MEETINGS IN WISCONSIN by I. Sanborn

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 16, 1869

MEETINGS IN WISCONSIN.

By I. Sanborn

At the time of my last report, I was laboring in the town of Fayette, Lafayette Co., Wis., and not Fayette Co., as given in my last report. I continued my labors in the Eldridge school-house, five weeks, between Darlington and Fayette, a section of country that has had the bad influence of having a large interest raised, then left to die out. Some I found had kept two Sabbaths. Many had been convinced but had lost all interest and confidence in the work, never to be interested again, as we all know who have ever labored in such a field. Yet having commenced labor, and finding some fractional interest, I continued laboring, hoping, with the blessing of the Lord, to save a few. There were four families of Sabbath-keepers there who seem to be much strengthened and encouraged by the truths which they heard. Another family took their stand upon the truth, and commenced keeping the Sabbath. Two other families we think will also do so. May the Lord grant them wisdom and power to do so, is my prayer.

I returned to Cassville, Grant Co., on the 5th of January, and commenced a protracted meeting with the Waterloo church, the ninth, and have continued two weeks. The meetings closed last night, Jan. 24, with our Quarterly Meeting. In the two weeks I preached twenty-two sermons to large and very attentive congregations.

One Elder Darnell, a local preacher of the Freewill Baptist faith, desired to preach a sermon on the Sabbath question to convince us that we were under no obligation to keep the seventh day according to the fourth commandment, but that we were under obligation to keep the first day because the law of the land required it, and which was the only reason he offered, accordingly we had neither precept nor example in the Bible for it, which I had just been showing the people was the case according to the Bible, and that all the authority there was for Sunday keeping was the commandments of men. He preached in the Advent meeting-house, at 3 P. M., and I reviewed him in the evening, the Lord giving me great liberty in the move which brought quite a number to a decision on the Sabbath question, so that on the following Sabbath, eighteen were baptized and thirty-two received into the church, making this church now number one hundred and nine members, besides quite a number of others that have just commenced keeping the Sabbath who we expect will unite with the church at the next Quarterly Meeting. During the session of this meeting we re-organized on s. b. book, having about three-fourths of the member's names upon it. The figures now foot up over $400.00 for the year 1869. The church and individual friends of the cause furnish the meeting-house with a communion service and furniture which cost $49.00.

We had a very interesting ordinance meeting, evening after the Sabbath. That evening the brethren who once thought the house was too large, had the happy privilege of standing up to give seats to their neighbors who came in to hear about the coming of the day of the Lord. It was a very solemn and interesting time. Almost all who came to these meetings were convicted before they left. All candid persons who attended these meetings, are almost sure to be converted to the truth. May the Lord still bless this church, and make it like a city on a hill, whose light cannot be hid, that each one of its members may let their light so shine before men that they may see their good works and be constrained by the power of the light they see in

us to obey God, keep his commandments, be sanctified through the truth, and saved in his kingdom.

Next Sabbath and first-day, I attended the Quarterly Meeting at Sand Prairie on my way to the Sugar Grove meeting.

Dear brethren, though I feel care-worn, yet I never felt more hopeful and encouraged than now; nor have I ever felt and seen my own weakness as now. Never before have I seen with such clearness the great importance of my having daily a new conversion and consecration to his work as now. Pray for me that I may be a faithful minister, approved of God, one who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word.

I. SANBORN.

Cassville, Jan. 25, 1869.