A Visit to Iowa by J. S. WASHBURN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 18, 1906

A Visit to Iowa

By J. S. WASHBURN

It was my privilege to attend the recent State meeting in Parkersburg, Iowa. This was without doubt the best State meeting ever held in Iowa. The Spirit of the Lord was present in mighty power. The message of Elder Daniells on the reception of the Holy Spirit to finish this work was received, and with it came a solemn realization of the great need of workers and of the power that we have been contented to live so long without. How blessed were the experiences of many at that time.

With Brother Juhl, who is a member of the Iowa Conference Committee, I visited the country church near Parkersburg, and held three meetings with them, visiting the Sabbath-keepers scattered throughout the adjacent country. They are nearly all busy farmers, some of whom the Lord has blessed financially. We enjoyed good meetings. After the Parkersburg meeting Elder J. H. Krafts and the writer met with several churches.

November 14-16 we held meetings with the church in Dubuque. There is an earnest company of Sabbath-keepers here. Dubuque is a place of about forty thousand, an enterprising, prosperous town, the second in size in the State of Iowa. We had excellent meetings in this place, celebrating the ordinances of the Lord's house, ordaining the elder of the church, and on Sunday afternoon two were baptized in the Mississippi River. It was felt indeed that the Lord was with his people in power, and that the testimony of Christ, the spirit of prophecy, was confirmed in this church.

November 27-30 we held meetings in Waukon. Here is one of the oldest churches in the State of Iowa. This was the home for a time of Elders J. N. Andrews, Geo. I. Butler, J. N. Loughborough, E. W. Farnsworth, and other workers. This church was visited by many of the old workers in the cause of present truth, among them Brother and Sister White. Other workers have gone out from this once large and prosperous church. This was our old family home, and I was greatly pleased to visit the old church building and the familiar scenes. Four of our brethren and sisters who were in the church in 1875, when we removed, still reside here. There is a church here now of about twenty-five, although much scattered. I shall never forget the experiences of my early conversion in this church under the preaching of Elder J. N. Andrews in 1874, before he went to Switzerland.

We enjoyed excellent meetings, although the weather was much against us, and the roads were very rough. Yet the interest and the attendance were surprising, several coming five or six miles against a freezing, wintry northwest wind. Two brethren came twelve miles, and a sister came nineteen miles from the old church of Village Creek.

There is a good interest in the town of Waukon, and a very friendly feeling toward our people. There were intelligent, influential people in attendance at the meetings, and a most cordial, friendly feeling was manifest. I believe that a series of meetings in Waukon would accomplish great good. Personally, my visit to this place leaves a very encouraging and helpful memory.

December 1-4 we held meetings with the believers in Hawkeye. Here we found an excellent company, and felt that the Lord was especially near to us in our meetings. A number of the members of this church are German farmers. One friend who attended the meetings decided to keep the Sabbath, and the Spirit of the Lord was manifested as we talked of the advancing work, and of the greatest message in the world to-day, and the speedy accomplishment of its work.

We held one meeting with a little company in Forest City. They are widely scattered, but there was certainly a most commendable interest manifested by several members of this church, and there was also some outside attendance as well. We felt that our visit to this place, though short, was not a failure. The Lord has a people and a work to be done in Forest City.

December 6-10 we held meetings in Algona. This church was organized about twenty-five years ago. They have a good church building, and we enjoyed much of the presence of the Spirit of the Lord. The Comforter, that convinces of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment to come, was with us in our meetings. We do not believe the work is finished in Algona. Some of the brethren came a long distance to attend these meetings, although the conditions were very unfavorable.

December 11-13 we had an appointment in Hartley. We enjoyed excellent meetings here, the people coming a long distance to the eleven o'clock service, and staying to three meetings each day, and returning home after the evening service.

Serious illness in my family called me home suddenly, and Elder J. H. Krafts remained to close this meeting, and also went on to fill appointments in Sheldon, Sioux City, Smithland, Pilot Mound, and Nevada. We believe the time has come for the message to go through the State of Iowa and everywhere, with a loud cry. The Lord is drawing the line between those who are true to him, and those whose hearts are overcharged with the cares of this life. There are many of the brethren in Iowa whom the Lord has greatly prospered financially. What a mighty power these brethren and the means which God has placed in their hands might be if fully consecrated. While many are faithful, and willing to sacrifice, we are sorry to see that some are in danger of losing their souls by setting their affections on their farms and the things of this life. May the Lord arouse the faithful ones everywhere to give the trumpet a certain sound, that some who are slumbering on the brink of eternity may be awakened, and aroused to perform their part in the giving of the last and greatest message on earth. There is no movement on earth that can be compared with this movement in which God has given us a share—the proclamation of God's last message to a world in rebellion. It is high time to awake out of sleep, for "now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." J. S. WASHBURN.