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Iowa and Nebraska

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 10, 1873

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 41, No. 26.

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Iowa and Nebraska.

By R. M. Kilgore

MAY 3 and 4, met with the church at Soldier Valley. Here, I found all in union, firm, and rejoicing in the truth. Gave six discourses, and attended four other meetings. Four more united with the church, and five were baptized. This was a very profitable meeting throughout, and especially was this the case, while we were engaged in celebrating the memorials of the humility and sufferings of our Lord and Master.
On the evening of the 5th, I preached, by request, at the Crabb school-house, twelve miles north, where Bro. Bartlett had labored so successfully during the winter. Here were several who have long been searching for truth, and have traveled from England to America hoping to obtain the object of their desire near the brackish waters of the Deseret. But instead of light, they found darkness; and instead of truth in its purity, they found corruption. Deceived, disappointed, destitute, and pursued, with their lives in their hands, they returned and settled here, and now are rejoicing in the truth (as one of them expressed it) of this “glorious message.” I asked one if she was not fearful that she was again deceived? She replied, “How can I be deceived, when I keep the commandments of God and have faith in Jesus?” Truly, thought I, with this platform to stand upon, there can be no ground for deception. There are several cases of peculiar interest here; among them is that of Robert Winter, referred to in a late REVIEW. The readiness with which these friends supplied themselves with books was a good sign of a deep interest in the unadulterated truths they advocate.
6 and 7, held meetings with the church of Onawa. Four more were received into this church. Bro. E. T. Barber was chosen leader in the absence of Bro. Bartlett.
10 and 11, I spent at Decatur, Neb. Gave four discourses, and twelve were buried with their Lord by baptism. Bro. Bartlett was with me, and assisted in these meetings. We were also greatly cheered by the presence of the brethren and sisters from Mt. Pleasant and Hooper, some of whom came forty miles to attend this meeting. The interest on this occasion was greatly lessened because we could not accommodate the people, for lack of room. The house was literally packed, and numbers were compelled to remain without. The church here greatly need a meeting-house.
The friends of the cause here, in the West, are determined to have a camp-meeting on the Missouri river, this fall, and they are praying for help.
13 to 15, I preached three times at the Burgh school-house, near Cherokee, Iowa. The interest among the few friends here is greatly crippled by the removal of Bro. Boyd from their midst. I trust that they will prove faithful and endure unto the end. Here, I met Bro. Call from Sibley, Osceola Co., formerly from Michigan, who pleads for help to build up the cause that already has a foot-hold in his vicinity.
17 and 18, preached three times at Bach Grove. The brethren from the Hook’s Point church added much to the interest of this meeting, both by their presence and testimonies, and those for whom this meeting was held were strengthened and their confidence was increased in regard to the stability of this message.
The following week, I spent with the friends at Hook’s Point, visiting from house to house. Preached seven times, mostly upon practical duties. Six more were added to the church, and eleven were baptized, whom, we trust, arose to walk in newness of life; among these were four couples, husbands and wives, who walked side by side down into the water. Such a scene is not often witnessed. Some of these, a few months ago were alive in sin, by breaking God’s holy Sabbath, blaspheming his holy name, and doubting even a reality in the religion of the Bible. We then assembled at the house of Bro. J. L. Smith, where Bro. W. B. Everhart was elected elder, and Bro. J. D. Ballard, deacon, and were then set apart by the laying on of hands.
Our meeting closed by celebrating the ordinances of the Lord’s house. Though part of these were new to nearly all, yet we realized here, what we always shall, that the blessing of God is bestowed, where a willingness is manifested on our part to do our whole duty; for says our Saviour, “If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them.” This was truly a precious season, and one which shall long be remembered by all who were present. Our hearts were softened and melted as the Holy Spirit’s mild and tender influence manifested itself in our midst. These meetings, from first to last, were of great profit to me, and I feel to praise the Lord for his love toward me and those for whom I have labored.
At all these meetings, where churches were organized, S. B. was re-arranged, and the system adopted generally as approved by the body; and at every place the figures were enlarged.
The roads are so bad, it takes three teams to carry the tent from Hook’s Point to the depot, a distance of fifteen miles. The brethren who so kindly brought it said that money could not have hired them.
I am now on my way home, but delayed, because the railroad bridges are swept away by high water. R. M. KILGORE. Cedar Falls, May 27, 1873.