W. PHELPS by W. Phelps

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 11, 1858

W. PHELPS

By W. Phelps

From Bro. Phelps.

BRO. SMITH: I feel that I would like to speak once more a few words through the Review. Since I returned home from the tent-meeting at Crane's Grove, Ills., my time has been nearly all occupied in preparing to move. I am going to locate at Koskonong, and am nearly ready to go.

I feel anxious to get into the wide harvest-field once more. Truly the harvest is great and the laborers few. The Third Angel's Message is everything to me, and the only hope I have of getting the victory over the beast, and his image, and his mark, and the number of his name, is in keeping the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. Rev. xiv, 12. The Third Angel's Message has been doing a thorough work in the hearts of some in this part of Wisconsin, while they have taken hold anew, and resolved to go through at the expense of their all. I believe the Lord is beginning to work for his people in this State once more.

I have just taken up one of the Advent Messengers, published at Ann Arbor, Mich., Sept., 1855, (for I have some of them about my house,) in which I read the appointment of two conferences which were held in this State in October, 1855; and it has caused me to reflect upon the past. I am desirous to remove every thing out of the way that I have had any hand in placing in the way of the Third Message. I attended both of those conferences; one at Eldorado, and the other at Koskonong; and it was there resolved by the majority present to withdraw sympathy and support from the Review. The majority were in favor of having another paper established, and most of us sent our aid to the Messenger until it went down. I believe many of us were honest, but deceived. Many looked for the Review to go down, but God had his hand to the work and sustained the Review, and kept alive the Third Angel's Message. His frown was upon us, and we began to die spiritually, and the doctrine of the future age came in by degrees. Many sympathized more or less with that; the spirit of the world took hold, and family altars went down, and death and devastation followed. In the Winter after our conferences, Bro. Bates came to Wisconsin in search of honest ones. He met with a cold reception from many, and much opposition. I advertised him in the Messenger, which caused him sorrow of heart. I wish to say that the letter I sent to the Messenger against Bro. Bates, was uncalled for; and if I had not sympathized with the future age, and partaken of that spirit, I should not have done it. I desire to confess all my errors, and be found without fault before the throne of God. Rev. xiv, 5.

There is need of more labor in this part of the State than we have at present. Can Bro. Ingraham come this way, and spend a few weeks? I think much good would result from his labors here. I feel that what is done must be done quickly; for soon it will be said, He that is unjust, let him be unjust still, and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still.

Your brother striving to overcome.

W. PHELPS

Hebron, Wis., Oct. 24th, 1858.