Report from Iowa by George I. Butler

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 1, 1870

Report from Iowa.

By George I. Butler

My last report closed with the meeting at Brighton, Feb. 1-6. Came with Bro. Nicola to Lisbon. Wednesday evening, Feb. 9, spoke to a few brethren and sisters at the house of Bro. Paine. Since the camp-meeting last fall he has taken his stand to go with his wife to the kingdom.

Sabbath and Sunday, met with the brethren and sisters at Lisbon, assembled from the surrounding churches. Our meetings seemed very cold and formal at first, but increased in interest toward the close. It was by no means a meeting of rejoicing, but closed quite solemn, with confessions and tears. I trust it was profitable. In our old churches there must be an advance step on the part of individuals who have long heard the truth. This going to meeting and being stirred up, and going back to business, and becoming worldly-minded, and spiritually dead, till the next meeting comes around, will hardly prepare a man for translation. As Enoch was the first instance of translation, and as God remains the same “yesterday to-day and forever,” it would be well to consider his case. Enoch walked with God three hundred years, three times as long as our country has had a national existence. His religion was not spasmodic. We have no record of his backsliding. Such a religion we need individually, to prepare us for the translation he experienced.

At Marion, the committee appointed at the last conference to locate the camp-ground for our meeting next June met, and after some examination and consultation, fixed upon the pleasant grove near Bro. Thomas Hare’s as the most suitable ground, all things considered, for the next Iowa camp-meeting. This is about one mile and a half from the depot at Marion, and three and a half from Cedar Rapids. The committee also arranged some plans for conducting the preparation of the ground, and also for furnishing feed and provisions. I am happy to say we were all perfectly united in our proposed action, and that we confidently expect the blessing of God upon our next camp-meeting. On our part it shall be conducted upon liberal principles.

As an item of news, which is causing some comment here in Marion, I will say, Eld. B. F. Snook, formerly a minister among us, but for the last three or four years an opposer, though still professing to be an Adventist, has, of late, taken his public stand as a Universalist, and proposes soon to give in public his reasons for this change. The readers of the REVIEW will remember that Eld. Wm. H. Brinkerhoff preceded him in this direction nearly a year ago.

Here at last the two leaders of the Iowa defection have arrived. It seems sad that two men capable of doing good, should thus leave the present truth and become Universalists. But so it is. The Hope of Israel paper, established by them as their organ, will still be published. There is some talk that it will be removed to Mauston, Wis. Those who have been acting in concert with Elds. S. and B., still hope to be able to carry on their work, and keep up their paper. It would seem to a looker on that their courage, at least, must be good, if they can hope to do so in view of present and past experience.

GEO. I. BUTLER.

Marion, Iowa, Feb. 17, 1870.