DEERFIELD QUARTERLY MEETING.
By E. W. Darling
The Deerfield Quarterly Meeting Feb. 27, and 28, was a season of interest and profit to the church. A small attendance was expected on account of the severe storm just preceding the meeting; but in this we were as happily disappointed, as we were also surprised to meet with Elders Pierce and Ingraham. Sabbath morning Elder Ingraham spoke to us on the subject of the night watches. As he brought forth out of the storehouse things new and old, we listened with interest to learn the meaning of the scriptures, the application of prophecy, and our position in the third watch. He brought to our minds the solemn changes that the fourth or morning watch would bring; that as the children of Israel were brought through the sea safe to the shore, so will deliverance come to God's people, and they will sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. And as the Lord in the morning watch looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians; so will the morning watch of time's dreary night prove a time of trouble and destruction from the Lord unto the hosts of the wicked. Sabbath afternoon Elder Pierce gave a discourse in which he laid before us the importance of striving to enter in at the straight gate, lest we soon be among the many ineffectual seekers who come after the Master has shut to the door. Evening after the Sabbath Eld. Ingraham gave us a very touching sermon on the sufferings of Christ and his victories, exhorting us to arm ourselves with the same mind, that we may be able to stand the severe tests of the last days. First-day morning we had a social meeting; and after a business session, Eld. Ingraham gave a discourse in which he explained why we claimed more light on prophecy than was manifest in past ages. Quite a number that came in to hear listened with good interest. —At this meeting two things were obvious, first, that there was a growing spirit of unity and kindly feeling, and second, that those who had been the most prominent and had drunk the deepest of the bitter spirit of contention in Minnesota now stand on very difficult and dangerous ground; one already out of the church, another desiring to be, and still another where he must soon stand outside, and also beyond hope of help from the church. While the hopeful condition of the many is encouraging to the church and the messengers, the sad condition of the few is a solemn warning to all who may be tainted with the same spirit. E. W. DARLING.