ST. LAWRENCE CO., N. Y.
By Jacob Wilbur
At the close of our interesting State quarterly meeting, held in connection with the dedication of the new meeting-house in Rome, I started for this county. I reached Gouverneur, Dec. 12, where I found the friends of present truth still alive, and ready to press the battle even to the gates of the enemy. The next day in company with Bro. H. H. Wilcox, who is my yoke-fellow this winter, I went, by special request, to Hailesborough, in the town of Fowler. We obtained the Union meeting-house, and held a few meetings; but the house was large and cold, and the people had lately been duped by a popular preacher from the State of Maine, who had started an interest, got in debt, left his wife and children, and run away with the money obtained by fraud from the people, and, worse than all the rest, had tried to get a young lady to follow him to the West. So after sleeping in the meeting-house one cold night, we concluded that we would leave them for a short time, although some came to us afterward and made apologies for being so thoughtless as not to give us an invitation to go home with them. The attendance at these meetings was quite small. In company with Bro. Blandin I attended the monthly meeting at Pierrepont. Dec. 15, we rode some twenty-five or thirty miles, in a buggy, over the rough, frozen ground, and through a cold wind, to reach the place of meeting. We staid over Sabbath and first-day. We spoke five times, and although the thermometer was from twenty to thirty degrees below zero, we had a good attendance of brethren and friends from the surrounding country. I think the close, practical truths of our message were well received, especially those in regard to Christian temperance. The members of this church are waking up. They are anxious to have Eld. D. M. Canright visit them this winter. From Pierrepont I came to North Gouverneur, where Bro. Wilcox joined me again. We intended to hold some meetings with the people there, but as there were several cases of small-pox in the vicinity, we only visited from house to house one day. We found Bro. Hardie, and others who embraced present truth there last winter, still strong in the faith; and one well to do farmer is about to take up the cross and observe the Sabbath of the Lord. From the above place we went to Rossie, and spent about four days, working very hard from house to house with prayers and tears. We held seven meetings during the four days that we were with them, and as the result eight new converts came out fully and took their stand with us on the third message. On Christmas day we had one of the best meetings I was ever in. The power and Spirit of God seemed to rest down upon us, and many were in tears. We organized a class of fourteen. Nearly as many more have acknowledged the truth and are with us in heart, and have opened their doors for meetings. Some of these dear friends we hope will soon join this little band which has so recently started for the kingdom of glory. Pray for us. Gouverneur, N. Y., Dec. 26, 1876.