REPORT FROM BRO. LAWRENCE.
By R. J. Lawrence
My last report was from Alma, Jan. 7. I spent three days in Alma, preached twice, and held one social meeting. Some here are trying to overcome. The 12th, Bro. and Sr. Marsh, and myself, came to Edenville. Here we spent one week, helped in the settlement of a matter that resulted in the expulsion of three from the church. I preached three times, held two church-meetings, and two social meetings, and baptized seven. On Wednesday evening I spoke to the church in Jay. Thursday evening spoke to a few in Williams, that were gathered for a prayer-meeting. After meeting I consulted them concerning giving lectures in that place. They expressed an anxiety to hear. I commenced with a good congregation until Tuesday evening at their regular prayer-meeting their preacher (Methodist) was present, and began to cry, Wolf, which frightened some. He appointed to preach on Thursday evening, and took for his text the first sentence of the fourth commandment, from which he tried to make out that the seventh day of creation was the first day of the week. He made such a perfect failure as to disgust the intelligent part of his congregation. I therefore concluded not to review him. He gave notice to preach on Sunday on the coming of Christ, and took for his text, “Feed my lambs.” He stated that the business of a shepherd was to feed the sheep and lambs, and watch the dogs and wolves. He believed Christ would come, but not in two thousand years. He quoted Peter’s vision of the sheet let down, and thanked the Lord that now they could eat anything, thus making a chowder of unclean animals, and fowls, and everything, to feed his lambs with. He then quoted one or two texts to show that man was immortal. Thus ended his discourse on the second coming of Christ. I continued holding meetings here over four weeks, and some ten or twelve are keeping the Sabbath. Being obliged to return home, I came to Jay, spoke to the church on Wednesday evening; The church in this place are making some advancement. But there is much yet for them to do. I arrived home the 5th, inst., after an absence of over eleven weeks.