EASTERN TOUR by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 6, 1861

EASTERN TOUR.

By Editor

WE left Battle Creek July 23d, and stopped over night with our old friends at Jackson. Next morning, accompanied by Bro. A. A. Dodge, we took the cars for Detroit, and spent most of the day in Dr. T. A. White's (Dentist) rooms. Mrs. W. and self had each two teeth decayed near the gums which we could not spare, and could hardly trust with our common dentists. Dr. White has done a splendid job for us, at a reduced price. He is a gentleman, and master of his business.

Thursday, 25th, we passed over the long dusty road of three hundred miles to the tent ground at Eagle Harbor, N. Y. Here we met Brn. Hull, Cottrell and Whitney, tent company, enjoying health, and having a good and strong influence in the community.

Friday, the brethren came pouring in from all directions, bringing provisions. The citizens of the place courteously came forward and took the crowd to their houses to lodge. Most of the brethren, however, took their meals at the tent, of the abundance brought in.

Bro. Hull preached Sabbath evening to a large and attentive congregation. We followed on Sabbath, the evening following, and first-day morning, with four discourses. Then Bro. Hull baptized eighteen, nearly all of whom were brethren who feel the duty of burial since having been slain by the law of God. Our plain, close discourse on death and burial, or true conversion, probably prevented some from going forward in baptism who designed to. This we trust will work out right. It should be known that people are dead before buried.

Elder P. A. Smith, an Adventist of the right stamp excepting the Sabbath and third message, was present on first-day, and proposed to discuss the perpetuity of the Sabbath with Bro. Hull, who accepted the proposition for a friendly discussion of the subject. It comes off first-day, August 4th. Eld. S. represents his brethren in the vicinity as being in difficulty on the Sabbath question, and feels called upon to meet our positions on the subject. The result will probably be reported. Bro. Hull preached in the afternoon an able discourse on the resurrection.

The labors in the N. Y. tent are exerting a strong influence in the western part of the State. Bro. Hull's labors are greatly needed, and will probably accomplish as much here as in any other field. The brethren are sustaining the cause well, and design to keep Bro. Hull in the State if they can.

We were happy to meet the brethren at this meeting, especially those who have embraced the message since we last visited this part of the State. Here we met Bro. and Sr. Lindsay with their entire family of sons and daughters all in the work. We had witnessed their anxiety for their children, in time past, and their tears, and wept with them. Now we mingled our tears of joy.

July, 29th, we reached Bro. Lamson's, at Rochester. Here, about nine o'clock in the evening, a messenger came for us from North Parma, stating that Bro. C. W. Sperry was again bleeding at the lungs, and wished to see us. We took the first train, which was a quarter after five the next morning, and reached our afflicted Bro. and Sr. Sperry before eight A. M. We found our dear brother quite comfortable, but much reduced by frequent bleeding. He had just bled a pint. We had a season of prayer in his room which he enjoyed much. Last evening, the 30th, about ten o'clock, Bro. S. bled again. It was exceeding painful to see him, so weak and pale, raise mouthful after mouthful of fresh blood, till he raised a pint. He is very low.

It is painful to see one so useful and one so desirous of fighting the battles of the Lord, thus cut down upon the battle field. Many fervent prayers have gone up to heaven in his behalf during his sickness, and sweet, and sometimes powerful, have been the answers. It is duty to pray for the recovery of the sick believer. James v, 14. Yet it is not always the will of God to raise him up. Rev. xiv, 13. It is the blessed privilege of some to sleep during the closing period of anguish to God's waiting people. When we pray for the sick, and God graciously pours out of his Spirit, how natural to take that as an evidence that they will be raised up. Suppose it be not the will of God to raise up some, how merciful to bless and give evidence of his love and acceptance. Should he withhold his blessing lest it be incorrectly interpreted, with what gloom would they sink away in death without leaving special evidences of acceptance with God, which are so consoling to bereaved friends. God knows best. We must submit to his will.

We leave our dear sick brother in about two hours to go on to the Roosevelt conference. God is able to raise him up, but we should not be surprised if he should not live ten hours.