BROOKLYN AND WORCESTER CONVENTIONS
ON November 11th Brooklyn, N.Y., had a splendid one-day Convention. About 200 gathered with the local friends—mainly from New York City, but various cities of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Maryland were represented. The forenoon rally was heart-cheering. One dear Colporteur present, on hearing a testimony given by one newly come into the light through his efforts, declared that it was worth more to him than a thousand-dollar gift. Testimonies from the newly-interested often astonish us, showing how rapidly some can grow in grace and knowledge.
The afternoon session for the public was splendidly attended, considering that it rained all day;—about 1000 very attentive hearers were present. The friends must have been very industrious and liberal in their [R3900 : page 374] advertising, else no such assemblage could have been gathered on such a day. We were pleased, too, that when they noted the unfavorable weather they did not murmur nor complain, but said,—"The Lord knows best: He could have ordered it otherwise had he so desired."
The evening discourse on "Two Purgatories"—one for the Church and one for the world—those who desire already possess, through the newspapers; so we do not elaborate its features here. We parted with joyful greetings at 9 p.m., all of us wishing for the General Convention with our Lord—hoping that it will be soon.
Worcester, Mass., had its first One-Day Convention on Nov. 18. It was surely a joyous occasion for the dear friends there as well as for us who visited them; over 200 from all parts of New England, but particularly from Boston and vicinity. The local Church is small in numbers and financially weak, but had been saving up in preparation for the Convention expenses for fully two years. They seemed greatly rejoiced with the results of their efforts.
The morning session led off as a Testimony Rally, then came Brother Russell's discourse to the interested on the "Times of Restitution"—slightly different and more elaborated than the reports of it in the daily newspapers. Next came the noon-day repast, and in the afternoon the public service—the event of the occasion. The friends had secured "Mechanics' Hall," the largest and finest auditorium in Worcester, seating over 2,000. A grand audience was present, and the close attention given to so lengthy a discourse told of an interest which with some will, we trust, grow and deepen into love, devotion, zeal. About 1100 were present. Brother Russell's train left just at the close of this service, but the friends had, we understand, further spiritual feasting in the evening.