REPORT FROM IOWA | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 14, 1867

REPORT FROM IOWA.

SABBATH and first-day, March 30 and 31, I labored in word and doctrine with the few at Fairfield. The roads had been so bad in the winter that they had not met together often; yet some confessed that they had not made sufficient effort to attend the meetings; that they had excused themselves while they might have been more punctual by sacrificing a little; and that we get more strength by meeting together when it is practicable, than we would in staying at home. These acknowledgments are very true, and we hope they will be remembered.

We were here glad to see Bro. Caviness, who had moved away, but now saw that it was better to remain with the church at present. The church expressed their satisfaction to see him among them again, and invited him to act in the capacity of leader as formerly.

Sabbath and first-day, the 6th and 7th inst., we spoke three times to the church at Mount Pleasant, and held one business meeting. Our lectures were given in a large and commodious hall in the city, and seemed to be appreciated by the church, and by quite a number of unbelievers. We are still of the conviction that a good work will be done in this place and vicinity if a proper course is pursued by the church. At our business meeting over one thousand dollars were pledged for building a meeting house, and a building committee of three was appointed to take charge of the enterprise. Here is a noble object before this church, and we expect that as they are blessed in this direction, they will not overlook other enterprises which are of equal importance in the advancement of the common cause in which they have an interest. And from what we have seen, we have reason to hope that they will come up in sacrificing for every worthy object according to their ability.

We do not believe in Sabbath-keepers colonizing merely for the sake of being together, neither would we recommend that Sabbath-keepers who belong to a small church, or elsewhere, where their help and influence are needed, should move to Mt. Pleasant. Yet if there are those who are by themselves, and are withering for want of work and experience, and cannot help others where they are, yet might help with their means and strength, and at the same time get an experience, such might find an opening with the church at Mt. Pleasant, and can correspond with Bro. A. A. Fairfield. But let it be remembered that this church are workers, and do not want any drones to come among them. And they wish to be well posted with regard to the religious standing of those coming.

When it becomes duty for a church to build a meeting house for their good and for the benefit of those around them, and to further the cause of truth in their vicinity, it is of no small importance for them to keep together (unless they are very numerous), and to concentrate their strength, instead of scattering abroad regardless of the good of the cause. If the cause demands that a church build a meeting house, it cannot justify them to scatter before or after the house is erected; for this would be defeating the object for which houses of worship are built. We therefore view it as a great sin for Sabbath-keepers to move away without considering the matter in the light of this important principle. While it may be duty for some individuals to go into new fields, that by their consistent lives they may open the way for others to receive the truth, it is equally important for most of the believers to come into church capacity for their perfecting, and to help those by their influence who are constantly embracing the truth. But as a general thing, the great object of those who desire to move away is not to help others into the truth, but to better themselves temporally; and all are not prepared by their experience and organization to launch out into an entirely new field. How much harm has resulted from overlooking this truth. I do not measure the strength of the cause in any State by the number of churches in it, unless they are strong and have an influence. I prefer to see a dozen churches in a State, which are strong and in good working order (and I have seen small churches bear these characteristics), than to see twice this number in a weak and scattered condition, mainly because not composed of material to constitute a church. In some cases scattered brethren who have an imperfect church organization would do better to unite with a stronger church until more are added to their numbers, even though they could not meet with the church every Sabbath.

Last Sabbath and first-day, we had a good time with the church at Washington. We spoke three times, and were encouraged in seeing our close testimony appreciated. The church here are receiving the message to the Laodiceans in its proper light, and in an understanding manner. They have been coming up since their organization. With regard to Systematic Benevolence, they carry out the injunction, 'Upon the first-day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him,' to the letter. At our business meeting, three were added to the church by letter, and twelve shares more were pledged for the Health Reform Institute. Some of this will be paid in soon. This is a small church; but I see no reason why their numbers may not be doubled in the year to come, by the children and youth joining with them in serving the Lord. Some have already given their hearts to the Lord.

Pilot Grove, Iowa.