Sketch of Experience
535
room, heard me weeping aloud and awoke me. My pillow was wet
with tears, and a sad depression of spirits was upon me.
Brother and Sister Howe accompanied us to West Windsor, where
we were received and welcomed by Brother and Sister Carman. Sab-
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bath and first day we met the brethren and sisters from the churches in
the vicinity and had freedom in bearing our testimony to them. The re-
freshing Spirit of the Lord rested upon those who felt a special interest
in the work of God. Our conference meetings were good, and nearly
all bore testimony that they were strengthened and greatly encouraged.
In a few days we found ourselves again at Battle Creek after an ab-
sence of about three months. On the Sabbath, March 16, my husband
delivered before the church the sermon on “Sanctification” phono-
graphically reported by the editor of the Review and published in
Volume 29, No. 18. He also spoke with clearness in the afternoon
and on first-day forenoon. I bore my testimony with usual freedom.
Sabbath, the 23d, we spoke with freedom to the church in Newton and
labored with the church at Convis the following Sabbath and first day.
We designed to return north and went thirty miles, but were obliged
to turn back on account of the condition of the roads. My husband
was terribly disappointed at the cold reception which he met at Battle
Creek, and I also was grieved. We decided that we could not bear our
testimony to this church till they gave better evidence that they wished
our services, and concluded to labor in Convis and Monterey till the
roads should improve. The two following Sabbaths we spent at Convis
and have proof that a good work was done, as the best of fruits are
now seen.
I came home to Battle Creek like a weary child who needed com-
forting words and encouragement. It is painful for me here to state that
we were received with great coldness by our brethren, from whom,
three months before, I had parted in perfect union, excepting on the
point of our leaving home. The first night spent in Battle Creek, I
dreamed that I had been laboring very hard and had been traveling for
the purpose of attending a large meeting, and that I was very weary.
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Sisters were arranging my hair and adjusting my dress, and I fell
asleep. When I awoke I was astonished and indignant to find that my
garments had been removed, and there had been placed upon me old
rags, pieces of bedquilts knotted and sewed together. Said I: “What
have you done to me? Who has done this shameful work of removing