GEO. I. BUTLER by George Ide Butler

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 21, 1882

GEO. I. BUTLER

By George Ide Butler

Encouraging.

It is said, “There is nothing succeeds like success;” and there is nothing that encourages the heart like good tidings of success. The firm believer in the message finds no joy equal to that which he feels when the work moves forward prosperously. This cause, to him, is the cause of God. His hopes are enlisted in it, his heart is full of it. It embraces all that is most dear to him, the coming of Christ, the eternal rest, the establishment of the reign of righteousness in the earth, the full salvation of all the good and faithful. The scope of the cause is to reach these results. No wonder we hail every encouraging omen with joy. The last few years have had many discouraging features; yet there has been a constant steady growth of the cause, and its influence has been at the same time increasing. But we all look for a far greater increase of light and power in this message. Its light is to lighten the world.

During the last week, good news from different directions has come in,—some of it in reports to be published, some in private letters. We are glad to hear good news from Iowa. Bro. Nicola gives some interesting items. Eld. Frank Evans is considered, perhaps, the ablest debater the Methodists have in the State of Iowa. He has had three debates with our ministers in the past, and is the champion usually called in to help their cause when in danger. It is no small cause of gratification to me that we have a truth so plain that every young man during the first year of their labors in the cause can meet such a man as Mr. Evans, and the truth come off victorious. Bro. Nicola writes that there are as many as fifty Sabbath-keepers in that vicinity who have embraced the truth since last June.

The labors of Eld. O. A. Olsen among the Scandinavians in the western part of Iowa have been greatly blessed the past few months. The cause among that people in Iowa has languished since Bro. Hanson's sickness. In Weston and Elkhorn there has been a rousing interest. In the latter place, thirteen have been baptized, twenty have recently joined the church, and a meeting-house is to be erected. The interest is greatly increasing among them. God is good, and the work is onward.

We have also good news from Bro. Conradi, who is laboring in Dakota among the German Russians. He is the only one in this country preaching in that tongue. He has organized a T. and M. society of sixteen members, and raised money for the purchase of German tracts. These and more are ready to join us, and the interest is extending all around among this people in that section. Many of the German Russians there are Mennonites who have left Russia to escape oppression, and have come here for the sake of worshiping God according to the dictates of their consciences. May God walk among them, and by this means cause the light of truth to reach many more of their countrymen here and in the Old World.

We have also encouraging news from Bro. Andrews and the work in Switzerland. “He gets out for a walk nearly every day, and we hope soon to see him as well as before the Conference.” “Our hearts are of good courage. We have received many interesting letters this month, and many subscribers. Bro. Ertzenberger's meetings at Tramelan thus far promise good success, and we feel that the Lord is blessing his cause here in old dark Europe.” These words came in a private letter to the Office. Knowing the interest felt by our people in Bro. Andrews' health and work, we cannot resist the desire to let the readers of the Review rejoice with us. They will remember that his earnest labors at the Swiss Conference last fall had the effect to prostrate him physically, and since that time he has been quite

We rejoice that he is improving. Our people will rejoice that his earnest labors under great darkness and prostration are beginning to have a visible effect. This will gladden his heart even more than it can ours. God will make this faithful “seed-sowing” bear fruit to his glory. It takes longer in Europe to move the people to decided action than here. Difficulties we cannot realize in this land of light and liberty hinder our missionaries at every step. We know them all to be men of God. Their earnest prayers and faithful labors must bear fruit. God will fulfill his promises, and we shall not regret our little sacrifices of means. But we rejoice that the Lord has given us the privilege, though at a distance from them, of sharing with these men the blessing of doing something for the Master. We expect shortly to see souls embracing the truth all through Europe. We shall, if we continue to work in faith.

Thus we have encouraging news from the work in four different languages and in different parts of the world. The truth is onward. Earnest work—however dark the prospect, will see fruits of our labors. Devotion to the cause and to God is what we need. God will see to the fruits of our labor, if we are diligent in sowing the seed.