Chapter 102—Sketch of Experience
From December 19, 1866 to April 25, 1867
Having become fully satisfied that my husband would not recover
from his protracted sickness while remaining inactive, and that the
time had fully come for me to go forth and bear my testimony to the
people, I decided, contrary to the judgment and advice of the church
at Battle Creek, of which we were members at that time, to venture a
tour in northern Michigan, with my husband in his extremely feeble
condition, in the severest cold of winter. It required no small degree
of moral courage and faith in God to bring my mind to the decision
to risk so much, especially as I stood alone, with the influence of the
church, including those at the head of the work at Battle Creek, against
me.
But I knew that I had a work to do, and it seemed to me that Satan
was determined to keep me from it. I had waited long for our captivity
to be turned and feared that precious souls would be lost if I remained
longer from the work. To remain longer from the field seemed to me
worse than death, and should we move out we could but perish. So,
on the 19th of December, 1866, we left Battle Creek in a snowstorm
for Wright, Ottawa County, Michigan. My husband stood the long and
severe journey of ninety miles much better than I feared, and seemed
quite as well when we reached our old home at Brother Root’s as when
we left Battle Creek. We were kindly received by this dear family and
as tenderly cared for as Christian parents can care for invalid children.
We found this church in a very low condition. With a large portion
of its members the seeds of disunion and dissatisfaction with one an-
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other were taking deep root, and a worldly spirit was taking possession
of them. And notwithstanding their low state they had enjoyed the
labors of our preachers so seldom that they were hungry for spiritual
food. Here commenced our first effective labors since the sickness of
my husband. Here he commenced to labor as in former years, though
in much weakness. He would speak thirty or forty minutes in the
forenoon of both Sabbath and first day, and I would fill up the rest of
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