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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 18, 1871

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 37, No. 18.

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Minnesota.

By I. D. Van Horn

After my meeting at Riceland, as given in my last report, I met with the Brush Creek church, who had arranged to have their meeting at Wells, on Sabbath and Sunday, March 18, 19. There was quite a general attendance of the friends of the cause of present truth, and we enjoyed a good meeting. Some discouragements rested upon the cause here; but the Lord gave liberty in declaring his truth, and a good degree of freedom was manifested in our social meeting. But the best meeting of all was our business meeting on Sunday morning. Here we learned the cause of their discouragement. Some difficulties existed; but they were all happily removed, and then the blessing of the Lord rested upon us. Confession followed and much weeping. A uniting influence came into the meeting. The way was opened, and eight united with the church. I left them a happy people.
Sunday afternoon, Bro. Kelsey took me to his home six miles, and in the evening, according to appointment, several of his neighbors came through a severe sleet storm to his house, and I spoke to them with freedom. A good impression was left on their minds.
The next morning, Bro. K. took me with his team about eight miles to Bro. Schram’s. They suggested that we have meeting in their neighborhood that evening. I consented, and soon two men were on horseback going from house to house giving out the appointment. Quite a good number came together, and the Lord gave freedom to speak to them. It was manifest that here was a good opening for the truth. The people were very anxious to hear more.
Tuesday, the 21st, we rode twelve miles, and at 2 p. m. met with the Jo Davis church. We held six meetings with them. Our business meeting resulted in much good. Courage arose in the hearts of all. Their interest to carry out the truth was renewed. There was a good interest to hear the truth on the part of the people where the meetings were held. Some wrongs were made right here also, and we left them in better condition than we found them.
Our meeting with the church in Tenhassen, Sabbath and Sunday, the 25, 26, resulted in much good. We found them much discouraged and divided by severe trials. The Lord guided in the selection of subjects, and the straight testimony told with good effect on all. We had two business meetings, the last of which continued in session four hours. We struggled hard with the enemy; but he gave way, and the free Spirit of the Lord came in, and there was a breaking down and melting of hearts before it. Many confessions were made. Washington Morse, though he does not belong to this church, made confession, and took some stumbling-blocks out of the way of others. This let Bro. Merry free, and he began to confess. With many tears he regretted his rashness in his having thought of withdrawing from this people. He asked the church to bear with him a little longer and try him again. By a unanimous rising vote they accepted his confession. Other wrongs were settled. A complete victory was gained for the cause. If now they will seek counsel of the Lord, and learn wisdom by the things they have suffered, they may be a happy people and enjoy much peace. We left them enjoying the blessing of God.
The 28th and 29th, we enjoyed a good meeting at Shelbyville. There are but a few living in this place, and there is no organized church. We could do but little more here than give them courage to continue on in the good way. They were not prepared to enter into organization.
Sabbath and Sunday, April 1, 2, we had an excellent meeting at Pleasant Grove. The disciples kindly granted us the use of their house of worship. They have our thanks. At our public meetings, the house was crowded with attentive hearers. They seemed hungry for the truth. Our business meeting here also, proved to be the best of all for the church. There were some difficulties in the church, and as far as they could be, they were removed. The reason of there not being an entire settlement, was that some of the disaffected ones refused to attend the meeting. How sad it is, at such times as this, for some to be so controlled by the enemy as to stand in the way of the work of the Lord. But a good work was done, and our labor with this church told with good effect on the community around. I have no doubt that an effectual door is open for the truth. But there is so much to do, and the laborers are few. May the Lord keep their hearts till they can hear the truth.
This meeting completed my round of appointments. I found some good brethren and sisters who had the cause at heart in every place, but they were much in need of help. I was astonished to find that in no church was there an ordained elder, except the Riceland church. Some have not celebrated the ordinances for two years and more. This ought not so to be. We hope the way may open for a more full setting of things in order in every place. We shall try to labor to this end. We would seek the Lord for wisdom, and be guided by his hand.
I. D. Van Horn.
Rochester, Minn., April 4, 1871.