The Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts: Volume 1
Lt 30, 1859
October 12, 1859,1 Enosburg, Vermont 1EGWLM 735.1
Letter to
Friends.2
1EGWLM 735.2
Portions of this letter are published in Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, p. 231.
News of travels and labors in Vermont to friends at home in Battle Creek. 1EGWLM 735.3
Dear Friends:
We have just arrived at Brother Saxby's [John Saxby],3 a wealthy, homespun farmer; he is an Englishman, came into this country with nothing, is worth now somewhere about three or eight thousand. 1EGWLM 735.4
We are very tired. [We] were awake this morn at three o'clock, arose at four, took breakfast half past four and were on our way to Northfield [Vermont] at five o'clock A.M. Brother Howard [Daniel Howard]4 carried us with his team seven miles [11 kilometers] to Northfield; took the [railroad] cars for St. Albans [Vermont]. Arrived at that place [at] half past 11 A.M. and found Brother Augustin Bourdeau [Augustin Cornelius Bourdeau] and Bro. Saxby waiting with easy teams to take us 14 miles [22 kilometers] to Brother Saxby's. We tarry here tonight, tomorrow we leave for Augustin Bourdeau's, who lives two miles [three kilometers] from this place.5 Shall tarry there until Friday and then he will take us in his carriage ten miles [16 kilometers] farther to the meeting (to Berkshire) [Vermont]. 1EGWLM 735.5
I will now go back to give you a little history of the meeting.6 Meetings commenced Friday afternoon. We arrived at Roxbury [Vermont] Thursday noon. Next morn early one of Brother Pierce's [Stephen Pierce]7 sons was at the door of Brother Grant [Harrison Grant]8 with a team for to take us to his father's. It was climbing a mountain half a mile [.8 kilometers] long. We visited at Brother Pierce's until noon and then went back again to Roxbury about three miles [five kilometers]. Was obliged to shut myself from the company to write. 1EGWLM 736.1
Sabbath morn it was very stormy. We had a snow storm and there fell above one inch [2.5 centimeters] of snow. Our congregation was quite large, and attention good. Sunday nearly all of Roxbury was out, the large courthouse was filled, and there was the deepest attention and interest. We had a good interview with old friends but so many wanted advice upon this matter and that, and I had so much writing to do to individuals, at the close of the meeting I was more exhausted than I had been to any previous meeting. My head was in a complete whirl. 1EGWLM 736.2
James had good liberty in preaching. He talked three times Sabbath, and twice Sunday. I followed in exhortation. I had great freedom in talking upon faith, that faith and feeling should not be confounded together. They are distinct as the east is from the west. In the darkest hours it is then we should exercise faith, and not suffer our feelings to govern us, but press our faith through the dark clouds to the throne of God and claim the blessing of Heaven. When our faith grasps the blessing then the blessing is ours, for our faith has got hold [of] it, and when our faith brings the blessing down to us—when the dark clouds scatter and divine rays of light from Jesus illumine our darkness—then it is no more faith; it is feeling. The evidence has come and it is feeling that has swallowed up the faith. This view of faith and feeling seemed to enlighten some minds and we had a most powerful conference meeting. Brother Pierce talked with great freedom and power, also Brother Phillips [Daniel C. Phillips].9 Brother Pierce exhorted and appealed to his townspeople and neighbors with power. He appealed to those with whom he had been engaged in business and in civil matters together and entreated them to examine the truth of the Sabbath. 1EGWLM 736.3
Our meeting ended well, leaving a good influence. Monday we visited Brother Pierce's family but was obliged to write nearly all the time while there. 1EGWLM 737.1
Tuesday morn we parted with Brother and Sister Hutchins [Alfred S. and Esther M. Hutchins], Brother and Sister Sperry [Charles W. and Rachel Ann Sperry]10 and went into Roxbury three miles [five kilometers], took dinner, packed our trunks and then Brother Howard took us up to his house about four miles [six kilometers]; one mile [1.6 kilometers] was up a mountain a mile long. Next morn we awoke at three and took breakfast at four. At five o'clock A.M. Brother Howard helped us to Northfield seven miles [11 kilometers] with his team. Then we took the cars for Enosburg [Vermont] [and] arrived there at 11 o'clock A.M.11 Found Brother Cornelius Bourdeau [Augustin Cornelius Bourdeau] waiting for us with two teams. James and self took one, and he the other, and we rode 14 miles [22 kilometers] to Brother Saxby's quite comfortably. But here again we had to climb mountains. In every direction we have yet traveled since we entered Vt. we have had to climb mountains. 1EGWLM 737.2
Yesterday morn we came to Bro. Bourdeau's. Today we leave for Berkshire, but it rains now and we shall wait until it clears off. Excuse my scribbling, Martha [Martha Dormer Amadon (née Byington)].12 Much love to your parents and brothers.13 I would say Martha, Edson [James Edson White] has new stockings somewhere at home in that old chest or in that basket of stockings. Don't let him want for anything. 1EGWLM 738.1