VIRGINIA.
A large Ingathering.
MISS M. A. ANDRUS, CARRSVILLE.
Reading in the “Missionary” of the work done in the South, it came into my mind to tell you of a work of grace here. Nearly all of our Sabbath-school are converted. From sixty to seventy have been baptized and received into this church, and since the 1st of September the pastor has baptized 150. I have never before labored in a Sabbath-school where I have felt so manifestly the Spirit accompanying the word. It seemed to sink deep into the hearts and take root there, and a harvest of souls is the result. The pastor thinks the converts were more intelligent than usual, and he imputed it to the instruction they had received in the Sabbath-school. My method of instruction is, to expound the Scriptures verse by verse, as read by each scholar, making special application to each one individually, and so each one feels as if he had a portion.
Sabbath before last, I had the blest privilege of seeing forty-three of the converts all seated together in the front seats, and it was to me an affecting sight. All ages were represented there from the little child to the man of grey hairs.
I spoke to them of the joy it gave me to see them occupying such a position, and of the joy to the angels of God over them, for if there is joy in heaven among the angels over one sinner that repenteth, how much more joy over such a number as I saw before me.
I read to them, “A charge to those who have just joined the Church,” sent to me a few days before by Samuel B. Schieffelin of New York, which seemed providentially to have come at that time. They all listened with profound attention and seemed much interested, and I trust a good and lasting impression was made upon them.
After the reading, I presented each one with a copy of the Charge, as it was in little book form, with which they seemed to be much gratified.