Chapter 15—Labors in Western New York in 1848
As a result of his work in the hayfield, my husband earned forty
dollars. With a part of this we purchased some necessary clothing, and
had sufficient means left to take us to western New York and return.
My health was poor, and it was impossible for me to travel and
have the care of our child. So we left our little Henry, ten months old,
at Middletown with Sister Clarissa Bonfoey. It was a severe trial for
me to be separated from my child, but we dared not let our affection
for him keep us from the path of duty. Jesus laid down His life to save
us. How small is any sacrifice we can make compared with His!
On the morning of August 13 we reached New York City, and went
to the home of Brother D. Moody. On the following day Brethren
Bates and Gurney joined us.
Conference at Volney
Our first general meeting in western New York, beginning August
18, was held at Volney, in Brother David Arnold’s barn. About thirty-
five were present,—all the friends that could be collected in that part
of the State. But of this number there were hardly two agreed. Some
were holding serious errors, and each strenuously urged his own views,
declaring that they were according to the Scriptures.
One brother held that the one thousand years of the twentieth
chapter of Revelation were in the past, and that the one hundred and
forty-four thousand mentioned in the seventh and fourteenth chapters
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of Revelation, were those raised at Christ’s resurrection.
As we had before us the emblems of our dying Lord, and were
about to commemorate His sufferings, this brother arose and said that
he had no faith in what we were about to do; that the Lord’s supper
was a continuation of the Passover, and should be partaken of but once
a year.
These strange differences of opinion rolled a heavy weight upon
me. I saw that many errors were being presented as truth. It seemed to
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