Untitled article by C. O. TAYLOR

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, March 3, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 12

LABORS IN N. Y.

By C. O. TAYLOR

My labors for the last four months have been in Jefferson and Oswego counties. Quite a spirit of revival has followed our State Conference, and Bro. White's appointments, which I have endeavored to follow up. We have had some very interesting and profitable meetings. The churches have been encouraged. Individual members have taken good advance steps in the work. Backsliders have been reclaimed, and sinners converted. We have been much hindered by bad weather, so that the Monthly Meetings, where we expected to do a large amount of good, have proved nearly failures. I was at the Monthly Meeting for Oswego Co., the first Sabbath in this month. Several were forward for prayers. Three or four gave good evidence of conversion. One was the teacher in that district. This case is very promising for future good, if she will be a Bible Christian.

We had seasons of prayer for Bro. Goodwin, which were very encouraging. The Lord gave good evidence of his willingness to hear prayer. At our second season, the Spirit did not lead us at first. On inquiring the cause, we found some things in the way. At our third season of prayer, we became satisfied that the Lord would have some things different in the family, and that if all moved in his order, he would do a greater work than we at first expected. He would not only bring Bro. G. from the dark place where he has been for the last 15 months, but would take from him and others the spirit so common, “You must think and act as I do, or I have no fellowship with you.” It is a spirit the opposite of love, compassion and mercy. It drives one to the Lord, if they get there at all, by hard arguments, hard words, bordering some on the stoning system, instead of warning by plain pointed testimonies and entreaty, often wet down by tears, and a deep sense and feeling that the person will be ruined and lost forever if he does not change his course of conduct. The right feeling is expressed in the life of our divine Lord as recorded in Matt. xxiii, 37, compassion, pity, tender, loving, forgiving, such as our Heavenly Father possessed when he “so loved the world as to give his Son.”

We called on Bro. Edson. Found his health poor. He has been running down for some weeks. Over-tasking body and mind, has left his system in a condition to take on colds, and set his old disease to work. Some signs of typhoid fever set in. He was confined to his bed, and quite helpless. It seemed as though the earthly toil and labor of this dear brother was almost over, and his work about done. How this may be, the Lord knoweth. And He in whom his servant trusted, will do all things right.

Since writing the above I have heard from him by

letter. He is no better. He has no regular run of the fever, yet has some; coughs hard, raises considerably, is very weak and helpless.

During this Monthly Meeting, in all our special seasons of labor and prayer, we found good help in Brn. Wheeler, Ross, Treadwell and others. These brethren came nobly to the work.

The Monthly Meeting for Jefferson county, last Sabbath, was nearly a failure, on account of a severe storm. This is the fifth day since we have had any mail. The R. R. is all blocked up. I expect to leave and visit another church as soon as the roads are opened. The Lord willing, I will be at Genoa with Bro. Whitney, at Kirkville, Brookfield, Middle Grove, Whitehall, Champlain, Bangor, Norfolk and Bucks Bridge. Shall be from home, two or three months. My address as ever will be Adams Center, Jefferson Co., N. Y. I will let the friends know by letter when I will be at the places named. We hope to have the help of all the churches where we shall labor. We shall labor to build up the church in the light and truth of the third angel's message, and to gather in others. The day of the Lord is at hand.

C. O. TAYLOR.

Adams Center, N. Y., Feb. 1863.