REPORT FROM BRO. INGRAHAM.
By Wm. S. Ingraham
Bro. Smith: Having a few moments to retire from the busy cares and perplexities with which I have been surrounded, I take my pen to give you a brief history of my labors for some weeks past. About the middle of January I commenced a meeting in the town of Cadiz. My third lecture was on the subject of the Sabbath. Immediately after this lecture three came out decidedly on this great and important command. This created quite a stir among the Methodists; for two of those that decided to keep the Sabbath were of this class. From this time opposition began. But this only increased an interest to hear, until the house was perfectly crowded. The Methodists were determined to close the house against me. Their first trial was to prejudice the school-teacher and get him to lock me out. Failing here, they came to me and said the excitement was so great that the people were fighting in the street, and the directors had concluded to shut the house. (This was after meeting, before we had left the house.) Soon after a gentleman came in and said he had been talking with a Methodist on the Sabbath question, and the Methodist called him a liar, and he could not take the abuse, and struck at him; but the blow was warded off, and he did not hurt him. After a few moments' consultation the directors said, Go on with your meetings. Our opposers gaining nothing in this direction, tried another. A woman came forward and claimed the house as her property. She said the lot on which the house stood was sold by her husband, then dead, to the district, but there was a flaw in the writings, consequently the house and lot were hers, and the house must be shut. So I had to leave until they could try titles. My next meeting was at Round Grove, Ills. Here we met Bro. and sister Allen, and Bro. and sister Church, from Henry Co., Ills., who had traveled sixty miles to hear for the first time the third angel's message. They were much interested, and their lonely hearts were cheered. Taking all things into consideration, this meeting was one of profit to the saints. I accompanied Bro. Allen to Peoria Co., where I commenced a meeting among the Seventh-day Baptists. We made application for their meeting house, but their preacher gave us to understand our business called us in another direction. We commenced our labors in an adjoining district. Three here decided to keep the commandments, one of whom was Bro. Allen's brother. Two were baptized during our meeting. We had the privilege of meeting Bro. Satterlee's children, of New York, in this place.134Notwithstanding some of them have made no profession of religion, yet they keep the Sabbath. Charles Satterlee and wife publicly confessed their determination to go with us to mount Zion. A good interest was manifest on the part of some of the Seventh-day Baptists. Bro. Allen has been an ordained preacher in the Christian denomination about eight years. He has kept the Sabbath about fifteen years. He now sees the beauty and harmony of our position, and is preparing to go out into the great harvest-field to proclaim the third angel's message. May the God of truth direct all his steps, and give him great success in winning souls to Christ. We think of going to Princeville, Peoria Co. Eld. Blanchard of this place, a Christian preacher, has freely offered his meeting-house for lectures. Let all the saints pray for us.
WM. S. INGRAHAM.
Galva, Ills.