VISIT TO VERMONT by John Byington

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 22, 1868

VISIT TO VERMONT.

By John Byington

Bro. Smith: I wrote you a few lines from Knapp's Station, Norfolk, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., while waiting for the cars. I left that place for Vermont, in company with Bro. Hilliard. We arrived in Charlotte the next morning, Aug. 25, where I met my only brother living, eighty years of age, very infirm, who had waited for months with anxiety to see me once more. He admitted the truth of the Sabbath a few years since, but at so advanced an age, that he could do but little for its defense. May his end be peace.

In this town I lived from the age of eight to thirty. I went to our old home, where when a youth, I gave my heart to God. From this place, I went to Hinesburgh, ten miles, to the place of my birth. Spent two or three hours with Judge Marsh, whose father and mine were the first settlers of the town. He being of my age, and we having lived near each other, could but reflect upon things of our childhood days. I passed the old home of Nathaniel Gage, in Shelburne. The home and barn looked the same as they did fifty-two years ago, when I attended a quarterly meeting in this very barn, as Methodists then had no chapels for worship. Henry Stead, presiding Elder, spoke at this meeting, on the subject of the Judgment. I was then deeply convicted that I must be converted or lost. This same Bro. Gage, who was very wealthy, built near him a good, brick meeting-house for the Methodist Protestant church, and at his death, left them fifteen hundred dollars, the interest of which to support a preacher, and five hundred dollars for a library for a Sunday school; but, strange to tell, the house is now vacated and useless, as there is not one member of the church left.

The people in western Vermont have become so wealthy and proud that I think but little of God is known among them. I never saw the necessity of the existence and organization of the Seventh-day Adventist church more than now.

I left my brother of fourscore years in Williston, Vermont, the 24th inst., and came to St. Albans, and there was met by Bro. Bean, who took Bro. Hilliard and me, with his team, to West Enosburgh, where we had three interesting meetings on Sabbath and first-day. Here brethren A. C. and D. T. Bourdeau have labored faithfully for years, and, as the result of their labors, there is now a numerous church and a house for worship. Sabbath afternoon, we spoke to the youth, most of whom are church members. We see, more and more, the necessity of unceasing labor on the part of parents, and elders of the church, in laboring, not only for their conversion, but to keep the young faithful and alive. We felt blessed with this people.

Bro. A. C. Bourdeau was not at home, but arrived late first-day evening, and followed us six miles, to Bro. White's, in Fairfield, where we had a pleasant interview with him and family. We left Monday morning, for Madrid, N. Y., expecting to call on brethren in Bangor, but the cars having changed time that day, Bro. Lawrence failed to be there. We, therefore, came on to Bro. Hilliard's at a late hour in the evening.

We have spent most of this week in calling on brethren and friends, whom we never expect to meet again until the great day. We staid last night with Mr. Lewis, whose companion is faithful in the truth, and in this same house, we slept the first night that we staid at Buck's Bridge, thirty-seven years since, where Galen Sherman then lived. The S. D. Adventist church here now has as much strength as the Methodist Episcopal church, of which we were members, had then.

We expect to return to our home in Mich., next week. I feel an increasing desire to spend what little strength I have left, in the cause of truth. May the Lord direct.

J. BYINGTON.

Williston, Vt., Aug. 27, 1868.