MEETINGS IN KNOXVILLE, IOWA.
By H. C. WHITNEY
LAST Sabbath was a day long to be remembered by the church in Knoxville. The day was spent in fasting and prayer. We appeared to realize our condition. At times it appeared as if God had withdrawn his Spirit from us; but before the close of our meeting we realized that it was no vain thing to wait before the Lord; and that in turning to the Lord with all our hearts, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning, we have found great reward. The Lord has returned unto us again, praise his holy name! Many a desponding heart was set free, and made to rejoice under the influence of the melting Spirit of Jesus. Our morning meeting was spent principally in examination; and not much of the good Spirit of the Lord was manifest among us; but we felt indeed that it was a solemn assembly. At 5 o'clock P. M. we again assembled at the meeting house, and the Lord deigned to meet with us, and blessed us abundantly. Such an outpouring of his Spirit has not been realized in this place for a long time—to God be all the praise. Truly God is good to his people. On first-day Bro. Waggoner preached the funeral discourse of Bro. Cronkite's child; after which we repaired to the water and seventeen willing souls were buried with Christ by baptism, some of whom have been the special subjects of prayer for months past; but, praise God! they have now witnessed a good profession before men. May the Lord give them grace to walk worthy of the vocation by which they are called. We again assembled in the meeting house in the evening, and after a season of prayer and examination, the ordinances of the Lord's house were attended to. The Lord again met with us, and we had a joyful time. Praise God for his good Spirit! Surely the Lord is returning to his people.
H. C. WHITNEY.
Knoxville, Iowa, Aug, 5, 1861.