Reports from Vermont Churches
By A. S. Hutchins
BRO. WHITE: After finishing my very pleasant visit at Corinth, (of which I spoke in my last), I visited a few scattered friends and brethren in Vershire, Chelsea, Williamstown and Middlesex. These brethren and sisters do not often enjoy the privilege of meeting with those of like precious faith, for the worship of God. Some of them are anxious to unite with the church when the way opens, while others, perhaps, do not fully realize the benefits of order in the church of God. We are sure that none who take a correct view of this subject, can look upon the order which the church are striving for, as a yoke of bondage, or as an impediment in the heavenly road, neither as an evidence that they are on the retrograde. The first Sabbath in Feb., I spent with the church in Wolcott. Felt to humble myself in view of God's goodness and my own unworthiness, and to earnestly plead with him for more of his love to be shed abroad in my heart, as I spoke again to these dear brethren and sisters. On the 7th, I reached home after an absence of four weeks. The same week, I was called to return to Wolcott to attend the funeral of Bro. Dustin Nichols, who died suddenly, and without a moment's warning. His funeral was attended on first-day, the 12th. It was a solemn and mournful occasion. Sabbath the 25th, I met with the brethren and sisters in Sutton. A few here are striving for victory and eternal life. March 1-4, I was at home. I think the Irasburgh and Charleston church was in harmony with the recommendation of the Gen. Conf. Committee, and felt in some measure to unite with the brethren and sisters, in the great harvest field, in humiliation, prayer and self-denial. But our roads were so badly blocked up with snow drifts about this time, that in our scattered conditions, (situated as we are some of us twenty miles apart) we could not get together for meetings. On sixth-day some of us made an effort to get to Charleston for the Sabbath meeting, but on coming to the worst part of the road, we deemed it inexpedient to think of getting through. So we returned to our homes. Last Sabbath we met in Brownington. I spoke on the nature and results of genuine repentance, from Jonah iii, 10. As we thought of the Ninevites aroused from their death-like slumbers of sin and iniquity, to immediate, heart-felt and saving repentance by the cry of one man, "Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown;" as we thought of the humiliation of the thousands and tens of thousands, from the king upon his throne, down to the lowest subject of the fast proclaimed for man and beast, and contrasted their condition with the privileges which we enjoy for knowing, receiving and obeying the truth, we were led to fear and tremble, if we repent not, and turn not to God fully, and serve him faithfully lest the men of Nineveh should rise in judgment with us, and condemn us, "because they repented at the preaching of Jonas." A. S. HUTCHINS.
Barton Landing, Vt., March 17, 1865.