Communication from Bro. Hutchins.
By A. S. Hutchins
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—For about five months past, I have been laboring in company with Bro. Ingraham. We have spent several weeks in this county, during which time we have witnessed the progress of truth with deep interest. About twenty have been added to the little band of Sabbath keepers who are looking for the immediate and personal coming of the Saviour, since commencing our labors here last Winter. On the Sabbath of our first Conference in Ulysses, in Jan'y., Bro. C. H. Barrows was some distance from home, with a design of returning before First-day; circumstances however rendered it necessary for him to put up for the night in U., which he did with one of the brethren, without knowledge of the meetings, or that he was among Sabbath-keepers, till he stopped. On First-day he came into meeting and heard a lecture in defence of the Bible Sabbath, for the first time. He was strongly convicted that he had heard the truth. Said he had been living too destitute of the enjoyment of religion, but by the grace of God he would live better. The next Sabbath he attended our meeting and his son with him. Before the close of the meeting they both resolved to keep the Sabbath. The young man embraced religion and has been baptized. Soon after this Bro. B. moved to Liberty, Mc Kean Co. where we held meetings the 6th and the 7th inst. We found the people in that vicinity had been reading our publications before we went there. A goodly number of friends were present to hear the word spoken, who listened attentively for the first time to the last message of mercy. Four ministers were present during the meeting. One of these (Unionist) received us kindly, and favored us with the privilege of occupying the time of his appointment on First-day. He exhorted the congregation not to condemn us, nor what they had heard. But like the Bereans to search the Scriptures, and see if these things were so. We expect to visit the friends there again soon. The steady and onward march of truth in this vicinity is causing some uneasiness among the ministers. In Ulysses and Allegany, the public have been warned to beware of the doctrines (held by us as truths of the Bible) which are causing excitement here. Last First-day a discourse was preached in this place for that purpose; which we heard. Several points of doctrine differing widely from those taught by human creeds and the traditions of men, were spoken of and counted "divers and strange doctrines." But the great scarcity of scriptural proof in defence of the premises assumed, and the weakness of human reasoning to sustain them, had a tendency rather to strengthen some in the truth than to turn them away from it. Others who read the Bible but little and allow the minister to do most of their thinking (upon religious subjects) were doubtless quieted and strengthened in opposition to the truth. As the Sabbath truth has been shaking the sandy foundations of the First-day theory, and uniting God's people together, we expected an attempt would be made to sustain Sunday-keeping, but in this were disappointed. We could but pity our speaker while attempting to expose our "errors," without ever having heard a lecture (as he informed us) relative to what we do believe. May the Lord enable us to "Prove all things: hold fast that which is good." A. S. HUTCHINS. Allegany, Potter Co., Pa., May 18th, 1854.