REPORT FROM IOWA by George I. Butler

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 6, 1869

REPORT FROM IOWA.

By George I. Butler

My last report closed with the meeting at West Union, Feb. 7. Our next meeting was at Laporte City, commencing Thursday evening, and continuing over Sunday. The weather was very unpropitious, the rain pouring down, and the water being quite high, yet our congregations were nearly as large as could well be accommodated in a private house; notwithstanding two other meetings were being held at the same time. Several took part with us besides the members of the church. Some of our meetings were very solemn indeed. There seems to be a fair prospect that good may be done here in the future by a course of lectures, if our people get them a house of worship in which to hold them. I thought our meetings were as encouraging as any I ever attended there before, and that a spirit of humility and union was rather increasing. But there is great chance for improvement yet.

Elder Brinkerhoff, since my last report, has come out fully before that community as a Universalist, and preached several times, giving his reasons for his change of sentiments.

We held, in all, twelve meetings in Marion. Sabbath and Sunday they were held in the court-house. I cannot say that any great results were accomplished, but trust the minds of all present were solemnized, and the duties of the present hour better understood than before. There seemed to be a cloud hanging over the meetings all through; the cause of which I could not tell. There were but few in besides the members, as the going was very bad. Bro. Mitchell kindly brought me on my way to my other appointments.

At Iowa City I met a room full, mostly of those not believers in our faith. They gave good attention to the word spoken. At Pilot Grove our meetings commenced Sabbath evening, and continued till Tuesday evening, in all, ten in number. It was my endeavor to preach the truth pointedly, but I could hardly tell whether any good was accomplished or not. There has been so much preaching at this place by those who were better qualified to arouse and instruct, that it was of course not expected that the meetings I should hold would have any perceptible effect. But I did what I could, and trust that no harm was done. It was rather discouraging that none were up from Washington. However, the going was rather bad, which was thought to be a sufficient excuse. This church has had much light, which has not been fully lived up to by all. On the whole, this meeting could not be called a very brilliant success.

We came on to Mt. Pleasant over the roughest roads that I ever saw, I think, and arrived safely after a very tedious ride. Had four meetings with the church. As the weather was very cold and boisterous all the church were not out, so our meetings were not full. But as bad as the weather and going were, two of the brethren from Brighton were there, who had walked over twenty miles; and another brother, who is investigating our faith, came nearly twenty miles, to hear his first Advent sermon. The zeal of these seemed to be a rebuke to those living within a few miles, who were not out. Our meetings are rather more spiritual, I thought, than those I had before had with this church, though perhaps this is not saying a great deal. This church has been passing through trials for the last few years, but I hope things are working in some respects favorably. But a great work needs to be done here before this church is “as a city set upon a hill, whose light cannot be hid.”

Our meetings commenced at Brighton Tuesday evening, and continued till Sunday night, in all, ten meetings. Some few are drawing back, but most are still as strong in the truth as ever. They have kept up three meetings a week this winter, and all say their meetings have been good. They number at present 44, on the church book, and some others are favorable. I judged there were twice as many present at the meeting on the Sabbath as there were at any other of our churches in the State. Several were here from Washington, Mt. Pleasant and Paris, where Bro. Cornell has been laboring this winter. There is still a great work to be done for this church, but they seem to be teachable, anxious to learn, and zealous. I believe there is a foundation here for a good church. I feel a deep interest in their prosperity, and shall try to watch over them and instruct them in the ways of the Lord.

Upon the whole these meetings that I have reported have not seemed to accomplish very much that can be discerned by outward observation, but I hope some good has been done. At any rate I feel like still laboring on with earnestness for the success of the truth.

GEO. I. BUTLER.

Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, March 16, 1869.