Report from Iowa by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Aug 14, 1866

Report from Iowa.

By James White

BRO. WHITE: While we were resting at Bro. Nicola's we spoke once to the Pilot Grove church, on Wednesday evening, July 11. Our hearts were cheered in seeing so many in the place who are trying to keep pace with the body in getting ready for Christ's coming.

On Sabbath, July 14, we met with the brethren in Washington. About sixty Sabbath-keepers were present. We spoke to them with usual freedom from Heb. x, 23: "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised." Also from Phil. i, 9–11: "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment, that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Chirst, unto the glory and praise of God."

The brethren and sisters feasted upon the word spoken, and at the close of our remarks, about fifty good testimonies were given in quick succession, which evinced to us that they wanted the truth to have a deep place in their hearts and affections, as well as in their heads.

Sunday morning we came by private conveyance, with Bro. R. Kilgore, to Fairfield. As we reached the place we were informed that Eld. Snook was there, and had been giving several discourses against our positions; that Bro. D. W. Hull had changed his views, and that some of our brethren and sisters were in a state of distraction.

While we were peaceably attending to our business, the Elder hastily accosted us with a challenge to hold a discussion with him, and was very urgent to have us investigate his position. We told him that the cause in Fairfield, in the church, and among outsiders, did not demand a discussion; that for us to investigate his views, would be to question, or show a lack of confidence in the good confession he made on that point a year ago, and in the decision of the General Conference and of the Iowa State Conference in his case, and in the case of his colleague, Wm. H. Brinkerhoff, and that it is too late to plead for investigation in regard to a case which is so well understood, and which is already decided.

These men differ with us on ten or twelve cardinal points of present truth; yet they say that these points of difference are non-essential. Query! Why divide and tear down the church of Christ on non-essentials? Again, they say that we are drawing away their brethren from them. This reminds us of a thief who went into a farmer's yard to steal sheep. And when he was overtaken in the act of stealing, by the owner of the sheep, he cried out that they were taking away his sheep from him.

In our meetings during the week we spoke on practical subjects, and on Sabbath and first-day, July 21 and 22, we dwelt on the Messages, Spiritual Gifts, and Two-horned beast. Several of the brethren from Mt. Pleasant attended the meetings on Sabbath. Notwithstanding the opposing influences with which we were surrounded, we had unusual freedom in speaking the truth, and our meetings wound up in glorious triumph. On first-day, at the close of the meetings, the special blessing of God rested upon the dear saints, and their faith in the truth was increased. Good hearty confessions were made, Bro. D. W. Hull confessed his way back, two youths united with the church, and we went the distance of four miles to Cedar Creek, where four were baptized.

We are happy to say for the encouragement of the readers of the Review, that thus far the Lord has greatly blessed and sustained us in our arduous labors, and that we have had special victories in the Lord at every place, which makes up in a great measure for the privation we are called to sustain in consequence of being separated from our pleasant homes, and from our dear brethren and friends of the East.

A. C. & D. T. BOURDEAU.

Sandyville, Iowa, August 2, 1866.