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Mr. Hugh Campbell, who was saved in tent meetings held by Mr. Matthews and Mr. McGill in Westerly, [[Rhode Island|R.I.]], came to Petersburg and opened up a stone yard. This was another open door and the brethren pitched their tent in that city and again the work took hold. The preachers went to Matoaca, a town about five miles away, so brethren Lamb and [[William Beveridge|Beveridge]] secured a hall there with only planks for seats, but the place was crowded and when the meeting ended, another crowd just as large filed in and they had to begin all over again. A tent season followed and the power of God was at work until there were very few homes in that village that did not witness the grace of God in the salvation of some of the members of their families.

Mr. W.R. McEwen had a tailoring business in Petersburg in those days and a number of his daughters and his son, Sam, were saved in those seasons of blessing. Sam became a well-known servant of the Lord and was much used of God in leading souls to the Saviour in [[Virginia]]. The youngest son, Hugh, was also born in Virginia and saved early in life. He, too, became a fervent soul-winner and minister of the Word of God. He also has finished his course.

In Matoaca the preachers built a new hall(known today as [[Matoaca Gospel Hall]]). Mr. Lamb was a carpenter, Mr. Bradford a plasterer, and Mr. James Hamilton from [[Scotland]], who labored fervently in the gospel with them, made and carried the mortar and a good hall was built for the young assembly. The home of Mr. Brockwell was opened then for the Lord's servants.

In those pioneer days trials of various kinds abounded, yet through evil report and good report, "as poor, yet making many rich," these heralds of the Cross kept on their way, laying a good foundation in clear-cut gospel preaching, planting assemblies and teaching after the pattern of the New Testament. They had but "one purse," in the form of a little box and all funds were put in there, but often it was from door to door with tracts and preached in the tent. There was an ingathering of souls and many were baptized and an assembly planted.