Chapter 6—Trials and Victories
“While in New Hampshire we visited at the house of Brother
Collier, where we proposed to hold a meeting. We supposed this
family were in union with those whom we had met at Elder Bennett’s,
mentioned in the preceding chapter. We asked some questions in
reference to these men; but Brother Collier gave us no information.
Said he, ‘If the Lord sent you here, you will ascertain what spirit
governs them, and will solve the mystery for us.’
“Both of these men attended the meeting at Brother C’s. While I
was earnestly praying for light and the presence of God, they began to
groan and cry ‘Amen!’ apparently throwing their sympathy with my
prayer. Immediately my heart was oppressed with a great weight, the
words died upon my lips, darkness overshadowed the whole meeting.
“Elder White arose and said, ‘I am distressed. The Spirit of the
Lord is grieved. I resist this influence in the name of the Lord! O God,
rebuke this foul spirit!’
“I was immediately relieved, and rose above the shadows. But
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again, while speaking words of encouragement and faith to those
present, their groanings and amens chilled me. Once more Elder
White rebuked the spirit of darkness, and again the power of the Lord
rested upon me, while I spoke to the people. These agents of the evil
one were then so bound as to be unable to exert their baneful influence
any more that night.
“After the meeting Elder White said to Brother Collier, ‘Now I can
tell you concerning those two men. They are acting under a Satanic
influence, yet attributing all to the Spirit of the Lord.’
“‘I believe God sent you to encourage us,’ said Brother Collier.
‘We call their influence mesmerism. They affect the minds of others
in a remarkable way, and have controlled some to their great damage.
We seldom hold meetings here, for they intrude their presence, and
we can have no union with them. They manifest deep feeling, as you
observed tonight, but they crush the very life from our prayers, and
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