MEETINGS IN OHIO by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 25, 1858

MEETINGS IN OHIO.

By James White

FEBUARY 26th, we met in conference with the brethren at Green Spring. We preached at this meeting the best we could, but it was a dark hard place to preach. Some who had been in the truth for years, came with an exalted spirit, destitute of a sense of the solemnity of this time and the present work. The erring were faithfully reproved. The meeting closed with some degree of freedom, and hope for better times in time to come.

March 6th and 7th we met in conference with the brethren in Gilboa. Here assembled about one hundred brethren and sisters in a school-room, fifty by twenty-five feet. The people crowded in so that the place was very uncomfortable. All three of their meeting-houses were closed against us, yet on First-day it was thought that our congregation packed into the school-room, was nearly as large as all three comfortably seated in their meeting-houses. The opposition in Gilboa, is bold and wicked. We had freedom in speaking the Word, but our feelings were saddened at the bold, scoffing faces of many scorners. The pointed, solemn truth spoken, sometimes caused even the scoffer to weep, but he would the next moment resist it with a careless smile, or cover his feelings with a sort of angry grin.

The harvest is very ripe in Gilboa. Eighty there profess the present truth. How solemn the thought! The last message of mercy ripening the harvest of the earth! It is so! It is so! Where the people have a chance to hear the reasons of our faith and hope, a few decide for the truth, the mass decide against it, and fall back never to be aroused again by the truth. The work is taking this form more and more, which is to us a tremendous evidence that we are nearing the loud cry of the message.

In this church is much wealth which will doubtless sink some, while others begin to feel their responsible duties as stewards of the Lord.

Brother T. J. Butler was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by prayer and the laying on of hands.

At their meeting of business the brethren voted unanimously that $100,00 should be raised in Ohio for Bro. M. E. Cornell as a donation, to assist him in publishing a book, entitled, "Facts for the times, a book of Extracts." This is a valuable work. We stated to the conference, that on the strength of their vote, we should borrow the $100,00, and print the book immediately. On our way home we obtained the cash, and now say to the brethren in Ohio, send your donations to this Office, or hand them to Bro. T. J. Butler of Gilboa.

March 13th and 14th we enjoyed freedom with the young church at Lovett's Grove. Bro. Holt's labors have been greatly blessed in this place. He thinks about forty are keeping the Sabbath in this place. A few weeks since there were none. We enjoyed great freedom with these brethren. On First-day God manifested his power in a wonderful manner before the crowded assembly. Several decided to keep the Lord's Sabbath and go with the people of God. We feel much indebted to Bro. and Sr. Tillotson who were with us two weeks and conveyed us comfortably with their carriage all the way from where we left the rail road at Green Spring, till we found it again at Freemont where we took the cars for home.

Here we will add, that we regard the cause in Ohio in a prosperous condition. There is much wealth among the brethren which we fear will drown many of them in perdition. This is the most discouraging feature at present. God help them to faithfully perform their stewardship. They may expect the labors of Bro. J. N. Loughborough this tent season. J. W.