Mt. Hope and Bloomington, Wis.
By David Downer
We have closed our tent labor at Mt. Hope. We think we are not alone in saying that God has done a work there that will stand firm till our Redeemer shall come. Infidelity, spiritualism, and false theology, have moved back and given place to God's holy truth. We leave sixty Sabbath-keepers besides children, at Mt. Hope. Thirteen subscribed for the REVIEW. Many more will take it as soon as they thresh their grain. We sold sixty dollars' worth of books. We also leave very many friends to the truth, some of whom promised at our last meeting that they would obey God. As we look back over our last nine weeks' labor, we feel to exclaim, What a change! Not a friend in town at first. Two strangers came there to find a place for a tent. Some wondered; others laughed. But at the parting hour, warm tears flowed freely. We could only point them to Christ. Our meetings have been attended with solemnity throughout. The friends at Mt. Hope are building a meeting-house, thirty by forty-five. May God bless the work there, and the dear saints of God get strength to stand in the soon coming struggle. My health has been poor. Many times7have I feared that I could not stand long enough to preach a short discourse, but have been held up by the blessing of the Lord. Perfect harmony prevailed in our tent company. We feel pained to think we soon must part. We are now at Bloomington. Our meetings are attended better than we expected they would be. Catholics, infidels, and spiritualists, are very numerous here; but it is said they average better than the professed Christians. We have held two meetings, and had good attention, and good congregations. We shall have hard work to remove prejudice existing here, caused by the unbecoming course of L. Bostwick. It is a terrible thing to have unsanctified ministers go out and hedge up the way. But God is giving us the field here. The fire of God's truth will burn its way into honest hearts. Brethren, we more than ever crave your earnest prayers. I can say I never have been so determined to become holy as now. I feel a deep conviction that I must seek meekness. Let me say to the scattered saints, Let us humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God. We shall be astonished to see what God will do for us if we only yield up all our carnal nature and have only the mind of Christ. We are meeting with some embarrassment now in political matters. Brethren, let us let politics alone. When politics come into the heart, religion goes out and the Spirit is grieved. It is my earnest cry, Lord, help me to get into this solemn work of saving men with the truth. Could I make but one request of God and have it granted me, I would say, Lord, let me walk with thee like Enoch of old. DAVID DOWNER.