Untitled article by I. Sanborn

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, September 24, 1867

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 15

REPORT OF MEETINGS IN WISCONSIN.

By I. Sanborn

I commenced preaching in the Town of Claysville, Grant Co., Wis., the eleventh of August. It being in the midst of harvest I could only have meetings on first-day for two weeks, but I spent the laboring part of the two weeks in visiting from house to house and helping to harvest. Then I commenced holding meetings every evening except Monday. I have now preached twenty-six times, and the interest has increased all the time.

Yesterday, Sabbath, we had a prayer and social meeting with a short sermon between, which occupied about four hours, in which forty-three publicly, by speaking and standing up, declared their determination to keep God's holy Sabbath and all his holy commandments, and the faith of Jesus Christ, and thus be prepared by the grace of God for a home in God's everlasting Kingdom. We then repaired to the Grant river, where five willing souls were buried with Christ by baptism, and rose to walk in newness of life. This was truly a happy day for me, another bright spot in my ministerial experience.

Three weeks ago not a Sabbath-keeper in this section of country, and now so many, and still many more that we are confident will yet obey. Oh, praise the Lord; to his holy name be all the glory forevermore.

To-morrow, Sept. 16, I start home to the Convocation Meeting leaving an appointment to return here and commence meetings again with the commencement of the Sabbath, Oct. 5, and continue till the work here is established. On the 20th of October there will be another opportunity for those who wish to be baptized. We expect by that time there will be quite a large company desiring baptism.

There will be prayer and social meeting each Sabbath while I am gone, at two o'clock in the afternoon, and prayer meetings on Wednesday evening.

Since writing the above I have listened to a sermon against the Sabbath by one Elder Ball, Methodist, which the Lord helped me to candidly review last evening before a large audience, after which I requested any man or woman in the congregation who did not believe that the fourth commandment was now binding, to hold up their hands, but not a hand appeared. I then took an expression to see how many believed that the seventh day is the Sabbath and that it is the duty of God's people to keep it, and nearly all the congregation arose.

I never have seen God's power more manifestly displayed with his truth among the people than I have seen it here. To the Lord be all the praise for ever and ever. Amen.

I. SANBORN.

Cassville, Grant Co., Wis., Sept. 16, 1867.