Meetings at Liberty, Pennsylvania by W. S. Ingraham; A. S. Hutchins

Publishing Committee · ROCHESTER, N. Y. · Jun 20, 1854

Meetings at Liberty, Pennsylvania

By W. S. Ingraham; A. S. Hutchins

From Bro. Hutchins.

DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Agreeable to previous appointment we have visited Liberty, Mc Kean Co., again, and held meetings with the brethren and friends, May 27th and 28th. A deep and thrilling interest still remains in that place, to become acquainted with the evidences of our faith. Quite a number of the friends, who have been reading our publications for weeks, and searching the scriptures for truth, are thoroughly convicted that the seventh day is the Sabbath; and several of them gave us encouragement that they should keep it hereafter.

On First-day the school-house was nearly filled with attentive hearers; some of whom came nine and some fifteen miles to attend the meetings. While presenting the solemn truths of the last message of mercy, we not only felt ourselves strengthened and encouraged by the peaceful presence of the spirit of God, but had the evidences to believe that a number present deeply felt the necessity of making their peace with God immediately.

We were very happy to meet Bro. A. Southwic (the Unionist preacher who received us so kindly when there before) and his companion in these meetings. We found these dear pilgrims in possession of much of the spirit of our heavenly Master. And as we mingled our prayers and supplications together at the altar of prayer, we were greatly blessed and comforted together.

Bro. and sister S. having taken the Bible as their rule of action for years and having had no connection with the sectarian churches, are far from the cold bitter prejudice which usually characterizes those bodies of professed Christians united and held together only by human creeds. Bro. S. exhorted the congregation to lay aside all prejudice and search the scriptures and pray fervently for farther light upon what they had been hearing. Such a course, if pursued, we verily believe would result in bringing God's children together and uniting them upon the truths of the message of the third angel. Rev. xiv, 9—12. Before leaving the place he gave notice that he would meet with the friends in that place in three weeks from the past Sabbath.

Eight of the friends from that vicinity gave us their names for the Review.

Our meetings at this place last Sabbath and First-day were deeply interesting. The weather was so cool that it was deemed inexpedient to go into the grove to hold these meetings, as we had designed. But we were favored with a large convenient school-house in which to meet. On First-day the house was filled with attentive hearers. The sweet melting Spirit of our blessed Master was present from the commencement to the close of the Conference, to comfort the children of God and to impress the sinner with the importance of making preparation for the solemn hastening events of the future. Five followed the example of our Lord and Saviour in the ordinance of baptism. At the close of the public exercises, we came together and partook of the emblems of the broken body and spilt blood of the dear Redeemer.

W. S. INGRAHAM. A. S. HUTCHINS.

Ulysses, Pa., June 6th, 1854.