Allentown, Mo by George Ide Butler

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 27, 1875

Allentown, Mo.

By George Ide Butler

Having reached this place and resumed active labor in the good cause, perhaps the readers of the REVIEW may be interested to hear from me. During the last two or three months I have not been actively engaged in ministerial labor, but have been mainly at home. I gave a course of lectures at New London, Iowa, ten miles from Mt. Pleasant, of about four weeks' duration. A few embraced the truth, and two or three have joined the Mt. Pleasant church as the result. The weather was very cold at the time; and popular lectures on other subjects coming in, and within the community not having much care for serious things, made the interest small. After this, I remained at home, working with my hands considerably, which I have found a great physical benefit to me after three years of quite active mental labor. I preached to the church on the Sabbath during this time. This, with the exception of a few meetings with the Knoxville church, when there on personal business, is all the labor I have bestowed in the cause during the time above mentioned. Our cold, disagreeable spring has not been very favorable for labor. This, with some temporary discouragements, has made me feel justified, for the time being, in working with my hands at home preparatory to active labor in the tent season.

I have recently come to this place, intending to labor with Bro. Nelson W. Allen the coming season in an entirely new field in Eastern and Central Missouri. Bro. A., with his brother Frank, embraced the truth in California last fall. I became acquainted with him at the camp-meeting there. Up to last June, he was professor of mathematics in the branch of the State University located at Rolla, Mo. His health breaking down, he went to California to regain it. Happening to be where Bro. Cornell was laboring, both he and his brother became interested in the truth and embraced it. They were at the Biblical Institute, and from there returned to their home in Allenton, Mo., where the entire family received the truth. Their father is master of the State Grange of Missouri, and a man of influence, who is well known in all parts of the State. Although he has not heard a great deal of the truth yet, his sympathies are with it, and he accepts the Sabbath of the Lord. After his return home, Bro. Nelson Allen lectured some here and at another place. Twelve or fifteen, I believe, are keeping the Sabbath as the result.

These things led me to think of laboring in this section. All through the Eastern and Central parts of this State is new ground where the present truth has never been heard. Bro. Allen feels a deep interest to have it proclaimed here, and wishes to engage actively in bringing it before his many acquaintances and friends. We seriously think of soon setting up a tent in Rolla, where he used to act as professor in the college. We hope that those who listened to the teachings of science may be interested in that which is of such deep importance, the great truths of the third angel's message. We hope for God's blessing in bringing the truth before the people. I am holding some meetings here at Allenton to deepen the work already begun while waiting for the tent.

As for myself, the truthfulness of our position never looked clearer to me than now. I never felt more determined to labor earnestly in this cause than now. I have looked over the groundwork and felt the pillars of our faith, and they never seemed more solid than now. There is no other way but to go forward in courage and in faith. No doubt there are discouragements to surmount, difficulties to be met, and battles to be fought. Was there ever a good cause in which there were not plenty of these? The hosts of evil are mighty, and our trembling souls may shake at times when we view them; but the mighty God of Jacob alone is a majority; leaning on his arm we can prevail.

I feel that in myself I am weak as a trembling reed. At times I can say with Job, “I abhor myself in dust and ashes.” Nevertheless, there are more that are for us than those that are against us, and we may gain a glorious victory through Christ Jesus our Lord. This, through God's grace, I mean to struggle for. I want my brethren who may possibly have wondered at my silence, to understand, one and all, that my soul is firm in the truth of God. For it I must labor; for it I think I am willing to suffer till God shall release us at the close of the war. GEO. L. BUTLER.