p. 127 | Report from Iowa by D. T. Bourdeau

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 19, 1867

Report from Iowa.

By D. T. Bourdeau

SABBATH and first-day, Jan. 20 and 27, we held meetings with the church at Anamosa according to appointment, and, among other things, dwelt upon the proper observance of the Sabbath, the right use of the tongue, and the proper course to pursue in order to meet our Systematic Benevolence pledges. In treating these subjects, the following thoughts rested with weight upon our mind:

While we bear the name Seventh-day Adventists, because we believe in the seventh-day Sabbath and advent near, how important it is for us to come up to our faith by keeping the Sabbath-day according to the commandment, that we may enjoy the blessings of those who do God’s commandments, and exert a better influence than we should by talking the theory of the Sabbath without living it out. It is as sinful to use the first hour of the Sabbath for our own purposes, as it would be to use an hour in the midst of that holy day. Sabbath-keepers would feel condemned if they were overtaken in the act of working for themselves an hour between the meetings on the Sabbath. Uneasiness would arise from the fact that others saw them. But this is not worse in the sight of God, as far as its being a sin in his sight is concerned, than it would be if you were to work in the dark part of the day. For “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Mistakes arise on this point from worldly-mindedness, and a want of planning with reference to meeting the Sabbath when it comes. And our sisters who have to prepare three meals a day, must necessarily work on the Sabbath. For the third meal is either taken near the commencement of the Sabbath, or after it has commenced, making it necessary for them to crowd their work into the Sabbath. Brethren, if our wives are in this dilemma they have not an equal chance with us. Should we not love them as we love ourselves? These difficulties and the one of preparing an additional meal on the Sabbath, are removed by the two-meal-a-day system, which gives our sisters a chance to get their work out of the way before the Sabbath, and relieves them from burdens on that day. Thank God for the Health Reform.

In order to meet our S. B. pledges, we should plan with reference to them; make them a matter of conscience between ourselves and God, and attend to our

duty in regard to them first,—before attending to our own interests. If these points are borne in mind, there will be no trouble in rendering unto God what is his due in this matter. It is in overlooking these points that some fail to come up to duty with regard to S. B. First, they do not plan to meet their indebtedness to God, as they do to pay what they owe to men. This shows that God is not first in their affections, to say the least. If he were, they would remember to begin by rendering unto God what belongs to him, in harmony with the apostolic injunction: “Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as the Lord hath prospered him.” In doing this they would give unto God the first fruits of their thoughts and labors. Having enjoyed themselves in the contemplation of his exalted perfections in resting the seventh day according to the commandment, they would feel to attend first, to the duties they owe to God at the commencement of another week.

If Christ were literally to come to our doors each first-day of the week, and knock, saying, Give me my due, to help advance my cause, who of us would fail to be ready to say, in our plans, if not literally, I have remembered thee, and have laid aside what is thine? Yet Christ as truly comes to us by his word, as if he were literally to come to our doors. It is with God that we have to do in this matter, not simply with man. It is when this principle is overlooked that there is negligence, and a feeling that whatsoever is paid on S. B. is simply paid to man, and is the same as lost.

Our social meeting was excellent. In these meetings we were favored with the presence and assistance of Bro. Geo. I. Butler.

Last Sabbath and first-day we had four profitable meetings at Lisbon. There was a large gathering from the churches of Lisbon, Marion and Anamosa, and from other parts of the State. The Lord gave especial liberty and strength in preaching on self-examination, the wiles of the Devil, etc., and particularly in dwelling on the duties of the Conference Committee, and how that they, owing to their judgment, experience, and well-balanced minds, which are, under the blessing of God, adapted to take a calm, general, and comprehensive view of intricate matters, should be consulted in all important matters with which the cause is connected in the State.

These were important meetings to the cause in Iowa. About fifty spoke in our social meeting, and at our business meeting, clogs and hindrances were removed, three united with the church, and one was received as a candidate for baptism.

D. T. BOUREDEAU.

Lisbon, Iowa, Feb. 7, 1867.