Letter from Bro. Stratton.
I WISH to let the brethren know how I am getting along since the camp-meeting. That was a good meeting for me. Some things in the past seemed grievous, but I trust they are yielding the peaceable fruits of righteousness. In looking over the past, I can see where I was blinded, and suffered my sympathies to be perverted. When Bro. Waggoner came to Maine in 1868, I did not understand the nature of the opposition that was brought against his labors. I thought Eld. Howard was a firm friend of the cause of present truth, and supposed he had a reason for the coldness with which he met Bro. Waggoner. But I soon learned that it was jealousy, and that he felt the same against some others who came from the West. When I saw this, there was a great change in my mind, and yet I have to confess I was so much under its influence that I did great injustice to the cause in the Conference at Norridgewock in 1869. Eld. Howard himself brought his feelings before the Conference, so that Bro. W. had to explain how he was met in his first labor in Maine, and he appealed to me in regard to the truth of what he said, and I replied that I thought he was putting it on pretty strong. On reflection, I was satisfied that in this I did wrong, and fully stated, before the Conference Committee, two days afterward, that Bro. Waggoner’s statement was not as strong as the facts would justify. Eld. H. confirmed my statements, and confessed that he was moved by groundless prejudice and jealousy against the Western brethren who came to help us in Maine.
One point I ought to explain. There has been some inquiry in regard to the confession in the REVIEW by Eld. Howard and myself in the fall of 1869. Some have said, if we were wrong in that matter, the confession was not sufficient. In justice to the brethren who did not understand the matter, I feel it my duty to explain. Eld. Howard’s confession before a meeting of the committee, the ministers, and a few others, was full and satisfactory; much more so than at the late camp-meeting. It was accepted in a kind spirit by all. Then it was asked what should be done to correct the wrong impressions that had gone out from the Conference.
As it did not seem convenient to go to the churches there, we agreed to make our confession through the REVIEW. But Eld. Howard said the first-day Adventists were watching him, and if he made the same confession in the REVIEW that he did there, they would make all the evil of it they could; and so out of regard for his feelings, a public confession was accepted, which amounted to little or nothing in correcting the wrong influence that had gone out. Of course my confession was something like it. And I now think if the Conference had required all that was necessary to undo the wrong done, it would have proved a safeguard against falling back into the same wrong. This would have saved me from bitter trials. How true it is that the fear of man bringeth a snare; and we fell into this snare, and let the dear cause of God suffer for fear of what the first-day Adventists would say. I praise God that I can see my way more clearly. I am getting some freedom in the truth. As I see the interest felt for us by our brethren in the West, their self-denial in spending their time and strength and money to build up the cause in this State, my heart is drawn out toward them. I have perfect confidence in this good work. Some have thought that Bro. and Sr. White had no influence in Maine, and I see the course of some has been calculated to make it so. But I can now say, It is not so. Confidence in the work and in God’s chosen servants is reviving in the State, and I pray that the work may prosper, and we all get into perfect union with all our fellow-laborers in all parts of the field. CHAS. STRATTON. We hereby express our feelings of gratitude to God for the change wrought in Bro. Stratton’s feelings and position on the present truth, as expressed by him in the above communication; and we cheerfully indorse the statements made by him in regard to L. L. Howard’s written confession, and with him regret that a more thorough written confession was not required at that time. The reason why we did not require it is this: Eld. Howard promised, in addition to his published confession, to do all he could to correct in the churches the evil influence he had exerted, which promise he never fulfilled, and in consequence of which the cause of present truth has so long suffered in Maine.
GEO. W. BARKER, } State
ASA B. ATWOOD, } Conf.
I. C. CHOATE, } Com.