MEETINGS IN MOUNT PLEASANT.
By Moses Hull
Bro. Smith: I have been trying to preach in Mount Pleasant for ten days past, and I think some good has been done. I found prejudice very high, and a tremendous outside pressure against the truth. The people were determined in the first place that I should not have a place to preach. The Universalists were the only ones who were kind enough to grant us a place in which to preach. But the effort did not stop here. After we had secured a house, the sects were determined if possible by making and circulating false reports to keep the people from hearing. I saw one minister approach a man with "Squire, you aint a-goin to run off after that man, are you?" The man responded that he was going to hear. "Well," said he, "it is too much like wallowing in the dust; I wont hear him." Another man was well acquainted with my wife's brother, and he had learned from him that I was a bad man. It is strange that people will make such assertions. The fact is, my wife has no brother in Iowa. She has but one brother, and he is only eleven years old, and the little fellow never saw the State of Iowa. These false reports, with a number of others, kept many honest souls from hearing the word of the Lord. I could not, under the circumstances, give a full course of lectures, yet some good was done. Eld. E. W. Shortridge publicly expressed his determination to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. His brethren have been anticipating this for some time, and hence have circulated all manner of false reports about him through their public papers, and in other ways. Bro. S. does not complain of this, for in this they are showing their faith by their works. This is the practical result of the abolition of the law of God. Who would be cruel enough to deny them the privilege of hearing false witness against their neighbor, when the law prohibiting it has been abolished? Let them have the free exercise of their religion in this matter. Bro. Shortridge and myself are now holding meetings in Fairfield. We hope the Lord will give us a good time. We want to draw near to God that he may draw near to us,
M. HULL.