IN IOWA AGAIN by D. T. BOURDEAU.

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

IN IOWA AGAIN.

By D. T. BOURDEAU.

We arrived in this place yesterday, in good spirits, having spent over two weeks in Battle Creek, during which we enjoyed a continual feast and recreation in attending the General Conference, the meetings of the Publishing Association, and Health Reform Institute, and meeting the dear brethren and sisters of the Battle Creek church, to whom we would hereby express heart-felt gratitude for their kind hospitality, and for the pains they have taken to make us happy and comfortable while among them.

In common with others, I would give it as my conviction that our General Conference was the best ever held by our people. Sweet union and brotherly love characterized its business sessions and religious meetings. Especially was I interested with the resolution on humiliation in view of our self-exaltation over what God had done for us. God is a jealous God, and will not give his glory to the proud and lofty; but will look upon and use to his glory him who is of a meek and contrite spirit, and who trembles at his word. I have greatly desired humility as one of the greatest of graces, and shall not be satisfied until I exemplify it fully. I enjoyed much of the blessing of the Lord in connection with the passing of the above resolution, and firmly believe that as we as a people carry it out in our lives, we shall realize more of the blessing, power, and salvation of God than we have ever yet witnessed.

I was interested in the permanent establishment and prosperity of the Health Reform Institute; but saw the necessity of greatly enlarging our buildings to better accommodate the patients and physicians, and more fully illustrate and recommend the merits of the Health Reform. It is evident that our present accommodations and privileges at the Institute are not commensurate with the demands and magnitude of the Health Reform; though we have reason for encouragement and gratitude in the fact that thus far our efforts have proved a success, as appears from the improvement and restoration of a goodly number of invalids, and from the fair returns that the Institute is prepared to make to shareholders.

The directors are now moving out in the enterprise of erecting a large building to meet the wants of the Institute, on their confidence in the benevolence of our people. Shall we come up nobly in this enterprise, as we have in the enlargements of the Review, as well as in other branches of the work? We shall if we believe that the Health Reform is a part of the message and that if it is hindered in its work, the message will be retarded in its progress. There are thousands all through the land who need the benefits of our Institution, and who will go into the grave if they do not learn how to live healthfully. Shall we open our hearts and purses to give them a chance to live? Let none be deterred from this work by the idea that the

Lord is near. This is the great reason why we should take hold of this enterprise in good earnest. The shorter our time to work, the greater should be our efforts; and the greater the means and agencies used to accomplish the work before us, the sooner will it be completed, and the more faith will we show in the shortness of time and the immediate coming of Christ. And let us remember that God has entrusted a part of this work to us, and that he will not do what he has promised, unless we do what we can on our part.

We shall long remember the sweet interviews we enjoyed with Bro. and sister White while at Battle Creek. They live in our affections, and have our feeble prayers and Christian sympathies. May the Lord raise them up speedily, and still make them humble instruments of good to his cause and people.

We had intended to attend the Illinois Conference, at the suggestion of others; but about twenty minutes before reaching Chicago it seemed to us and Bro. Loughborough that duty demanded that we should come directly to Iowa, to be on the ground and prepare the way for the Conference. And here we are in our field of labor again, feeling that thus far the Lord has led; and he will have all the praise. I feel stronger than I felt a year ago, yet I realize that without the Lord I can do nothing. I still ask an interest in the prayers of those who have the cause at heart, and the special co-operation of the brethren and sisters in Iowa, that the Lord may work for us the coming year in strengthening the things that remain, and in preaching in new fields as the way may open.

D. T. BOURDEAU.

Washington, Iowa, May 30, 1867.