ON our way from Burns to Matherton, where Bro. Leander Kellogg had invited us to hold a series of meetings, we stopped at Orleans, at which place we had previously given ten lectures, ending Aug. 24th, after which four decided to keep the Sabbath. Here the school-house was open again for us on Sabbath and first-day, Sept. 24th and 25th, and the people seemed to listen with the same interest as they had before, and the believers were strengthened and encouraged. We were again invited to Mr. K's., some way from the meeting, to see and converse with him, as he was prevented from attending the meetings by reason of sore eyes. He had heard Bro. Frisbie, and became much interested to learn our position. Said he, My companion tells me about the meetings, and your subjects, but I wish to converse on some points that I cannot so clearly understand. Said he, I hope to be able to attend the Conference that Bro. and Sr. White are going to hold in North Plains in Nov. Another who was on business from Wisconsin became deeply interested and furnished himself with books, and said, I want to go to Battle Creek and keep the Sabbath with the brethren there.
Sept. 27th, commenced a series of meetings in the village of Matherton, Ionia Co., under very encouraging prospects which were soon dispelled, as we learned the Methodist society had appointments ahead of us, and there was no other opening in the village for our meetings. We gave but four lectures here to which a good portion of the villagers listened with attention. At the close of our meetings a stranger introduced himself to us as Dr. Beaucanon formerly of Philadelphia, and when there interested in the first message. Moving west soon after, other things occupied and engaged his attention. Said he, I want you to come and see me. I wish to know the present position of the Advent people. We will appoint a meeting for you at our school-house in Hubbardston, two miles distant. After our first meeting here where our new friend and his companion had become much interested to hear and read our books, they were obliged to leave town for several days on business, much to their regret, and also ours, as it left us with no stopping place short of Bro. L. Kellogg's some four miles distant. We held four meetings here, however, and trust our labor was not in vain in the Lord. We think these two places are now open for a series of lectures by any of our preaching brethren who may go there.
Oct. 6th, by invitation of Bro. W. J. Mills, commenced a series of meetings in Conway, seventy miles from Hubbardston. On first-day p. m., 8th inst., Mr. Lee, a Methodist minister, occupied the school-house in fulfillment of his appointment where we were holding our meetings. His text was James i, 25, "The perfect law of liberty." He spoke like one accustomed to public speaking, but in his zeal to make the gospel answer for every requirement of his hearers, he declared most positively that this "law of liberty" was the gospel of Christ, legislated by God in heaven. Dr. Clark was quoted for proof, false teaching denounced, &c. I thought Mr. Lee might have saved much of his hard labor if he had carefully read onward a few verses from his text [chap. ii, 8-12] where James explains the "law of liberty" to be the ten commandments of God, by which men are to be judged. No liberty was given to speak, meeting was dismissed, and class-meeting commenced. We were told after we left the house, he charged the church not to go to hear me preach; he told them I spiritualized the word; and said he, The Devil is among you but you don't know it. We had a pretty good congregation without them, but some of them ventured to come and hear. Before my meetings had progressed far, I felt that disease was fastening upon me, and had to close for two evenings. The people continued to come, hoping to hear; on the Sabbath I felt an assurance from the Lord to finish my work on the first day of the week; part of the time I had to keep my seat, still the people seemed indisposed to move until I closed. Poor souls, I yearned for them, seeing them so anxious to hear, and I had no more strength to speak out the precious truths of the third angel's message. I believe God has some precious jewels there but so surrounded with wrong teaching it seems almost impossible to draw them out into the light of present truth. Bro. W. J. Mills drove me through the country to Chelsea, from whence I was drawn on the freight train, and arrived here by the blessing of God, in about three hours. I soon reached the water pail in the station house and drank water enough to quench in part, the fire that seemed to be consuming my very vitals.