Untitled article by George I. Butler

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, February 18, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 10

REPORT FROM IOWA.

By George I. Butler

My last report closed with the meeting at Pilot Grove, Jan. 11 and 12. During the following week, I spent several days at the hospitable home of Bro. Kilgore, at Washington. At the request of Bro. K., I spoke in the district school-house one evening, upon the signs of the times. There was a good congregation present, and good attention paid by those who came out. Hope it was not a lost season to all.

Jan. 18 and 19, held meetings at Fairfield. There was some interest manifested Sabbath and Sunday by the few who are left there, to attend the meetings and hear the truth. But things look quite discouraging at F. The brethren are quite generally scattered, making it somewhat difficult to attend meetings, and everything in the past, with the exception of within the last year or so, has had a tendency to sadden the hearts of those who are trying to live. There were at first over forty who came out nominally into the truth, but now only three of those who originally came out are with us. Others have been added, from time to time, since that,

so that there is a small church left.

Many of those who came out at first, split off on organization, and some others in the last defection, while quite a number of those who remain need a mighty awakening, in order to come up to the standard of some other churches in the State, to say nothing of the great preparation necessary, to prepare us for the kingdom of God. While trying to speak the practical truths of the Bible applicable to these last days, that all might see their true condition, the Lord helped by his Spirit, and in our last meeting, Sunday, many on the back-ground were melted to tears. Some are trying to move forward with the body, and we expect a few, at least, will be saved in Fairfield. We hope the effort was not lost, and that all will quicken their pace in the great work of overcoming.

Jan. 25 and 26, held meetings at Knoxville. A goodly number were present from Sandyville. I gave four discourses in all, Sabbath and Sunday, besides a conference meeting in which nearly all present took part. We had a very good meeting, but not that freedom I have seen in some other places since leaving home. The truth is, many have come to a stand-still; and many are getting further and further from the Lord. And while such are hesitating as to whether they will take an advance step, and have not concluded to be wholly for the Lord, but are looking back in the direction of the world, the Lord withholds his Spirit. The time has come when a decision must be made. As Bro. Smith wrote in a late Review, many are making that decision; and some, I fear, do not realize it—that their actions show they are deciding on the wrong side. These are very solemn reflections to me. How careless many are in regard to these things upon which hang eternal destinies. But while we are careless God's work goes on. Those who are making the needed effort, giving all for the kingdom, availing themselves of every means of grace, every help, have light in their dwellings; while those who take the opposite course, grow more and more indifferent, and, I fear, some of them will never realize the folly of their course till the wrath of God will be felt in their own persons. God is in earnest with us as a people and as individuals. We must walk while we have light, or darkness will be the consequence. Some in Knoxville see these things, and are trying to act upon them. Others, I fear, do not. On the whole, things in this church are taking a more favorable turn, and a gathering influence is to be seen. We trust it may increase.

At Sandyville we met Sabbath and Sunday, Feb. 1 and 2. Quite a number were present from Knoxville. Very good attention was paid, and considerable interest manifested in the preaching. But there was a feeling of coldness plainly perceptible in all the meetings. We had a communion season to close with, Sunday afternoon, and I can but say that there seemed to be full as much interest manifested by some to be attending to their worldly business as to this solemn ordinance of the Lord's house. In short, some felt they could hardly spare the time. While this was observable, it fully explained the coldness felt in the meetings. It is unpleasant to make these observations, but if there is any sense in having reports at all, it is best to have those which give a truthful statement of matters. Yet there are a goodly number in this church who are trying to be found in the work, and who are in full union with the body; and I expect the Lord will yet work in Sandyville. There are some good omens to be seen, some hopeful signs; and I fully believe there will never be darker days for the prosperity of that church than some they have already seen. May God give grace to help all those who do feel like moving forward in the work of God.

