Wisconsin by D. Downer

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 17, 1874

Wisconsin.

By D. Downer

I HAVE been laboring here about six weeks. There has been great opposition. But God has blessed his truth. There are now about thirty who keep the Sabbath here, and several others have expressed their determination to keep it. Twenty-five have subscribed for the REVIEW. Some are quitting the use of tobacco, and all seem determined to overcome.

There are eleven earnest calls for labor now that I cannot attend. One is from Hurricane, Grant County. I lectured there last year, but before I could finish the full course, it became so muddy that I was compelled to close. I left with a promise to return, but have not yet been able. I dare not leave here till spring. Almost everything is being resorted to, in order to destroy my influence. Donation parties, &c., are kept up, drawing away hearers from my meetings.

An aged sister, a member of the Methodist church for thirty years, has not till last summer been able to read for years. She has so recovered her eyesight that she can read, and is now in the truth.

Bro. Olson is thirty miles from here pressing on in the work, but is lecturing in English, as his congregations are composed of English and Danes.

While I write, the report is being circulated that I am about to sue a man here, and that my business is shaving and collecting notes, lending money at high interest, &c. Such are the arguments brought against the truth, and men professing godliness, I am sorry to say, are among the first to circulate them.

Those who have embraced the truth here are heads of families, which brings under the influence of the truth enough children to sustain a Sabbath-school.

I tremble at the responsibilities laid upon me. I never felt more to humble myself than now. The last testimony is what we need. We should not neglect to carefully read and heed it. The gifts are the right arm of our great commission.

Bro. Decker writes encouragingly of the work. I pray that our Conference may come up, so that we may not be behind in any respect when compared with other Conferences. D. DOWNER.

Burnside, Wis., Feb. 6, 1874.