REPORT OF MEETINGS by M. E. Cornell

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 4, 1858

REPORT OF MEETINGS.

By M. E. Cornell

Bro. Smith: Since my last report I have held meetings in several places. At Oxford a large and attentive congregation listened about two hours to a discourse on the question, What is man? It was truly a privilege to pour forth many of the best Bible testimonies in the presence of all three of the ministers of the place. At the close of our remarks, Prof. S. A. Taft entertained the audience by asking some questions on the subject. He wished to know whether we believed that the mind of man was dependent entirely on the organism; to which we replied, that it was entirely dependent on the living organism; that the phenomena of mind was the result of the organized matter, operated upon by the life principle. He then said he believed man was composed of three parts, viz., the matter of the earth, the life principle from God, and the mind, which was dependent equally on the other two. To this we agreed, and asked the Professor if the same would not hold good in the existence of beasts. After a moment's hesitation he replied that he thought it would. And how he can make out that he does not agree with us at all, on that question, is beyond our comprehension.

At Canandaigua we gave five discourses before very attentive audiences in the district school-house. Application had been made for the meeting-house, but it was refused, and while they had only about twelve or fifteen at an appointment for preaching in the meeting-house, we had more than one hundred and fifty, in the school-house only a few rods distant. Many there appear to love to hear the truth, but as yet few obey it. On First-day

five more willing souls were buried in baptism. It was truly rejoicing to see some of them go into the water weeping, but return praising the Lord. They have appointed Sabbath meetings, and no doubt their numbers will soon increase, if they are faithful.

At Parma, Jackson, Hanover and Hillsdale, we had the pleasure of greeting friends that we had not seen for many months. We gave one discourse in each place, and endeavored to press home the necessity of a new and far more zealous effort to comply with the requirements of the Laodicean message. We hope to hear good tidings of the spiritual prosperity of all these churches.

It is not without regret that we are compelled to leave the work in Michigan. There are many important openings there, and several churches that I had contemplated visiting this fall and winter. But Ohio is an important field, and was without an experienced laborer, while Michigan had three or four. I trust that all will be reconciled to the apparent direction of the Lord, and desire the greatest possible good of the cause in general.

M. E. CORNELL.

Republic, Ohio, Oct 18th, 1858

P. S. I wish to say to Bro. Steward of Wisconsin, that his last letter was forwarded to my address from Battle Creek, but I never received it. My apology for not writing is that I had forgotten his P. O. address. My address, until further notice, is Republic, Seneca Co., Ohio.

M. E. C.