A few reflections force themselves upon my mind in regard to these churches and some of the trials through which they have passed. One great lack when they first embraced the Sabbath and kindred truths, and came out a separate people, was plain, practical teaching on the principles of the Christian religion as it has existed in all ages. What we call “present truth,” if I rightly apprehend it, is but truth which has been buried for ages and brought again to light, and some truths which have a special application in the last days. Honest souls are scattered all through the religious denominations of the present time, which as bodies, have fallen from the favor of the Lord by rejecting the doctrine of Christ's coming near at hand.

These churches all have more or less truth mixed up with popular tradition, and since their moral fall have been growing more and more proud, worldly, and sinful, and are fast filling up with wicked men, so that the day cannot be far distant when they will be in the condition spoken of by the Revelator, “the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Of course it is necessary that God's people be separated from this state of things. The Sabbath comes along as a mighty cleaver, with all the other important theoretical truths of the message, to bring out the honest into a separate place, where God can work for them with those agencies which he has prepared, to fit them for translation into his everlasting kingdom. The theory of the truth is of mighty importance to accomplish this object. But we have had abundance of evidence in the past, as a people, to ascertain this fact—that individuals may have a faultless theory, and never be Christians in deed and in truth. A Christian may be defined as one who takes Jesus Christ as a leader, and follows him. If a person really does this, the principles of love, benevolence, justice, meekness, and humility, will stand out clearly in his life and character. It follows from these principles that as soon as the theory of the truth has separated a people from the world and nominal Christianity, the work of preaching the plain, practical, heart-searching truths of the religion of Jesus should immediately commence, and be followed up, till all in the church should have their lives tested by them. And we believe a candid search among our churches throughout the field will verify the statement that in every case where this course has been pursued, good results have been attained in proportion to the faithfulness with which these ideas have been carried out.

In my judgment these three churches have been great sufferers in consequence of theory's being dwelt upon when practice was more needed. Within the last year or two the great practical truths of God's word have been dwelt upon, and as a result, some are seeing their condition, while others rather hear theory. Some are making an effort to arise, but others stand back. But not only has much time been lost by the course which has been pursued, but, in all probability, some of those who might have been helped when they first came out with their hearts warm and tender, it will now be impossible to reach. After church difficulties and disappointments have caused many to lose their first love, it is hard to make them see the importance of the work, and make the mighty effort necessary, to shake off the lethargy and coldness of years.

Another great cause of the stagnation to be observed in these churches is the lack of judicious church discipline in the past. They have been, in many respects, like a ship in a storm without a captain, an army in battle without a commander. Every one doing what seemed right in his own eyes, and these different opinions of what was right sadly disagreeing, causing confusion, inefficiency, and general discouragement. And perhaps one of the most unpleasant features of the case is, that many seem really to like this state of things, and are loath to change it for a better. In my judgment the only salvation of these churches, as organized bodies, is the establishment of judicious church discipline founded on the principles laid down by the gospel, and firmly carried out to the mark, in moderation and love, that all may learn that there is an authority in the church, and all its members must accept it or take the consequences. What is a family without a head? What is a nation without a head? The world, as a general thing, show much better sense than many of us. They never think of establishing any organized enterprise without having a recognized authority. Every railroad or insurance company has its head and by-laws, and every petty debating society throughout the length and breadth of the land. Shall not the church of God, the pillar and ground of the faith, recognize these principles, to whose trust are committed the mightiest consequences which have ever occupied the attention of man?

We are very thankful that in these respects, there is ground for hope in Knoxville and Sandyville. And if those who have been placed at the head of these churches can be persuaded to stand firmly at the head, and lead matters in moderation and love, not for their own good but for the good of those over whom they have been placed, I believe better days are before these churches; if not, as organized bodies I have no hope for their future.

In preaching I have endeavored, but in great weakness, to bring out the close, searching truths of the word of God just as they are revealed to us, let them hit where they would. We hope our brethren of experience and judgment at the head of the cause will consider our wants and our lack, and grant us that help which we need in the future, if it can be spared from other places. GEO. I. BUTLER.

Knoxville, Feb. 6, 1868.