EASTERN TOUR by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 1, 1868

EASTERN TOUR.

By James White

Our visit to Connecticut was one of considerable interest, notwithstanding the low state of the cause and the extreme feebleness of Sr. Belden had a depressing influence upon us. Our testimony was received, and there seemed to be manifested something of the spirit of revival. We left for Norridgewock, Me., Wednesday, the 11th, and stopped at the American House, Boston. Mrs. W. was very weary, and in much suffering. I called for a good room, and enjoyed it, but had a liberal bill to pay in the morning.

Refreshed with sleep, we enjoyed our simple breakfast, and hastened to the train for Portland. Mrs. W. was afflicted. Constant labor, traveling, and writing every spare moment, to which add the anxiety of nearly a week with a very feeble sister, had brought her to a condition of great suffering. We made the best of our condition. We visited with fellow travelers the best we could, sympathized with an almost helpless, feeble lady, who had to be carried into, and out of, the cars, and found relief in trying to instruct and encourage her. Mrs. W. entered heartily into this work, and seemed to get better. At Skowhegan, we met Bro. Waggoner at the car door, with hand extended to take our hand-baggage, and assist us to the good home of Bro. and Sr. A. B. Atwood. The next morning, Nov. 13, we and our baggage were taken to Norridgewock in a sleigh. We were sorry to find that our appointments had reached the State but a few hours before us, and the prospect was that our meeting must be small.

Sabbath morning, our congregation was not small, though there were but few from abroad, because of the limited time of the appointment. Our meeting on the Sabbath was excellent. Mrs. W. spoke in the afternoon with great power. With many, real advance for the past year, is evident, and with all there is a readiness to receive our testimony. May God help us to speak to the honor of his name and to the good of his people. The word of truth is taking hold of the minds and the feelings of the people, and we cannot feel free to leave the State without meeting the brethren generally in the State. We therefore decide to remain at Norridgewock another week, and send out the appointment throughout the State by letter, hoping for a general rally the 20–23. We put off the Portland meeting one week, and the Rhode Island meeting two weeks.

We have never felt the necessity for good and timely arrangements of appointments as on this tour. In going from State to State, appointments should be out at least four weeks in advance. It is true that they cannot always be made to best advantage far in the future; but the disadvantages of such arrangements cannot be a tithe to those we labor under at this time.

Bro. Waggoner's labors are appreciated by the brethren in this State; and the prospect is encouraging for a better state of things. I think there has been as much real advance in this State the past year as in any other. The greatest lack is in the ministers in the State who say that Maine is a hard field. This is true of the past, as Elders Loughborough, Cornell, Andrews, Canright, and others, can testify; but the principal reason of its being a hard field of labor is the inefficiency and lack of disposition and courage to take hold of the work with those sent by the General Conference to labor in the State. There has been, however, an advance in this State on the part of the ministers, somewhat in proportion to the improvement on the part of the brethren generally. When the ministers come up to the work, Maine will be as good a field of labor as any other. JAMES WHITE.

South Norridgewock, Me., Nov. 17, 1868.