Chicago, Ill., Ninth Month 7th, 1866.
My Dear Son Samuel:--This morning finds me in the metropolis of the West, having arrived here last evening near ten o'clock. We came from Alliance, Ohio, in about sixteen hours.
When I wrote to thy brother Charles I spoke of my friends having gone to Mt. Union to make arrangements for a meeting. It was appointed at the Methodist Meetinghouse; and a very interesting occasion it proved to be. It was attended by hundreds of young men and young women who are students at the college; add these, together with the inhabitants of the village, made a very large gathering. Gospel truths were poured out freely, and to many it was a season that I think will not soon be forgotten.
The next day we returned to Joseph Hartley's and attended the little meeting called Cope's Run. In the evening went to Alliance where a meeting had been appointed for us, in the Methodist place of worship. It was a good-sized company of people, who were evidently strangers to our manner of worshiping in silence, so I introduced myself by reading my certificate, which appeared to be satisfactory. After a time of silence I found my way open to unfold unto them the Gospel of life and salvation, showing the necessity of coming to Christ, and drawing water from the wells of salvation. It proved to be a favored time; oh! may the glory be ascribed unto our Heavenly Father to whom alone it is due. It is no slight trial, my son, to appear before hundreds of strangers, all watching to see what can be found fault with.
We had a pleasant ride yesterday, through Ohio and Indiana, and this morning at nine o'clock we start for Davenport, Iowa; we are due there at half-past five o'clock this afternoon. Tomorrow morning we expect to go to West Liberty, near which place the Quarterly Meeting of Prairie Grove is to be held on tomorrow and the two following days--Seventh, First and Second-days.
I am with much affection, thy father,
Samuel J. Levick.
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