REPORT FROM BRO. BLANCHARD
By H. C. Blanchard
PURSUANT to appointment, I met with the church at Gridley, McLean Co., Ill., Nov. 13. Owing to a mistake in giving out my appointment for the evening, two meetings were given out for me some four miles apart. Some came to both places, but, of course, I could attend but one of the meetings. Held six meetings with them; spoke five times. Found the church in a lukewarm state. Oh! how painful to the minister to find the church in such a condition! When I arose to preach, the evening after the Sabbath, I was so burdened and distressed because of the coldness and backwardness on the part of the church, I could but say that I was distressed because of the condition of things. I felt like weeping aloud, and saying, “Oh! that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people.” See Jer. ix, 1. I told the friends I did not know what to say, as my mind was shut, and no subject presented itself to me to speak from; and that the language of my heart was, “O Lord, revive thy work,” which reminded me that the prophet Habakkuk used these words in his prophecy, iii, 2, from which I spoke with freedom. The melting, confessing Spirit of the Lord came in among us, and after I had concluded, humble and confessing testimonies were borne, and penitential tears were seen to flow freely. This is the way to have the mercy of the Lord secured to us. “Whoso confesseth and FORSAKETH [his sins] shall have mercy.” See Prov. xxviii, 13. Oh! may there be a coming up in the ranks of this church, is my prayer. I remained with them until Tuesday, the 17th, when I started for my appointment in Woodburn, Macoupin Co., Ill. The weather was cold and stormy. Bro. Slown went with me four miles to Lexington, to help me carry my baggage. We chose to go on foot, as it would be much warmer. I arrived in Shipman at 7 o'clock in the evening. Owing to a slight mistake in the notice, as given in the Review, Bro. Penniman did not meet me as I expected; so I stopped at a German hotel for the night, and on the 18th walked seven miles to his house, where I found kind friends who welcomed me. Bro. P. had secured the Methodist meeting-house to commence our meetings in. At 6 o'clock, three bells were ringing for meetings. We have had twenty-one meetings in Woodburn. Continued our meetings in the M. E. church until the 27th, when a minority of the members turned us out. But the Lord brought good out of it, for it opened the eyes of some. The Disciples immediately offered their house as long as we wanted it, so our meetings were not interrupted. The Methodists assigned us as a reason for turning us out that we were not preaching their doctrine; that it was not orthodox. But I will not be ungrateful for the use of their house for ten evenings; albeit they will allow me to remind them that they had the use of one of our houses for some four months. The interest has been slowly increasing. I have presented the signs of the times embracing some eight or nine chains of prophecy reaching to the coming of the Lord. I have also presented the claims of the Sabbath, and some are already keeping it. Others are almost persuaded to keep it. I shall labor on here for some time yet, trusting in the Lord. Pray for me. H. C. BLANCHARD. Woodburn, Ill., Dec. 8, 1868.