From October 21, 1867 to December 22, 1867
Our labor with the Battle Creek church
had just closed, and, notwithstanding we were much worn, we had
been so refreshed in spirit as we witnessed the good result that
we cheerfully joined Brother J. N. Andrews in the long journey
to Maine. On the way we held a meeting at Roosevelt, New York.
Testimony No. 13 was doing its work, and those brethren
who had taken part in the general disaffection
were beginning to see things in their true light. This meeting
was one of hard labor, in which pointed testimonies were given.
Confessions were made, followed by a general turning to the Lord
on the part of backsliders and sinners.
Our labors in Maine commenced with the
Conference at Norridgewock the first of November. The meeting
was large. As usual, my husband and myself bore a plain and pointed
testimony in favor of truth and proper discipline, and against
the different forms of error, confusion, fanaticism, and disorder
naturally growing out of a want of such discipline. This testimony
was especially applicable to the condition of things in Maine.
Disorderly spirits who professed to observe the Sabbath were
in rebellion and labored to diffuse the disaffection through
the Conference. Satan helped them, and they succeeded to some
extent. The details are too painful and of too little general
importance to be given here.
It may be enough to say at this time that in consequence of this spirit of rebellion, faultfinding, and, with some, a sort of babyish jealousy, murmuring, and complaining, our work in Maine, which might have been done in two weeks, required seven weeks of the most trying, laborious, and disagreeable toil. Five weeks were lost, yes, worse than lost, to the cause in Maine; and our people in other portions of New England, New York, and Ohio were deprived of five general meetings in consequence of our being held in Maine. But as we left that state we were comforted with the fact that all had confessed their rebellion, and that a few had been led to seek the Lord and embrace the truth. The following, relative to ministers, order, and organization, has a special application to the condition of things in Maine.