cams_benton_b029_f011_006

4 [upper right corner]

joy to him, even greater than this. It was
marked with a white stone. But few of
those who aided in building that Edifice,
originally, remain among us. It can not
be otherwise than that my our affections should
cling to them. That building was a greater undertaking,
in its day, than this which now we rear; tho. [though]
not half so large. We occupied it three
years, & then enlarged it. Hallowed mem-
-ories already were with it. Sacred associ-
-ations gathered about it. Thither came a
few to consecrate their offspring to Him that keepeth
Covenant. Thither came the young to learn to
learn the holy Scriptures, & the way of Life, thro. [through]
Him who gave himself for the world. Thither
came the humble & believing to sit down in
sorrow, yet in hope, at the table of the Lord.
Thither came mourners, with the ashes of
their dead, to be comforted. Thither came,
month by month, & year after year, slowly