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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, October 8, 1867

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 17

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NOTES BY THE WAY.

By J. M. A.

Thursday morning, Sept. 26, left Washington, Iowa, in company with Bro. Smith and brethren from that place, for the Convocation Meeting at Pilot Grove. After a most pleasant ride of ten miles over the prairie, we arrived at the Grove. Here a cordial reception was given us by the good brethren of Iowa, who were assembled from all parts of the State to attend this great meeting. Of this good meeting I will not speak in detail. Particulars will be given in the Editorial Correspondence.
Suffice it to say: The Lord met with his people on this occasion, and we were permitted to enjoy a most excellent season together. There were probably over 300 Sabbath-keepers in attendance. And such a turnout of people as were assembled on first-day, is seldom witnessed at a religious meeting in a country place like this. It was estimated that there were from 1500 to 1800 persons present.
Bro. and sister White were blessed with health and strength, and enjoyed freedom in the Lord during the entire meeting, and their testimony was gratefully received.
We are happy to say that the waves of opposition have spent their force in Iowa, and peace and tranquility are again restored among the brethren in that State.
Our hearts were made glad to find the cause so prosperous there, and to see the brethren all so united and determined to press the battle. The Lord continue with them.
We are glad of our visit to Iowa. Now that we have seen the dear brethren there face to face, and formed a personal acquaintance with them, and mingled our prayers and our testimonies with theirs, we shall feel that our hearts are more closely knit together than before. Our work is one. May we be one in the bonds of love and fellowship of Christ.
Pilot Grove, the place of our meeting, is a native grove, containing, as I was informed, about three hundred acres, and stands out on the vast prairie like an oasis on the great desert. The timber is mostly oak and hickory. Years ago, when this country was new and uninhabited, when for many miles around not a tree nor shrub was to be seen, nor any familiar object to greet the eye, but all a vast ocean plain, this grove is said to have served as a faithful pilot to guide the adventurous traveler on his course. Hence the name which it now retains.
The church in this place numbers about fifty members. Like this noted grove which served formerly to guide the traveler over these boundless plains, so may this church stand out as a way-mark to the world around them, and serve as a faithful pilot to guide the life-bound traveler over the broad plains of sin.
On Monday morning, took leave of Bro. and sister White, Bro. Smith, and other good brethren at Pilot Grove, and with Bro. Olmsted of Michigan, accepted the kind invitation of Bro. J. Hare to take us to Mt. Pleasant, where he resides, a distance of about forty miles. Such a long wagon ride would ordinarily have been tiresome and tedious, but on this occasion it was a rare treat, such as I never before enjoyed. A pleasant day, splendid roads, good company, and a continual stretch of such beautiful prairie to feast the eyes upon, all combined to make the trip most delightful, and one to be remembered hereafter with great satisfaction.
Our short stay at Mt. Pleasant we enjoyed much. Here we found some excellent brethren and sisters who gave us a cordial greeting, and spared no pains to make our visit pleasant. We shall not forget their kindness. We love these brethren.
Mt. Pleasant is indeed a pleasant place,—rightly named. It has upward of 5000 inhabitants, and is a thrifty, enterprising city. One of the chief features of interest in this place is the “Iowa Hospital for the Insane.” Through the introduction of Bro. A. A. Fairfield to Mr. Ashbury, the Supervisor of the Hospital,—a very courteous and obliging gentleman,—we were shown through the entire buildings, and specially favored in the way of details, explanations, &c. This institution is said to excel any thing of the kind in the Union. It certainly speaks well for Iowa. The appropriations at the present time are about $600,000. Its entire arrangement and management are of the first order. There are now in attendance 340 patients. How sad the sight to see so many beings created in the image of God, with their reason dethroned!
I was willing to turn from the sickening scene, and look out from the high tower of the main building upon the more cheering and beautiful scenery outside. Never did my eyes fall on a more charming view than was presented from this elevated place. As far as the eye could penetrate the depths of space, one vast delightful plain, beautiful both by nature and art, was spread out before us in magnificent display.
If old earth, thought I, with all the curse upon it, be clothed in such splendor, and present so tempting a view, what sympathizing beauty and charms must be presented when the curse shall be removed! Welcome, glad day! There will then be no need of hospitals for the sick or insane. Sickness and insanity, sorrow and death, will have passed away, to be known and felt no more. Give me then our earth restored, instead of a mystical heaven “beyond the bounds of time and space.”
Wednesday, Oct. 2, 4 o’clock, A. M., now at Mt. Pleasant depot waiting for the cars to journey eastward. I go to Burlington, thence into central Illinois to visit kindred in the flesh.
As I am now waiting for the cars, so may I be waiting when Jesus comes. J. M. A.