Meeting at Ayersville, Ohio.
By H. A. St. John
By request, I will give a brief report of this meeting. According to appointment, Bro. Hutchinson from Orwell was with us. Three of our dear friends from Leipsic were all that came from abroad. The first meeting commenced on Sabbath evening, about the going down of the sun. Two prayer and conference meetings on the Sabbath, commencing respectively at 11 A. M. and 2 P. M. The Lord met with us in these meetings with his good Spirit, for which we feel to praise his holy name. On Sunday at 10 A. M. Bro. Hutchinson spoke to us about an hour upon the subject of baptism, showing its place and relative importance in the glorious plan of redemption, clearly evincing from the Scriptures that it was highly essential, and not to be neglected by those who wish to enjoy the full favor of God as dear children; showing also that baptism, in order to be valid, must be preceded by these necessary prerequisites, namely, genuine faith and repentance: the latter word to be taken in its broadest sense: meaning not only a godly sorrow for sin, but a reformation, or turning away from the same; giving us to understand further, that God had nothing superfluous or non-essential in his Book. He enjoyed freedom in speaking, and the Brn. and sisters were edified and instructed. After the discourse we repaired to the Maumee River, distant eight miles, where we had a quiet and pleasant time in witnessing five willing souls buried with their Lord in baptism, who arose, as we hope and trust, to walk in newness of life. Four of these belong to the Instructor family. The last meeting of the series was held in the evening, and it was one which will be long remembered by all present. Hardly an eye but what was suffused with tears. The Spirit of God was there. At the close of this meeting we had an accession of six members to our little church. We all feel strengthened and encouraged. The first meeting was good, the second better, and the last the best of all. We believe those meetings are just what the Brn. in Ohio need. We hope our Committee will be enabled to keep them up; but in order that they may do this, our Brn. every where should give them their hearty co-operation and support. To the lonely ones, who have not been interested in attending these meetings, let me say, You lose much. Be sure that you try to meet with the remnant as often as is practicable, and so much the more as you see the day approaching. For it is by this means that we can exhort and encourage each other with words of good cheer.