THE readers of the REVIEW generally, will be anxious to learn the state of the cause in the West, and will probably expect a brief statement of those things of interest, connected with our Western Tour. We shall, therefore, give a statement of facts, that the true state of the cause, and its progress may be known.
The calls from Michigan for help, especially for nearly one year past, have been urgent. The brethren have often written like this, that if we could not come, to send some one of the eastern brethren. But no one has seen his way clear to visit this field, since Bro. Bates was here last Summer, till Bro. Loughborough came into this State a few weeks since. During this period, however, Brn. Case and Cornell have been active, and labored ardently, and God has blest their efforts.
May 20th, we left the friends at Rochester, to fill our appointment at Mill Grove, N. Y. At Wende Station we found our aged Bro. Cottrell, waiting to convey us to the place of meeting.
Bro. Cottrell is nearly eighty years of age, remembers the dark day of 1780, and has been a Sabbath-keeper more than thirty years. He was formerly united with the Seventh-Day Baptists; but on some points of doctrine has differed from that body. He rejected the doctrine of the trinity, also the doctrine of man’s consciousness between death and the resurrection, and the punishment of the wicked in eternal consciousness. He believed that the wicked would be destroyed. Bro. Cottrell buried his wife not long since, who, it is said, was one of the excellent of the earth. Not long since, this aged pilgrim received a letter from friends in Wisconsin, purporting to be from M. Cottrell, his wife, who sleeps in Jesus. But he, believing that the dead know not anything, was prepared to reject at once the heresy that the spirits of the dead, knowing everything, come back and converse with the living. Thus truth is a staff in his old age. He has three sons in Mill Grove, who, with their families are Sabbath-keepers.
Our meetings in the place were well attended.—Several came eight and ten miles to hear, and manifested a good interest. But there is evidently a lack of real faith in the brethren in that vicinity. Their experience in the Advent faith has been short. A little more than two years since, they first heard of Advent Sabbath-keepers, by a notice of the REVIEW in the Sabbath Recorder. Since that time they have increased in numbers, and have grown stronger in the Advent faith. We ardently desire that those dear brethren may all be fully settled on all points of present truth, and share largely of the blessings of the gospel of Christ.
According to appointment we met with the brethren in Tyrone, Mich., the 27th, 28th and 29th ult. The meeting was held in a barn, well prepared for the occasion. We were happily disappointed to find so many friends of the Lord’s Sabbath present. About twelve brethren and sisters came from Locke in one wagon, drawn by two yoke of young oxen, a distance of twenty-eight miles. One of them was the Sister Avery who wrote the excellent letter to W. Sheldon, recently published in the REVIEW. This will give a correct idea of the interest on the part of many to hear the truth in this new country.
Some portion of the time of this Conference was a season of labor. There is a class of people in this region, called “Believers,” who profess to have much of the Holy Spirit; but it is very evident that some of them are influenced by a spirit that is decidedly unholy. Quite a number of them have recently embraced the Sabbath, and were at the meeting. We regard them as perfectly honest, and believe that God has led them to see the truth; yet they have much to learn, and some of them present at the meeting evidently knew not of what spirit they were of. They were happily but plainly corrected, and we are glad to say that they generally received reproof like Christians. The cause here has been in great danger through fanaticism, coming from the above named class; but if a strait forward course is taken, and those who still hold on to their false impressions and strange exercises are disfellowshipped by the brethren, the unholy leaven will soon be entirely purged out.
We had good liberty in preaching the Word. Some of our social meetings were very interesting. The last evening was a season of great interest. By this time the fog was cleared away, and the Spirit of God came down, melting the hearts of the people, and causing them to rejoice. And many, as they look back on that season, can say as did the two disciples when on their way to Emmaus. “Did not our heart burn within us?” &c. It was very clear to all, that strange exercises in the hands, arms, &c., was not the result of the Holy Spirit; but some strange spirit that would lead anywhere but to the kingdom. And while the very atmosphere seemed as sweet as heaven, and the dear saints were meekly praising God in a calm, weeping, humble manner, with their hearts filled with love to God, false spirits were viewed in strong contrast. We hope that all present will ever remember the seal that God set to the truth of this matter.
Bro. H. S. Case we had seen before. His face is still set towards Mount Zion. We have formed a happy acquaintance with Bro. M. E. Cornell. He is active in the cause, and his labors have been much blest. All the efforts of the Harbinger to crush him have only served to open the way before him, while he has humbly followed on in the work of his Master, and success has followed.
The cause of truth, as far as we can now judge, is advancing gloriously. The brethren are growing stronger, souls are almost daily added to the church, and an interest is awakened all around to hear. There are brethren here who feel that they are the Lord’s stewards, and that he calls on them to help sustain the cause with their means.
Our Conference in this place is at hand. Bro J. N. Loughborough will be with us. It is expected that an effort will be made at this meeting to do something for the cause in Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois.
JAMES WHITE.
Jackson, Mich., June, 1853.