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husband asked me to stay at the church and see that none were overlooked. The excite

ment from first to last was too much for him and his temperature rose higher than it had been for many days. I greatly desired to stay at his bedside, but to this he would not consent, thinking my presence was needed at the church. Several times during the afternoon, when he supposed I was helping with the tree, I was standing on the steps, listening through the slightly open door to his breathing.

Skilful hands had arranged the drapery and decorated the platform, until the church looked more like a theater than a house of prayer. The Sunday-school superintendent, who appeared as grandfather in the first part of the exercises, retired and came out as Santa Claus. Many of the children recognized him by his voice, and appeared to be very much confused over the matter. After every effort possible was put forth to treat all the children alike, some were overlooked, and their parents manifested their displeasure by taking them out of our school. Leaving the church that night, I resolved never to have anything more to do with a Christmas entertainment, and later so expressed myself, to the manifest displeasure of the church officiary.

It was the middle of January before my

husband recovered from his illness. Soon after he was able to be up, he secured the help of a preacher from another charge and began revival meetings. The afternoon services were very helpful to Christians, and a number of persons were seeking a better experience, although there was no definite preaching on sanctification. Feeling a great lack in my soul, I began to fast and pray. I had never fasted previous to this and found it hard to do, for I had been using coffee, and naturally a headache followed. At 11 o'clock I was really suffering; this troubled me, for the assisting preacher had fasted a whole day, or two, at a time without any inconvenience. Before noon I resorted to coffee for relief. As the Holy Spirit searched my heart, I realized that something was seriously wrong, yet as I wept and prayed I obtained no relief. The evangelist attributed my difficulty to hysteria. While I knew this was untrue his remark was a hindrance to me, and so confused me that I did not pray as diligently as before for the longing of my heart to be satisfied.

CHAPTER IX

A MOUNTAIN CHARGE-HEART-CRY

FOR PURITY

AT THE CLOSE of the second year at

Lamar, the church asked again for my husband's return. We knew a change should be made, and when the presiding elder heard of the months of suffering through which our family had passed he said he would do all he could to make a change where I could have the advantage of mountain air and pure water, which the physician said were very necessary. We packed our goods before leaving for the Conference at Denver in June (1891). My husband had finished his ministerial course and was ordained elder at this session. After two or three days, our presiding elder said he had no desirable place for us, and it looked like we would have to return to Lamar.

I

We went to our room to pray, and while on our knees the question came to me clearly: "If it is God's will for you to go back, will you go, even though it costs your life?" said "Yes." Immediately all anxious concern left us both and we were resigned to His will. Later we met our presiding elder, who greeted us pleasantly and said, "I have just

the place for you, where there is nothing to hinder Sister White from getting well." It was the little town of Morrison, about seventeen miles from Denver, at the foot of the hills, known for its beautiful scenery, pure air and pure mountain water, and just such a place as the physician had recommended. God saw that we both were resigned to do His will and He did not require us to return to the former charge.

In a few days we were at Morrison in a private boarding house, looking for a suitable house in which to live. The best we could find was a little five-room cottage, which was neither ceiled nor plastered, but boarded inside and out, and whitewashed.

The Ladies' Aid Society was making preparations for an elaborate fair and festival, and were busy making cotton dogs, monkeys, rabbits, and various fancy articles. They boasted of a new church organ which they had purchased with money gotten in this way.

Before we came to the charge the president of the Aid Society had turned a church social into a dance. She was not a member of the church and strongly advocated card and dancing parties. She had a flattering tongue and greeted us with a smooth speech and a deceitful look. It was plain to be seen

that unstable souls would be easily beguiled by her. The church people had allowed her to handle all the money, and some said there had been much more paid in at the church festivals than she had accounted for. As we were opposed to church fairs, suppers, socials of any kind, we took a stand against them. She then gathered a company including a number of school children, at the house of a friend, who she thought would vote with others for the festivals. I was advised not to attend this meeting on account of my nervous condition, but as the time approached I felt I must go with my husband, and did. She called the meeting to order, and set forth the advantages of church festivals, to which there were many assenting voices. Unable to remain quiet longer, I said, "I have understood that this woman has run the Ladies' Aid Society into a dance and to the devil, and it looks very much like it is true. Her friends were very indignant at this remark and it was some time before quiet was restored. She said our support would be a "slim affair" after that and that she did not believe we would receive five dollars between that time and spring.

When I found some of our best people questioning whether wisdom had been used in my manner of speech and procedure, I was almost persuaded that they were right, and

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