p384 Dearest G V Wigram, … I have not read brethren's tracts, but when I have, I find many things to question, or not well founded. I have found what I utterly rejected … but God works through a great deal of inaccurate statement, if real truth and grace is there - only the effect bears the mark often of its origin - so He does through imperfect work. One can only trust Him quand même. … Things are, as I have often said, in a shocking state here, and people are beginning to feel something better is wanting, and come to see that Christianity according to scripture is quite another thing. These of course are few, but truth is working its way, meanwhile the loose principle is there to hinder decision of conduct if possible. The loose meeting here avows, or rather positively holds (for they never avow as a meeting), the non-immortality of the soul; but their leader and teacher has publicly declared he glories in it, and the emigrants from neutral meetings go there; but there are others equally loose who do not go there or anywhere, but would be a hindrance to any one's being decided. …

There is a work to do here, and God is working, but it is a work of patience as yet. Brethren are more accustomed to go full sail, or work in simple evangelisation, blessed work too, but the fruits come out naturally. Here the existence of brethren has to be made good where there is no such thing, or if any be thought such, connected with a broken up loose meeting, denying the immortality of the soul. That there is such a thing as meeting in the unity of the body, holding the faith more than any here, is at least known now.

The churches, so-called, are awfully afraid of this annihilation doctrine, but let that and everything else in. They are a nursery for indifference to godliness and truth. Did I look as a man I should not be very sanguine. There have been hindrances I cannot enter into here in the elements to be dealt with. Still truth, and a testimony, has been before souls, and has penetrated far in many. The manifested fruits may be delayed, and others reap what has been sown, which I shall be delighted at with all my heart. … Mere apparent success (God can of course work a special work) I should dread here. I know what succeeds here, and it is few who can get on even as Christians without it. I would rather have what God approved.

New York, May, 1867.