Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 1 (1844 - 1868)

Lt 30, 1859

Dear Friends

Enosburg, Vermont

October 12, 1859

Portions of this letter are published in 5MR 231. See also Annotations.

Dear Friends:

We have just arrived at Brother Saxby’s, a wealthy, homespun farmer; he is an Englishman, came into this country with nothing, is worth now somewhere about three or eight thousand. 1LtMs, Lt 30, 1859, par. 1

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 at five o’clock A.M. Brother Howard carried us with his team seven miles to Northfield; took the cars for St. Albans. Arrived at that place [at] half past 11 A.M. and found Brother Augustin Bourdeau and Bro. Saxby waiting with easy teams to take us fourteen miles to Brother Saxby’s. We tarry here tonight, tomorrow we leave for Augustin Bourdeau’s, who lives two miles from this place. Shall tarry there until Friday and then he will take us in his carriage ten miles farther to the meeting (to Berkshire). 1LtMs, Lt 30, 1859, par. 2

I will now go back to give you a little history of the meeting. Meetings commenced Friday afternoon. We arrived at Roxbury Thursday noon. Next morn early one of Brother Pierce’s sons was at the door of Brother Grant with a team for to take us to his father’s. It was climbing a mountain half a mile long. We visited at Brother Pierce’s until noon and then went back again to Roxbury about three miles. Was obliged to shut myself from the company to write. 1LtMs, Lt 30, 1859, par. 3

Sabbath morn it was very stormy. We had a snow storm and there fell above one inch of snow. Our congregation was quite large, and attention good. Sunday nearly all of Roxbury was out, the large court house 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. 1LtMs, Lt 30, 1859, par. 4

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. 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. 1LtMs, Lt 30, 1859, par. 5

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. 1LtMs, Lt 30, 1859, par. 6

Tuesday morn we parted with Brother and Sister Hutchins, Brother and Sister Sperry and went into Roxbury three miles, took dinner, packed our trunks and then Brother Howard took us up to his house about four miles, one mile 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 with his team. Then we took the cars for Enosburg [and] arrived there at 11 o’clock A.M. Found Brother Cornelius Bourdeau waiting for us with two teams. James and self took one, and he the other and we rode 14 miles 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. 1LtMs, Lt 30, 1859, par. 7

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. Much love to your parents and brothers. I would say Martha, Edson has new stockings somewhere at home in that old chest or in that basket of stockings. Don’t let him want for anything. 1LtMs, Lt 30, 1859, par. 8

Write us a long letter at Lapeer. 1LtMs, Lt 30, 1859, par. 9