By invitation of Bro. and Sr. Nichols, my sister
S. and myself again went to Massachusetts, and made their house our
home. There was in Boston and vicinity a company of fanatical persons,
who held that it was a sin to labor. Their principal message was, "Sell
that ye have and give alms." They said they were in the Jubilee, the
land should rest, and the poor must be supported without labor.
Sargent, Robbins, and some others, were leaders.
They denounced my visions as being of the Devil, because I had been
shown their errors. They were severe upon all who did not believe with
them.
While we were visiting at Bro. N.'s, R. and S.
came from Boston to obtain a favor of Bro. N., and said they had come to
have a visit, and tarry over night with him. Bro. N. replied that he was
glad they had come, for sisters Sarah and Ellen were in the house, and
wished them to become acquainted with us. They changed their mind at
once, and could not be persuaded to come into the house. Bro. N. asked
if I could relate my message in Boston, and if they would hear, and then
judge.
"Yes," said they. "Come into Boston next Sabbath,
we would like the privilege of hearing her." Accordingly we designed to
visit Boston, but in the evening, at the commencement of the Sabbath, I
was shown in vision that we must not go into Boston, but in an opposite
direction to Randolph; that the Lord had a work for us to do there. We
went to Randolph, and found a large room full collected, and among them
those who said they would be pleased to hear my message in Boston. As we
entered, R. and S. looked at each other in surprise, and began to groan.
They had promised to meet me in Boston, but
thought they would disappoint us by going to Randolph, and while we were
in Boston, warn the brethren against us. They did not have much freedom.
At intermission one of their number remarked that
good matter would be brought out in the afternoon. Sr. N. answered, "I
believe it." R. told my sister that I could not have a vision where he
was. In the afternoon the blessing of the Lord rested upon me, and I was
taken off in vision. I was again shown the errors of R. and S., and
others united with them. I saw that they could not prosper; that truth
would triumph in the end, and error be brought down.
I was shown that they were not honest, and then I
was carried into the future and shown some thing of the course they
would pursue, that they would continue to despise the teachings of the
Lord, despise reproof, and that they would be left in total darkness, to
resist God's Spirit until their folly should be made manifest to all. A
chain of truth was presented to me from the scriptures, in contrast with
their errors. When I came out of vision, candles were burning. I had
been in vision nearly four hours.
As I was unconscious to all that transpired around
me while in vision, I will copy from Bro. Nichols' description of that
meeting. "Sister Ellen was taken off in vision with extraordinary
manifestations, and continued talking in vision with a clear voice,
which could be distinctly understood by all present, until about
sundown.
S., R. and F. were much exasperated, as well as
excited, to hear sister E. talk in vision, which they declared was of
the Devil; they exhausted all their influence, and bodily strength, to
destroy the effect of the vision. They would unite in singing very loud;
and then alternately would talk and read from the Bible in a loud voice,
in order that E. might not be heard, until their strength was exhausted,
and their hands would shake so they could not read from the Bible. But
amidst all this confusion and noise, E.'s clear and shrill voice, as she
talked in vision, was distinctly heard by all present.
The opposition of these men continued as long as
they could talk and sing, notwithstanding some of their own friends
rebuked them, and requested them to stop. But says R, 'You are bowed to
an idol; you are worshiping a golden calf.'
"Mr. Thayer, the owner of the house, was not fully
satisfied that her vision was of the Devil, as R. declared it to be. He
wanted it tested in some way. He had heard that visions of satanic power
were arrested by opening the Bible and laying it on the person in
vision, and asked S. if he would test it in this way, which he declined
to do.
Then Thayer took a heavy, large quarto family
Bible which was laying on the table, and seldom used, opened it, and
laid it open upon the breast of E. while in vision, as she was then
inclined backward against the wall in the corner of the room.
Immediately after the Bible was laid upon her, she arose upon her feet,
and walked into the middle of the room, with the Bible open in one hand,
and lifted up as high as she could reach, and with her eyes steadily
looking upward, declared in a solemn manner, 'The inspired testimony
from God,' or words of the same import. And then she continued for a
long time, while the Bible was extended in one hand, and her eyes
looking upwards, and not on the Bible, to turn over the leaves with her
other hand, and place her finger upon certain passages, and correctly
utter their words with a solemn voice.
Many present looked at the passages where her
finger was pointed, to see if she spoke them correctly, for her eyes at
the same time were looking upwards. Some of the passages referred to
were judgments against the wicked and blasphemers; and others were
admonitions and instructions relative to our present condition.
"In this state she continued all the afternoon
until near sunset, when she came out of vision. When E. arose in vision
upon her feet, with the heavy open Bible in her hand, and walked the
room, uttering the passages of scripture, S., R. and F. were silenced.
For the remainder of the time they were troubled, with many others; but
they shut their eyes and braved it out without making any
acknowledgement of their feelings."