Report from Bro. Cornell.
By M. E. Cornell
WHEN I last reported we were in the midst of our afflictions at Topsham. My wife has now so far recovered, that she is able to attend meetings and help in the singing. As soon as she was able to sit up part of the time, I commenced to hold meetings, leaving her with kind friends. I have preached up to this time fifty-seven discourses, as follows: thirteen at Topsham and Brunswick, twenty-three at North Berwick, and twenty-one at Portland. At Berwick, there was a very good interest, books were taken freely and sixteen subscribed for the Review. Brn. Davis and Prescott had held some meetings in the place, a few had embraced the truth and others were interested. Several of these were confirmed by our lectures, and some others decided for the truth. I gave three discourses on the gifts and Bible order, with good effect. I sold several of Sr. White's bound volumes which are being read with great interest by some. At Portland, our meetings were held under very unfavorable circumstances. The attractions of the holidays, frequent storms, and mountains of prejudice, all combined, kept many from hearing the truth, still the brethren say there was a better attendance and a more encouraging result than our cause ever received in Portland, in any former effort. Eight subscribers were obtained for our papers, and a good supply of books were taken, and some I learn have decided to keep all the commandments. But the most important result of these meetings has been the opportunity they afforded to correct the many misapprehensions existing in regard to the faith and practice of Seventh-day Adventists. Six or seven at Portland, and ten or twelve at Berwick, who have been more or less affected by the course of S. C. Hancock, G. Cranmer and others, have had their minds disabused and now they express a desire to go with the body. After spending about five weeks in Portland, and Berwick, I can speak understandingly in regard to the position of all Sabbath-keepers in both places. And I can safely say there are not a half dozen left in both places, who are still in sympathy with Hancock and others, in their efforts to build up and maintain a separate party of Sabbath-keepers. Some candid, honest persons have been deceived by false reports, put in circulation by designing persons for want of better arguments. Several times, during the last twelve years I have met some of these reports against Bro. and sister White, and the faith of our people. And I have often wished I could go to the places where these things were said to have transpired that I might learn the facts for myself. And now having been on the ground and had opportunity to make a thorough investigation of the matter, I wish to say, I have made diligent inquiries of those who have been acquainted with Bro. and sister White from the first of their experience in the Advent messages, and I cannot learn from either friends or foes that there is any foundation for said reports. I find that most of these reports started in Portland and vicinity, and mainly from those who have so very enviable reputation for truth and veracity. When closely questioned, one of them admitted before several witnesses that he never supposed there was anything immoral in the deportment of Bro. and sister White, but from what he had heard, he had thought there might have been some imprudences, about twenty years ago! In some cases I have found that things reported against Bro. and sister White, were really the transactions of others, for whom Bro. and sister W. had no fellowship whatever. I have also ascertained that in some instances those who are most officious in circulating twenty-year-old reports, would find plenty of business for a time, in correcting their own inconsistencies of a much more recent date. This statement may not be deemed necessary, and indeed it is not, for the sake of the cause in the West, where Bro. and sister White have been best known for the last fourteen years, but there are other places where it may serve the cause. North Jay, Me., Jan. 10, 1865.