Report of Meetings in Licking Co., Ohio.
By I. D. VAN HORN
BRO. LAWRENCE commenced meetings at the little town of Appleton, Wednesday, Dec. 26th, for the purpose of giving a full course of lectures. I joined him about three weeks afterward. Bro. Crous, who lives here, gave us a hearty welcome to his hospitable home while we were engaged in the meeting. He had previously made arrangements with the trustees and the resident minister of the Christian denomination for the use of their house of worship, which they cheerfully granted to us. Bro. Crous offered to hire the house of them for two months, but they said, “No, you can have it free as long as you want it except at the time of our regular appointments.” Under these considerations Bro. L. commenced opening the light of present truth to the people. He had not gone far when the interest to hear the word of life began to manifest itself, and the shepherds of their respective flocks began to fear lest some of them should stray from their folds and accept the truth. They went about warning the people of their danger, as they supposed, if they continued to attend the meeting. Their work in this way was not effectual enough, so they repented of their liberal offer to us in the beginning and put in an appointment for a protracted meeting ahead of us. Their meeting continued for a week and then closed for want of help to carry it on. This showed that their effort was only a design, as most of the people believe, to shut us out140of their house. We are more than ever convinced that, in these last days, it is unsafe to put confidence in what men say even though they make a profession of religion. After their house was closed against us, we went to a school house some two miles away where we continued our meetings, but the interest was very much reduced on the account of its being inconvenient for the most of our former congregation to attend. Soon after we moved to the school house, Bro. Lawrence received news that his wife was very sick, and he started immediately for home. I tried to carry on the meeting as best I could up to the 10th inst. Some eight or ten have taken hold of the truth, and there are others much interested. With Bro. Crous, who is a tried friend of the cause, to lead them, I feel assured that there will be some that will remain firm. I shall visit them again before leaving the State, if the Lord wills, when I hope to help them on further in the truth. They took quite freely of our publications, which shows they have a mind to investigate, which if they will do, their minds will become enlightened in the word of truth as they have never experienced before. Dear friends in Appleton, you who have become interested in the things you have heard, still continue to seek for light and truth, that you may see your duty clear, and that by doing the same you may be saved. Do not think the road to the heavenly city is all the way strown with flowers. You will have many difficulties to encounter, but through the grace of God you can overcome. Live just as well as you can every day, and continue to ask God to make you better. May his blessing rest upon you all. Mansfield, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1867.