Morning Star

For the Morning Star.

Good News from Ohio.

Brother Burr:—I would improve this opportunity to give you a brief sketch of the good work of the Lord in this part of his moral vineyard. There has not been so general a visitation of the soul-reviving influence of the spirit of God for many years as has been recently experienced in this vicinity. In consequence of the water-regeneration influence, the little few that would worship God in spirit and in truth, had to resort to other neighborhoods to enjoy the privilege of spiritual meetings. The work of the Lord was, however, reviving in other towns and neighborhoods, (especially in Lodi, the adjacent town, where some 40 were converted to God and baptized by Eld. D. C. Topping the latter part of last winter and spring.) The visitation of the spirit was sensibly realized to be operating on the hearts of some of the people of this town, and the praying took new courage and established meetings; and, amongst other means of grace, the old fashioned mourner's bench was presented, which had been set aside and discarded for many years by Campbelism, and God again blessed the means, and through the instrumentality of bro. L. Hecox and Eld. S. S. Branch and others, much good was effected to the glory of God. Believing that God requires us to unite our efforts to promote the interests of his kingdom in the earth, by request, an examination took place on the 20th of April last by Elders L. Thorn and S. S. Branch, and 12 were found to be in union and fellowship, and were organized into a church, to be known by the name of the F. W. Baptist church in Orange. Twenty-four have been added since, 19 of whom were baptized by Eld. S. S. Branch, making our present number 36. The religious excitement is not so great at present; but we hope the attention of the people will be called up to the subject again, and that they may be as anxious to save their souls as they have been their harvest. Eld. G. A. Stebbins from Western New York, is with us at present, and is well received as a faithful minister of the gospel, and we hope ere long that his labors will be blessed with an abundant harvest, and that many may rise up in this country and call him blessed. My prayer is that God may send forth more faithful laborers into this part of his moral vineyard, that Zion's borders may be enlarged, and that the blessed gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may spread, not only through these western states, but throughout the land and world.

S. H. BRANCH.
Orange, Meigs Co. Ohio,
August 10th, 1843.