Report from Rhode Island.
By J. S. Miller
By request of Bro. Rodman and Howard I send the following brief report of the progress of the cause in this quarter. Bro. L. L. Howard arrived at Ashaway on Tuesday night, Feb. 5, and on the following day formed an acquaintance with most of the brethren in this place. On Wednesday evening we had a social meeting at the house of Bro. B. F. Carpenter. Bro. Rodman, who had previously been sent for, was also present. Bro. Howard spoke at some length on the law, and the relation God's people sustained to it, and was followed by Bro. Rodman and the rest of the brethren and sisters present, all of whom took part. Unanimity of sentiment prevailed, and we felt refreshed. On Thursday evening we repaired to Academy Hall, where we listened to a lecture on the subject of “Spiritualism vs. Materialism,” by S. S. Griswold, pastor of a Seventh-day Baptist church some three miles from here. Mr. Griswold takes extreme Spiritualistic ground, and has many sympathizers in this region. Although the Adventists here are few in number, our influence is being felt, and in anticipation of the visit of Bro. Howard, the people had engaged Mr. Griswold to open the hall for us in advance. Mr. Griswold is an able speaker, and has the ability to handle his subject and the sympathies of his audience at will. We took notes to that extent that at the close we had all the leading arguments in Mr. G.'s own words. Bro. Howard and myself spent most of sixth-day transcribing and preparing our notes. On Sabbath evening we all attended meeting at the Seventh-day Baptist church at this place. The pastor being absent, Bro. Howard was invited to preach, and he spoke about an hour from 2 Tim. iv, 7, 8. The crown of righteousness was faithfully held up before those present, and even those who did not fully believe in the personal advent of Christ, could not resist the influence that seemed to pervade the meeting. On Sabbath morning we attended the funeral of one of the oldest inhabitants of the place. On this occasion Eld. G. B. Utter, Editor of the Sabbath Recorder, gave us a discourse on the personal coming of Christ, which, in the main, was to the point and according to the Word; but in the close, he unwittingly spoiled his own arguments by asserting that Bro. L. (the deceased) lived on while his body was dead. On Sabbath afternoon Bro. Howard preached in Academy Hall to an attentive audience, on the atonement. A good interest was manifested, and a new vein of thought was evidently opened to many of them. Evening after the Sabbath the brethren met at the house of Bro. Rodman, where we had a heart-searching time. All seemed determined to consecrate themselves anew to the work. First-day afternoon Bro. Howard spoke in Academy Hall to a fair audience, on the literal fulfillment of prophecy, and again in the evening, on the “Nature and Destiny of Man.” This lecture called out some opposition. On Monday evening Bro. H. spoke on the resurrection. This called out still more opposition, as it began to display the fallacy of Mr. Griswold's theory. Tuesday evening Mr. Griswold was reviewed, and on this occasion the opposition rose to a high pitch, and an effort was necessary to restrain the excitement within proper limits. Anger, almost amounting to fierceness, took possession of some of Mr. G.'s disciples, and on Wednesday evening Mr. G. himself was present. This evening Bro. Howard spoke on the subject of “Life through Christ,” to which Mr. Griswold briefly replied. In closing his remarks, Mr. G. stated that he would be happy to discuss the question publicly. Bro. Howard was not prepared to accept the challenge, since he was here under instructions to visit Rhode Island and Connecticut churches. He will do so if Bro. Andrews thinks proper when he comes. On Thursday evening, Feb. 14, the brethren and sisters met for prayer and conference, and had a very happy season. Bro. Howard and Rodman thought proper to invite me to accompany them on their tour among the churches, and on Friday, the 15th, we left Ashaway for South Kingston. South Kingston, R. I., Feb. 15, 1867.