Vermont Church Visits, Meetings, and Labors in Addison County
By A. S. Hutchins
SINCE my last report, have spent two weeks in Addison County, visiting the lonely ones and following up the interest awakened by labors with the tent. Our meetings in the different towns were quite encouraging. Many testimonies were given by brethren and sisters, indicating the power of divine truth to elevate the affections, sanctify the heart, and lead to a life of self-denial and godliness, if cheerfully obeyed. Spent two Sabbaths at West Bolton. Had been with the church in this section most of the time for over one year, and it would have been my preference to remain at present, had not duty seemed to decide otherwise. May God bless this dear people with a firm and steady purpose to follow him fully, to faithfully discharge every duty in his service, secret, social, and public. “Ye are the light of the world.” “Walk as children of the light,” and soon hear from the lips of the Master, “Well done.” Oct. 9, preached the funeral sermon of sister Eliza Fellows, of North Wolcott, who died very suddenly from paralysis, aged about fifty-eight years. She was among the first who embraced the Bible Sabbath in Vermont. An earlier notice of her death failed to reach the REVIEW, or was mislaid. Have spent five Sabbaths and first-days with Bro. Bourdeau at East Charleston, helping him in his worn condition in presenting the truth and visiting from house to house. A good work has been done here. Souls not accustomed to love God or his statutes, nor to tremble at his word, have learned to revere his name, to seek him by confessing and forsaking sin, and to honor him by obedience to his commandments. Spoke one Sabbath to the church in Bordoville, and the evening after the following first-day, spoke for the special benefit of the young. It was believed these meetings left a favorable impression upon the minds of old and young, brethren and friends. God is very gracious to his people. But I am solemnly impressed that, if we retain his divine favor, we must closely watch our spiritual and eternal interests, give greater attention to, and more thoroughly reduce to practice, the principles of health reform, and feel a growing love for the prosperity of the cause of God at large. If we cannot serve God and mammon, how can we serve him and be slaves to a perverted and unsanctified appetite? Self-denial lies at the very foundation of the Christian religion. “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Gal. 5: 24. Dec. 11, 1872. A. S. HUTCHINS.