These were occasions of unusual interest.
Several days were devoted to religious meetings, and even in
midwinter pious people made long journeys, and crossed bleak
mountains on the snow, to attend them. One woman, Hoimar, of
Salmas,[1] travelled sixty miles, through deep snow and piercing
cold, to be present at this ordinance in January, 1858.
[Footnote 1: See page 171.]
In June of that year, the better to distinguish those entitled to
this privilege, before the sacrament all entered together into
solemn covenant with God. The whole number received up to that time
was two hundred and forty-nine; at the close of 1861, it had swelled
to five hundred. As the meetings became too unwieldy, and it was
inconvenient for so many to come so far, the ordinance was
administered at Seir also, in September, 1858; and here
providentially another end was secured, for as Dr. Wright was then
too sick to distribute the elements, some of the natives had to
perform that service. In June following, a very interesting
communion was observed at Memikan; Yohanan and his wife crossing a
high mountain, even then covered with snow, to bring their little
child for baptism.
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