Report from Iowa by Daniel T. Bourdeau

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 18, 1866

Report from Iowa.

By Daniel T. Bourdeau

When we wrote our last report, we were resting and writing at Sr. Sparks’, Knoxville. Sr. Sparks and her children took all possible pains to make us comfortable. Our hearts were drawn out after this dear family, first, because of the loss they sustain in the death of Bro. Sparks, whose heart was in the message, and who was a great help to his wife and children in leading them in the divine life; and secondly because the dear children manifested so much kindness to us, and a good degree of love for the truth. It seemed to us that the Lord loved them, and we greatly desired to see them fully with us. If it was important for them to serve the Lord while their father was with them, how much more important it is for them to serve him, and thus obtain help from him and the church, now that they are deprived of their father’s help.

Friday, the 23d, came to Vernon, where we attended a prayer and social meeting in the evening, and made some remarks on how prayer-meetings should be conducted.

Sabbath and Sunday, 24 and 25, spoke four times to the few in Vernon, and arranged Systematic Benevolence. We were happy to see the brethren and sisters more interested in the Health Reform, and disposed to adopt it as fast as they see it. This is all that we can ask of any one. We cannot expect that all will readily see the whole nature and bearing of this subject. Some are aged, and their mental vision is not as clear as it once was. We should bear with such. Others have indulged so long in habits that becloud the mind and benumb the finer sensibilities, that it is impossible for them to see certain branches of the health question, until they reform in a measure at least. Their only hope is in walking in the light as they see it. And they must not wait till they see the whole theory. If they do, they never will obey. It is in doing, as well as for doing, the will of God, that they must expect to learn of the doctrine. As they remove the causes of their mental darkness, light from Heaven will break in, and to their astonishment, they will see light in what was once darkness to them.

The 27th, we intended to start for Fairfield on the cars, to fill an appointment for that place the next day. But owing to an unexpected change in the railroad time that morning, we missed the train; and our only chance to fill our appointment, was in going to Fairfield by private conveyance. In endeavoring to hire a team for the journey, we had an opportunity of seeing some of the covetousness and selfishness of the age exhibited. But we preferred to sacrifice by paying extra for the use of a team, and especially by arising several hours before day; rowing up the Des Moines river in the cold wind; then crossing the river to reach our team; and then riding up to the time of the meeting

unbelievers, some of whom are already favorably inclined toward the truth. The people in this place and vicinity manifest a good degree of respect to our people, and if a meeting-house was built among them, every effort in the enterprise would call their attention to the fact that such a people as Seventh-day Adventists exists, and would open the way for them to inquire respecting our views. And at the dedication of the house, as well as other large gatherings held in it, many would come to hear the truth, and some would receive it either immediately or gradually. I would deem it a privilege to be one of two preachers to follow up the interest of such meetings, and see their good results. I think a large church might be raised in time, by pursuing a wise and judicious course in this matter.

I speak the more boldly for having had some experience in this direction among the hills of Vermont, where I was born and brought up. I refer to the church of Enosburgh, Vt., where there was not one-third as much material to work into a church as there is at Mt. Pleasant and the surrounding country. When we commenced building a meeting-house there three years ago, we numbered only seventeen members. While we were building, every load of material that was brought on the spot, and every blow that was given, told in favor of the message, and even the Governor of our State, who lived at a distance, heard of our success, as he informed me in a private conversation. We soon had large gatherings in our new house, and these meetings were followed up with persevering labor; and now that church numbers from fifty to seventy-five members.

I therefore say with all confidence, that the brethren in Mt. Pleasant cannot invest means in a more promising enterprise at present than in a meeting-house enterprise, and feel to rejoice that they commence to see the importance of resolutely and earnestly taking hold of this work.

Wednesday evening, Dec. 5, we held a meeting at Bro. Kilgore’s, Washington, and spoke on systematic benevolence and church organization, and were happy to see father Kilgore endorse these subjects for the first time. This brother has felt his way carefully, owing to his naturally skeptical turn of mind; but we are glad to see him move out as fast as he sees the way cleared up before him. God bless him and his dear family, with whom we always find feeling hearts, and a kind reception, as well as a good resting place.

Sabbath 8, we had a good time in speaking to the few in Washington, which was followed up with a free, social meeting. The 9th we had success in organizing a church of nine members, and in raising the s. b. fund from $104.00 to $200.00 per year. From the interest taken by the children and youth in pledging on s. b., and in speaking in social meetings, etc., we see not why a good church may not be formed with the families of Sabbath-keepers in Washington, to say nothing of those who do not as yet obey the truth.

D. T. BOURDEAU. Washington, Iowa, Dec. 10, 1866.