EASTERN TOUR by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 12, 1869

EASTERN TOUR.

By James White

THE only reason why the readers of the REVIEW have not heard from us each week, has been the want of time to write. Since my last note relative to our arrival in Boston, and the meetings in Chelsea, we have attended camp-meetings from four to six days each week. Care, business relative to our Office of publication, preaching, and distance of travel, have taken all our time. September 8-13, we were on the

LANCASTER CAMP-GROUND.

This meeting was held in a beautiful pine grove, near the Worcester and Nashua Railroad, at South Lancaster, Mass. The preparation of the ground, and general arrangements for the meeting were under the especial care of Eld. S. N. Haskell, who spared neither time nor labor in the performance of his duty. There were two large tents upon the ground in which to hold meetings should it rain. These were found very serviceable in several showers of rain, and for those to sleep in who had no other provision for the night. There were also a goodly number of smaller tents on the ground, crowded with those who had a deep interest in the meeting. Beside these, the brethren in the place entertained many.

Eld. A. C. Bourdeau from Bordoville, Vt., was present with about forty from his place, and as many more were present from other parts of that State. This was no small sacrifice on their part, yet I think they all felt, at the close of the meeting, that they had been richly paid. There was a general attendance from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and a good representation from Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine, and some from New York.

The speakers present were Elders Waggoner, Cornell, Bourdeau, Stone, Hutchins, Haskell, Rodman, Goodrich, White, and sister White. Much freedom was enjoyed by all who addressed the people. The congregations were large and very attentive. On Sunday, special trains from Worcester and Nashua, brought nearly two thousand hearers to the ground. The congregation on that day was not much less than four thousand. Eld. Waggoner spoke in the forenoon and sister White in the afternoon. Both were listened to with wonderful attention. A descriptive discourse in the afternoon, upon the life, betrayal, condemnation, crucifixion, burial, resurrection, ascension and second advent of Christ, moved the feelings of the thousands.

At this favorable moment we circulated gratuitously about two thousand tracts upon the Sufferings of Christ, Law and Gospel, and God's Memorial. These were seized with surprising eagerness. We sold several hundred dollars' worth of books upon the ground, and gave from the tract fund near two hundred dollars' worth.

The social meetings were characterized with solemnity and searching of heart. Many close, practical remarks were made, which will not soon be lost sight of. We were glad to know that the truth and work of God was taking strong hold of good minds. We were under the painful necessity of explaining and exposing some things to our people, in consequence of false impressions which had gone out from the very heart of the work, within a few years, calculated to cut off our influence. We parted with our New England people with mutual feelings of the strongest union and sympathy. Elders Waggoner and Cornell remain to labor with them. May the cause there prosper, and may souls be brought to the knowledge of the truth.

September 15-20, we were in the midst of friends from New York and Pennsylvania upon the

KIRVILLE CAMP-GROUND.

There was a general turnout from this conference. It was the largest gathering of our people ever held in the State. Here we were joined in labor with Elds. Waggoner and Andrews, and the ministers of the N. Y. and Pa. Conference. The preaching was pointed, and with power. Backsliders were reclaimed, and sinners were converted to God. The influence of this good meeting will long be felt in that Conference. Consecration to the work is what is wanted everywhere, especially in that part of the field. God will abundantly bless his people, and raise them above discouragements, if they consecrate themselves to his work. At the close of this meeting we hastened on to Battle Creek, where we tarried one night, and immediately went on our way to attend the western camp-meetings.

I write on the boat Keokuk, on the Mississippi River, between Winona, Minn., and La Crosse, Wis.

JAMES WHITE.

Oct. 5, 1869.