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Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White
that the brethren were generally poor, and that he could not promise
that they would do much toward defraying our expenses, but that he
would do what he could. We had no means with which to travel. My
husband’s health was poor, but the way opened for him to work in the
hayfield, and he decided to accept the work.
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It seemed then that we must live by faith. When we arose in the
morning, we bowed beside our bed, and asked God to give us strength
to labor through the day, and we could not be satisfied without the
assurance that the Lord heard our prayers. My husband then went
forth to swing the scythe in the strength that God gave him. At night
when he came home we would again plead with God for strength with
which to earn means to spread the truth. In a letter to Brother Howland,
written July 2, 1848, he spoke of this experience thus:
“It is rainy today, so that I do not mow, or I should not write. I mow
five days for unbelievers, and Sunday for believers, and rest on the
seventh day, therefore I have but very little time to write.... God gives
me strength to labor hard all day.... Brother Holt, Brother John Belden,
and I have taken one hundred acres of grass to mow, at eighty-seven
and one-half cents per acre, and board ourselves. Praise the Lord! I
hope to get a few dollars here to use in the cause of God.”
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!
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-
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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.