A Famine of Hearing the Word
By Elon Everts
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I would inform you that in a short tour accompanied by my wife, we saw and felt that the Lord was truly moving on the hearts of his honest children. We went from home on the 13th Inst., and returned the 24th. We found those who were willing, yea, anxious to hear, that were in the nominal churches. They said although they were attached to their ministers, that "their preaching was like chips in porridge, it does not feed, it is the same old story over and over." And some of our church acknowledge that the Bible teaches no Sabbath but the seventh day." And in other towns where I could not then stop to read the present truth to them, the brethren said that a number of families were anxious to hear; some decidedly declared that the churches were fallen, and that they wanted to have the first lecturer that came along with our present truth, to call and give them light. Truly there is a "famine in the land, not for bread, nor thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord." The 17th, First day, we met with the Advent brethren in Low Hampton, where the lamented Bro. Miller spent his last days. The exercises of the forenoon were in progress, when we entered the chapel, when the speaker, Bro. Miller's oldest son, concluded his remarks. I felt so much of the word of exhortation that it was like fire in my bones, longing to give vent to my full soul. I seized, upon the favored opportunity, to greet those dear children in brotherly kindness, stirring up their minds by remembrance of the former days of our experience, hope and disappointment, and our scattering, and the present signs of Christ's soon coming. The meeting was closed, and the dear children gathered around me in the kindest manner, one circumstance deeply affected me, that was Sr. Miller, (wife of Bro. Miller who was so endeared to me, also to thousands for his labors of love during his life) passing through the little congregation, seizing my hand and her streaming eyes and the hearty shake she gave my hand and kind words assured me of a warm, Christian heart. A number of the brethren asked me to speak to them in the afternoon, but in consequence of their not being agreed, I only had opportunity to exhort them some twenty minutes. I felt that prejudice gave way, and at the close they gave notice of an evening meeting for me to present the commandments. Although the evening was very snowy, yet a few came in and gave a candid hearing to the truth. The kindness of Sr. Miller in entertaining us over night, and the kindness of her children and many others there, and besides Bro. Robbins Miller, voluntarily offering to try to obtain an opportunity for a presentation of a number of lectures there, made us feel that we had had a work of breaking ice, for which I feel to praise the Lord. Many omens I could mention that plainly show that the commandments are interesting to the starving scattered flock. Some in Fairhaven, Castleton and Shrewsbury, where I lectured two evenings to good congregations. A good interest was manifested and they invited me to come soon again and hold a number of meetings. On the next Sabbath I met with the brethren in Granville, Vt., at Sr. Rice's. Had a good comforting meeting. Dear sister Rice, although to human appearance is near the grave, was greatly comforted. In view of the cry of the churches for light, I truly can say that the fields are white while laborers are few. O, my cry is that the Chief Shepherd would send forth laborers into the harvest who are full of the Spirit of the Good Shepherd, that will enable them to suffer hardness with patience, overcome prejudice with kindness, and win souls in the Spirit and love of the gospel. I verily believe, there is more dependent on a kind, loving winning spirit, than many are aware of; for there is every sort of effort put forth to alarm and prejudice the dear children, that the adversary can master, and unless they can see some of the fruits of love to melt their frozen hearts, arguments will only drop on stony ground. The fruits of kind labors put forth in the last conference that you attended on your Eastern tour, are the ingathering of some souls to the keeping of the commandments with delight, and a heavenly peace to the joy of the saints and praise to the Lord. ELON EVERTS.
New Haven, Vt., Oct. 30, 1852.