Quarterly Meeting at Hamlin
By E. O. L.
I THINK no gathering for a long time had been looked forward to with so much anticipation generally, as the late Quarterly Meeting at J. Lamson's, Hamlin, N. Y., owing, no doubt to the reason that it was to be the first of the series in the new year, and the last in all probability that would ever be held at that place, as the old farm had been sold, and the house where meetings have been held for the last fifteen years and over, was soon to be occupied by those who never pray, as near as we have learned, for the ark of God to abide with them. Up to Friday morning, the weather was very stormy, consequently those intending to come some distance with their teams, were not there. Nevertheless a large room was well filled, and we did have a good meeting. And while many of the brethren and sisters feelingly referred to the many times they had met under that roof, and of the goodness of the Lord always toward them, our minds were carried back to the past, and we thought of the time when our family, with others heard and embraced the Advent doctrine; and what a happy company we were, continually looking for Jesus. And then, when our faith in a soon coming Saviour, began to decline, we remembered the people that came to us and told us of a "third angel's message" that must be given, and talked to us of "the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus," and of the "patience of the saints," calling these things present truth, and that so strange did these combinations of our language sound to us, that we regarded them with about as much curiosity as though they had come to us from another planet. But when one after another of our family began to embrace these things, and we saw that even our cautious father was inclining in that direction, opposition instead of curiosity took possession of our young hearts. Although mortified as well as grieved to hear them say they were going to keep the Sabbath, hope did not entirely forsake us, for our oldest brother was as bitterly opposed as ourselves, and as he had some considerable knowledge of the Bible, we rested our hopes upon him to find something that would convince the others of the error of their ways; and when he read some such things as, "If ye seek to be justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace," as we did not know the word, we were greatly rejoiced. But soon his own arguments appeared foolishness to himself, and, as many were the prayers that ascended for "Bro. Lamson's unconverted children," after giving proof abundant, that the carnal heart is enmity against God, our rebellion gave way, through the great mercy and abounding goodness of God we were made to see the depravity of our hearts, and led to acknowledge that it was the fear of our friends' falling in the estimation of the world that led us to oppose, and not that they would lose the favor of God by the keeping of his law. We also remembered how in that very room cousin O. W. A. after hearing a few sermons, and counting up the cost, laid all at the feet of the Saviour, esteeming the reproach of Christ of greater value, than notoriety in the world. Then there was our other cousin and his young sister that without the aid of either parent, commenced here the keeping of God's broken law, and at a later day, if we remember rightly, here our esteemed brother J. M. A. witnessed publicly, for the first time a good confession of the truth. There were many others that we thought of, but will not name. As the scenes of the past were brought before us, and we thought of the privileges that we had enjoyed, and were still enjoying, we could but exclaim, The Lord is good, the Lord is good! As I said at the commencement of my letter, we had a good meeting. There was feeling without excitability, and a real and earnest desire manifested by brethren and sisters, to get into that place where the Lord could consistently bless them. Then there appeared to be a greater appreciation, and more rejoicing in the truth than has been with us of late. Exhortations were earnest, brotherly love prevailed, and the tender sympathy manifested for the sick among us, was truly touching. As we looked around the room and thought of the dangers that lay between us and the heavenly harbor, we wondered if we would all be able to "Weather the blast and land at last
Safe on the evergreen shore."
For one I felt that I would cherish the good impressions that I had received, and by constant watchfulness and prayer, endeavor to get nearer to the Lord. Meetings like this we shall not always have the privilege of attending; but there is to be a meeting infinitely better than our Quarterlies or Conferences, and with you brethren and sisters I want to be at that meeting. For at that great assemblage of the saints, not only will be our faithful ministers and brethren, but Jesus himself will be there. E. O. L.