Dear Bro. White:—I have just returned from a tour, searching out the scattered and starving flock in company with Bro. C. W. Sperry. We had interesting meetings in North Hudson, N. Y. Some four came decidedly into the Sabbath, one a preacher. Thence to Lewis, at Bro. Merrifield's, (Baptists) evening of the 23d. They said that the church afforded no food, and decidedly declared that they had kept the last Pope's Sabbath, and should now keep the true Sabbath.
We had an interesting meeting at Bro. Mott's, Plattsburgh, commenced evening 25th, had six meetings; a deep, searching, weeping time. Six came out decided to keep the Sabbath, and rejoiced in the Sanctuary light and third angel's message.—28th we lectured at Bro. Miles Clay's. He and his wife acknowledged the Sabbath, hope they will walk in its light.—March 1st at Bro. Day's, Chateaugay, held eleven meetings which were strengthening and encouraging to the brethren, while we presented the third angel's message, and particularly the sayings of Christ, &c. Some five or six I hope will walk in the light they acknowledge, and keep the Sabbath with the seventh-day brethren, these who have been hunted like the soul of David by Saul, by them who break, and teach others to, the commandments.
How strikingly the Sabbath marks the line between the righteous and wicked. While the brethren and sisters would bow, weep and pray, the wicked would strike the seats, roar and laugh; while some would rejoice in the light, others would mock and rage. I never, till of late, felt so sensibly the discerning between him that fears God and him that fears him not, the contest between light and the powers of darkness. While an awful development of a rapid increase of indifference to what may be truth is so prevalent, yet, some poor, mourning children are scattered in various places and conditions, weeping and sighing over the wretched state of the popular churches; looking to some source for a morsel to prevent death. O how comforted, yea how rejoiced many were for the present truth, and that again, the family altar that has lain years prostrate, is reared up, and their little circle bow in humble devotion, and mingle tears and earnest petitions for help from the heavenly Sanctuary. One instance I would mention. After closing the fourth meeting in one place, about ten o'clock at night, the congregation would not leave the house till midnight, getting us by the hand, and begging of us not to leave them (as we were thinking of) the next morning. My Lord feed the starving flock of slaughter whose possessors slay them!