MINNESOTA by D. P. CURTIS; D. C. BURCH

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 28, 1882

MINNESOTA

By D. P. CURTIS; D. C. BURCH

Hutchinson and Dassel.—We reached Hutchinson Feb. 24, and commenced meetings that evening. This is the largest church in the Conference, and the brethren are widely scattered, so that it is impossible to get them together at any one place. Those who were within reach of the church, made commendable efforts to attend our meetings. The Lord gave freedom in presenting the word, and helped to bear the strait testimony which we thought the time demanded. As in other places where we have labored, we set before the people the necessity of having the evidence of thorough conversion, of having a full reconciliation to God, and an entire consecration of heart and life to his service, in order to find acceptance with him, and also to qualify us for doing acceptable work for him in any branch of the cause. We believe that the Spirit gave efficiency to the word spoken.

A goodly number of the brethren and sisters bore testimony to the truth of the word preached, and pledged themselves to renewed efforts to place themselves in such a relation to God that they may become “as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life.” We believe that all who attended the meetings received help in proportion as they opened their hearts to receive the truth spoken, and entered into the work of self-examination, and purging out the “old leaven,” that they may be a new lump. We were here brought to see the utility of those warnings given by Bro. Butler in the REVIEW of Feb. 7, and in other items in recent papers. Shortly after we came here, a person from another Conference appeared among us, who claimed to be an S. D. A. minister, though admitting to us that he was not recognized by our people, professing to have the gift of healing to a very wonderful degree. After tarrying, as a burden upon the brethren, about a week, and meeting no encouragement, he departed to his home.

There are other neighborhoods of those who are members of this church, which we designed to visit, but circumstances prevented doing so at this time. We shall, if the Lord permit, visit them when the way opens so that we can do so to profit.

We came to Dassel on the 13th. This is a small church, tolerably well situated for meeting together under ordinary circumstances. We find them somewhat discouraged on account of their small numbers and the little help they have received; but they appear willing to be helped, and desirous to advance in the Christian course. We shall tarry with them over Sabbath, and hope to be able to help them. The longer we follow this work of visiting churches, the more do we see its necessity and importance; and we can but wonder that the need of it has not been more clearly seen and felt before. D. P. CURTIS. March 17. D. C. BURCH.