Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

dreading to go anywhere among the church for fear of being wounded. Finally,as no one made an effort to relieve my feelings, I felt it to be my duty to calltogether a number of experienced brethren and sisters, and meet the reports whichwere circulating in regard to us. Weighed down and depressed, even to anguish, I metthe charges against me, giving a recital of my journey east, one year since, and thepainful circumstances attending that journey.I appealed to those present to judge whether my connection with the work andcause of God would lead me to speak lightly of the church at Battle Creek, from whomI had not the slightest alienation of feeling. Was not my interest in the cause and workof God as great as it was possible for theirs to be? My whole experience and life wereinterwoven with it. I had no separate interest aside from the work. I had investedeverything in this cause, and had considered no sacrifice too great for me to make inorder to advance it. I had not allowed affection for my loved babes to hold me backfrom performing my duty as God required it in His cause. Maternal love throbbed justas strongly in my heart as in the heart of any mother that lived, yet I had separatedfrom my nursing children and allowed another to act the part of mother to them. I hadgiven unmistakable evidences of my interest in, and devotion to, the cause of God. Ihave shown by my works how dear it was to me. Could any produce stronger proofthan myself? Were they zealous in the cause of truth? I more. Were they devoted toit? I could prove greater devotion than anyone living engaged in the work. Had theysuffered for the truth’s sake? I more. I had not counted my life dear unto me. I had notshunned reproach, suffering, or hardships. When friends and relatives had despaired ofmy life, because disease was preying upon me, I had been borne in my husband’s armsto the boat or cars. At one time, after traveling until midnight, we found ourselves inthe city of Boston without means. On581