Bristol, Vt by A. S. Hutchins

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 5, 1875

Bristol, Vt.

By A. S. Hutchins

I remained here three Sabbaths following our Tract and Missionary meeting. Two more were received into the church, making nine new Sabbath-keepers added within a few months. While these brethren and sisters have been taking hold of the truth, the truth has been taking hold of, and doing a good work for, them; its legitimate fruits being manifested in inspiring in their hearts a love for reading the word of God, hitherto neglected, in the establishment of the family altar, and in assembling from Sabbath to Sabbath, to join with the people of the Lord in acts of solemn devotion.

We were happy to meet Bro. Jackman here. Himself and family have left their former Adventist brethren and united with those who are keeping the commandments of God. He enjoys a continual intellectual feast as he gathers and treasures up new light and truth on the great fundamental principles of the faith of Seventh-day Adventists.

In Ferrisburg, I held a few meetings. One Adventist brother firmly committed himself on the Sabbath, commenced its observance, and met with us the last Sabbath I was at Bristol.

From here, I went to West Bolton, visited nearly every family of the friends, spoke to them on the Sabbath, and on first-day, administered the ordinance of baptism, and celebrated the ordinances of the Lord's house. The brother baptized has numbered almost fourscore years, and being very feeble several tried to dissuade him from an act so hazardous; but genuine faith in Bible baptism, and a firm trust for necessary support from the Saviour, brought him several miles on a rainy day to the rolling waters where he received scriptural baptism, for which, through the persistent entreaties of others, he in youth was induced to accept of sprinkling as a substitute, which had been to him a life-long regret. His companion, though a Methodist, rejoiced that the favored time had come when he could follow the divine example of the Lord and Saviour in baptism. Here, as at Jamaica, the figures on s. s. were materially raised, after explanation of duty on this point.

A. S. Hutchins.