REPORT FROM BRO. MATTESON.
By John Matteson
SABBATH, Sept. 19, I met with the brethren at Orleans. A goodly number were present, and we had a profitable meeting. We realized that the Lord was with us, and felt encouraged to press forward. First-day, I went to the town of Montcalm, and commenced preaching to our Danish friends. I obtained a small school-house to preach in, and have now had four meetings with them. The house has been well filled, and the hearers very attentive. Deep solemnity has been over us, and some hearts have been moved by the blessed news of our Saviour's soon coming. This is truly a new field to labor in, for these people are generally ignorant of the first principles of religion. Worldliness, swearing, and quarreling, are common, and with all this a strong tendency to believe that they will be saved because they are Lutherans. They have had a Danish priest here from Wisconsin a few times to sprinkle their children. He preaches one sermon, receives about thirty dollars, and turns right198home again. They have tried hard to get one to settle among them permanently, and in a week from next first-day the same man will come again, and has promised to bring another, a beginner in the office, with him, to remain here. I am anxious that all who will come to our meetings should be prepared for that time, for he will try all his powers of persuasion to keep the people away from the truth. Pray for us that our meetings may be characterized with solemnity, and the deep movings of God's Holy Spirit, that sinners may be converted to God. Four are now trying to obey the truth, and others are convinced already. May the Lord bless for the glory of his own great name. Greenville, Mich., Sept. 24, 1868.