p. 94 | A Good Move in Iowa

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 20, 1866

A Good Move in Iowa.

We have received the following report of action taken by some of the churches in Iowa, which we trust will result in strengthening in the right, all those who are exposed, as was the apostle Paul, to perils by "false brethren." The resolution comes to us signed by nineteen members of the church of West Union, eight of the church of Elgin, and twenty-six of the church of Waukon. We publish the preamble and resolution, without the names, as follows:—

Whereas, Elders Snook and Brinkerhoff, who have been acknowledged preachers among us, have now rejected the three messages of Rev. xiv, saying they were fulfilled in part by the Waldenses, and deny that the two-horned beast of Rev. xiii, is a symbol of the United States, and deny that the signs promised by our Saviour, Mark xvi, 17, were to come this side of the apostolic church; therefore,

Resolved, That we, the undersigned, Seventh-day Adventist churches, do hereby declare that we have no confidence in those men, nor in their present work of trying to pull down and destroy those glorious truths which we believe and love. Therefore we warn our brethren everywhere, to have no sympathy nor fellowship with their unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Eph. v, 11.

ACTION OF THE CHURCH AT PALESTINE.

The church at Palestine, Iowa, has lately passed the following preamble and resolution; and it is forwarded to us signed by twelve names, being as we are informed by the Clerk, J. F. McReynold, the entire membership of the church:

"Whereas, There is a rebellion in our midst instigated by Elds. Brinkerhoff and Snook, and

"Whereas, Eld. Snook has expressed a desire to preach to us at Palestine, therefore

"Resolved, That we, the S. D. A. church at Palestine, knowing the tendency of such rebellion, and having good evidence that these ministers are determined to divide the flock, and scatter seeds of discord which must ruin our influence, would inform them that we have no fellowship nor sympathy for them in their work of tearing down what they once labored to build up; and we therefore have no desire to see them or to hear them preach."

TO THE BRETHREN IN IOWA.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: As we are living in a time when the enemy would like to cause divisions in our ranks, we feel it a duty to let you know through the Review that the church in this place is not at all moved by the spirit of rebellion; and that the efforts of certain ones in scattering "fly" leaves in our midst are futile; that we rather rejoice in having our lot cast with the remnant who have the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus. We feel that this is the sheet anchor of our faith; for if we have not enough to fill the bill, we are deceived, and our faith is in vain. The specification calls for commandment-keepers that have the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy; so that if we throw away the spirit of prophecy, we admit at once that we are not the remnant; and if we are not the remnant, we are not in the last days, (unless some others have enough to fill the bill) consequently we cannot consistently be looking for the return of our blessed Lord and Master. But to put away the return of our Saviour would be to say, My Lord delayeth his coming; and we fear the consequences of saying with our lips, our heart, or our actions, that he delayeth; for there is a cloud of witnesses that speak in thunder tones that he is nigh and hasteth greatly. Truly we are living in perilous times. Still we have no reason to complain; for God in mercy has forewarned us of it in his blessed word. He says, Because iniquity abounds the love of many shall wax cold.

We feel to mourn that any should grow weary in well-doing. Still our love for the truth and those who have borne the heat and burden of the day hinder us from having any sympathy with rebels. This church has quite a trial to bear. They have to bear the reproach of Moses Hull, the first one that ever preached present truth in this place. The next was B. F. S., now he is supposed to be gone. In the midst of our troubles our cry is, O God, send some of thy faithful servants this way that the things that remain may be strengthened.

That the brethren may know our whereabouts, there was a vote of the church taken, when the whole church stood up to manifest that they had no sympathy with rebellion, but wanted to go with the body. F. MORROW, in behalf of the church. Vernon, Iowa.

FROM THE CHURCH AT PILOT GROVE.

The church at Pilot Grove, where this rebellion was met last June, and temporarily demolished, the leaders confessing their iniquitous course, send the following record of the firm stand they have taken, which comes to us signed by forty-eight names:

Whereas, There is a rebellion raging in our midst, caused by Elders Snook and Brinkerhoff, and

Whereas, We understand it is their calculation to visit all the churches and sow seeds of discord, and scatter confusion among the brethren, which course we deem to be very injurious to the cause, and calculated to destroy our influence over our neighbors and friends not in the truth, and as application has been made for our meeting-house for them to preach in, by H. E. Carver, and as we had a better chance to learn the nature of the first rebellion than any other church in our Conference, and knowing the second to be worse than the first, they having taken the position that our application of the three messages of Rev. xiv, is false, and declare that the seven last plagues are all past but the seventh, therefore

Resolved, That we the Seventh-day Adventist church at Pilot Grove, Washington Co., Iowa, will give no countenance to the rebellion in any shape whatever; and we will not open our house of worship for the

leaders in this rebellion to preach in, and should they come to our place we will not go to hear their confusion.

The Washington church endorse the above action as follows, to which were appended seven names:

P. S. The Washington church being present when the above article was voted on, requested the privilege of voting in favor of the same, and wish it definitely understood that they, as a church, take the same position.