TO THE FRIENDS OF THE CAUSE IN IOWA.
By George Ide Butler
At our last Conference it was left upon me to lay before you the matter of raising means to buy a new tent-top, and also of raising a camp-meeting fund. In buying our new tent last spring a mistake was made, the cloth of the top being too thin as well as of a poor quality, and it was found upon trial to be almost worthless in a rain storm. It was a very great hinderance to us in our tent-meetings during the summer, the people not daring to come out when the weather appeared threatening, and quite a number of times we were obliged to close meeting, when we should not, had we had a good tent. Any little shower of rain made it uncomfortable. And as the season was a very wet one, it was a great trial to us. Those at the camp-meeting can appreciate the truth of what I say. After a correspondence with Mr. Foster, the maker, he offers one hundred dollars for the old top, and agrees to make us a new top of 12 oz. M. duck, the same as Bro. White bought of him last spring, for $347.60, the same as Bro. W. paid. Bro. White says his tent sheds rain well, and from a sample sent by Mr. Foster of 12 oz. duck, we have every reason to believe it will make a serviceable tent. Our other top was of 8 oz. duck, and poor at that. Deducting the price offered for the top, it leaves $247.60 to be raised towards paying for the new top. As the last season was exceedingly wet, and therefore hard on tents, and as the tent was bought very cheap, the loss will not be very great. In accordance with the decision of the Conference, the top has been sent to Mr. Foster, and we shall need the means to pay for it when the new one is finished. The next item is the raising of a camp-meeting fund. Our annual camp-meetings fill an important place in the work of the Lord. We all look back with great pleasure to the meetings which have been held in the past. Their importance increases every year. It is not expected these meetings will be confined to Pilot Grove, as in the past. It is believed more good can be done, especially among those unacquainted with the truth, by changing them, and it is probable the one appointed next June will be held some fifty miles north of Pilot Grove, near enough to a railroad for people to come to it without teams, and so that hundreds, and even thousands, along the line of the road, can come if they desire. This truth must go. The people must hear it. The place of holding our large meetings must be accessible, and the people urgently invited to attend. Our platform is a broad and a noble one, and we, as a people, must enlarge our hearts, and open our hands, and hold out inducements for the people to come and hear this glorious truth. We must, therefore, select a suitable ground this winter, and some means must be expended to make it attractive, and means will be needed to provide things upon the ground in season for the meeting. We ought to have five hundred dollars raised between this and spring, to pay for the new tent-top, and raise the fund necessary for camp-meeting purposes. Over one hundred and fifty dollars were subscribed on the tent last spring which has not thus far been paid. We expect, of course, that the friends who have thus pledged, will pay their pledges, and not be of those who vow and do not pay. We think the friends in the northern part of the State should feel an interest in these things. Full two-thirds of the subscription for the tent last winter, were raised in the southern part of the State. Let the friends north take hold this time with interest, since the next camp-meeting is appointed to accommodate them. We hope the officers in every church will, at a proper time, present this before the members. Means can be sent to R. M. Kilgore, Washington, Iowa, or paid to me when I pass through the churches this winter. Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Nov. 6, 1869.