Letter from Bro. Waggoner.
By J. H. Waggoner
Bro. Smith:—I closed my lectures at North Adams, Hillsdale Co., last evening. I gave fifteen public lectures. Other meetings in the place, together with the prejudice against the present truth, seemed to prevent many from attending; but the attendance and interest were good. Many of the brethren and sisters from Hillsdale were present at most of the meetings, and were thereby greatly strengthened, especially those who did not at first attend meetings in the tent, and had not, therefore, heard our arguments in full. The members of the Wesleyan church generally attended most of the time. The fourth lecture was on Spiritualism, and I had great liberty in presenting the truth on that subject. After I had spoken about three quarters of an hour, a Mr. Bausal, a noted medium living about four miles distant, who with an associate sat immediately before me on the front seat, commenced making passes, by which he threw an influence over almost every one in the house. It came over me like a shock of electricity, stopping my speech, and so confusing my mind that for the moment I entirely lost my subject. But the Lord was my helper, and I rebuked the enemy in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, by whose power I was set free. Nevertheless he continued his operations about thirty-five or forty minutes, during which time the Lord furnished a powerful testimony against the workers of iniquity, pointing out their character and destiny from the word. The next evening several more came, but their workings did not produce any apparent effect. Never before had I seen the enemy appear so determined to destroy the testimony of the word, and never had I felt the power of God so immediately sustaining me in the vindication of the truth; and some who had before doubted in regard to these manifestations were convinced of their nature and tendency. So that, as the demons confessed Christ when he was on earth, so did they confirm his word on that occasion. The next evening the brethren and sisters remained for prayer after the lecture, and in view of the perils by which we are surrounded, the following Sabbath was appointed a day of fasting and prayer by the Hillsdale church. We fear many did not realize its importance, and observe it as duty required, yet others found it good "to afflict their souls," and call upon God to spare his people. A prayer and conference meeting was appointed on Sabbath, 18th inst., at 1 o'clock, in the Wesleyan Methodist house, where I was lecturing. Brethren and sisters from Moscow and Hillsdale were present. This was truly a season of rejoicing; the best social meeting, I think, that I ever attended. Several confessed the truth, and the time was spent in singing, speaking and praying, without any intermission or lack of interest, till nearly half past four. As to the effect of these meetings in the community where they were held, I can say but little yet. Many who had heard but little at Hillsdale attended, and were confirmed in the faith. Many confessed that we have the truth, but time only will determine whether it will prove a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death. The cause is prospering in Hillsdale County; the letter to the Laodiceans is acknowledged by all to be timely, and necessary to arouse us to a full sense of our lack of fitness to labor efficiently in the Lord's cause, or stand in the judgment. For myself, I can truly say, This world is dark and destitute of the means of enjoyment for me. My prayer is that I may be able to stand in my own place, and so obtain of Jesus the white raiment and enduring riches of the heavenly kingdom. I believe that the "times of refreshing" are near at hand, and the children of God must now be zealous and repent or lose their crowns. The thought is a fearful one; but "the faithful and true Witness" has spoken, and no one may contradict his word. I fully endorse what has been written in the Review on this subject. We must live so holy that the world will be reproved by our lives, or they will care but little for our profession. The Spirit and Testimony of Jesus in the churches will bring persecution. May we have faith to overcome, not only the world, but our own lukewarmness. J. H. W. Addison, Mich., Jan. 20th, 1857.