REPORT FROM BRO. STERLING.
By J. G. STERLING
It is a long time since I have ventured to occupy any space in the columns of the REVIEW; but that all may know my whereabouts and what I have been, and am now, engaged in, I will say that soon after January 1, I went to Douglass, near the lake shore, and spent a few days. I found the brethren and sisters there in a discouraged condition. But some were not ready to yield the ground to Satan. The Lord answered our united prayers, and we hope Satan's purposes of turning some away from the truth they once loved, were frustrated. At least I left them in much better spirits than I found them. They were desirous that I should continue my labors among them, but I left for home that I might be present at the dedication at Otsego, and there have the privilege of being benefited through the labors of Bro. and Sr. White. Before reaching home, I learned of the postponement, and concluded to labor some about home and return to D. immediately after the Otsego meeting. As Bro. and Sr. White arranged to return and continue their labors, I concluded to remain, especially as I did not meet the brother who was to take me back. During the meeting I met Bro. Strong, who has been laboring for some weeks past near Wayland, in this county. I concluded to go with him instead of returning to D., first, because he needed assistance, and, secondly, because I thought it better for me to labor with some one, than to go alone. Suffice it to say, then, I came here, Feb. 10, since which time I have done what I could to aid in the good work. Bro. Strong of course does the principal part of the preaching. I will here add in behalf of Bro. Strong, that he has been laboring here since the middle of December. He has met with all sorts of opposition from the orthodox ministers and churches about here. Some who endorsed his sentiments while presenting the prophecies, were sternly opposed when he presented the law. A Baptist deacon who thought every one could see that Bro. Strong had the truth if they would be honest, fled the track when the law and the Sabbath were presented, and in one of his own meetings, I am told, said, “I would to God Almighty that Eld. Strong had never set foot into this school-house.” But the best of all is, God is with us. There is a company of about thirty keeping the Sabbath here now, and others that are quite favorable. The lectures having been somewhat interrupted by opposition, it will take more time to complete the work than would otherwise have been required. Among the interruptions, I may mention that a person known as “Rev. Hamilton,” a phrenological showman, was invited to preach an opposition discourse. He succeeded in getting the house from Bro. Strong. Opened his services by prayer to a being he called Father, Mother, Sister, Brother,—God. In the course of his remarks, he said that Mr. Miller preached that Jesus would come in 1844. His preaching was founded on the Bible, but proved false; but, he added, Jesus did come in 1847 through spiritual manifestations. He then poured forth such a tirade of abuse on the orthodox churches as is seldom equaled. We are now laboring principally in an adjoining town, returning occasionally to the old field. Last Sabbath, Bro. Strong spoke on the health reform, with encouraging results.