Visit to Oregon
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in love for His dear people with whom I was worshiping for the first
time.
On Sunday, June 23, I spoke in the Methodist church of Salem,
on the subject of temperance. On the next Tuesday evening, I again
spoke in this church. Many invitations were tendered me to speak on
temperance in various cities and towns of Oregon, but the state of my
health forbade my complying with these requests.
We entered upon the camp meeting with feelings of deepest interest.
The Lord gave me strength and grace as I stood before the people. As
I looked upon the intelligent audience, my heart was broken before
God. This was the first camp meeting held by our people in the State.
I tried to present before the people the gratitude we should feel for
the tender compassion and great love of God. His goodness and glory
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impressed my mind in a remarkable manner.
I had felt very anxious about my husband, on account of his poor
health. While speaking, there came vividly before my mind’s eye a
meeting in the church at Battle Creek, my husband being in the midst,
with the mellow light of the Lord resting upon and surrounding him.
His face bore the marks of health, and he was apparently very happy.
I was overwhelmed with a sense of God’s unparalleled mercies,
and of the work He was doing, not only in Oregon, and in California
and Michigan, where our important institutions are located, but also
in foreign countries. I can never represent to others the picture that
vividly impressed my mind on that occasion. For a moment the extent
of the work came before me, and I lost sight of my surroundings. The
occasion and the people I was addressing passed from my mind. The
light, the precious light from heaven, was shining in great brilliancy
upon those institutions which are engaged in the solemn and elevated
work of reflecting the rays of light that heaven has let shine upon them.
All through this camp meeting the Lord seemed very near me.
When it closed, I was exceedingly weary, but free in the Lord. It was
a season of profitable labor, and strengthened the church to go on in
their warfare for the truth.
On the Sunday following the camp meeting, I spoke in the after-
noon in the public square, upon the simplicity of gospel religion.