MEETINGS AT EAGLE HARBOR, N. Y.
By M. Hull
Our meetings at Eagle Harbor commenced July 11, and held over five Sabbaths. Freedom was given to preaching the word of the Lord. The signs of the times at present are so ominous that it does not require so much of an effort to get up an interest now as in former times. Bro. and sister White were with us over one Sabbath and first-day. We were cheered and much revived by their presence, especially as we were worn down by excessive labor. Bro. White preached five discourses, all of which were timely. But especially did his discourse on scriptural conversion and sanctification have the desired effect. Sister White’s testimonies were very pointed, and seemed to remove prejudice which existed against her and her visions. Eld. P. A. Smith, of Rochester, came to our meeting and invited me to engage with him in a friendly discussion of the Sabbath question. So we entered the arena and went into a twelve hours’ combat, which resulted in the glory of God. The Lord permitted his truth to shine brighter after the discussion than it did before. Eld. S., and all his brethren (so far as we know), are convinced that the remnant who keep the commandments of God suffered nothing from the attack, that the law of God lives, and will live, despite all their efforts to put it down. Feeling that their artillery is too light, that the truth can stand against more than they are able to bring against it, they have resolved to let us alone. Eld. Smith conducted himself like a gentleman, and we can but hope that he will yet have his eyes opened to behold wondrous things out of the law, that he will yet see that he is in the dragon’s service, desert his captain, and come over and help us repair the breach. Eld. C. F. Sweet (Age-to-come believer) heard a part of the discussion, and manifested evident signs of agony. After the discussion was over he arose and spoke a few words, in which he set a snare for me; but it was too transparent. “It is in vain that the net is set in the sight of any bird.” It failed. So he announced that he would speak in the tent the next night on the “higher law.” We were all very anxious to know where he would find a higher law than that of God, so we gave him a hearing the next night. I am sorry to say that his law was such that the people would not endorse it. They preferred the law of God. If he fairly represented the higher law in his discourse, it consisted of slang, low buffoonery, and abuse of seventh-day keepers in general, and sister White and the visions in particular. But as the people had seen sister White and heard her speak, he did not succeed in creating a prejudice in that direction. He related several anecdotes about Bro. Rhodes and others. Our ministers had cracked walnuts with him on the Sabbath, &c., &c. Therefore there is a higher law. We tried to be honest and listen with attention; but we could not see how the premises would support the conclusion. We never heard a stronger effort to create prejudice. He impugned the motives of those who delight in the law of God, and was even silly enough to accuse me of having money at stake. He disgusted the people so that they arose en masse and left him talking. The next night we calmly reviewed his discourse, and although he would not permit us to correct his misquotations, we invited him to sit in the stand, take notes and correct any error that we might make in representing his discourse. We consider it no interruption for a person to correct us while we are speaking. Eld. Sweet accused us of misrepresenting him as much as a dozen times while we were speaking, but his correction always made the matter worse for himself. We tried to show his no-law and Age-to-come-ism up in its native deformity. And surely the Lord gave us help. The people could see where the truth and Spirit of the Lord was. When we sat down Eld. Sweet arose and commenced his harangue again, accusing us of misrepresenting him, &c. At this juncture a voice was heard in the congregation saying, “We heard enough of you last night!” Then the congregation arose and left him again. We pitied the man, but it could not be helped. Our entreaties for them to hear him were in vain. After he had corrected us so often, when he and the congregation knew that we were right, for him to get up and whine about misrepresentations was so contemptible that the people would not hear it. We held meetings two Sabbaths after the discussion. A goodly number have commenced keeping the commandments. Thirty were baptized. Others would have been, but were hindered by their parents. Others say, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a christian,” while many others are investigating. May the Lord help all to come out right. Our meetings in N. Y. have been profitable this summer. About one hundred have embraced the truth at the two meetings. This is encouraging. New York is now an interesting field. My prayer is, Lord, send out more laborers. I would that the tent could run longer, but my strength is gone. I must have rest. I could not have stood it as I have had not the brethren stood right up to the work. They were always on hand with their prayers, exhortations and means. The cause must prosper where the brethren take hold as they do here. The brethren in this State are going to try to make a stronger effort next year than they have ever made before, feeling assured that the Lord will bless. We realize that the time is short, and what we do must be done quickly. The time of trouble is right upon us.
M. HULL.