p. 20 | THE CONFERENCE by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 9, 1859

THE CONFERENCE.

By Editor

ANOTHER season of unity and love, of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and of encouragement to his people, has just closed. Those not privileged with attending this cheering convocation, will be interested to hear from those who were. Should they meet such an one, their first spontaneous inquiries would doubtless be, more rapidly than we can write them, What word from the conference at Battle Creek? Who, and how many were present? Did you have spiritual and profitable meetings? Was it good for you to be there? Is your spiritual strength renewed? And above all, was the Lord present by his Holy Spirit to give utterance to those who spoke, and feeling and tender hearts in those who heard? Well, dear brethren, we can give you a favorable answer to all these inquiries. We can tell you of a Conference such as makes the hearts of God's people glad, brightens their hope, revives their courage and renews their strength. We can tell you of a Conference, without one unpleasant feature from beginning to end; of a meeting where there was a steady and rapidly increasing interest from its very commencement to its very close.

But we must descend from the pleasing contemplation of this good season as a whole, and specify some of the particulars which helped compose it. Although there were not so many present by some five hundred as we would have been glad to see, yet our house of worship was crowded to its utmost capacity on the Sabbath. And those who came showed their interest in the matter not only by the pains they took to come, but also by the liberal provision they made for taking care of themselves and others during their sojourn with us. Of those who labor publicly in word and doctrine, there were present Brn. Jos. Bates, Jas. White, J. N. Andrews, J. H. Waggoner, Jno. Byington, J. N. Loughborough, S. W. Rhodes, M. E. Cornell, J. B. Frisbie, T. M. Steward, E. Goodrich, and J. L. Edgar.

On the afternoon of the 3d inst., the opening meeting, we listened to an interesting discourse from Bro. Waggoner. He warned all, especially the young, against carelessly resting upon the fact that they are identified with this people, without the evidence and assurance that they are of them.

From 8 o'clock to 10, Sabbath morning, the time was well filled with short and pointed testimonies from many present. A stirring discourse then followed from Bro. Andrews on the fearful import of that declaration of our Lord's, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Preaching again at 2 P. M. by Bro. Loughborough on the subject of offering thanksgiving unto God, and paying our vows unto the Most High. Ps. l, 14-16.

We refrain from speaking particularly of these discourses, as all will have an opportunity of reading for themselves their heart-stirring appeals and solemn truths, should the speakers write them out for publication as the Conference unanimously invited them to do.

A short time following the afternoon discourse was allotted to social meeting; and this, we are sorry to say, was all the time that could be devoted to such exercises, for reasons mentioned in the business report.

It having become evident that it would be useless to think of convening the people in the meeting-house on First-day, the business of erecting the tent, was vigorously entered upon in the morning, and at little past 8, was ready for the people. We were agreeably surprised to find it at the hour appointed, 10 A. M., filled with nearly as many people as could comfortably be seated. Bro. Loughborough spoke on the subject of Faith with freedom and acceptance.

Following this meeting we enjoyed a most interesting season at the water-side, where ten were buried with Christ by baptism. These with one baptized on Second-day morning, made eleven in all who followed their Lord at this meeting in the appropriate memorial of his burial and resurrection.

Preaching again at 2 P. M. by Bro. Andrews on the subject of the two laws. The mighty bulwarks of truth there erected, formed a perfect Gibraltar against the sophisms of our opponents who endeavor to show that there is no distinction between moral and ceremonial law, and that consequently, all the law of which we have any mention previous to the crucifixion of Christ, was abolished and blotted out by that event.

The last meeting of the session having been appointed at an early hour on Second-day morning, the first beams of the rising sun beheld the house of prayer again well filled with brethren and sisters, who had come together to take the parting hand and to receive, as it proved to be, the best of the wine at the last of the feast. About an hour was occupied by Bro. White in speaking upon the Gifts and Unity of the church, to the utter discomfiture of that hackneyed declaration that we can no more believe, than look, alike; and that other saying, equally common, that when we arrive at heaven, it will never be inquired by what way we came; for he showed that there is but one way to heaven, hence no room for such a question to come in, and that there is but one way for the “wise” to understand in regard to the same thing.

At this meeting Bro. J. L. Edgar, of Alto, Mich., was set apart to the work of the ministry by prayer and the laying on of hands. The brethren were also gratified with the testimony of Bro. E. Goodrich of Pa., as he expressed his pleasure in being present at the Conference, and beholding the love and union that seemed to pervade the hearts of all present, and testified to the joy that filled his own heart, above what he had felt for years before. He will allow us to express our confidence that, if he holds on to the great anchor, the work of judgment going on above, upon which he has at present so firm a grasp, he will be led into all the truth that has yet shone out from the word of God, or that may be in future revealed therein. The position which Bro. T. M. Steward of Wis., took, as will be seen in another column, was also gratifying to the friends of the cause. With the singing of the hymn, “Brethren while we sojourn here,” &c., the meeting concluded. Would that it were possible to communicate to all who read, some of the sweet Spirit with which the exercises closed. We trust that all who participated in it will be enabled to take it to their homes, and retain it for long time to come.

From this place the messengers go forth to their fields of labor. Bro. Waggoner goes to Ohio, to labor with the tent in connection with Bro. Butler of that State. Bro. Cornell goes to Iowa to join Bro. Hull in manning the tent for that State. And Bro. Andrews and Loughborough will labor with the Mich. tent in this State. Bro. G. W. Amadon leaves for Iowa to supply the place of Bro. Andrews on the farm. We are sorry to lose his society in the Office and in the church, and his superintendence of the Sabbath School, and YOUTH'S INSTRUCTION, which have both flourished so well under his care. But circumstances seem thus to indicate duty for the present; and we are sure that the living testimony he has been enabled to bear while with us, will be felt and appreciated by those with whom he goes to associate.

In concluding our remarks upon this meeting, we will only add our earnest desire and prayer that the impression which seemed to rest upon many minds that the work of God is about to arise and go with power, may soon be fully realized.