REPORT FROM BRO. HULL by Moses Hull

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 6, 1862

REPORT FROM BRO. HULL.

By Moses Hull

I LEFT Battle Creek, April 16th, for my appointment at Rochester, Mich., and arrived there by private conveyance about two hours ahead of the Review containing my appointment.

It being very rainy and muddy, the brethren thought it not best to go to Oakland until first-day. So I preached three times in Rochester. The congregations were large considering the rain and mud, and the interest was very good. Many of the brethren are very confident that a good work could be done in Rochester, could a course of lectures be given there.

I have not had a more intelligent congregation nor better interest than I had at Rochester, for some time. I have had seventeen requests to go there and give a synopsis of our faith. Many of the best citizens want to hear.

On first-day, the meetings were moved to the Oakland meeting-house, about five miles north-west of Rochester. Here I gave two discourses, and announced three more, but just then

"Bolts and locks Turned orthodox,"

and I could not. So they got the supremacy, and I moved my battery to a neighboring school-house. As the school-house was not so large as the meeting-house, I feared it would not hold the people, and therefore requested those who had shut their neighbors out of their own meeting-house, to stay at home, or go to the meeting-house, for the space that they would occupy in the school-house, would be needed for those who were interested. This, together with the hard rain and mud, reduced our congregation, so that the first night all could be seated, yet the seats were full. I spoke on the "mark of the beast," after which I called for a decision, the result of which was, almost the entire congregation arose to signify their belief that the seventh day of the week, commonly called Saturday, is the only weekly Sabbath of divine authority.

On the second night at the school-house, notwithstanding the heavy rain, and the snow which was melting off, the congregation was so large that we had to put in several extra seats. The Lord gave freedom in talking on the signs of the times as presented in Matt. xxiv.

On the third evening the house was crowded to overflowing, with attentive hearers. I spake near two hours on the fulfillment of prophecy, in what is called "Millerism." The Lord gave great freedom. Many seemed to be entirely melted down, especially those who were engaged in the first message, but had since lost their "Moorings." They felt that the cloudy pillar was brightening, and that the "bitter" had again become "honey." Some signified their determination to go with us to the kingdom. Here I had expected to bring these meetings to a close and go to Chesaning, but I learned that the waters were so high that I could not get there, so I decided to stay another week.

This I think was providential, for truly we had "the best of the wine at the last of the feast." The interest increased from first to last. About twenty started for the kingdom. On first-day of the second week, after a discourse on the text "what must I do to be saved," we repaired to the water where Bro. Lawrence buried seven willing souls with their Lord in baptism, all of whom I trust arose to walk in newness of life. This scene was truly a solemn one, and left a good impression upon the minds of the large concourse of people who witnessed the scene.

On second day we again repaired to the water where I baptized six, who were not prepared to go forward the day before.

There is now a good little company of commandment keepers in Oakland, under Bro. Lawrence's care. They have decided to have their meetings regularly. I enjoyed one social meeting with them which was truly a feast to my soul. May I have the privilege of meeting them on Mount Zion? MOSES HULL.