To the Friends of the Cause in Kansas and Missouri.
By George I. Butler
HAVING just had the privilege of attending your State Conference at Avilla recently, I wish to say a word to those whom I have not had the privilege of seeing at any of our meetings thus far, and I know of no other way to do it than through the REVIEW. I am happy to say a special effort is being made this year, in the bounds of your Conference, to advance the interests of the cause we love. One fifty-feet tent is bought and paid for and will soon be running in the northern part of this field with Bro. Lawrence and T. J. Butler to man it; and at the Avilla meeting a subscription was started, and $307.00 was pledged in a very short time by the comparatively few brethren present to buy another to use in the southern part of the Conference. This should be raised to at least $500.00 by others sending in their pledges and means who were not there, especially from the southern part of the field. The men can be found in the Conference to run it, I feel sure. Bro. Blanchard, Bro. Santee, Bro. Cook, or others, I know feel anxious to see the enterprise move forward, and some of them stand ready to man the tent as soon as bought. Openings for labor in all directions multiply, and scores of places have sent in their most earnest pleas for some one to come to their help. And in many of these places there are brethren able to contribute to help forward this enterprise. There are many scattered Sabbath-keepers all through this Conference, many of whom are doing nothing at all toward helping the cause in the Conference, although there never was a time when their help was more needed. Probably full one-half of these are not in any church organization in these States, and so pay no Systematic Benevolence; and, in short, contribute nothing to the cause any way. It seems strange that our brethren should come from Iowa and other States where they have always felt it duty to help with their means, and come to the place where their help is more needed than ever, and give nothing. These brethren, many of them, want preaching in their own localities; and some of them are crying loudly for it. Where they have ability, they should feel the importance of contributing of their means to sustain preaching and to raise tents. In this way they would show real sincerity. I can see no good reason why Sabbath-keepers who live alone are not under obligations to help forward the cause of God as much as those who live in companies. The Lord has the same claim upon the one as the other. There is no difference in this respect. It would seem that some are forgetting their duty and are in danger of being swallowed up in the world. The present time while these things are being stirred up is just the one to take hold. A good prospect lies before the cause here, if our brethren can be made to realize it and take hold as they should. The Lord is raising up men who are ready to move out and give their strength to the work, if their families are not left to suffer and if the tent can be bought. We hope our scattered friends will realize this and send in their pledges freely. You need have no fears of the pledges being too many; for the Conference voted that all money raised in excess of what was necessary to pay for the tent should go toward helping to pay the expense of running it; and this is just as necessary as it is to buy it. I do not know of any field where there is a more flattering prospect of increase of strength immediately than in this Conference, if our friends will but take hold of the matter with vigor. We know that times are very hard, but you are not required to pay down. If the pledges from reliable men can be obtained, to pay by next fall, there is little doubt the present means necessary can be obtained to purchase the tent, if your pledges are sent in immediately, so that in a month two tents may be running in your Conference. Brethren, this is the golden opportunity. Do not hesitate and let it slip, but send in your pledges or means for the tent, of five, ten or more dollars at once to Eld. H. C. Blanchard, Avilla, Jasper Co., Mo. who is treasurer of the committee appointed by the Conference to take charge of this tent fund. In this way, lay up treasures in Heaven. Five dollars now in your Conference will be felt more and accomplish more than a much larger sum, if the treasury was full. And send in your Systematic Benevolence to the Conference Treasurer, Bro. J. H. Rogers, Alta Vista, Daviess Co., Mo. Go to work for the Lord and not give all your strength to this world. May God bless this noble enterprise; and he will, if we feel the interest in it which its immense value entitles it to expect. GEO. I. BUTLER, Pres. of Gen. Conf.
Lawrence, Kansas, May 29, 1872.