Year: 1868

Rev Mir. Potter closed his series of meet ings Friday evening of last week. His la r bors were emiuently successful. resulting in much good it is hoped to the churches and in the conversion of good number o all ages. The meetings were attended D, persons from all the churches and all part of the town; Methodist Baptist, Congrega tional and few Catholics A good man, of our people doubted the expediency O his coming among us at any time or at leas just at this season of the year but this feel ing very soon disappeared and gaver!elace to united effort for the advancer-nt the object of the meetings. .Perhapsa few in cidents connected with the work which came under the writefs observation would be of interest and give some idea of ths re suits prefacing them with the remark that there was an enti1e absence of all undue excitement. People came to the meetings and took part in. them with the earnestness of men in the pursuit of an important ob. ject add as they would, in any other object of absorbing interest. The meetings open ed Tuesday, with good congregation. The exercises were short season of prayer, fol- lowed by a season of mutual confession and general remarks each one promising to se- lect two persons for whom to pray and la- bor. There have been cases of alienation between professors of long standing. and between professors and non-professors; some of the latter were absent and the in- termission was spent in at least one case by leading member of the church in re- moving cause of grievance resulting in one of the most interesting cases of conyer- sion that occurred. The man went to meeting and on Wednesday got up in his place and said he had no special con fession to make nor could he ask forgive. ness of any one in particular for he had abused every one; he had lyied here 29 years and every one knew he had served the old fellow with all his might, and from this time on he was determined to serve the Lord with the same zeal. There has been great desire for many years that this manmightbecomea christian and his making this open and decided resolve caused much satisfaction in the meeting as we'll as joy in heaven. On this day Wednesday, the congregation was larger and an increasing interest was manifest. The morning exer- cfses wore about as on Thursday; one broth CT in his remarks said he was conscious of having come short of his duty, he had not always lived in harmony with his brethren and his example and influence had been had; when he took his seat, another broth CT stepped forward to the altar and remark ed that he felt that bis example had not been such as it should have been, that there had been differences with his breth- eren and turned to one who had just sat down and said: Brother will you come forward and take my hand and we will pledge ourselves that from this time we will cease our contentious and will strive together for the best interests of the church and community" It was know that these men had not been on friendly terms for some 28 years and the congregation were greatly moved. In all our old con- munities differences often arise between men that increase as time passes ard ours is no exception to the general rule. There are many instances with us when never word of bitterness passed between the individuals, only the opportunity was wanting to come to perfect understanding and this occasion was taken advantage of. Many of this character were privately dis posed of. On Friday brother rose and said he found it very easy thing to make a general confession but he thought many times such 8 confession did not amount to much, he felt it his duty to make specific one. Years ago he had a young friend be- tween whom and himself existed the most cordial friendship and intimacy; as time passed little cloud arose between them, neither party could tell how or why, and it had widened and thickened until it grew into strong alienation of feeling greatly

 

 to the regret of both and of their friends: he had been in fault in the matter and wished the alienation to cease. Across the church sat the brother taken by sur. prise. After moment he arose and said he felt he had been wrong and wished the brother to forgive him and desired to re. new the friendship of early years. One day man over 80 years old took his sea, with some boys of 12, all of them appar- ently earnest inquirers after the way oi life. All through, the meetings have been attended by @ number of Germans, Eag. fish, &c., desiring to renew the VOWS made in the father land. Many other incidents might be detaile1 but the above must sui flee. The meetings increased in interes, land in numbers to the last, and included all ages and classes, and were not marred by any of those extravagances sometime | witnessed on such occasions. *