Believers in the Blessed Hope
By William B. Putnam
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Being a stranger to you in the flesh, but entertaining the same Blessed Hope, I venture to write a few lines. Myself and companion have been firm believers in the speedy coming of the Lord since 1843, and have been striving to obey God in all things, as fast as we have seen light, and the way opened before us. When our beloved Bro. Fitch travelled through Vermont, we heard and saw from the chart that our Master was at the door. We were not slow to believe. Our names were cast out as evil, being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The cry was soon made, come out of her my people. We did not confer with flesh and blood; but obeyed God, which we found better than sacrifice. We then lived in daily expectation of seeing him we loved, little dreaming of the time of trouble that was before us. In the Summer of 1844 we moved to Wisconsin, where we heard nothing of the tenth-day movement until it had past. We wrote for the Voice of Truth, and that gave us meat for a season. That soon came out, the Harbinger, though not of the coming of the Lord, but of the Age to come, which we could not harmonize with the sure word. But we are thankful for light on life and immortality through its pages. But in consequence of being poor our names were dropped. About this time the Watchman was sent us by some friend. We feel thankful for the same. It has given light upon some subjects; but we think it is in an error on some points. We feel to mourn when we see the once happy flock scattered and torn, and can but say, how are the mighty fallen. We were, with the rest of our brethren, tossed about by adverse winds, not knowing our whereabouts, grasping at different articles, on definite time, still looking for the termination of the 2300 days, until it pleased God, to send among us Brn. Case and Bowles, last Spring, with what I believe to be the third angel's message. Now shall we give up our past experience, the many happy seasons we enjoyed while under the judgment hour cry, and the new glories that enveloped us when we left mystical Babylon, and call it all delusion, and yet to be fulfilled in the Age to come. God forbid. We can now say that we have got out of the fog. We find God's law is not abolished. He made the Sabbath for man, and we are not left in the dark on the subject. We can now say, that the Sabbath is a delight. May God help us to do his commandments, that we may have right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. Your Brother in hope of eternal life at the appearing of Jesus Christ. WM. B. PUTNAM.
Warsaw, Wis., Feb. 26th, 1853.