The Southern Baptist Messenger—June 1857

Opelika, Ala., May 27, 1857

BR. Beebe—According to your request and the request of many brethren, sisters and friends, I now write to inform you that I have arrived home safely end notwithstanding there has been some affliction in my family during my absence, yet it is with bumble gratitude and thankfulness to God that I now find all again in tolerably good health.

Having business to call my attention to-day and being compelled to leave home and be absent several days, I can give but a very short notice of my travels among the churches in Geor­gia. Suffice it to say that apart from say bodily sufferings, which at times were quite severe, my visit was entirely pleasant, and I rejoice greatly that I found so many of God’s dear children stand­ing steadfast in the faith of the gospel and rejoicing in the truth. Many of them attended our appointments from three to seven or eight times, and I hope the Lord favored us occasionally with a door of utterance to proclaim the gospel of peace to the comfort of the dear saints.

I was truly blessed in forming an acquaintance with Elder E. A. Meaders, Oxford, Mississippi. He had seen my appointments in the paper, and left home to fall in with me, which he did, on the second day at Mount Paron, Walton County, and continued with me during the whole tour. Never did I have a more interesting and agreeable fellow-traveler and laborer in the gospel of Christ, and it was with sorrow of heart I parted with him. As he designs visiting some Churches and Associations at the North before he returns to his dear family, I trust the Lord will bless him abundantly in his labors and watch over his beloved family.

We attended meetings in Newton, Walton, Clark, Oglethorpe, Madison and Jasper counties, and I never lacked for conveyance and kind attention. I would gladly mention the names and places where we stayed, and by whom we were conducted but I have not now time to do so, in regular order. We stayed two nights with brother W. L. Beebe,  two with D. L Montgomery, and two nights and a day with Elder O. W. Malcolm, one with A. Preston, one with W. Wise, Esq., two with John Martin, in Oglethorpe county, and two with J. D. Matthews in Clark then returned by Railroad to Social Circle, and stayed a night with brother Lane, one night with Wm. Gibson, and two with brother Lunsford, one with Elder J. L. Purington, and two with Elder J. H. Montgomery, with sister Hurst and family, and one with W. S. Montgomery.

The preaching brethren with whom we met and —formed an acquaintance during the trip were W. L. Beebe, E. A. Meaders, J. W. Walker, O. W. Malcolm, J. H. Montgomery, I. Hamby, D. B. Almond, W. D. Almond. J. M. Daniel, W. D. Chandler, A. Daniel, J. L. Purington, S. L. Fielder, 13 in number whom I never before had seen, and Elders D. W. Putnam, John Bule, E. Brittan, and B. Haygood, whom I had seen before, making 17 in all.

And now, brothers, sisters and friends one and all, may the Lord bless you and keep you an a peace and love to all saints. I shall long bear in remembrance your kindness and love. I shall be glad to hear from you any time. My address is Opelika, Russell Co, Ala.

Yours &etc,

W. M. Mitchell