p. 196 | EASTERN TOUR by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 10, 1859

EASTERN TOUR.

By James White

BRO. SMITH : On our way to the Washington Conference we left the cars at Keene, where we were invited by Bro. Whitcomb to his home, and were cordially received. Sister W. unfortunately fell under the blighting influence of the accusing spirit of the "Messenger," which has seemed to separate her in spirit from the body for a few years. They hold fast to the Sabbath, and we hope they will find their way out of that miserable by-path, and come on with the people of God who are on their way to Mt. Zion.

At the Washington, N. H. meeting there was a general turnout of the brethren from your native State. We will not take room to give the particulars of this meeting; but will say that it was the best we ever enjoyed in old Washington.

The friends of present truth are still few in New Hampshire. And some in the State say they hardly dare put forth an effort to have the truth set before the people, lest the interest which might be got up be destroyed at a dash by some rash and injudicious movement of some who profess the Sabbath, who do not see the importance of moving cautiously and in union with the body. In recent articles we have spoken freely of evils which have cursed the cause in the East, which we will not repeat here. It is our solemn conviction that where the friends of present truth see these evils, and unitedly arise and put them away, then, and not till then, will it be of use to make similar efforts in New Hampshire to those being made in the West. It is proper to say that the brethren generally stand with the body, yet some have been slow to value the labors of cautious men, of real moral worth, and have put too high an estimate on the labors of those who are incautious, rash, and some who incorporate into their labors a large share of oddity, drollery, and fanaticism. The real friends of the cause in New Hampshire are precious and tried. And notwithstanding their penury compared with some western Sabbath-keepers, they raised at the Washington Conference $33,10, for Western missionaries.

The Conferences in Vermont, at Roxbury and Berkshire, were decidedly the best we ever attended in the State. At both places we were happy to meet some who have recently embraced the message. Brethren Hutchins and Sperry were with us at Roxbury, and tarried after the Conference to hold more meetings in the large town-house. This house was well filled with attentive hearers on first-day.

At Berkshire we met brethren Stone, Buck, Taylor, A. C. and D. T. Bourdeau, and our good Bro. Czechowski, besides quite a host of whole-hearted brethren from Northern Vermont, Canada, and some from other States. We spoke to them twice on the Sabbath, and four times on first-day. The brick meeting-house was filled on first-day, and much interest manifested by the citizens of the place.

There is wealth in Northern Vermont which should be finding its way into the cause of Bible truth. And we are happy to say that symptoms are favorable. The Vermont brethren did nobly for the cause of missions. They sent one of their tents west, let their most experienced preachers go west, and are now sending means west to help the cause in its present embarrassments. It will be expected of the numerous friends west, that they will be moved by the liberality of eastern brethren, to contribute sufficiently to meet the wants of the cause in their own States, and extend the message to others. It may be difficult to raise much means at present in the west, but there is wealth in the ranks of Sabbath-keepers west, and vigorous efforts, and a little sacrifice will raise ready cash. We are happy to know that among our people there is no east nor west; but the cause is one everywhere. Eastern brethren now appear to take as much interest in the cause west, as in the cause at home. J. W.