p. 10 | GEO. O. STATES by Geo. O. States

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 17, 1907

GEO. O. STATES

By Geo. O. States

Lessons from Past Experiences — No. 20

GEO. O. STATES

Over forty years ago Elders Snook and Brinkerhoof, the president and secretary of the Iowa Conference, and the only ordained ministers then in that conference, came to the General Conference at Battle Creek. They were both men of considerable talent, and appeared all through the conference to be in perfect harmony with the denomination. They preached interesting sermons, and to all appearance they were in perfect accord with the entire message. It was evident, however, that they were trying to find something against Brother and Sister White and the General Conference which they could use in Iowa to prejudice the members of that conference.

On their return they went from church to church and talked with the members privately, so no one could understand just what was being done, and prejudiced the minds of many against those who were leaders in the work. They had much to say about the “triune papacy,” by which they meant the three brethren who were officers of the General Conference.

This action on their part almost broke down the faith of five or six whole churches, and the disaffection was rapidly spreading all through the conference. About that time Brother and Sister White and Brother Loughborough went to Wisconsin to labor. Elder Ingraham, one of the old pioneers of the message and president of the Wisconsin Conference, had just received a letter from Elder Snook, saying, “Let’s strike out on the independence of the churches.” Brother Ingraham communicated at once with the brethren of the General Conference, and they immediately appointed a general meeting at Pilot Grove for all the brethren and sisters of the Iowa Conference.

Brother Geo. I. Butler was then living in the northwestern part of the State. He was not then a minister, but the brethren wrote to him, urging him to be present. Accordingly he drove down in a lumber wagon one hundred and sixty-five miles. Brethren Snook and Brinkerhoof came prepared to have a regular debate, but Brother and Sister White would not do anything else until the matter of the charges which these men had made was settled.

Elder Snook at last consented to this arrangement, and so they took up one by one the reports which these brethren had brought home with them. It was shown that they were actuated by prejudice, and that the reports were anything but the truth. This was proved so fully that some of the brethren whom they had misled took these brethren out in the woods, had a season of prayer with them, and showed them the sinfulness of their course. Some of these brethren came out squarely and made confession of what they had done that was wrong. The cause of truth grandly triumphed in that State, notwithstanding the effort of the enemy to overthrow it.

At this time Brother Geo. I. Butler was chosen president of that conference. This was the first responsibility, except as local deacon and elder, that he had ever borne in connection with this cause. Brother Butler strongly objected to taking that responsibility, but could not escape it without a positive refusal. In about two years Brother Butler began preaching, and Elder Loughborough and other leading brethren came to that conference to labor, Brother Butler standing nobly by them.

It was not over a year after the meeting at Pilot Grove that Elders Snook and Brinkerhoof left the truth and became Universalist ministers.

Cedaredge, Colo.