MEETINGS IN SOUTHERN MICH.
By A. S. Hutchins
BRO. SMITH: We returned to this place last evening, having visited the brethren in Burlington, Hillsdale, Burr Oak, and Colon. At each of these places, I think some are striving to enter in at the strait gate; while others seem to have but a faint idea of what it is to be a zealous and faithful follower of Christ. I am greatly surprised that some who have been keeping the Sabbath of the Bible sufficiently long to be strong and steadfast in the truth, should be found so weak and feeble at this late hour of the work. For there are those who should have been living members in the church of Christ, and prepared to help others, who need lifting out of one trial after another, till I conclude if they themselves make good their own escape and reach Mt. Zion, it is all we can expect of them. Oh, what a pity, what a pity, that some for whom God has done so much, should do so little for him and his cause! In Burlington we felt quite free in presenting the truth. Our last meeting here was comforting to us all. May the Lord help the church here to arise and stand where they should. O brethren and sisters, do seek for victory, sweet victory, over everything that hinders your progress. You can have it, you should have it. At Hillsdale, we felt grieved and our spirits well nigh sunk within us for awhile, as we reflected upon our wearing labors here with Bro. Waggoner last Winter, and learned how soon the Devil led others in a way so well calculated to wound, weary and hinder the advancement of the church. But we felt that we could only leave our decided testimony against the wrongs of the erring, which we endeavored to do to them separately, so far as we had opportunity. And we felt that God was pleased in our so doing. We also had liberty here in preaching the Word. We earnestly desire the prosperity of this church; but it is our firm conviction that until there is more of that love felt and manifested one for another which must characterize the followers of Christ, as a body, the church labor in vain for success. Oh, dear brethren and sisters, may God help you to carry the convincing evidence with you that you are his disciples. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another." John xiii, 35. At Burr Oak, I preached the funeral sermon of a child of Bro. Strickland's, with good freedom. Bro. and Sr. Strickland have a love for the truth which endears them to the saints of God. And we doubt not but what they are loved of the Father and the Son. We had a good victory at Colon before the close of the meeting. We expect to meet some from this place, with the redeemed of the Lord, if we are so happy as to get through the perils of the last days in safety. Opposition to the truth still reigns here. The Baptists do not feel well that so many, formerly their members, are keeping the Sabbath. One preacher, (L. A. Alford,) said if he had been there when the tent was there, he should have exposed our folly and saved the church from losing its members; or to this effect. On hearing this, one sister handed him the Bible, to show her her error in keeping the seventh day. Well what did he do? He was in a hurry; could not stop then. He says he hushed the Sabbath question to rest in Pa., while preaching there. Last First-day, went out about five miles from Colon, where I preached at 2 P. M., on the subject of the Sabbath. A brother rode from C. to this meeting with a Methodist preacher who had an appointment just beyond us. On the way out, the brother asked the preacher for his reasons for keeping the first day instead of the seventh, as the Sabbath. He told him he would give them on their return (as they were to return together,) provided his lungs were not too weary. But yesterday morning I learned that his strength was too far exhausted to state his evidence this point. That the hurry of one preacher, and the weariness of another are the greatest obstacles lying in the way of proving the first day theory, our readers may believe if they can. Yours in love of the truth. A. S. HUTCHINS.
Battle Creek, Mich., Aug. 10th, 1858.