Report from Iowa by D. T. Bourdeau

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 15, 1867

Report from Iowa.

By D. T. Bourdeau

DECEMBER 17th, Bro. H. Nicola took us with his team from Pilot Grove to Iowa City; the 18th, we rode in a crowded stage over rough roads to Cedar Rapids, and from Cedar Rapids we came, the same day, to Marion, where we arrived late in the night, feeling much fatigued. We improved the next day in resting, and visiting with the brethren, and in doing business with the Conference Treasurer. The 20th, the brethren got us up a comfortable carriage, with which Bro. Hoff took us to Laporte City, a distance of forty-five miles.

Sabbath, the 22nd, we met with the church at Laporte City, spoke twice, and had quite a good social meeting. The 23d, we held a business meeting, in which we dwelt on the nature and true objects of church organization, showing that a mere formal organization, which does not recognize, protect, and enforce the principles of the message, is lifeless, and powerless; that there are sacred duties and principles made incumbent on the church by the Bible through organization that should not be overlooked, if we would see the church prosper; that organization says to us that we are our brother's keeper; that we should care for our brethren, sisters, and children, as well as labor for those who have no interest in the truth.

Accordingly a Bible Class and Sabbath School was organized, a weekly prayer-meeting established, and a committee of three were appointed to visit and labor faithfully with those who were on the back ground.

The following resolutions were also adopted:

Resolved,—That we will endeavor to be punctual in attending our prayer, and Sabbath meetings.

Resolved,—That we will attend to the ordinances at our earliest opportunity, and after that, as often as once in twelve weeks, if circumstances will permit.

Resolved,—That we will try to pay our s. p. pledges at the end of each quarter, to carry out order and punctuality, and thereby make our duties lighter than they would be if we paid the whole once a year, and enable the church treasurer to report to the Conference secretary quarterly, agreeably to the plan in the blanks prepared for that purpose.

At this meeting, Bro. and sister Grettenburg confessed that they could see no light in the rebellion and in the course of its leaders; that the articles of Bro. Smith had cleared up their minds on the two-horned beast; that their confidence in Bro. and sister White was being established, and requested to be received into the church again; whereupon their acknowledgment was accepted, and they were unanimously received as members of the church.

We had a profitable time in visiting nearly all the brethren and sisters in Laporte City. If they will live up to what they know to be truth, watch unto prayer, press together, and attend to their private and public duties, they will not fail to grow in grace and see the work of the Lord prosper among them. The object of the enemy is to divert our minds from our present duties, that we may be found unprepared for the trials that are before us, and for the day of the Lord. To accomplish his object, he will prepare a thousand baits and snares to take God's children. He knows their temperaments and organizations, and he will assail them at their weak points, and where they are the least prepared to meet him. Our safety lies in girding on the whole armor, in examining our defects, and overcoming them. This is an individual work; and as we engage in it we shall have no time or room to pick at the faults of others, and to justify self, or to ferret out every new theory which may purport to be innocent and wonderful, but the object of which is to shake our confidence in the truth and work of God, and keep us from preparing for the day of God's fierce anger.

Bro. Huntington, Wednesday, the 26th, took us to his quiet and retired home in Waterloo. This was the coldest day we have had this winter, and we appreciated our buffalo coat and furs; we could almost challenge the cold prairie winds. We were glad to find Bro. and sister Huntington with us on all points of present truth, and trying to press their way on to the kingdom. Sabbath and first-day, the 29th and 30th, we met with the few in Waterloo, and had good freedom in preaching on the proper observance of the Sabbath, trials, &c. The church here have been thrown into severe trials by the inconsistencies of some. We greatly fear that some have not taken the wisest course with regard to these trials, and, as a consequence, have failed to fully learn the lessons they should; but they can learn, if each will cultivate patience, seek for heavenly wisdom, and take hold of the individual work before God.

D. T. BOURDEAU.