p. 85 | TRIP TO INDIANA by J. H. Waggoner

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 11, 1862

TRIP TO INDIANA.

By J. H. Waggoner

My journey South was attended with unusual difficulties. Soon after leaving home on sixth-day, 24th ult., I was severely attacked with pleurisy, by which I was obliged to stop at Colon, and feared I should have to return home. But by the blessing of our kind heavenly Father, I was enabled to attend the conference at Parkville, which was a good meeting to me in several respects, but chiefly for the privilege I enjoyed of hearing Bro. Cornell present an argument on the perpetuity of the gifts of the Spirit, which he did in two discourses, to the satisfaction of all who love present truth.

On Monday following we met Bro. and Sr. Byington at Burr Oak, by whose request I went about twelve miles that evening, in La Grange Co., Ind., to tarry over night. Most of this distance I traveled in a very tedious, driving snow storm, which soon blocked the roads so that night overtook me on the road, and the evening was far advanced before I arrived at the place of stopping. The storm turned to rain, which increased in the morning; but about noon it abated, and I started for Salem. Soon after I started it commenced raining again, and continued most of the afternoon, but I was obliged to go to Salem that night or fail of getting through my journey that week. I there took a very severe cold, from which I am suffering yet. Next day I went to Fort Wayne, where I took the cars on Thursday morning, and went to Lafayette, where I had to lay over till next morning. Here I found that my going to Fort Wayne instead of South Bend, as I at first intended, was providential, for the heavy rain had literally flooded the country, and the Wabash bridge north of Lafayette was not considered safe to run over. Friday morning I took cars for Gosport, Owen Co., from which place I went up White River some five or six miles, where I have now commenced a course of lectures in the Disciple meeting-house, in the small village of Paragon, Morgan Co. The house is commodious, but the hearers are somewhat scattered and the roads very bad.

To realize the extent of this field of labor, one must come and see for himself. The openings are abundant, and the calls urgent. But who shall fill them? In the north-east part of the State I have several invitations, some of which I hope to be able to comply with before my return home.

I feel my weakness; and what awaits me I know not. But the times call for action, and I desire to gird on the armor anew. May the Lord help and prosper his own cause.

J. H. WAGGONER.

Morgan Co., Ind., Feb. 3, 1862.

P. S. My P. O. address at present is Gosport, Owen Co., Ind.