NORTHERN TOUR | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 31, 1861

NORTHERN TOUR.

Our conference at Wright was, on the whole, a meeting of unusual interest. We found in the place a growing spirit of carelessness on the part of the young. Some manifested a bold recklessness which deserved a stern rebuke. We hope all the young who have respect for the house of God, and for their own reputation, will see their danger in suffering a careless spirit to grow upon them. Our testimony was well received, the brethren revived, and many of the young manifested their desire to seek the Lord. When we left, it was like tearing away from them. We hope to visit them soon, or send them good help.

At Orleans we met most of the brethren in the region round about. Sabbath, the large school-house was full, about one-half believers. First-day, all crowded in that could, and some drove away for want of room. We had liberty in the word, and the best attention. Existing prejudice against us seemed to melt away like dew before the sun. We gave but four discourses, and Mrs. W. spoke twice. When a request was made for those who wished to hear a course of lectures from Bro. Cornell or Bro. Hull to rise up, many arose, and when we asked all opposed to rise, none arose. There would be a full attendance, and we think a great interest, should either of these brethren come. Brn. King and Olmstead feel the deepest interest for their neighbors, and will do all they can to make a laborer’s sojourn in their vicinity comfortable and pleasant. There is also a call for help from the village of Lowell, twenty miles from here. Can Bro. Cornell fill these calls? Please address S. H. King, Orleans, Ionia Co., Mich.

We were troubled at Orleans with a grievous annoyance which we must protest against; viz., two or three babes in the congregation with strong lungs, and restless tempers. At times these threatened to take the lead of the meetings. If the mothers of these children had been unbelievers desirous to learn the truth, or those who had not been in the message several years, we could have borne almost anything from them; but those who made the most trouble were brought quite a distance, and their mothers had for some years been professedly in the truth. Again, there were but two whole families in the message in the place, and such a crowd! Really, these crying babes and their good mothers would have been better off at home. Their places could have been filled by unbelievers who drove away for want of room, and the speaker and hearers would have been saved the painful disturbance of these juvenile voices.