Marriage and Subsequent Labors
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Some were holding serious errors, and each strenuously urged his own
views, declaring that they were according to the Scriptures.
These strange differences of opinion brought a heavy weight upon
me, as it seemed to me that God was dishonored; and I fainted under
the burden. Some feared that I was dying; but the Lord heard the
prayers of His servants, and I revived. The light of heaven rested upon
me, and I was soon lost to earthly things. My accompanying angel
presented before me some of the errors of those present, and also the
truth in contrast with their errors. These discordant views which they
claimed to be according to the Bible were only according to their
opinion of the Bible, and they must yield their errors and unite upon
the third angel’s message. Our meeting closed triumphantly. Truth
gained the victory. The brethren renounced their errors, and united
upon the third angel’s message, and God greatly blessed them and
added to their numbers.
From Volney we went to Port Gibson to attend a meeting in Brother
Edson’s barn. There were those present who loved the truth, but were
listening to and cherishing error. The Lord wrought for us in power
before the close of that meeting. I was again shown in vision the
importance of the brethren in western New York laying aside their
differences, and uniting upon Bible truth.
We returned to Middletown, where we had left our child during
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our western journey. And now a painful duty presented itself. For the
good of souls we felt that we must sacrifice the company of our little
Henry, that we might give ourselves unreservedly to the work. My
health was poor, and he would necessarily occupy a great share of my
time. It was a severe trial, yet I dared not let the child stand in the
way of my duty. I believed that the Lord had spared him to us when
he was very sick, and that if I should let him hinder me from doing
my duty, God would remove him from me. Alone before the Lord,
with most painful feelings and many tears, I made the sacrifice, and
gave up my only child, then one year old, for another to exercise a
mother’s feelings toward him, and to act a mother’s part. We left him
in Brother Howland’s family, in whom we had the utmost confidence.
They were willing to bear burdens to leave us as free as possible to
labor in the cause of God. We knew that they could take better care of
Henry than we could while journeying, and that it was for his good to
have a steady home and good discipline. It was hard parting with my