CONVOCATION MEETING AT CLYDE.
By John Nevins Andrews
This meeting, according to appointment, convened Sept. 23, and continued until Sept. 28. During nearly the whole period of the meeting the weather was cloudy and chilly, with seasons of rain. But the last two days of the meeting we were favored with fine weather. We cannot, however, express regret that the weather was thus unpleasant for so considerable a portion197of our meeting. Our camp-ground was close to the meeting-house of the Clyde church. We were obliged to be somewhat crowded, but were, nevertheless, very well accommodated in this house while the wet weather continued. Our meeting was one of deep solemnity. The burden of the meeting pertained to the condition of the brethren. Our congregation during the wet weather being mainly composed of our own people, there was an excellent opportunity to reach them with heart-searching truth. We have certainly had a meeting of great solemnity and interest. Our business has been to discover and to correct existing faults and evils in our midst. We have felt it a matter of the utmost importance that we should see our own cases in the light in which we shall appear in the great day of final accounts. Bro. and Sr. White have spoken with great freedom, and their testimony has been listened to with deep interest. A spirit of humiliation, confession, and repentance, rested upon our brethren and sisters. The scenes of the Judgment seemed present to our view, and the greatness of the preparation for that great event was deeply impressed upon our minds. We believe that there will be lasting good fruit of this meeting. We trust that works meet for repentance will be seen in many lives, and that worldlymindedness, overreaching in deal, carelessness in business transactions, foolish talking and jesting, and envyings, jealousies, and evil speaking, and unbrotherly conduct, shall be with many who have attended this convocation, forever laid aside. Quite a good attendance of the people in this section was present on the first day of the week, which was indeed the first day of fair weather. Good attention was given to the preaching of the word, and candor and solemnity characterized the people present. Among the closing events of the meeting was the baptism of some 8 or 10 persons, and the ordination of Bro. T. M. Steward. The meeting closed with words of solemn exhortation, and with deep feeling in many hearts that the future shall be filled up with deeds of usefulness and devotion to the cause of Christ. Happy will it be if the vows here made to God are faithfully paid by our lives of piety and self-sacrifice. A serious accident happened to Bro. Brister, of Elkhorn Grove. He was kicked in the forehead by his own horse, causing a severe and dangerous fracture of the skull. This has been treated by surgical operation, and it is hoped that he is in a fair way to recover. Clyde, Ill., Sept. 29, 1868.