REPORT FROM BRO. WAGGONER.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
Sabbath and first-day, April 19, 20, I spent at Marshall, Mich. I found much darkness there, but most of them had a desire to be helped. Confessions were made, and union restored, except with the persistently unruly. The last Sabbath in April I spent with the church in Salem, Ind. The meetings held with them in March had been productive of good, and I found them much better prepared for organization than I expected to. Those who were determined to move onward were united, and the disaffected and wavering were taking their appropriate positions. The covenant was adopted, Bro. C. C. Bodley was chosen and ordained elder, Bro. N. R. Rigby was chosen clerk, and Bro. J. L. Locke treasurer of the S. B. fund. It was also determined to ask permission to connect themselves with the nearest conference in Michigan. One was baptized, and the ordinances celebrated on Tuesday evening. On Friday evening, May 2, I commenced meetings in the "Free church," in Sturgis, Mich. This church was built by the citizens, and though the trustees are Spiritualists, and therefore it is supposed by some to be dedicated to Spiritualism, it is open to all who wish to occupy it. Bro. Palmer lives near Sturgis, and the repeated invitations he had received from all classes, professors and others, to get some one to lecture on our faith in Sturgis, and their promises to attend and hear, he supposed were given in good faith, and therefore I was induced to come and make the trial. But the congregations were small, except on Sunday evening, when it189was large and attentive. But as they suffered themselves to be drawn away by other meetings, we judged there was not sufficient interest to justify a continuance of the meetings, and so I closed last evening. Many of the professors seemed pleased with the idea of my attacking Spiritualism in such a strong hold as this, for they are very numerous here; yet the Spiritualists invited me to continue to occupy the house. The conduct of professors was in strong contrast with this; for, though I had plainly printed in my bills, "The Bible, and the Bible alone," one minister refused to read in the pulpit a notice of my meetings. I verily believe that if my advertisements had contained the motto, "The Bible, and the Methodist Discipline," he would not have objected to reading a notice before his congregation. I hope and trust that all Protestant principle is not yet crushed out of that people, and that they protest against such partisan bigotry when they understand its workings. I expect to go from here to Vicksburgh, according to Bro. Hull's request. J. H. WAGGONER. Sturgis, Mich., May 9, 1862.