EASTERN TOUR | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 27, 1861

EASTERN TOUR.

SABBATH and first-day, Aug. 10 and 11, we spent with the brethren at Mannsville, N. Y. The church here have passed through some severe trials since we visited them near two years ago. Then there was apparently a good state of union; but soon after some made Spiritual Gifts a test in this way: They would not hear their brethren, older in the message than themselves, say anything about them in meeting, so after some contention they left. The brethren had their choice, to shut out what they firmly believed to be from heaven, or to let those go who would bind their consciences in this respect, and manifest that spirit against the testimony of Jesus set forth in Rev. xii, 17. They took the wise course to secure a clean conscience, and give freedom to the spirit of truth.

On Sabbath the meeting-house was full. Eld. Sumnerbell, Seventh-day Baptist, and Eld. Turner, no-Sabbath Adventist, were present. We spoke twice on the Sabbath, but much regretted that we were worn, weary and unwell at this meeting, which injured its interest. We decide that our time between meetings, when not traveling to appointments, must be spent in resting, instead of visiting and laboring from house to house.

First-day we spoke twice to a full house. We felt that the blessing of God was with us. At the close of the afternoon service, the brethren enjoyed a more social season. Mrs. W. spoke in relation to what she had seen at Roosevelt in regard to church order, and the struggle of our nation, and its effect upon the cause. It was a season of interest.

Second-day we met at Bro. Lowrey's with Bro. S. W. Rhodes. He deeply feels his past errors, and wants to be right. But he has so long wove into his confessions his ingenious manner of criminating others, and his masterly style of self-defense, that many really dread to have him attempt a public confession. And well they may. We told him his only hope was to let the cause of self go unpleaded, and confess his own wrongs. Not in public, for he could not resist the temptation to criminate others and defend self; but through the REVIEW, or by letter, or in private families, and let the Lord and the brethren plead his cause. It seems to us that the Spirit of God is unwilling to let this man go. We venture the assertion that his only hope is in confessing his own wrongs without touching the wrongs of others, or giving them the least advice in spiritual things.