being next to impossible to get there. Sabbath evening, just as the meeting closed, two sisters from Athens came in, exhausted by wading through the snow, having left their husbands behind to get the horse through! They had traveled four miles of the route on an unbroken road, the wind having blown fiercely the night before. One brother and sister started, and went one mile and a half, and in that distance upset once, and got the horse down three times, and then returned home. Such being the circumstances, it was decided to hold no more Monthly Meetings in this part of the State till the snow leave, as it is not safe to try to travel now, and when the snow softens it will be impossible to travel. Yet our meeting was a profitable one, and no one who was there, seemed to regret the effort they had made.

The snow is unusually deep; all with whom I have conversed say they never before saw so much in Maine. I have been anxious to go to Jay, but as the roads now are, thought I should have to go by railroad, which is much further. Last night I received a letter from Bro. Bryant, in which he says: “As the weather has been for three weeks past, you could hardly get here on the cars; we have had only three mails for three weeks, until within a few days past.” As we may reasonably look for much wind this month, and the snow constantly drifts, it will be quite useless to give appointments for meetings. And it is not safe to go out with horses nights, on account of the danger in passing teams. As soon as I can attend to some few matters which must be looked after, I shall go to the southern part of the State, where the snow is not so deep.

Last week I had another sick spell, similar to the attack I suffered in January. To resist the urgent calls, where so much is to be done, a temperament differing from mine is needed. After attending a meeting at Falmouth, if my health continues as for some time past, I shall think it duty to leave the State. I should deeply regret the necessity for this, were it not that the prospect for meetings is unfavorable for some time to come. May the Lord direct.

J. H. WAGGONER. Skowhegan, Me., March 8, 1869,