p. 313 | MEETINGS IN WISCONSIN by I. Sanborn

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 28, 1868

MEETINGS IN WISCONSIN.

By I. Sanborn

My last report was written February 23. Since then I have labored both in Cassville and Waterloo, Grant Co. When the brethren commenced building their meeting-house they chose me to superintend the work. I did so, and went to work with them at scoring, and hewing timber, and laying stone, and framing timber, and planing timber, and putting on siding, and I painted most of the outside of the house. I also painted the blinds. I worked 34 days in all, which gave me a good chance to demonstrate the proper mode of eating and drinking so that a man can endure hard labor cheerfully. We worked ten hours a day. I, of course, ate no meat, and but two meals a day, and worked as hard as any man that worked on the house. Thus I had the privilege of setting an example to the brethren who wished to live healthfully.

I preached every Sabbath, and attended the weekly evening prayer-meetings. I organized a church of 42 members, and there are 50 or 60 more that we expect will come in when they can get sufficiently rid of some more of their wrong habits of life. We also organized S. B. to the amount of one hundred dollars a year. These brethren are poor in the things of this world. The country is new, the land has to be cleared before it can be broke, which makes their improvements increase much slower than in some other parts of the county or State; and yet they are building their meeting-house, which will cost them about $1,800, or $2,000, cheerfully. They expect to have the house ready to dedicate between the middle of May and the first of June. They send an urgent request to Bro. and Sr. White to visit them at the time of the dedication of their meeting-house, if they attend the Western Conference, which we all hope they will see it their duty to do. If they do not, Bro. R. F. Andrews will be expected to attend the dedication meeting with me without fail, and brethren and sisters from other churches are also invited to come. It is 30 miles from Prairie du Chien to Cassville, and about the same distance from Dunleith or Dubuque by steamboat. All that can come, are invited to come from every place, especially the lonely ones that are within reach of the place by a two days' drive. Due notice of the time will be given in the Review. I have never seen a better opening for an extended work than here in the western part of Grant Co. There must be several months' labor yet in the vicinity of Cassville and Waterloo, and new openings in other towns. I expect to spend the summer in those parts, if the Lord will.

At our last meeting, last Sabbath, 12 were received into the church, and six of them were baptised, one a little blind girl who wished to be ready to enjoy the fulfillment of the promise of God by Isaiah xxxv, 5, 'Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf be unstopped.' As we stopped at the edge of the water to talk to the congregation about that glorious event, persons of hard hearts wept freely.

I arrived home the 13th, where I shall be busy for a few weeks, after which I shall return again to Cassville, the Lord willing. Pray for me, brethren, that the Lord may help me to be humble, and make full proof of this ministry.

I. SANBORN.

Johnstown Center, April 14, 1868.