MONTHLY MEETING AT EXETER, R. I.
By J. S. Mullener
Our Monthly Meeting was held with the church in Exeter on Sabbath and first-day, June 20 and 21; and it is with pleasure that I record the fact that some advancement is perceptible on the part of those who attended this meeting. The first meeting of the series, on Sabbath eve, was held at the house of Bro. John Brown. It was not my privilege to be present at this meeting, but those who did attend, speak of it as a profitable season. On Sabbath morning, at nine, we met at the school-house, and, after a season of prayer and conference, Bro. Haskell spoke, on the conflict through which the church must soon pass. There was nothing in this discourse to cause us to feel elated, but yet we felt thankful that the Lord is pointing out our pathway plainly, that we may prepare for the terrors of the day of the Lord. On Sabbath afternoon, Bro. Rodman took the subject up, where Bro. H. left it in the morning. His text, “What must I do to be saved ?”, was answered by much needful instruction, and it is hoped that those who listened, will show their appreciation of the testimony by living according to the light they have received. In the evening, Bro. Haskell spoke from Matt. xxii, 11. The beautiful garment of righteousness was presented before us, as described in the word of truth. On our way home from meeting, the remark was made to me, “We have no time to lose in taking hold of the work of reform,” to which I heartily assented, as I presume all in attendance would do. On first-day morning, we had another social meeting in which a goodly number took part. The testimonies evinced that there was a struggle to overcome going on in the hearts of our people, such as they have never before realized. At eleven, Bro. Haskell spoke from Rev. x. The history of the time movement in 1843-4 always has something about it that takes hold of the hearts of the people in a wonderful manner, wherever it is preached, even at this late day. So it was on this occasion. There were but few, if any, present who had had an experience in that movement, yet all felt the force of the simple story of the manner in which faith wrought at that time. In the afternoon, we met at the house of Bro. Clarke Sweet and celebrated the ordinances. This was a blessed season. There were a number present, who engaged in these ordinances, as we observe them, for the first time. The blessing of the Lord rested down upon us in a manner unprecedented in the history of our Monthly Meetings. On the evening after first-day, the little company that remained, which was now reduced to some fifteen or twenty, met at the house of Bro. Sweet. This meeting, if not one of rejoicing, was certainly one of profit. Bro. Rodman occupied nearly an hour in speaking of certain incidents in the experience of Elijah, from which he instructed us to exercise great faith in God when we are brought into similar straits, as we certainly shall be. He was followed in a few remarks by Bro. Haskell, who showed us quite clearly how some of the characters brought to view in the history of Elijah represented certain classes of persons who now have a part to act in the eventful times in which we live. When Bro. H. had finished, nearly all present bore testimony. The drift of the testimonies was decidedly encouraging. Nearly every one who spoke expressed a determination to struggle more earnestly than ever before to overcome. Several who had been in bondage to some extent for want of perfect submission to what they knew to be the will of the Lord, declared their determination to walk fully up to all the light they had. On Monday morning, we separated to go to our several homes, every one happy in the Lord and thankful for the perfect union that had prevailed through the entire meeting. As my mind glances over the brief period that intervenes between this and the July meeting at Ashaway, it rests on the concentrated powers of darkness that we must meet at that place. Brethren, seek a new consecration of heart, that we may be strong in the Lord and the power of his might, having on the whole armor, that we may effectually come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. J. S. MULLENER.