QUARTERLY MEETINGS IN MINNESOTA.
By Stephen Pierce
As it was rainy and bad going on the 15th of February, I did not expect much interest in our meeting at Greenwood Prairie on the 16th and 17th. But Sabbath morn it cleared up and the brethren began to come in, some from the Orinoco church, six miles distant; and though our numbers were not great, we thought that the Lord's Spirit was in some measure vouchsafed to us, that we might worship in spirit as well as in truth. During the Sabbath, I gave two discourses. The evening after, we had the ordinances. First-day, the church held a harmonious business meeting; and I gave them two discourses with still more freedom than upon the day before. This little church is young in experience, but seems to be moving along in the best light that it has received. The two following appointments at Orinoco and Cherry Grove were by Bro. Ingraham merged into one at Pine Island, a location between the two, for the benefit of those there who had heard a course of lectures from Bro. I. last summer. But as Bro. H. F. Phelps has already made a good report of this meeting, nothing further is necessary. March 9 and 10, attended the meetings at Deerfield; and knowing something of the state of things in this church, I felt in two discourses out of four, such a spirit of labor and weeping as I have not usually experienced. We think the blessing of the Lord was there to convince of wrongs and of the necessity of righting them. And some who by error or neglect had brought injury to the cause, seemed to manifest a willingness to have their cases examined by good, judicious brethren and then to adjust matters as fast as practicable. Others on second-day came together, talked over and explained some of their difficulties in a manner that both parties seemed to be in a measure relieved. I trust also that these have come to the conclusion that in all that they have done wrong, they will make things right. Attended the appointment March 16 and 17, at Bass Lake; but such a cold and fever had attacked me by riding two days in the severest cold that I was unfit to discharge the duties devolving upon me. I however269gave them two discourses on the Sabbath, and one on first-day to an audience that seemed interested to hear, although circumstances connected with the speaker were all unfavorable. The brethren there, I believe, are generally young in the truth, except our Bro. Kunselman from Michigan. But I believe the dear brethren there mean to persevere unto the end. The appointment at Brush Creek the week following, I was hindered from attending by sickness.