Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-03-30

Joseph Hoag (who was a noted speaker in the
Society Of Friends), and have, myself, 40 doub,
of its gcnuineness. will only add, hope the
future of the Vision may not be as literally full
filled as the pas, has been.
Yours,
o. Z. SpICER,
month, was one day alone in the field
and observed that the sun shone clear,
but u mist eclipsed its brightness. AS
| reflected upon the singularity of the
event, my mind was struck into ST.
lence the most solemn ever remember
to have witnessed for all my faculties
were low and universally brought into
deep silence. l said to myself, What
can all this mean? do not recollect
ever before to have been sensible of such
feelings. And l heard a voice from
heaven, saying:
This which thou seest, which dims
the brightness of the sun, is q sign Of
the present and coming times. / took
the foreiathers Of this country from a
3
here among the people of the forest
sustained them, ami while they were
humble blessed them and fed them,
and they became a numerous people.
But they now have forgotten me who
nourished them, and protected them in
the wilderness, and are running into
every abomination and evil practice of
which the old countries are guilty, and
have taken quietude from the land and
suffered dividing spirit to come among
them. Lift up thine eyes and behold ~
And / saw them diviving in great
heat.
The division began in the Church on
points of doctrine. 1t commenced in
the Presbyterian society, and went
through the various religious denomi.
nations, and i'll its progress and it's close
its elccta were the same. Those who
disscnted, went Off with high heads
and taunting language and those who
kept to their original sentiments, ap-
peared exercised and sorrowful.
And when the dividing spirit entered
the Society of Friends, it ragged in as
high degree rs i'm any had before
discovered. And, as before, those who
separated, went Off with lofty looks and
tluntinG, censuring language those
who kept their ancient principles, re-
tired by themselves. .&gA #aa 6
1t next appeared in the lodges of the
Free Masons. It broke out in aprea :
ance like volcano, lnasmuch as it set
the country in an uproar for time.
Then it entered into politics through
out the United States, and did not stop
until it produced civil war; and
abundance of blood was shed in the
combat. The Southern States lost their
power, and Slavery was annihilated
from their borders. Then a monarchial
power sprung up--took the government
of the States-established a national re-
ligion, and made all societies tributary
to support its expenses. saw them
take property from Friends.
l was amazed at beholding all this,
and / heard voice proclaiming,
"This power shall not always stand,
but with it will chastise my church
until they return to the f,ithfulness of
their forefathers. Thou seest what is
coming upon thy native country for
their iniquities, and the blood of Africa,
the remembrance of which is come up
=.
before me. This vision is yet for many
days, .~.-t.as..,...s .... .,........
l had no idea of writing it for many
years, until 1t became such a burden,
that for my own relief, have written
it. aava s.a. ., a... ..u