Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/248

236 brethren began to confess their wanderings and give tokens of true penitence for past remissness in duty. On Sabbath some of the impenitent manifested unusual interest in the preached word and their hearts appeared softened. The meeting closed without any evidence that any souls were savingly converted. On Friday before the fourth Sabbath in May a meeting was commenced with the West Tualatin Church and the first day had not passed before we began to witness tokens of Divine favor with the brethren who were convened from both the afore-named churches, as well as with the brethren from other churches. Sinners manifested solicitude for the salvation of their souls and on Sabbath a young man and his wife asked for baptism. The wife dated her conversion from the time of the meeting two weeks previous in West Union Church, she and her husband having attended that meeting. At three o'clock the congregation repaired to one of the branches of Tualatin River, in which I had the happiness of burying these candidates in the watery grave and raising them up, I trust, to walk in newness of life. The scene was solemn. Before closing the public exercises of the day the question was propounded to the church and congregation, Will you have this meeting continued? Almost the whole congregation, consisting, of about 130, rose to their feet as an expression of their wish that the meeting should be continued. The meeting was continued with increasing interest through the week; by Saturday the congregation had increased to nearly 200. During the prayer meeting before preaching a brother, who had left the church six years before and joined the sect generally known as the Campbellites, rose and confessed his wanderings with deep emotions and said he had no other home but in the Baptist church, and closed by saying, "I now knock for admittance at the door of the church, if you can receive me." He was followed by his wife and three others who had been in similar condition. Two others came forward with letters, all of whom were received into fellowship with the church. An opportunity was then given for any who