Iowa by J. W. McWILLIAMS.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 29, 1875

Iowa.

By J. W. McWILLIAMS.

AFTER the Conference, I went with Bro. Bartlett and Farnsworth to assist in setting up the tent at Woodbine, Iowa. Leaving the brethren, I went to Deloit, in Crawford Co., where I found a few friends of the truth. On the Sabbath, held meetings in the vicinity where Bro. R. Winters, one of the 1844 Adventists, lives. He and his family are still working for the interest of the cause.

On first-day, had meeting in the school-house in Deloit. I spoke on 1 Cor. 12. When I had done speaking, two or three elders of the “Latter-day Saints” wished to review my discourse. As I could not remain until the next day, they concluded to review it that afternoon and invited me to their church, where I in turn had a good opportunity of reviewing them, of exposing some of their errors in their own pulpit and to their own people, and of preaching the truth of God. There was a large congregation present. I was requested to come back and stay longer the next time I came. There are eight keeping the Sabbath in this place.

Next day I came to Dowville, where I found a family of Adventists from Minnesota, who are earnest workers in the cause of present truth, and who have got some of their neighbors and friends interested in the Sabbath question. Now I wish to say to the friends of the Tract and Missionary Society, in behalf of such, that they should continue to supply their isolated members with books and tracts, until they become acquainted with, and join, some Society in Iowa.

It sometimes is the case that our best workers are poor people, having to move from place to place, as tenants, and from one community to another, where the truth is unknown. Their lives of obedience to the commands of God excite a spirit of inquiry in the minds of their neighbors, and hence the way is open to do good in the missionary field. These friends at Dowville want tracts from Minnesota until they can join the T. & M. Society elsewhere. They do not like to send to the Office, as they have no means to pay for them. I found quite an interest at this place; I will try to give a course of lectures here when I return.

I next went to Woodbine, where the tent is located. I found some interested. The brethren had just passed through the great “wind storm,” in which many houses were blown down and others unroofed, but sustained little or no hurt. Some of the people remarked, when they saw the tent up in the morning, “The Lord must be with them.” They will go from this place to Dunlap.

I found the friends at Logan and Missouri Valley “growing in grace,” and in the knowledge of the truth. May they all go forward from “conquering to conquer,” from grace to glory.

J. W. McWILLIAMS.

Soldier Valley, Iowa, July, 1875.